DeWitt Clinton

portrait of DeWitt Clinton c. 1823 by Rembrandt Peale, oil on canvas, 28 5/8 x 23 3/8 in., [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons, Christie’s, LotFinder: entry 5352660

Date of Birth: March 2, 1769

Place of Birth: Little Britain, Province of New York

Date of Death: February 11, 1828

Place of Death: Albany, New York, U.S.

Ethnicity: Dutch, English, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Frisian, more distant Norwegian, French, German, and Belgian Flemish

DeWitt Clinton was an American politician and naturalist. He served as a U.S. Senator from New York, from February 23, 1802 to November 4, 1803, Mayor of New York City, from 1803 to 1807, 1808 to 1810, and 1811 to 1815, and Governor of New York, from July 1, 1817 to December 31, 1822, and again, from January 1, 1825 to February 11, 1828.

He was a Democratic-Republican nominee for President of the United States in 1812. He also received votes under the Democratic-Republican banner in the 1820 presidential election.

DeWitt was the son of Mary (DeWitt) and James Clinton, an American Revolutionary War officer and major general. His uncle, George Clinton, was a politician, who served as Governor of New York, from 1777 to 1795 (the state’s first governor), and again from 1801 to 1804, and as Vice President of the United States, from 1805 to 1812; George was also a candidate for the Presidency.

DeWitt was married to Maria Franklin, until her death. The couple had ten children. He was then married to Catharine Jones, until his death.

DeWitt’s paternal grandfather was Charles Clinton (the son of James Clinton and Elizabeth Smith). Charles was born in Corboy, County Longford, Ireland. James was the son of William Fynes/Clinton, who was from Lincolnshire, England, and of Elizabeth Kennedy, who was Scottish. DeWitt’s great-grandmother Elizabeth Smith was born in Dublin, the daughter of William Smith, who was from Farsley, Leeds, Yorkshire, England.

DeWitt’s paternal grandmother was Elizabeth Denniston (the daughter of Alexander Denniston and Catherine Montgomery). Elizabeth was a Presbyterian, from County Longford, Ireland. Alexander was born in Scotland. Catherine was born in County Longford.

DeWitt’s maternal grandfather was Andries B. DeWitt (the son of Andries de Witt/With and Jannetje Egbertsen/Egberts). DeWitt’s grandfather Andries was born in New York. DeWitt’s great-grandfather Andries was born in New York, the son of Tjerck Claessen/Claeszen de Witt, who was of Dutch descent, and of Barbara/Barber Andriessen Luycaszen, whose family lived in Denmark, but was of Dutch/Frisian origin. Jannetje was of Dutch descent, the daughter of Egbert Meindertse/Meijndertszen/Meyndertse and Jaepi/Jaepje/Jaepie Jans.

DeWitt’s maternal grandmother was Bredjen/Mart/Maria Nottingham (the daughter of William Nottingham and Grietjen/Margaret Bergjen Rutsen). Mart was born in New York. William was the son of William Nottingham, who was born in Bedfordshire, England, and of Ann Tye, who was born in Yorkshire, England. Grietjen was of Dutch descent, and was the daughter of Jacob Herman Rutgers/Ruthszen and Marretje/Marritje/Marytje Hanse/Hansen Bergen. Marretje’s father, Hans Hansen Bergen, who was from Bergen, Norway, was one of the earliest settlers of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, and one of the few from Scandinavia.

Sources: Genealogies of DeWitt Clinton – https://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com