Johannes Roosevelt
| Johannes Roosevelt | |
|---|---|
| Alderman of New York City | |
|
In office 1730 – 1733 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 27, 1689 Esopus, Ulster County, New York |
| Died | April 4, 1750 (aged 61) New York City |
| Spouse(s) | Heyltje Sjoerts (m. 1708) |
| Relations | See Roosevelt family |
| Children | 11 |
| Parents |
Nicholas Roosevelt Heyltje Jans Kunst |
Johannes Roosevelt (bap. February 27, 1689 – April 4, 1750), known as John Roosevelt, was a New York City businessman and alderman and the progenitor of the Oyster Bay Roosevelts, including Theodore and Eleanor Roosevelt. Johannes was a linseed oil manufacturer.
Johannes Roosevelt was baptized on February 27, 1689 in Esopus, Province of New York (near Kingston) while his father Nicholas Roosevelt (1658–1742) and mother, Heyltje Jans Kunst (1664–1730), were living there. Nicholas, born in New Amsterdam, was the son of the Roosevelt immigrant ancestor, Claes Van Rosenvelt (d. 1659). He moved his family back to New York City, where he was born, by 1690.
In 1730, Johannes became a freeman. He was assistant alderman from 1717 to 1727 and alderman from 1730 to 1733.
According to one history, "he was successful in farming and business ventures, and took what seemed to his friends a strange and extravagant delight in works of art. He is said to have been one of the first to import paintings, fine furniture, and artistic metal ware from the Netherlands. He did it on so generous a scale that his home was viewed as a wonderland by his less enterprising fellow-citizens."
Johannes Roosevelt's slave, Quack, was one of the accused conspirators in the alleged slave rebellion that terrified New York City in 1741. He was convicted of setting fire to Fort George and executed by being burned at the stake.
Johannes married Heyltje Sjoerts (Shourd) (1688–1752) on September 25, 1708 at the Reformed Dutch Church of New York. She was the daughter of Olvert Sjoerts (1661-1710), who was born in The Netherlands and emigrated to New Netherlands. Johannes and Heyltje had eleven children:
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