N. Y., and in 1826 entered the publishing-house of John P. Haven, who gave him an interest in the firm when he became of age. In 1834 he formed a partnership with William Dwight, but the financial crisis of 1837 led to its dissolution. Mr. Van Nostrand then accepted the appointment of clerk of accounts and disbursements under Capt. John G. Barnard, at that time in charge of the defensive works of Louisiana and Texas, with headquarters at New Orleans. While so engaged he devoted attention to the study of scientific and military affairs, and on his return to New York city began the importation of military books for officers of the U. S. army, afterward receiving orders from private individuals and from academic institutions for foreign books of science. His place of business was at first at the corner of John street and Broadway, and as his trade increased he began the publication of standard works by American authors on military and scientific subjects. This extension, with the growing demands for books on scientific subjects, led to his removal to 23 Murray street, where he continued until his death. In 1869 he began the publication of “Van Nostrand's Engineering Magazine,” a monthly journal, which was devoted to selections from foreign sources, but also contained original papers on mathematics. Mr. Van Nostrand was one of the founders of the St. Nicholas and Holland societies, and was an early member of the Century and Union league clubs of New York city.
VAN RENSSELAER, Killian, colonist, b. in
Amsterdam, Holland, in 1595; d. there in 1644.
He was descended from a long line of eminent citizens
of Amsterdam, was carefully educated, and
became a wealthy pearl and diamond merchant in
his native town. He took an active part in the
formation of the West India company, placed
several of his vessels at the disposal of the corporation,
and twice advanced money to save its credit. He
sent an agent to the New Netherlands to trade
with the Indians for land on the west side of Hudson
river, from twelve miles south of Albany to
Smack's island, “stretching two days into the
interior,” soon afterward concluding the purchase of
all the land on the east side of that river, both
north and south of Fort Orange, and “far into the
wilderness.” This great feudal estate included the
entire territory that is comprised in the present
counties of Albany, Columbia, and Rensselaer,
and was named Rensselaerswick. He colonized it
with laborers and emigrants, whom he sent out in
his own ships with provisions and implements of
warfare and industry. Van Rensselaer remained
in Holland, but managed his affairs through a
director. In 1640 he sent Adrian Van der Donck to
be sheriff of the colony, and subsequently Dr.
Johannes Megapolensis “for the edifying improvement
of the inhabitants and Indians thereabouts.”
To obviate, as much as possible, the dangers of
life among the latter, he required that all his
colonists, except the farmers and tobacco-planters,
should live near each other, so as to form a church
neighborhood. At his death his estate descended
to his eldest son, Johannes; but the latter, being
under age, was placed under the guardianship of
Johannes Van Wely and Wouter Van Twiller, who
rendered homage to the states-general in the name
of their ward. But the colony had in reality
become an independent power, and was regarded as
injurious to the rights of the province. The West
India company became jealous for their privileges,
and in 1648 Peter Stuyvesant, then governor of
New Amsterdam, went with a military escort up
the Hudson river, ordered that no buildings should
be erected within a prescribed distance of Fort
Orange, and in many ways attempted to cut off
the powers of the patroon of Rensselaerswick. A
bitter controversy with Brandt Arent Van Slechtenhorst,
the director, ensued, but in 1674 the West
India company confessed that Stuyvesant's aggressions
were unwarranted and in violation of the
colony's charter. While this controversy was in
progress, Jan Baptist Van Rensselaer, the second
son of the first patroon, came to this country as the
representative of his brother Johannes, his
commission as director dating 8 May, 1652. He retired
in 1658, worn out by controversies with Stuyvesant,
and was succeeded by his brother Jeremias. Jan
Baptist built the Van Rensselaer mansion, and
brought from Holland massive and elaborately
carved furniture, large quantities of silver plate,
and many portraits of his ancestors. The manor
house, in internal improvements and finish,
resembled the Holland homestead. The lord of the
manor resided there with his tenantry, maintaining
the authority of a landed lord in Europe. The
second patroon, Johannes, never came to this country. —
Killian's third son, Jeremias, b. in Amsterdam, Holland, about 1632; d. in Rensselaerswick, N. Y., in October, 1674, was in charge of the colony for sixteen years. He was treated with respect and courtesy by Stuyvesant, by whom, when the province was threatened by the English, he was invited to New Amsterdam to preside over the convention that assembled there, to take measures of defence. When the English gained possession of New Netherlands in 1664, he took the oath of allegiance to the Duke of York. According to the terms of surrender, he was left in peaceable possession of the colony, and conducted its affairs without interference from the new government. He was confirmed in most of his rights and privileges, and the colony was erected into a manor and governed according to English rule. The village of Beverwyck, which had grown up under the shadow of old Fort Orange, was detached from the manor, and incorporated into the city of Albany. Van Rensselaer soon acquired reputation as an executive officer; his correspondence, which is still preserved by his descendants, is a valuable record of events, and attests his great energy and business-like qualities. He also wrote to Holland minute accounts of various occurrences in this country under the pen-name of the “New Netherland Mercury.” He preserved peace with the neighboring Indians, and so attached them to him that they guarded his estates as carefully as they did their own. He married Maria Van Cortlandt. Jeremias was succeeded by his nephew, Killian, son of Johannes. His patent was issued in 1685, under the title of first lord of the manor, and third patroon. By this patent the heirs in Albany relinquished to the heirs in Holland all title and right to the land in Holland, and the Hollanders gave up all the Albany settle-
