DE PEYSTER
DE PEYSTER
the province of New York and New Jersey, and
president of the King's council, and acting gov-
ernor of the province in 1700; and great* grand-
son of Johannes de Peyster (about 1600-1685), a
French Huguenot, who emigrated to America
about 1645 from Haarlem, Holland, where the
family had taken ref-
uge from persecution
after the massacre of
St. Bartholomew. He
was a burgomaster
under the Dutch gov-
ernment of New Am-
sterdam, and was
prominent in its de-
fence, 1673-74. He
was also alderman
and deputy maj'or of
the city of New Y^'ork
under the English
rule. Frederic was
graduated at Colum-
bia college with the
degree of A.M. in
1816; was attorney and counsellor-at-law from
1819 ; and master-in-chancery, 1820-37. From 1837
he devoted his time to the care of his estate. He
served in the state militia as brigade-major and
was military .secretary and second aide on the staff
of Governor Clinton with the rank of colonel, 1825
-28. He was a member of the New York histori-
cal society, 1826-82, its corresponding secretary,
1827-37, 1838-43, foreign secretary, 1844-50, vice-
president, 1850-53, and president, 1864-67 and
1873-82. He was a trustee and president of the
New York society library and of the Deaf and
dumb asylum ; and a founcier of the St. Nicholas
society, of the Soldiers' home erected by the
G. A. R. , and of the Home for incurables. He was
president of the St. Nicholas club; vice-presi-
dent of the Society for the prevention of cru-
elty to children; and a trustee of the Leake
and Watts orphan asylum, 1830-82. He was
a fellow of the Royal historical society of Great
Britain, 1877-82. He was married in 1820 to Mary
Justina, daughter of John Watts, the last loyal
recorder of New York, founder of the Leake and
Watts orphan asylum. New Y^'ork, representative
in the 3d U.S. congress and speaker of the state
assembly three terms. He received the degree
of LL.D. from Columbia in 1867. He is the
author of numerous historical addresses and
monographs which were printed privately and by
the New York historical .society. He died at the
residence of his son. Gen. John Watts de Peyster,
at Tivoli-on-the-Hudson, N.Y.. Aug. 17, 1882.
DE PEYSTER, John Watts, military and his- torical author, was born in New York city, March 9, 1821; son of Frederick and Mary Justina
(Watts) de Peyster; grandson of Frederic and
Helen (Hake) de Peyster; and a direct descend-
ant from Johannes, tiie first de Peyster in Amer-
ica, who came from Haarlem, Holland, about
1645, and was a burgomaster under the Dutch
rule of New Amsterdam and deputy -mayor of
New York under the English, refusing the mayor-
alty because of his imperfect acquaintance with
the English language. John Watts was brought
up and educated with his cousin, Philip Keainy.
He was one of the originators of the New Y^ork
paid fij-e department and of the Metropohtan
police department. Heart trouble induced while
serving as a boy in the volunteer fire department
disqualified him from entering active military
life. In 1845 he was commissioned by Governor
Wright colonel in the infantry service, N.Y.
S.M., but was immediately legislated out of com-
mand by a change in the state law. In 1849 the
law was again clianged and Governor Fish
assigned him for " meritorious service " to the
command of the 22d regiment. In 1851 he was
promoted by Governor Hunt to the rank of
brigadier-general and assigned to the command
of the 3d brigade of the state military forces for
important services. The governor also appointed
him military agent of the state to visit Europe
to take observation and report thereupon in the
interest of the militia organizations of the state.
On his return his reports were submitted to Jef-
ferson Davis, secretary of war, and elicited his
thanks in behalf of the government and especially
for " placing your valuable collections of books
and MSS. at the service of the government." He
recommended the adoption of the Napoleon
gun years before its superiority had been recog-
nized by the Federal military authorities. In 1854
he was appointed adjutant -general on the staff
of Governor Clark, and the reforms he instituted
so disturbed the politicians of the state as to
render the efforts unpleasant and he resigned his
commission. In the spring of 1861 he offered to
President Lincoln three regiments to be raised
and officered by himself and his former associ-
ates in the state military service, and he re-
peated his offer of two regiments in the fall of the
same year. The war department peremptorilj^
refused both offers. In 1862-64 his three sons,
John Watts, Frederic and Johnston Livingston,
aged nineteen, eighteen and sixteen years re-
spectively, bore arms in the Federal army and
such service cost the lives of the two elder boys.
During and after the war General de Peyster was
the friend and confidential correspondent of
Admiral Farragut, Gen. George H. Thomas, Gen.
A. A. Humphreys and Generals Kearny, Ro.se-
crans, Barnard, Hooker, Warren, McAllister and
others. In April, 1866, the legislature of the
state of New York by concurrent resolutions, after
