General Notes

Robert Livingston (1663-1725) was the son of Robert "the Manor Lord" Livin
gston's older brother James, a merchant in Edinburgh, Scotland. Robert t
he Nephew emigrated to America when he joined his uncle, the Lord of the M
anor of Livingston, on his way back from London in 1696, where he had plea
ded for the payment of funds due to him by the colonial government. In 169
7, Robert the Nephew married Margarita Schuyler, a daughter of Mayor Pet
er Schuyler and Engaltie Van Schaick.
The People of Colonial Albany, Stefan Bielinski
Known in New York history as "the Nephew," Robert Livingston was born in S
cotland in 1663. He was the son of James Livingston - who was the unc
le of Albany's Robert Livingston.
Coming to America in 1687, he would learn the ins and outs of opportuni
ty from his uncle - one of the most successful newcomers of the latter pa
rt of the seventeenth century. Over the next two decades, he assumed ma
ny of Robert Livingston's Albany-based activities during his uncle's frequ
ent absences and after the senior Livingston relocated south to his mid-Hu
dson manor.
In 1697, thirty-four-year-old Robert Jr. married fifteen-year-old Margari
ta Schuyler - eldest daughter of Albany's first mayor, thus sealing a fami
ly alliance that began with the marriage of Robert Livingston to Margarita
's aunt Alida Schuyler two decades earlier. The marriage produced six chil
dren who were baptized in the Albany Dutch church where the Scottish-bo
rn nephew had made a lifelong connection. A frequent baptism sponsor, he s
erved as church warden and was involved in its financial operations. Aft
er living in the home of Robert Livingston, by the mid-1700s the new coup
le had established their own first ward household. Robert Jr's. first jo
bs involved assisting his uncle as city and county clerk. Within a few yea
rs, he held the titles of deputy secretary and deputy clerk. In 1708 he w
as elected alderman for the first ward. In 1709, he was appointed record
er (or deputy mayor) of the city. At the same time, he was able to prosp
er in business using family connections and experience to supply both sett
ler and military customers.
By 1710, Robert Livingston had become one of the most visible of the Alba
ny merchants. In that year, he was appointed mayor of Albany and served un
til 1719. His mayoralty came at the beginning of three decades of peace a
nd oversaw the transition of his adopted community from trading post to su
pply and services center and the settlement of the city's lands at Schaght
icoke.
Following his tenure as mayor, Livingston continued to serve the Commissio
ners of Indian Affairs, manage his personal business, and tend to the plac
ement of his family. He made his will on April 4, 1725 - leaving the enti
re estate to Margarita as long as she remained a widow. He passed short
ly thereafter and was buried under the Dutch Church on April 21.
Robert Livingston died in his fifty-fifth year. Coming to America as a you
ng man, he was able to take advantage of his uncle's need for trustwort
hy and competent assistance to reach the top level of early Albany societ
y. "The Nephew's" widow lived in Albany for more than a half century. The
ir children married into the best provincial families and enjoyed great su
ccess in the business of New York, Montreal, and the lands in between.