Wikipedia

John I. Slingerland

John I. Slingerland (March 1, 1804 – October 26, 1861) was a New York farmer, businessman, and politician. He served terms in both the New York State Assembly and the United States House of Representatives.

John I. Slingerland
From Part I of 1897's Landmarks of Albany County
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 13th district
In office
March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849
Preceded byBradford R. Wood
Succeeded byJohn L. Schoolcraft
Member of the New York State Assembly
In office
1860–1861
Preceded byHenry Creble
Succeeded byJay Gibbons
ConstituencyAlbany County's 1st District
In office
1843–1844
Serving with Willis Hall, Aaron Van Schaack
Preceded byJohn Adams Dix, Cornelius G. Palmer, Jonas Shear
Succeeded byLevi Shaw, Samuel Stevens, Simon Veeder
ConstituencyAlbany County
Personal details
Born(1804-03-01)March 1, 1804
Feura Bush, New York, U.S.
DiedOctober 26, 1861(1861-10-26) (aged 57)
Slingerlands, New York, U.S.
Resting placeSlingerland family mausoleum, Slingerlands, New York, U.S.
Political partyWhig (before 1855)
Republican (after 1855)
OccupationFarmer
Businessman

A native and lifelong resident of Bethlehem, New York, Slingerland was educated in the schools of Bethlehem and became a successful farmer. He was also involved in several businesses, including the creation of a toll road that linked the hamlet of Slingerlands to Albany. Originally a Whig, and later a Republican, while serving in the Assembly in the 1840s Slingerland was active on the side of the tenants during the Anti-Rent War, when the renters of the Albany area's small farms rose up against the effort of the Patroons to collect long-overdue back rents. Their efforts led to the end of the manor system that had empowered and enriched a few large landowning families since the founding of New York in the early 1600s.

Slingerland was also an antislavery activist; his work to publicize the 1848 Pearl incident while serving in Congress generated national headlines that caused advocates of abolition to increase their efforts to end slave trading in Washington, DC. Slingerland became a Republican when the party was founded in 1855, and campaigned for John C. Frémont for president in 1856. He served in the Assembly again from 1860 to 1861 and continued to advocate for tenants who wanted to end the manor system.

Slingerland died at his home in Slingerands, which is within the Slingerlands Historic District, and was interred in the family vault on his property.

Early life

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Slingerland was born in Jerusalem (now Feura Bush), a hamlet of Bethlehem, New York, and was the son of John and Leah (Britt) Slingerland.[1] He attended the local schools, operated a successful farm, and took part in several business ventures.[2][3] Among the companies in which he was a participant was the Albany, Rensselaerville and Schoharie Plank Road Company;[3][4] he was an original incorporator, and served on the board of directors.[4] During its existence, the company built and maintained a toll road from Albany to Gallupville, which passed through New Scotland, New Salem, and Berne.[4]

New York State Assembly

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A Whig, Slingerland was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1843 and 1844. During the Anti-Rent War, a revolt by tenants against New York's Patroon system, Slingerland sided with the tenants, a position he maintained during his service in the Assembly and his term in Congress.[3][5]

Congressman

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He was elected as a Whig to the 30th Congress, holding office from March 4, 1847 to March 3, 1849.[6] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1848 and resumed his business and agricultural pursuits.[6] He was active in railroad development, and worked to bring the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad line to Bethlehem.[7]

In 1848 Slingerland made national headlines when he alerted anti-slavery activists to the plight of more than 70 slaves who had attempted to escape Washington aboard a ship, The Pearl.[8][9] Slave owners and slave traders recaptured the escapees and sold many of them to owners in the deep South, making it more difficult for them to escape again.[8][9] The publicity Slingerland helped generate had the effect of causing abolitionists to increase their efforts to end the slave trade in Washington.[8][9]

Later life

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He joined the Republican Party at its founding, and campaigned for John C. Frémont for President in 1856.[10] He served again in the New York State Assembly from 1860 to 1861.[1]

Death and burial

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Slingerland Family Vault in the Slingerlands (NY) Historic District

Slingerland died in Slingerlands, New York on October 26, 1861;[11][12] interment was in the Slingerland family mausoleum.[7][12]

Family

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In 1823, Slingerland married Elizabeth Van Derzee (1802-1835) in New Salem.[13] Their children included Maria, John (d. 1882), and Harmon V. (1835-1917).[13][14]

After the death of his first wife, Slingerland married Sally Hall (d. 1874).[12][13] Their children included Elizabeth (b. 1838) and William (b. 1845).[13]

 
Slingerland Family Memorial Marker at the Slingerland Family Vault

Legacy

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The hamlet of Slingerlands is named for his family, and some descendants continue to reside there.[7] His home at 1575 New Scotland Road still stands and is part of the Slingerlands Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.[7] In 2018, an article in the Albany Times Union detailed ongoing efforts to preserve the Slingerland family vault.[7]

 
John I. Slingerland House, located in the Slingerlands Historic District

References

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  1. ^ a b Images of America: Bethlehem, New York, p. 23.
  2. ^ "Albany County Fair", p. 325.
  3. ^ a b c "Looking for John I. Slingerland".
  4. ^ a b c Bi-centennial History of Albany, p. 790.
  5. ^ The Anti-Rent Era in New York Law and Politics, 1839-1865, p. 315.
  6. ^ a b Dictionary of the United States Congress, p. 349.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Saving the Slingerland vault".
  8. ^ a b c The Slave's Cause, p. 402.
  9. ^ a b c "Horrors of Slavery", p. 2.
  10. ^ "Letter from Hon. John I. Slingerland", p. 2.
  11. ^ "Death Notice, John I. Slingerland", p. 3.
  12. ^ a b c "Slingerland Vault: Slingerlands, Albany County, New York".
  13. ^ a b c d Burhans Genealogy, pp. 197, 234.
  14. ^ "New York Death Index, 1880-1956".

Sources

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Newspapers

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  • Slingerland, John I. (May 8, 1848). "Horrors of Slavery: Letter of John I. Slingerland to Thurlow Weed". Sandusky Clarion. Sandusky, OH – via Newspapers.com.
  • Slingerland, John I. (August 18, 1856). "Letter from Hon. John I. Slingerland". Albany Evening Journal. Albany, NY – via GenealogyBank.com.
  • "Death Notice, John I. Slingerland". Burlington Daily Times. Burlington, VT. October 28, 1961 – via Newspapers.com.
  • Rulison, Larry (January 7, 2018). "Saving the Slingerland vault: DNA kit kick-starts direct decendant's mission to rescue an abandoned treasure". Times Union. Albany, NY.

Books

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Internet

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Magazines

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  • Tucker, Luther (October 1960). "Albany County Fair". The Cultivator. Albany, NY: Luther Tucker & Son.

Notes

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  1. ^ The Burhans Genealogy names "John J. Slingerland". This individual's identity as John I. Slingerland is confirmed by comparing the names of his parents and his birth and death dates to other sources.

Further reading

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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 13th congressional district
March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 		Succeeded by
New York State Assembly
Preceded by
Henry Creble
 New York State Assembly
Albany County, 1st District
1860–1861 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
John Adams Dix, Cornelius G. Palmer, Jonas Shear
 New York State Assembly
Albany County, 1st District
1843–1844
With: Willis Hall, Aaron Van Schaack 		Succeeded by
Levi Shaw, Samuel Stevens, Simon Veeder
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