THE TOWN OF CORTLANDT. l8l 



"John Cruger" a was the first of that name who "came from Germany 

 to America previous to the year 1700, and resided in the city of New 

 York. An old record in the possession of Mr. John C. Cruger, of Cu- 

 ger's Island, Dutchess county, N.Y., says "From the traditionary account 

 in the family and from the coat of arms which he brought with him, it 

 is supposed he was descended from the family of Baron Von Cruger. 

 The name of that family was always spelt with a C, while that of the 

 commonality in Germany is spelt with a K." The name itself in its 

 origin is a corruption, undoubtedly, of the Latin, Cruciger, or cross- 

 bearer. 



He was a merchant, a high-toned gentleman and a prominent citizen 

 of New York during the first half of the eighteenth century. He was 

 elected alderman of the Dock Ward in 171 2, and held the office till 

 1733 inclusive — the long period of twenty-two years. In 1739 ne be- 

 came Mayor of the city, and remained in office till his death on 13th 

 August, 1744. 



He married in 1702, Maria, eldest daughter of Hendrick Cuyler of 

 Albany, the first of that name in America, and Anne his wife, and had 

 three sons Henry, John and Tileman. Tileman died a young man and 

 unmarried." 



"John, the youngest son who never married, was like his father, emin- 

 ent as a merchant, and in political life." He was Alderman and Mayor 

 of New York, Speaker of the Provincial Assembly, delegate to the famous 

 Congress of 1765, with Messrs. Bayard and Lispenard, and first Presi- 

 dent of the Chamber of Commerce of New York. He died at Kinder- 

 hook in 1792. 



"Henry Cruger, the eldest of the two surviving sons of John Cruger 

 the first, who was born 25th November, 1707, in New York, resided 

 for many years in that city, and was also in political life. He was a 

 member of the Assembly from 1745 to 1759, and subsequently was ap- 

 pointed to the Council of the Province, and served till 1773, when he 

 resigned and was succeeded by his eldest son, John Harris Cruger. In 

 May, 1775, his health was impaired, he went to England and resided at 

 Bristol with his second son, Henry, the Member of Parliament for that 

 city. He died there in 1778, and lies buried in the centre aisle of the 

 Bristol Cathedral. He married for his first wife, on 28th of September, 

 1734, a lady of Jamaica, the widow of Patrick Montgomery of that Island 



a In the library of Mr. John C. Cruger, of Cruger's Island,, Dutchess county, is the Dutch 

 family Bible of the first John Cruger, printed at Dort in 1688. The arms are from an ancient 

 iron seal which belonged to John Cruger : — Argent a bend azure charged with three martlets, 

 or, betw. two grayhounds currant proper— Motto— Deo non Fortuna— Crest— A demi gray- 

 hound saliant, gorged or, Motto— beneath the wreath— Fidis. 



