Cornelius Vanderbilt, I

Corneel's father, the first to spell the name van Derbilt, was born twelve years before the start of the Revolutionary War and was reared in the home of an uncle where he worked for his room and board. He was still a young man at the end of the War, a war which destroyed the island’s legal records which meant his inheritance had vanished.  He had no land of his own and little to support himself. This Cornelius, who has been described as thriftless, dull and a laggard, nevertheless became a successful farmer and a sailor who owned his own land and operated his own boat. He became known as the founder of the Staten Island Ferry. (1)

Family

Cornelius Vanderbilt Birth: Aug. 28, 1764 Essex County New Jersey, USA Death: May 20, 1832 Staten Island Richmond County New York, USA Burial: Moravian Cemetery New Dorp Richmond County New York, USA

• parents: Jacob Van Der Bilt,   b. 6 Jan 1723, Staten Island, Richmond Co., NY, USA ,   d. 20 Oct 1768  – & Mary Spragg,   b. 17 Feb 1729, Staten Island, Richmond Co., NY, USA ,   d. Between 12 Dec 1781 and 18 Dec 1781 

Married

1. Phebe Hand (1767 - 1854) daughter of Capt Samuel Hand & Phebe Lum. 9 children.

Links

1. http://longislandgenealogy.com/Surname_Pages/vanderbilt.htm
2. http://www.sprague-database.org/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I9...

Sources 

1. [S1796] Publication: Staten Island Annals, J. J. Clute, (New York; Press of Chas. Vogt; 1877.), page 430..
2. [S200] N.E.H.G.S. NEXUS, Volume XIII, No. 1, page 23..
3. [S10] Spragg Line: NY, PA & IN, Wilken, Dale, (Marion, IA: Privately published by Dale Wilken, February 14, 1993), #3-2-1.