Johannes Bruyn Explained

Office:Member of the New York State Senate for the Middle District
Term Start:July 1, 1809
Term End:June 30, 1813
Predecessor:James G. Graham
Successor:Lucas Elmendorf
Office1:Member of the New York State Assembly for Ulster County
Term Start1:July 1, 1799
Term End1:June 30, 1800
Predecessor1:Jacobus S. Bruyn
Term Start2:July 1, 1796
Term End2:June 30, 1797
Successor2:Jacobus S. Bruyn
Term Start3:July 1, 1781
Term End3:June 30, 1783
Successor3:John Cantine
Birth Date:21 February 1750
Birth Place:Shawangunk, New York
Death Place:Shawangunk, New York
Party:Democratic-Republican
Parents:Jacobus Bruyn
Jane Graham Pruyn
Children:Charles DeWitt Bruyn
Relations:Severyn Tenhout Bruyn (brother)
Jacobus S. Bruyn (brother)
Cornelius Bruyn (brother)
Andrew DeWitt Bruyn (nephew)

Johannes Bruyn (February 21, 1750 – February 10, 1814) was an American politician from Ulster County, New York.

Early life

Bruyn was born on February 21, 1750, in Shawangunk, New York. He was a son of Jacobus Bruyn and Jane (née Graham) Pruyn (d. 1764). Among his siblings was elder sister Gertruyd Bruyn (the wife of Cornelius DuBois), twin brothers Severyn Tenhout Bruyn (also a New York Assemblymen) and Jacobus S. Bruyn (also a New York Assemblymen and member of New York State Senate; married Margaret DeWitt, a daughter of Andries J. DeWitt and Blandina Elmendorf Ten Eyck; father of Andrew DeWitt Bruyn), sister Mary Bruyn (wife of Nicholas Hardenberg),[1] and brother Cornelius Bruyn (also a New York Assemblymen).[2]

Career

For a long time he was a judge of Ulster County and "enjoyed the esteem and confidence of the community; was a man of sound judgment, sterling integrity, and unwavering in his principles." In April 1781, Bruyn was elected as a New York Assemblymen representing from Ulster County in the 5th and 6th New York State Legislatures and serving from July 1, 1781, until June 30, 1783. After two years, he was succeeded by John Cantine. He was a presidential elector for New York in 1792. In April 1796, he was again elected to the Assembly, this time as a Democratic-Republican, and served in the 20th New York State Legislature from July 1, 1796, to June 30, 1797, when he was replaced by his brother Jacobus. Two years later, Johannes replaced Jacobus in the Assembly. Johannes served in the 23rd New York State Legislature from July 1, 1799, to June 30, 1800.

In April 1809, he was elected as a Democratic-Republican to a four-year term in the New York State Senate for the 33rd New York State Legislature, and by virtue of that office a member of the Court of Errors. His seat was one of the 7 representing the Middle District which then consisted of Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Columbia, Delaware, Rockland, Greene and Sullivan counties. Bruyn served in the 34th, 35th, 36th New York State Legislatures until June 30, 1813.[3] In 1812, he was chosen as a member of the Council of Appointment.

Personal life

On April 10, 1783, Bruyn was married to Margaret DeWitt (1758–1827), a daughter of Blandina (née DuBois) DeWitt and Col. Charles DeWitt, who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress. Margaret's brother Gerrit was the father of Charles G. DeWitt, a U.S. Representative who was appointed the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to Guatemala by Andrew Jackson. Her sister Maria "Polly" DeWitt, was the wife of Jacobus "James" Hasbrouck, a prominent Kingston merchant. In addition, Margaret was a niece of Andries DeWitt and a first cousin of Jenneke DeWitt (the wife of Johannes' brother Jacobus).[4] Together, they were the parents of:

Bruyn died in Shawangunk, New York, on February 10, 1814.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Book: York (State) . New . New York Marriages Previous to 1784 . 1968 . Genealogical Publishing Com . 978-0-8063-0259-1 . 30 September 2020 . en.
  2. Book: The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record . 1888 . . 28–29 . 30 September 2020 . en.
  3. Book: Hough . Franklin Benjamin . The New York Civil List: Containing the Names and Origin of the Civil Divisions, and the Names and Dates of Election Or Appointment of the Principal State and County Officers from the Revolution to the Present Time . 1858 . Weed, Parsons and Company . 115–119, 148, 171–172 . 30 September 2020 . en.
  4. Book: Harrison . Richard A. . Princetonians, 1769-1775: A Biographical Dictionary . 2014 . . 978-1-4008-5652-7 . 294 . 30 September 2020 . en.
  5. Web site: Letter written by Julia Ann Crosby of Amenia, N.Y. dated October 22, 1813 . cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org . Litchfield Historical Society . 1 October 2020 . en.
  6. Book: Sylvester . Nathaniel Bartlett . History of Ulster County, New York: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers . 1880 . Everts & Peck . 260 . 1 October 2020 . en.