Peter A. Van Bergen
Peter Anthony Van Bergen was an American politician and owner of a large amount of land from New York.
Early life
Van Bergen was born on July 11, 1763. He was the second son of eight children born to Maria Van Bergen and Col. Anthony Van Bergen, who led the 11th Regiment of the Albany County militia in the Revolutionary War.His parents, who married in 1762, lived in Coxsackie, Greene County, New York. His elder brother was Abraham Van Bergen and his younger siblings were Myndert Van Bergen, Catharina Van Bergen, Marten Gerritsen Van Bergen, Christina Van Bergen, Henry Coster Van Bergen and Rachel Van Bergen.
His paternal grandparents were Pieter van Bergen and Christina van Bergen. His maternal grandparents were Abraham Salisbury and Rachel Salisbury.
Career
In April 1802, he was elected to a four-year term to replace Federalist Peter Cantine Jr. as a member of the New York State Senate, for the Middle District, alongside fellow Democratic-Republicans Jacobus S. Bruyn and James G. Graham. Van Bergen served in the 25th, 26th, and 27th New York State Legislatures until his death on August 30, 1804, before he was to serve in the 28th Legislature. He was succeeded by Peter C. Adams.Personal life
Van Bergen was married to Hester Houghtaling, the only daughter of Elizabeth Houghtaling and Capt. Thomas Houghtaling, who fought in the second Battle of Saratoga under Van Bergen's father and Lt.-Col. DuBois. Hester's brother, Coenradt T. Houghtaling, was the husband of Peter's younger sister, Catharina. They lived in Catskill and were the parents of one son:- Anthony Van Bergen, a judge of the county court, member of the New York State Legislature in 1835 and president of the New York State Agricultural Society who married Clarine Peck, a daughter of John Peck of Lyme, Connecticut.
Descendants
Through his son Anthony, he was a grandfather of ten, including Anthony T. Van Bergen.Van Bergen's great-granddaughter, Alice Van Bergen, married Count Otto von Grote in 1900; their daughter, Van Bergen's great-great-granddaughter, Countess Antoinette Julia von Grote, was the wife of Prince Dietrich of Wied, a son of William Frederick, Prince of Wied and Princess Pauline of Württemberg. Van Bergen's great-great-great-grandson Prince Ulrich of Wied, was the father of Princess Marie of Wied, married Duke Friedrich of Württemberg, eldest son of Carl, Duke of Württemberg and heir to the House of Württemberg, in 1993.