Schuyler Mansion: History, Enslavement and Alexander Hamilton

World Footprints

History Has Its Eyes On You is one of our favorite songs from the Broadway musical, Hamilton. The lyrics hold a cautionary reminder that “…You have no control who lives, who dies, who tells your story…”. As we know, the historical stories we’ve heard do not generally portray accurate and full narratives, especially, those involving early settlers like the Schuyler family and Founding Fathers like Alexander Hamilton. So, how accurate are the stories we’ve been told about the Schuyler family and Alexander Hamilton? Heidi Hill and Jessie Serfilippi from the Schuyler Mansion State Historical Site join us to share the stories behind the stories about the Schuyler family and Alexander Hamilton. Schuyler Mansion was home to Philip J. Schuyler, the renowned Revolutionary War general, US Senator, and business entrepreneur. He and his wife, Catharine Van Rensselaer, descended from affluent and powerful Dutch families. Together they raised eight children in this home including Angelica, Eliza and Peggy, the three Schuyler sisters made famous by the Hamilton musical. Throughout the Schuyler family occupancy from 1763-1804, the mansion was alive with political, military and social activities including the wedding of daughter Elizabeth, otherwise known as Eliza, to Alexander Hamilton in 1780. Today, visitors can enjoy a guided tour of the mansion as well as an orientation exhibition in the Visitor Center focusing on Philip Schuyler's life. ***** Cover: Actors portraying people who were enslaved in the Schuyler household in the 1790s during the four act play, The Accused. The program featured different perspectives on the trial of three enslaved children accused of setting fire to Albany in 1793. Photo courtesy of Schuyler Mansion State Historical Site.