Johannes Roosevelt

Who was Johannes Roosevelt?

Johannes Roosevelt, known as John Roosevelt, was a New York City businessman and alderman and the progenitor of the Oyster Bay Roosevelts, including Theodore and Eleanor Roosevelt. Johannes was a linseed oil manufacturer.

He was baptized on February 27, 1689 in Esopus, New York while his father Nicholas Roosevelt was living there. Nicholas was the son of the Roosevelt immigrant ancestor, Claes Van Rosenvelt. He moved his family back to New York City, where he was born, by 1690. Johannes married Heyltje Sjoerts on September 25, 1708 at the Reformed Dutch Church of New York. They had eleven children: Margreta, Nicholas, Johannes, Heyltje, Olphert, Jacobus, Maria, Jannetje, Jacobus, Aeltje, and Cornelius. Johannes became a freeman in 1730. He was assistant alderman from 1717 to 1727 and alderman from 1730 to 1733.

Johannes Roosevelt's slave, Quack, was one of the accused conspirators in the alleged slave rebellion that terrified New York City in 1741. He was convicted of setting fire to Fort George and executed by being burned at the stake.