Van Schaick was born on September 5, 1736, and was the son of Sybrant Van Schaick, mayor of Albany, New York, from 1756 to 1761, and Alida (Roseboom) Van Schaick. He was the descendant of Goosen Gerritse Van Schaick, who was a brewer in Albany in 1649. His own name was often spelled Gosen or Goosen.
It is said that Goose entered upon the campaigns of the French and Indian War at the age of twenty. He served as a captain in the New York provincial levies that accompanied Colonel Bradstreet in his successful and decisive campaign of 1758 against Fort Frontenac, and from 1760 to 1762, he served as lieutenant-colonel, first of the 2nd Regiment of New York Provincials and later of the 1st New York Regiment.
A patriot at the outbreak of the Revolution, he became a colonel and saw constant service during the war in the defense of the northern and western frontiers of New York. Soon after being commissioned he was campaigning in Cherry Valley against Joseph Brant; he was sent in 1776 into Tryon County and stationed at Johnstown; he was at Albany to muster the Continental troops at that place to hear the Declaration of Independence read to the populace on July 19, 1776; he was wounded at Ticonderoga on July 6, 1777; and he served at Monmouth under Stirling. The Continental Congress on May 10, 1779, resolved "that the thanks of Congress be presented to Colonel Van Schaick, and the officers and soldiers under his command".
Van Schaick died on July 4, 1789, at Albany.
The 1st Regiment under Van Schaick seems to have been famed for its excellent discipline. Even Van Schaick's vigorous punitive expedition was a preliminary to the better-known campaign of Gen. John Sullivan in the Indian country in the summer of 1779. With about 500 men, he left Fort Schuyler, invaded the country of the Onondaga, burned their principal settlement together with provisions and stores, slaughtered their cattle, took 32 prisoners and killed a number of the Indians, in six days without the loss of a man. Gen. James Clinton, who joined Sullivan on this expedition, left Van Schaick in command at Albany. In recognition of his services, Van Schaick was made a brevet brigadier-general on October 10, 1783, and he remained in service until November of that year.
Van Schaick had married on November 15, 1770, Maria Ten Broeck, by whom he had six children.
Mayor of Albany, New York, from 1756 to 1761.
Born in 1771.
1786–1786
September 2, 1782 in Albany, New York – December 1, 1865 Was an American politician from New York and co-founder of Children's Village with 23 others.
Born in 1776.
Born in 1779.
Born in 1787.
Born in 1774.
