Stephen De Lancey


Stephen De Lancey was a lawyer and political figure in New York state and Nova Scotia. He represented Annapolis township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1784 to 1786.

Early life

He was born in West Farms, New York, the eldest son of Peter DeLancey and Elizabeth DeLancey. His sister, Susan DeLancey, was married to Thomas Henry Barclay, a lawyer who became one of the United Empire Loyalists in Nova Scotia and served in the colony's government.
His paternal grandparents were Etienne de Lancey and Anne van Cortlandt, herself the third child of Gertrude Schuyler and Stephanus van Cortlandt, the Chief Justice of the Province of New York. Both his uncle, James DeLancey, and maternal grandfather, Cadwallader Colden, served as Colonial Governors of New York.

Career

He studied law and later moved to Albany. From 1765 to 1766, he served as clerk for the city and county of Albany. In 1770, he was named a masters in the provincial chancery court. He was elected to the Albany committee of correspondence in 1775.

Nova Scotia

In 1776, because of his loyalist sympathies, he was stripped of his posts and deported to Hartford, Connecticut. In 1783, he moved to Nova Scotia with his family. He was first elected to the provincial assembly in a by-election held in 1783 and was elected again in 1785. In 1786, he was named to the province's Council. His brother James replaced him in the provincial assembly.

Personal life

De Lancey was married to Esther Rynderts of Albany. Together, they were the parents of three children:
De Lancey died in Annapolis at the age of 70.