Everyone knows the Schuyler sisters from Hamilton. Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy. They get the songs, the fan art, and the Broadway spotlight. But there was a fourth sister—the "baby" of the family—who lived a life just as cinematic as the rest. Her name was Catherine Van Rensselaer Schuyler. Later, she’d become Catherine Schuyler Malcolm Cochran, and honestly, her story is basically the missing chapter of the American Revolution’s aftermath.
She was born in 1781, right in the thick of the war. Her father, General Philip Schuyler, was one of the most powerful men in the colonies. Her mother, Catherine Van Rensselaer, was Dutch aristocracy. By the time little "Caty" arrived, she was the fifteenth and final child. She wasn't just another kid, though. She was the only Schuyler child born after the Declaration of Independence. Because of that, her christening was a huge deal. General George Washington himself stood as her godfather. Imagine that being your claim to fame at two months old.
The Baby in the Cradle Incident
If you’ve visited the Schuyler Mansion in Albany, you’ve probably heard the most famous story about her. It’s legendary. In August 1781, a group of British-loyalist raiders and Indigenous allies stormed the house. They were there to kidnap the General.
The family scrambled upstairs to the second floor for safety. In the chaos, they realized the baby—Caty—was still downstairs in her cradle. Legend says Peggy (the "and Peggy!" one) ran back down to grab her. A raider threw a tomahawk at Peggy as she fled back up the stairs, and it allegedly left a scar in the banister that you can still see today. Whether the wood-gash is real or a tourist trap detail, the fact remains: Catherine Schuyler Malcolm Cochran almost didn't make it out of infancy.
The Runaway Bride of the Federalists
Growing up as the youngest sister to Angelica and Eliza meant Caty had big shoes to fill. She was educated, witty, and lived in a house that was basically the 18th-century version of a VIP lounge. Alexander Hamilton was her brother-in-law. She watched her sisters marry for love, often against their father’s strict wishes.
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She followed suit.
In 1803, shortly after her mother died, she eloped with Samuel Bayard Malcolm. He wasn't some random guy; he was a lawyer and had served as the personal secretary to President John Adams. The Schuylers were a "Federalist" family through and through. But the elopement still caused a bit of a stir. Philip Schuyler eventually forgave her—he kind of had to, given his track record with his other daughters—and she was included in his massive will.
Life with Samuel and the Move to Utica
Caty and Samuel moved to Utica, New York. It was essentially the frontier back then. They had children—William Schuyler Malcolm and Alexander Hamilton Malcolm (named after her famous brother-in-law, naturally).
Life wasn't easy. Samuel died in 1817, leaving her a widow with young kids. This is the part where most historical women just fade into the background. Not Caty. She moved back toward Albany, stayed close to her sisters, and eventually found a second act.
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The Second Marriage to James Cochran
In 1822, she married her first cousin, James Cochran. This sounds weird today, but in the 1820s Dutch-American elite circles, it was a classic move to keep land and money in the family. James was the son of Gertrude Schuyler (Philip’s sister) and Dr. John Cochran, the Surgeon General of the Continental Army.
They eventually settled in Oswego, New York. James became the postmaster there and edited a local paper. Caty wasn't just a housewife; she was a major figure in the community. She was the living link to the "Founding Era." People in Oswego knew her as the woman who had George Washington's blessing and the sister of the woman who "saved" Alexander Hamilton’s legacy.
Why We Should Care About Her Today
Honestly, Catherine Schuyler Malcolm Cochran represents the transition of America. She was born into a war for independence and died in 1857, just a few years before the Civil War. She saw the entire arc of the early Republic.
Her life wasn't just about famous men. It was about survival. She survived a kidnapping attempt, multiple elopements in the family, the deaths of her parents, a first husband, and the complex social pressures of being a "Schuyler."
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Key Facts to Remember
- Birth: February 20, 1781, in Albany.
- Godparents: George and Martha Washington.
- First Husband: Samuel Bayard Malcolm (married 1803).
- Second Husband: James Cochran (married 1822).
- Death: August 26, 1857, in Oswego, NY.
- Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Oswego.
How to Walk in Her Footsteps
If you're a history nerd, you can actually visit the places where she lived.
- Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site (Albany): See the banister where the tomahawk supposedly hit while she was a baby.
- Riverside Cemetery (Oswego): You can visit her grave. It’s a quiet spot, but it holds a massive piece of American history.
- New York State Library: They actually hold the "Schuyler-Malcolm-Cochran" family papers. You can see the actual letters she wrote.
Next time you listen to the Hamilton soundtrack, remember there was a fourth sister. She didn't get a song, but she lived one hell of a life.
Actionable Insight: If you're researching the Schuyler family tree, don't stop at the "Big Three." The NYPL digital archives have digitized several letters from the Malcolm-Cochran collection that provide a raw, unedited look at what life was like for the women of that era beyond the ballroom.