[Frederic Shonnard & W.W. Spooner (1900)] and was a typical representative of the thrifty and solid Dutch trading-class, who, notwithstanding the English conquest and the 240 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY changes brought about by it, had never ceased to enjoy the highest standing in the community and to share in the government of the city and province. A native American (having been born in Albany), he was an entirely self-made man, modest, honest, and public spirited. It also stood to his credit that he was the father of a family of fifteen children.1 Pending the selection of a new governor by the appointive power in England, Van Dam, in his capacity of president of the coun-cil, became vested with the authority of acting chief magistrate. None of the complicated circumstances attending the like eleva-tion of the unfortunate Leisler forty years before existed at this time. The regularity of his official succession was beyond question, no fac-tional controversy of any sort resulted from it, and, indeed, the whole public viewed with satisfaction the tem-porary exercise of power by a native cit-