Catherine Schuyler Van Voorhees was born 1753 in Piscataway, Middlesex County, NJ, the 3rd of 4 known surviving children (2 boys/2 girls) born to Johannis (John) Van Voorhees, Jr. and his wife, Christina Catherine Schuyler.

She is descended on both sides of her family tree from prominent Dutch families in the New Brunswick area. She was the paternal grandchild of Johannis Van Voorhees Sr. & Sarah Schenk (of the Monmouth County Schenk's) of New Brunswick; and gr-grandchild of Jan Lucasse Van Voorhees & Ann Van Duykhuysen who left the Flatlands of Brooklyn to settle in Six Mile Run, Somerset County in 1717. She is a direct descendant of this family's patriarch, Lucas Stevense Van Voorhees (1650-1724) who left Hees, Drenthe, Netherlands and settled in the Flatlands of Brooklyn (New Amsterdam) ca. 1680. On her mother's side, she was the maternal grandchild of Abraham Schuyler & Catherine Staats who came from the Dutch Colony in Albany, NY and settled in Piscataway ca. 1733.

Catherine was just 15 years old when she married 23-year old John Nielson, Jr., son of Dr. John Neilson Sr. & Johanna Coeyman of New Brunswick on December 31, 1768.

Her husband was the only son born to Dr. John Nielson, patriarch of the Neilson family in New Jersey, who immigrated from Belfast, Ireland ca. 1716 with his older brother, James Nielson, who became a wealthy shipping agent and merchant. Dr. John Nielson married Johanna Coeyman, daughter of Andreas Coeyman & Gertrude Staats of the Hudson River (Albany, NY) area. Dr. John Neilson died young, following an accident 1745 -- just 8 days after John Neilson, Jr. was born. Following the death of his father, his uncle (the merchant, James Nielson) adopted John and his sister, Gertrude, who would later marry Col. James Abeel of Albany and settle in New Brunswick. Merchant, James Nielson, died without issue and his wealth was inherited by nephew and adopted son, John Neilson, Jr., who would go on to become a Colonel, then Brigadier General, with the New Jersey Militia and distinguish himself as one of the most ardent and decorated patriots during the American Revolution.

Catherine and Brig. Gen. John Neilson Jr. would become parents of 12 known children (6 boys/6 girls); with only 6 of the children surviving infancy:

James Neilson, the 1st (1770-1784),
Joanna Neilson, the 1st (1771-1773),
Dr. John Neilson, III (1775-1857),
Joanna Nielson, the 2nd (1777-1781),
Gertrude Neilson (1780-1883),
Catherine Schuyler Neilson (1783-1860),
Col. James Neilson (1784-1862),
Joanna Neilson, the 3rd (1786-1858),
Abraham Schuyler Neilson, the 1st (1788-1791),
Samuel Staats Neilson (1790-1810),
Abraham Schuyler Neilson, the 2nd (1792-1861), and
Cornelia Lott Neilson (1794-1797).

Catherine and John set up housekeeping in New Brunswick in their home on Burnet Street. At the outbreak of the Revolution he was in the shipping business with his uncle, James Neilson, at New Brunswick, their vessel trading with Belfast, Lisbon, Madeira and the West Indies. James Neilson, then seventy-five years old, was a member of the committee of correspondence, and officially received and despatched the messenger who brought the news of the battle of Lexington. By 1775, the 30 year old John, , John threw himself with all his heart into the struggle for American freedom and raised a company, of which he was chosen captain, July, 1775. Of interest is the fact that during the winter of 1777, General Sir William Howe, the British commander, made his headquarters in Colonel Neilson's house on Burnet Street.

Such was the public appreciation of Colonel Neilson's ability and patriotism that he was urged early in 1776 to take a seat in the Continental Congress of that year, which was to take under consideration the grave measure of the Declaration of Independence. His presence in his native State being deemed so necessary, he was led to decline the honor. A copy of the Declaration of Independence, however, was forwarded to him by Congress, and he was solicited to use his efforts for it to receive a favorable reception in his part of New Jersey. A meeting consisting of a large portion of the inhabitants of New Brunswick was held in the public streets to hear the document read, and a violent opposition was feared. Colonel Neilson, fearless of personal danger, read the instrument to the people, and at its conclusion was greeted with loud cheers by so great a majority that the opponents of the measure did not dare to avow themselves.

After the war he succeeded to the property and business of his uncle (who died in 1783), and carried on an extensive trade with Lisbon, Maderia, and the West Indies. He was still, however, called upon for services to the public; he was delegate to the State Convention called to consider the adoption of the Federal Constitution, and of its forty members was the last survivor; he was one of the commissioners to build bridges over the Hackensack, Passaic and Raritan rivers; established business interests in shipping by adding turnpikes and canals for the transport of freight and passengers to the family businesses.

Catherine & James were members of the New Brunswick Presbyterian Church, where James was an elder and Clerk of the Session for 50 years. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of Rutgers College from 1782, until his death, which would start the long-standing relationship, and financial generosity, between the Neilson family and the College.

In 1800 and 1801 Brig. Gen. James Neilson represented New Brunswick in the state assembly, after which he retired from public life. John was now 56 and Catherine 48, when they settled down to a quieter life out of the public eye.

Their solitude lasted about 15 years until Catherine Van Voorhees Neilson died on August 2, 1816 at age 62. Her husband of almost 48 years survived her some 16 plus years, passing on March 3, 1833 at the advanced age of 88 years.

It was said of the Neilson's that General Washington never passed through New Brunswick without calling on them, and Lafayette, at the time of his visit to this country in 1824, presented him with a sword, and evinced the warmest pleasure in seeing him again.

The legacy and richness of the Neilson family would continue through Catherine & James' surviving children, and would leave a lasting imprint on the City of New Brunswick.

As for her surviving children, son John Nielson III (1775-1857) became a physician in New York City and married Abigail Bleecker of Morristown. They were parents of 12 known children. John & Abigail owned Vault #40 at the Marble Cemetery in New York City and are believed to have originally be buried there; but their bodies were moved to New Brunswick, NJ in 1905 an re-interred at Elmwood Cemetery where two of their sons are also buried. (Two of their daughters are known to buried in the Marble Cemetery in NYC.)

Son, Samuel Staats Neilson died at sea at age 20, on board the ship Java in 1810.

Col. James Neilson & Abraham Schuyler Neilson are both buried here in Willow Grove with their wives.

Daughter Catherine Schuyler Neilson (1783-1860) married Dr. Augustus FitzRandolph Taylor Sr. (1782-1840), son of Col. John Taylor of the Revolution who became a teacher after the war at the Academy at Schenectady, NY, which later became Union College. Dr. Taylor was appointed Health Office when the Asiatic cholera broke out in 1832 and launched a monumental effort to save the affected and dying. Her husband (and later her son, Dr. A. F. Taylor Jr.) were both Mayors of New Brunswick. She was mother to 6 children. Catherine was widowed in 1840, and died in 1860 at age 77. Her burial location is not known.

Daughter, Gertrude Neilson (1780-1863) married Rev. George Spofford Woodhull of Pennsylvania, and was with him in Matawan, NJ when she was widowed in 1834. She had 4 children, and 2 of her sons became prominent physicians in Princeton and are buried in Princeton Cemetery. Gertrude lived in Princeton following her husband's death, and her sister, Joanna Neilson (1786-1858, who never married, joined her there. Joanna died in 1858, at age 72. Gertrude died in 1863, at age 83. It is believed both sisters are buried in Princeton Cemetery.