Edwin Brockholst Livingston


Edwin Brockholst Livingston was an amateur historian. His lifetime work was the research and publication of the genealogy of the Scottish Livingston family of Callendar, and the offshoots of the family that sought their fortune in colonial America. These included, Robert “the Founder”, Governor William Livingston of New Jersey and his brother Philip who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Judge Robert R. Livingston of Clermont and his son, plus Edward Livingston, the friend and adviser of Andrew Jackson.

Early life

Livingston was born on August 17, 1852 in New York City. He was the son of Jasper Livingston and Mary Livingston. His grandfather was Jasper Hall Livingston from Jamaica who had married Eliza Livingston, the daughter of judge Henry Brockholst Livingston from his first marriage to Catherine Keteltas.

Career

Edwin Brockholst Livingston was a shipping insurance broker living in London.
The first publication of Edwin’s research was limited to the early history of the family in Scotland. It was titled: The Livingstons of Callendar, and their Principal Cadets - a Family History, revised and republished in 1921. Edwin continued his research, corresponding widely including an exchange of letters with Theodore Roosevelt.
In 1910, Edwin published the next edition of his work titled: The Livingstons of Livingston Manor: being the history of that branch of the Scottish house of Callendar which settled in the English province of New York during the reign of Charles the Second; and also including an account of Robert Livingston of Albany, "The Nephew," a settler in the same province, and his principal descendants. In 1920, he published The Livingstons of Callendar and their Principal Cadets: the History of an Old Stirlingshire Family.
Edwin’s final publication was in 1927 titled: The Captain of Stirling Castle James Livingston, in collaboration with James Livingston.

Personal life

On October 5, 1875, Edwin married Alice Mary Power in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg. She was the daughter of Irish politician Maurice Power, who served as a Member of Parliament for Cork and the Lieutenant General for St Lucia, and Catherine Power. Through her mother, Alice was a granddaughter of Judge Livingston. Together, they were the parents of:
Livingston died at his daughter Cornelia's residence, Château de Montalègre in Versols-et-Lapeyre, France near Geneva, on May 14, 1929.