He was born September 5, 1736, the son of Sybrant Van Schaick, mayor of Albany New York, and Alida Roseboom. In 1758, he was a captain of New York levies in the attack on Fort Frontenac. From 1760 to 1762 he was lieutenant colonel of first the 2nd regiment of New York Provincials and then later the 1st regiment of New York Provincials.
He is most famous for his attack on the Onondaga Indian village where he burned their principal settlement together with provisions and stores, killed their cattle, and took 32 prisoners without a loss of a single man. Because the most militant warriors had already left, the villagers were mostly neutrals. The Onondagas accused the soldiers of raping and killing the women. On May 10, 1779, by act of the Continental Congress: "Resolved, that the thanks of Congress be presented to Colonel Van Schaik and the officers and soldiers under his command, for their activity and good conduct in the late expedition against the Onondagas".
He was appointed brevet brigadier general October 10, 1783 and he served until November, 1783.
He died July 4, 1789 in Albany.
References
Heitman, Francis B., Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution. New, enlarged, and revised edition., Washington, D.C.: Rare Book Shop Publishing Company, 1914
