When John Francis Ryerson was born on 15 December 1723, in Bergen, New Jersey, United States, his father, Fran Martense Ryerson, was 38 and his mother, Jannetje Dey, was 38. He married Maria Wessels about 1747, in New York City, New York, United States. They were the parents of at least 7 sons and 2 daughters. He died on 8 April 1798, in Dutch Kills, Queens, New York, United States, at the age of 74, and was buried in Long Island City, Queens, New York, United States.