Elias Van Bunschoten was a lieutenant on the Canadian expedition in 1709, he survived, and later served in the second attempt on Canada in 1711.

He was made Lieutenant of the Militia at Kingston and served also as Captain of Dutchess County Militia, and later became a major.

He was a trustee and assessor in Dutchess County and was a very wealthy land owner. He was one of the first two deacons of the Poughkeepsie Church and later became an elder.