Marriage and family

On September 19, 1785, Astor married Sarah Cox Todd (1762–1842), the daughter of Scottish immigrants Adam Todd and Sarah Cox.^[16] Although she brought him a dowry of only $300, she possessed a frugal mind and a business judgment that he declared better than that of most merchants. She assisted him in the practical details of his business,^[17] and managed Astor's affairs when he was away from New York.^[18]
They had eight children:

• Magdalena Astor (1788–1832), who m. 1st, September 14, 1807, Adrian Benjamin Bentzon (April 22, 1777-January 15, 1827); they had two children: Sarah Todd Bentzon (b. and d. 1813) and John Jacob Astor Bentzon (b. and d. 1818); div. 1819, m. 2nd, March 8, 1820, Rev. John Bristed (1778–1855), they had one child Charles Astor Bristed (1820–1874)
• Sarah Todd Astor (1790–1790), stillborn
• John Jacob Astor Jr. (1791–1869), sickly and mentally unstable
• William Backhouse Astor Sr. (1792–1875), who m. May 20, 1818 Margaret Alida Rebecca Armstrong (1800–1872); they had seven children including John Jacob Astor III (1822–1890) and William Backhouse Astor Jr. (1829–1892)
• Dorothea Astor (1795–1874), who m. September 24, 1812, Walter Langdon Sr. (1788-1847); they had 8 children
• Henry Astor II (1797–1799), died in infancy
• Eliza Astor (1801–1838), m. December 10, 1825, Count Vincent von Rumpff (1789–1867) (no issue)
• Unnamed stillborn son (1802–1802), died within a few days of being born