Catharina Bensen Broadhurst
by
Stefan Bielinski


According to later documents, Catharina Bensen/Bensing was born in New Netherland about 1657. She was the daughter of New Netherland pioneers Dirck and Catharina Bercx Bensing. Her father was a carpenter from Groningan. He died about 1659 and her mother re-married.

In May 1663, she was one of five children named in the joint will filed by her mother and her new husband. At that time, she was said to have been six years old.

Her first husband was Reynier Schaets - who was killed in the attack on Schenectady in February 1690. In April 1797, she married English-ancestry newcomer Jonathan Broadhurst at the Albany Dutch church. Their son was christened in Albany in September 1700.

After that, the name of Catharina Bensen Schaets Broadhurst dropped from Albany rolls.

biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Catharina Bensen Broadhurst is CAP biography number 7322. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




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first posted: 4/30/05; updated 12/15/12