Margarita Douw Ten Eyck
by
Stefan Bielinski


Margarita Douw born in November 1740. She was the daughter of sloop captain Abraham Douw and his first wife, Lyntie Winne Douw. She was nine years old when her mother died in 1749. Margarita grew up taking charge of a household whose head often was sailing away from Albany.

In May 1767, she married Henry Ten Eyck, Jr. at the Albany Dutch church. At twenty-six, this "spinster" was four years older than her spouse. By 1785, the marriage had produced seven children.

These Ten Eycks lived on Pearl Street in Albany's second ward where Henry began to make his way as a merchant. Their lives changed when he was appointed sheriff of Albany County in 1770. As a royal official, he was in a precarious position as controversy became conflict during the 1770s.

Margarita Douw Ten Eyck was alive in 1790 and accounted for on the census. Her husband died in 1795. Perhaps she was still alive in 1809 and living with Widow Ann Mancius - her late husband's sister!

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notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Margarita Douw Ten Eyck is CAP biography number 2157. This profile is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




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first posted: 10/10/03