by Stefan Bielinski Catharina Van Deusen was born about 1748. She probably was the daughter of Cornelis and Lea Ostrander Van Deusen. In April 1771, her marriage to William Groesbeck was proclaimed from the pulpit of St. Peter's Anglican church. By 1784, the marriage had produced six children who were christened at the Albany Dutch church. These Groesbecks lived on the North side of Albany in a number of residences along the course of Foxes Creek. Perhaps Groesbeck earned a living as clerk of the Dutch church. In 1797, their church-owned house on Dock Street was destroyed during fire that ravaged that area of the city. Catharina Van Deusen Groesbeck lost her husband in 1802. He had lived less than fifty years. In 1802, the Albany assessment roll identified her as a widow and stated that she owned a house and lot on Orange Street and a lot on Steuben Street. Subsequently, the city directory called her a widow living in a house at 78 Fox Street in 1816. She died in November 1821 at the age of seventy-three. Sources: The life of Catharina Van Deusen Groesbeck is CAP biography number 5511. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.
first posted: 10/30/05 |