Maria Gansevoot Hun

Maria Gansevoot was born in February 1778. She was the first child born to the marriage of Leendert (Leonard Jr.) and Maria Van Rensselaer Gansevoort. She grew up in a large family with homes in the heart of Albany and in the Van Rensselaer countryside.

In September 1796, she was only eighteen when she married her somewhat older neighbor Abraham Hun at the Albany Dutch church. The marriage may have produced five children.

These Huns made their home in the Hun family home on Market Street from where Abraham practiced law while the couple appeared ready to take their place in Albany society.

However, Abraham Hun died of tuberculosis in January 1812. A year earlier, he had made Maria co-executor of his estate. At that time, two of her children were still alive. In 1813, Maria was listed in the first city directory as a widow living at 112 Market Street.

However, Maria Gansevoot Hun died in October 1813. She had succumbed to tuberculosis as well. Maria had lived a short twenty-five years. The two surviving Hun children were raised by her parents who moved into the Gansevoort house located next door.

Sources: The life of Maria Gansevoot Hun is CAP biography number 4695. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.