Mary Martin Van Wie

by


Mary Martin was born in February 1749. She was the first child born to the marriage of Peter and Elizabeth Burns Martin. Her father died in 1755 and was buried in Albany. A half century earlier, her soldier grandfather first came to Albany to serve at the fort.

About 1772, she married Rensselaerswyck native Hendrick Van Wie. By 1790, six or seven of their children were christened at the Albany Dutch church.

This Van Wie family lived in the first ward - probably between Court Street and the river. Her husband was a carpenter who also performed services for the city government. In 1790, their household included eight family members and two slaves.

Henry Van Wie died in October 1795. Following his passing, Mary relocated to the outer part of the second ward where the "widow of Hendrick Van Wie" owned a modest house and lot on Fox Street. In 1800, her household included eight young people - the slaves were gone. By that time, Widow Mary had become impoverished. Over the next two years, she received regular but small alms from the Dutch church. At this point, we have not connected her to the municipal poor list.

Widow Mary Martin Van Wie was fifty-two when she died in May 1801 and was buried "gratis" by the Dutch church.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Mary Martin Van Wie is CAP biography number 6577. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.





first posted: 3/10/08