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by Stefan Bielinski Elsie Ten Broeck was born in Albany about 1665. She was the first daughter and second of thirteen children born to city father Dirck Wesselse and Rensselaerswyck native Christina Van Buren Ten Broeck. Elsie grew up in Albany learning how to raise a large family and to accept the additional responsibilities that came with wealth and privilege. In November 1684, she married upwardly mobile merchant Johannes Cuyler. They set up their household in the Cuyler house on Pearl Street just up the hill from her parents' landmark State Street home. These Cuylers were outstanding early Albany people. Johannes was a prominent merchant, landholder, and public official. Between 1685 and 1709, Elsie gave birth to twelve children who were baptized in the Albany Dutch church where both parents were prominent members. Between 1688 and 1735, Elsie Cuyler witnessed more than three dozen baptisms. Johannes Cuyler died in 1740 but not before naming his wife of fifty-four years as his heir for her lifetime. She already had inherited property from her father's substantial estate. Elsie died on June 28, 1752 and was buried under the church. Seven of her children married members of the most successful early Albany families. Daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother of four Albany mayors, Elsie Ten Broeck Cuyler was an early Albany matriarch!
Children: Anna married Anthony Van Schaick, Jr. in 1712; Sara married Hans Hansen in 1725; Elsie married Hendrick Roseboom in 1724; Cornelis married Catalina Schuyler in 1726; Johannes married Catharina Wendell in 1727; Maria married Cornelis Ten Broeck in 1733; and Elizabeth married Jacob Glen in 1733! first posted: 01/15/02; last revised 9/03 |
