Willempie Hansen Van Schaick

by


Willempie Hansen was born in September 1754. She was the daughter of Isaac and Maria Bradt Hansen. She grew up as a younger child in the large family of a third ward shoemaker who died in 1758 at the age of forty-three. Willemptje's mother lived on for several decades in a house next to the widow's father and raised a number of children who would become Albany residents.

In January 1784, she married the much older Albany native Cornelis Van Schaick at the Albany Dutch church. Perhaps their only child was born in 1786 and named for her father-in-law. At that point, Cornelis Van Schaick would have been approaching his fiftieth birthday. However, they may have known eachother for much longer as Cornelis and "Willemje Hansen" were listed as sponsors together at a Hansen family christening in June 1771.

These Van Schaicks made their home on the east side of Pearl Street in Albany's second ward. Cornelis was the bellringer for Albany and the sexton at the Dutch church. In 1800, only Cornelis and Willempie were counted in this Van Schaick household as their only child had died a year earlier. After that, Cornelis's name was not evident in the community-based record.

In 1813, Willempie Hansen Van Schaick was identified as the head of household in the first city directory. The widow's address was given as 20 Steuben. After that, her name has not been encountered in the community-based record examined to date.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Willempie Hansen Van Schaick is CAP biography number 4991. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted: 9/30/11