Margararita Van Woert was born in New Netherland during the 1640s. She was the daughter of pioneer settlers Marie Vigne and her husband Rutger Jacobse Van Woert (Schonderwoert). She grew up in the Hudson Valley where her father was a farmer, food processor, and property holder.

In 1667, Margarita married newcomer trader Jan Janse Bleecker. They made their home in Albany where Jan Janse prospered and became a driving force of the new city of Albany. Ten children born by 1692 established the Bleecker family in Albany for decades to come.

These Albany mainstays lived on Pearl Street and were prominent members of the Dutch church. Their long marriage of sixty-six years ended when Jan Janse died in 1732.

Margaret Van Woert Bleecker died less than a year later. In October 1733, she was buried with her husband beneath the Albany church one day before the birth of her eighteenth grandchild.

first posted 3/17/02