Maria Bries was born in August 1693. She was the daughter of Albany natives Antony and Catharina Ryckman Bries. Her father died in 1704. Two years earlier, she had been named among the heirs to his estate. In July 1721, Maria married Cornelis Van Dyck at the Albany Dutch church. By 1731, the marriage had produced six children - all of whom were christened in Albany. These Van Dycks set up their home in the first ward and were Albany mainstays for several decades. Cornelis Van Dyck filed a will in March 1747. It left his estate to Maria and then to their son. Cornelis died two months later. Maria Bries Van Dyck lived another decade. She died in 1756 and was buried from the Albany church on April 8. notes
first posted: 6/20/05 |