Catharina Ten Broeck Hansen

Catharina Ten Broeck was born in January 1717. She was the daughter of Johannes Ten Broeck and his second wife, Catharina Van Rensselaer Ten Broeck. She grew up in a large family in her father's first ward home.

In July 1738, she married widower Ryckert Hansen at the Albany Dutch church. By 1754, the marriage had produced ten children who were christened at the Albany church where she was a member and pewholder.

This Hansen family lived in the third ward where Ryckert's fortunes continued to decline down to his death during the mid-1760s. With meager resources, Catharina was left to raise her children by calling on family connections.

In 1770, she was given a share of the cross river ferry in conjunction with former officer Thomas Lottridge. Aided by her son, Dirck, she held that license until her death during the 1780s.

Sources: The life of Catharina Ten Broeck Hansen is CAP biography number 14. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.