Geertruy Van Benthuysen Becker Parker Van Deusen
by
Stefan Bielinski


Geertruy Van Benthuysen was born about 1670. She was the daughter of Albany residents Paulus Martense and Catharina Van Kleeck Van Benthuysen.

She may have married three times. From information provided when she joined the Albany Dutch church in April 1693, her first husband would have been a man named "Becker." In February 1699, her marriage to city marshall James Parker was sanctioned by the Dutch church. That marriage appeared to have produced no children.

These Parkers lived in the first ward in a neighborhood settled by former garrison soldiers.

In December 1717, her Albany house was mentioned in the minutes of the city council. At that time, she was called a widow! In August 1718, she married Robert Teunis Van Deusen. The name of Geertruy Van Benthuysen Becker Parker Van Deusen has not been found in the community record after her third marriage!

If she did indeed marry an unprecedented three times, it may be telling us about the vulnerability of some widows in early Albany!

biography in-progress



notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Geertruy Van Benthuysen Becker Parker Van Deusen is CAP biography number 2318. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




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first posted: 3/20/04; revised 3/05