Catharina (Tryntie) Wessels was born in Europe about 1623. She was the daughter of Beverwyck baker Jochem Wessels and his wife Geertruy Hieronimus.

By 1642, she had become the wife of New Netherland pioneer Abraham Staats. In that year, she was nineteen years old. The marriage produced at least seven children who established the Staats name in New Netherland and New York.

Her family was prominent in Beverwyck/Albany but also owned a family farm across the Hudson and south of the city.

Abraham Staats probably died somewhat after naming Tryntie as his principal heir in the a will he filed in April 1683. Although she was not included in either of the two Staats households listed on the city census of 1697, perhaps Tryntie was living on the family farm across the Hudson on Staats Island! Her Albany property in the first ward was assessed substantially in 1702.

Tryntie Wessels Staats died in 1703 and was buried from the Albany Dutch church where she was a longtime member.

Sources: The life of Catharina/ Tryntie Wessels Staats is CAP biography number 6863. This profile is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.Interesting online exposition!