Catharina Witbeck Glen Douw
by
Stefan Bielinski


Catharina Witbeck was born during the first half of the seventeenth century. She was the daughter of New Netherland pioneers Jan Thomase and Geertruy Dochter Witbeck.

By the 1660s, she had married Albany trader Jacob Sanderse Glen. The marriage produced at least five children who established the Glen family name in early New York. These Glens lived on upper State Street where Jacob Sanderse was a prominent fur trader. They were members of the Albany Dutch church.

Catharina Witbeck Glen was pregnant when she lost her husband in 1685. By terms of his will, she was accorded use of his estate. In 1686, this widow acquired another lot in Albany. She was identified as the head of their first ward household in 1689.

In April 1696, she married widower Jonas V. Douw. These Douws lived in Rensselaerswyck. She died sometime thereafter. Douw lived until 1736!

biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Catharina Witbeck Glen Douw is CAP biography number 1708. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.



first posted: 7/10/05