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Maria
Conyn Gansevoort
Maria Conyn was the wife of Harmen Harmanse and the matriarch of the Albany Gansevoort family! She was the daughter of Beverwyck brewer Philip Leendertse Conyn and his wife, Agnietie Conyn.
As
she lived until 1743, she probably was born about
1650 - making her at least fifteen years younger
than her husband. Their marriage during the 1670s
may have produced as many as twelve children who
further established the family in Albany. Like most
of her family, Maria probably was a member of the
Albany Dutch church where she witnessed a number
of baptisms.
Wife
and mother, in 1678 she appeared in court to argue
a case on behalf of her husband. By that time, these
Gansevoorts had become Albany mainstays as Harmen
Harmanse successfully followed her father in the
brewing business.
Harmen
Harmanse died in 1708 "a very old man!" In 1709, Maria's name appeared on the assessment roll as the owner of substantial property in the third ward.
Maria
Conyn Gansevoort's long life came to a close in January
1743. She was buried in the Albany Dutch church cemetery!
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Sources: The life of Maria Conyn Gansevoort is CAP biography
number 7699. This profile is derived chiefly from
family and community-based resources.
Maria's marriage is more thoughtfully considered in The Gansevoorts of Albany,
pp. 25-27.
By Stefan Bielinski, Colonial Albany Social History Project [http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany]
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