Hannah Van Buren
Hannah Van Buren (née Hoes; March 8, 1783 – February 5, 1819) was the wife of the eighth President of the United States, Martin Van Buren. She died in 1819, before Martin Van Buren became president. He never remarried and was one of the few presidents to be unmarried while in office. During his term, his daughter-in-law, Angelica, performed the role of hostess of the White House and First Lady of the United States.
Hannah Van Buren | |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | Hannah Hoes (Goes) March 8, 1783 Kinderhook, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 5, 1819 (aged 35) Albany, New York, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Tuberculosis |
| Resting place | Kinderhook Cemetery |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Abraham, John, Martin Jr., Winfield, and Smith Van Buren |
Martin, aged 24, and Hannah, aged 23, married on February 21, 1807, at the home of the bride's sister in Catskill, New York. They had been childhood sweethearts and were first cousins once removed through his mother.
Biography
She was born in 1783 to Johannes Dircksen Hoes (1753–1789), and Maria Quakenbush (1754–1852) who were of Dutch ancestry. She was taught in a local Kinderhook school by master Vrouw Lange. Like Martin, she was raised in a Dutch home and never did lose her distinct Dutch accent. Van Buren was devoted to his shy, blue-eyed bride, whom he always called "Jannetje", a Dutch pet form of Johanna.
Their children were:
- Abraham Van Buren (1807–1873)
- John Van Buren (1810–1866)
- Martin "Matt" Van Buren, Jr. (1812–1855) – political aide to his father; later compiled his father's memoirs.
- Winfield Scott Van Buren (born and died in 1814)
- Smith Thompson Van Buren (1817–1876) – political aide to his father; later edited the Van Buren papers. His second wife was a niece of Washington Irving.
After twelve years of marriage, Hannah Van Buren contracted tuberculosis and died on February 5, 1819, at the age of 35.