General Notes

[Lin Stuhler July 2002.ged]

SOURCE:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/hvb8.html

"Hannah Hoe s Van Buren"

"Cousins in a close-knit Dutch community, Hannah Hoes and Mart in Van
Buren grew up together in Kinderhook, New York. Evidently he wanted to
establish his law practice before marrying his sweetheart--they were not
w ed until 1807, when he was 24 and his bride just three months younger.
Appare ntly their marriage was a happy one, though little is known of
Hannah as a pe rson.

Van Buren omitted even her name from his autobiography; a gentleman o f
that day would not shame a lady by public references. A niece who
remembe red "her loving, gentle disposition" emphasized "her modest, even
timid manne r." Church records preserve some details of her life; she
seems to have consi dered formal church affiliation a matter of
importance.

She bore a son in Kinderhook, three others in Hudson, where Martin served
as county surrogate; but the fourth son died in infancy. In 1816 the
family moved to the state ca pital in Albany. Soon the household included
Martin's law partner and three a pprentices; relatives came and went
constantly, and Hannah could return their visits. Contemporary letters
indicate that she was busy, sociable, and happy . She gave birth to a
fifth boy in January 1817.

But the following winter her health was obviously failing, apparently
from tuberculosis. Not yet 36, she died on February 5, 1819. The Albany
Argus called her "an ornament of the Christian faith."

Her husband never remarried; he moved into the White Hou se in 1837 as a
widower with four bachelor sons. Now accustomed to living in elegant
style, he immediately began to refurbish a mansion shabby from public use
under Jackson. Across Lafayette Square, Dolley Madison reigned as
matr iarch of Washington society; when her young relative-by-marriage
Angelica Sin gleton came up from South Carolina for a visit, Dolley took
her to the White House to pay a call.

Angelica's aristocratic manners, excellent education, and handsome face
won the heart of the President's eldest son, Abraham. They were married
in November 1838; next spring a honeymoon abroad polished her so cial
experience. Thereafter, while Abraham served as the President's private
secretary, Angelica presided as the lady of the White House. The only
flaw in her pleasure in this role was the loss of a baby girl. Born at
the White H ouse, she lived only a few hours. In later years, though
spending much time i n South Carolina and in Europe, Angelica and her
husband made their home in N ew York City; she died there in 1878.  Lived:
1783-1819"
(May 15, 2002   LCS S).

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SOURCE:  http://www.homeofheroes.com/presi dents/8_vanburen.html

"President Martin Van Buren"

"BORN:  December 5, 17 82
Kinderhook, New York - First President Born a U.S. Citizen
All previous P residents had been born in the American Colonies before
they became the Unite d States.
WIFE:  Hanna Hoes Van Buren (Died 1819)  Martin Van Buren never rem arried
and came to the White House a bachelor.  Dolley Madison Introduced Van
Buren's son Abraham to her second-cousin Angelica Singleton, who when
they had married, became the White House hostess under Martin Van Buren's
preside ncy.
CHILDREN:  Four sons
PROFESSION:  Attorney
POLITICAL PARTY:  Democrat ic
HOME STATE:  New York
POLITICAL OFFICES:  Attorney General of New York, U.S. Senator, Governor
(NY), Secretary of State,
Vice President
NICKNAME: "The Little Magician"
DIED:  July 24, 1862  (Age - 67)
BURIED:  Kinderhoo k, New York
"One of the gentlest and most amiable men I have ever met with."
Washington Irving
"A true man with no guile."  President Andrew Jackson"
(May 18, 2002   LCSS).