Hannah Van Buren

Hannah Hoes Van Buren (born 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.
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 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.
• 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 thirty-five.