Page "Martin Van Buren" Paragraph 9

Van Buren married Hannah Hoes, his childhood sweetheart and first cousin once removed, on February 21, 1807, in Catskill, New York.

Like Van Buren, she was raised in a Dutch home and never lost her distinct Dutch accent.

The couple had five sons and one daughter: Abraham ( 1807 – 1873 ) a graduate of West Point and career military officer ; John ( 1810 – 1866 ), graduate of Yale and Attorney General of New York ; Martin, Jr. ( 1812 – 1855 ), secretary to his father and editor of his father's papers until a premature death from tuberculosis ; Winfield Scott ( born and died in 1814 ); and Smith Thompson ( 1817 – 1876 ), an editor and special assistant to his father while president.

Their daughter was stillborn.

After 12 years of marriage, Hannah Van Buren contracted tuberculosis and died on February 5, 1819, at the age of 35.

Martin Van Buren never remarried.