The Only Known Letter by Martin Van Buren Discussing His Wife Hannah While She was Still Living

(New York), March 18, 1818. Bifolium, 13 x 7 3/4 in. (330 x 196 mm). Autograph letter, signed by Martin Van Buren to Dr. Lucas Elmendorf describing his wife's health. In part: "Mrs. V.B. continues distressingly sick the physicians on consultation this morning report her symptoms favourable & I feel a lively hope that by Wednesday she will be in a situation that I can leave her...The fatigue & anguish I have undergone has been most distressing. Mrs. V.B. has for the most part been very delirious, during which she would for long periods hang round my neck & bemoan the fate of her children in the most heart rending strains..." Addressed on verso by Van Buren. Creasing from old folds, scattered small separations along same; top and lower margins toned; scattered foxing; paper loss to final leaf from wax seal. Accompanied by a small printed portrait of Van Buren. Published in the Papers of Martin Van Buren, digitized by Cumberland University.

A revealing and unique correspondence: the only known extant letter written by future President Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) discussing the condition of his wife Hannah, who would die a year later from tuberculosis.

Martin Van Buren and Hannah Hoes were childhood sweethearts, growing up together in Kinderhook, New York, where they were raised by close-knit Dutch families, and taught English as a second language. They were married in 1807 in Catskill and had four children that survived to adulthood. Hannah contracted tuberculosis and died on February 5, 1819. The couple very clearly had a close and affectionate relationship, as seen through Martin's distressing "fatigue and anguish" referenced here over her condition. Van Buren never remarried, becoming one of the only Presidents to ascend to the office as a widow. During his term, he relied on his daughter-in-law Angelica to assume the duties of First Lady.

Very little is known about Hannah due to her untimely death, and the fact that no letters between the couple are known to survive. Martin Van Buren even omitted any mention of his deceased wife in his official autobiography, believing it improper to reference her in such a public capacity. A contemporary obituary published in the Albany Journal described Hannah as "...Modest and unassuming, possessing the most engaging simplicity of manners, her heart was the residence of every kind affection, and glowed with sympathy for the wants and sufferings of others. Her temper was uncommonly mild and sweet; her bosom was filled with benevolence and content; no love of show, no ambitious desires, no pride of ostentation ever disturbed its peace..."

An excessively rare, unique, and revealing letter. We can locate no other example of a letter by Martin Van Buren mentioning his wife while she was still alive.