Ann Van Emburgh married Joseph Betts on July 7, 1825 at a service
provided over by Archibald McClay, a prominent Baptist minister in New York City. Born to Abram Van Emburgh, a celebrated officer in the Continental Army on October 6, 1803, she had a twin sister named Rachel who married into the Speer family of New Jersey. Due to Joseph's participation in the War of 1812 as a member of Capt. Jonathan Brook's 3rd Regiment of the US Artillery, upon his death Ann was eligible for a Widow's Pension.
She files her original application for her pension on August 9, 1879 and it was approved on October 14, 1979. The original pension amount approved for her care was $8 a month. Over the years, Ann was given various increases to go along with the cost of living. The money received seemed to help until Ann became old enough to need additional care.
At the age of 99, there was a letter written on Ann's behalf to
receive an increase in her pension to help cover her medical costs. On February 10, 1906, Congress approved H.R. 7878. This special act of Congress granted Ann Betts, the oldest living widow of the War of 1812, an increase to her monthly pension from $12 to $24.
Ann died months after Congress approved a doubling of her pension. At the ripe old age of 103, she died at the home of her granddaughter of peritonitis. Ann's death was widely reported and she was mourned by people throughout the country.