Beekman family

The Beekman family (sometimes spelled Beeckman) is a family of Dutch descent that was prominent during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries in the area now known as the state of New York. Members of this family played a critical role in the formation of the United States and served as leaders in business, politics and society.

Beekman
CountryUnited States
Place of originNetherlands
Connected familiesLivingston family
Stuyvesant family
Van Cortlandt family
Bayard family
MottoMens conscia Recti

History

Mount Pleasant, the James Beekman mansion in Manhattan (from Valentine's Manual, 1860)

The name Beekman is from "beck," the Dutch word for "mouth," the English "beak," or an abbreviation of "bekken," the Dutch word for basin. "According to Putnam's Historic New York, 'Beekman or the man of the brook; this interpretation of the name was recognized by heralds during the reign of King James I of England when the arms granted to the Rev. Mr. Beekman, grandfather of William, as a coat of arms, a rivulet running between roses." The crest is three feathers on a helmet of steel represented in profile. The motto is: Mens conscia Recti."[1]

The progenitor of the American Beekmans, Wilhelmus Beekman of Overijssel, came to New Amsterdam in the Dutch province of New Netherlands in 1647. The Beekman estates were in Flatbush, Long Island. His ancestors were residents of the country of the Rhine, and a branch of the family were Barons of Belgium. Wilhelmus' grandfather, Cornelius Beekman, was a wealthy burgher of Cologne, who resided on the Rhine in Germany.[1]

Notable members

Family tree

Beekman family members[3][4]
  • Rev. Gerardus Beekman (1558–1625) m. Agnes Stunning (1557–1614)[1]
    • Martin "Hendrick" Beekman (1585–1642) m. (1) Gertruyd Gommersbach (1589–1619) m. (2) 1621: Maritje "Mary" Baudartius (1600–1630); m. (3) Alida Ottenbeek (b. 1605)[1]
      • Gerardus Beekman (1622–1678) m. Joanna Plautius[1]
      • Wilhelmus Beekman (1623–1707) m. 1649 Catalina de Boogh[1]
        • Maria Beekman (1650–1679) m. Nicholas William Stuyvesant[1]
        • Hendrick Beekman (1652–1716) m. Jannetje "Johanna" (née de Loper) Davidson (1650–1743)[1]
        • Gerardus Beekman (1653–1723) m. 1677: Magdalena Abeel (c. 1662–1745)
          • Divertje "Deborah" Beekman (1674–1737) m. Theunis Hendricksen Wiltse (1674–1741)
          • William Beekman (1684–1770) m. Catharine Delanoy (1691–1765)
            • James Beekman (1732–1807) m. 1752: Janneke "Jane" Keteltas (1734–1817)[17]
              • Abraham Keteltas Beekman (1756–1816) m. Johanna Beekman[18]
              • James Beekman Jr. (1758–1837) m. Lydia Watkins Drew[19]
              • Jane Beekman (b. 1760) m. Stephen Van Cortlandt[20]
              • Catharine "Caty" Beekman (b. 1762) m. Elisha Boudinot[21]
              • Mary Beekman (b. 1765) m. Stephen N. Bayard[22]
              • John Beekman (1768–1843) m. Mary Elizabeth Goad Bedlow (1771–1848)
              • Gerard Beekman (1774–1833) m. Catharine Saunders (1785–1835)[17]
          • Adrian Beekman (1682–1705) m. Aletta Lispenard (c. 1686–1705)
          • Gerardus Beekman (1693–1746) m. (1): Anna Maria van Horne (1696–1726); m. (2) 1727: Catharine Provoost
            • Gerardus Garret Beekman (1719–1796) m. Anna van Horne (1726–1746)
              • Gerardus Garret Beekman Jr. (1746–1822) m. 1772: Cornelia Van Cortlandt (1753–1847)[30]
                • Ann Beekman (1778–1857) m. 1803: Frederick de Peyster (1758–1834)
        • Cornelia Beekman (1655–1679) m. 1674: Isaac Van Vleck
        • Johannes Beekman (1656–1751) m. Aeltje Thomas Popinga
          • Thomas Beekman (1689–1759) m. Maria Wynkoop (1693–1758)
            • Johannes Beekman (1723–1792) m. Lydia Van Keurew (c. 1729–1795)
              • John J. Beekman (1761–1795) m. Annatje Pruyn
      • Marteen Hendricksz Beekman (1624–1711) m. Susanna Janz Labattie
        • Hendrick Beekman (1645–c. 1735) m. Annetje Quackenbosch
          • Susanna Beekman m. Tunis Jans Van Middleswaert (1682–1742)
          • Maria Beekman (1697–1744) m. Pieter Fonda (b. 1697)
        • Johannes Beekman (1657–1732)[32] m. (1) Machtelt Schermerhorn; m. (2) Eva Vinhagen[33]
          • Johannes Beekman Jr. (1684–1741)[34] m. 1714: Esther Wendell (b. 1686)[35]
          • Jacob Beekman (1685–1739)[36] m. 1714: Debora Hansen
          • Maritje "Mary" Beekman (b. 1692) m. 1710: Arnout Schermerhorn (1686–1749)
          • Martin Beekman (1695–c. 1755) m. 1721: Geertruy Visscher[39]
            • Johannes Beekman (1722–1790) m. (1) 1754: Maria Nicolls; m. (2) 1764: Elizabeth Douw[40]
            • Eva Beekman (1734–1803) m. Abraham Schuyler (1735–1812)
          • Hendrick Beekman (1707–1755) m. Annetje "Anna" Swits (b. 1712)
            • Johannes Beekman (1738–1794) m. Hendrickje van Buren (b. c. 1746)
              • Henry Beekman (1774–1857)[41] m. Catherine McPhaedris Livingston (1789–1863)

Gallery

See also

References