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- BEEKMAN "Metje Beekman, who married Jan Bebout [Jan Pietersz Bebout] as her second husband in 1690, was born in Albany, N.Y., the daughter of Martin Hendricksz Beekman, an immigrant to New Netherland in 1629. The following sketch of Martin Beekman and his family connects the Bebouts with America only seventeen years after the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, and nine years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock. Ten years after the Patroonship of Resselaerswyck was created the ship den Harnick arrived on July 7, 1629, at New Amsterdam (1) Among the 7 passengers was a German boy of 12 named Martin Hendricks. (2) He was born in Oldenborch in 1617 and came from Hamelworden, near Freiburg on the Elbe in Hanover. (3) He went up the Hudson River to Fort Orange where he was engaged for 6 years, beginning August 14, as a farm hand at fl.100 a year. (4) For 3 years and 8 1/2 months he worked for Michael Jansz. who in 1638 had come over with his wife and two servants, as a foreman farmer and later got into trouble for selling ammunition to the Indians. (5) Then he worked 2 years and 3 1/2 months for Cornelis Tenisz. of Breuckelen, who was laboring for the Patroon. (6) Then from Nov. 1, 1645 to March 1, 1646, he was in the service of Antony de Hooges. (7) by this time Father Isaac Jogues reported that Fort Orange consisted of 25 or 30 wooden houses and about 100 inhabitants. (8) Thus at the age of 19, with his passage obligations met, he was free to make his own way in the new settlement. He had come from the same place as Adam Roelandsen, the schoolmaster, and probably knew everybody on the Patroonship. Picking up such jobs as he could, he looked about for some opening in business. In 1648 he went to court to force Cornelis Tenuisz. to pay him back wages and won the suit. (9) The court also ordered Martin, within a month, to pay his debt to Willem Fredericksz. (10) He and Evert Pels in 1650 bought a brewery and gave their note on March 14 for fl.2400; but the next year they were sued for non-payment and ordered by the court to pay one-third within a month and the balance in February, 1652. (11) About 1651 Martin regarded himself as sufficiently prosperous to marry Susanna Jans, who was born in New England in 1634. (12) The court on Feb. 1, 1652, granted him a lot next to Jacob Simonsz. so that he could 'support himself by brewing.' (13) Business experience apparently made him cautious because on Oct. 14 he begged the court to release him from bail for Cornelisz. Vogel. (14) Confident of his business integrity the Deacons of the Dutch Reformed Church loaned him out of the Poor Fund 280 guilders on Aug. 18, 1652 and 130 guilders on Nov. 15, 1660. (15) In 1653 he was engaged in some building operation because Steven Jansz. on Feb. 18 sued him for money due for materials and carpenter work. (16) and he was ordered to pay the debt within 8 weeks according to the contract. (17) The next year, June 9, Steven sued him again for fl.46 for work on his house. Martin explained that Steven had 'quit the work which he had agreed to do' and had put him to unnecessary expense about two window frames. (18) The court appointed two arbiters who decided that Martin might deduct 11 guilders from the bill. (19) Jan Barentz Poest sued Martin on April 19, 1653, for 2000 bricks to build an oven (20) and the case was settled amicably. (21) Money due Pietersz Vosburg from Martin was attached by the court. (22) Earlier references to Martin call him a blacksmith (23) but no such designation has been found in the records, where he is described as 'the brewer,' 'de bierkracker,' and 'innkeeper.' With a brewery and a tavern he was a man of some importance in the community. He was credited with 26 weeks' board of Hans Vos, the court messenger. (24) But keeping a public house was found to have its difficulties then as now. Martin and his wife complained to the court on July 7, 1654, that Seeger Corlisz. with Jacob and Loosdreght, wanting a drink, knocked at their hotel door one evening and getting no answer kicked it in and called Martin and his wife vile names. (25) The case was postponed to hear witnesses but that was the end of it. (26) It may be that 'Hendrick Bierman' who on July 2, and Dec. 27, 1655, was paid 66 florins for 33 days work stringing seawan was the same Martin the Brewer, (27) who the same year at his request had his tax for building bridges cut down from 15 to 10 florins. (28) For several years life ran along uneventfully but 1657 was a year full of troubles. On May 1 Martin was called 'before all the magistrates' to be questioned about a stabbing affair in his tavern on April 19. (29) Herman Jacobsen brought suit against 'Susanna bierkackers' who defaulted on June 14. (30) Goosen Garritsen, the sheriff, told the court on August 20 that 'Susanna Jansses, wife of Martin, the bierkaecker' confessed to selling an Indian a kettle of 'strong liquors.' For this grave offense she was fined f1.500 and costs of the suit, and 'banished from this jurisdiction for the term of six years.' (31) But Susanna while confessing her guilt pleaded that she was moved to the deed 'by extreme poverty.' Her husband 'having double hernia' was 'unable to earn his living.' She was burdened with three small children and could buy food only with beavers. Hence she bought a beaver from an Indian for a mixture of three pints of beer with brandy and wine. She begged forgiveness 'in consideration of her youth and extreme poverty' and promised 'never to do so again.' (32) Her husband, quizzed by the court, sought in vain to defend his wife from the charges because she ws so insistent on pleading guilty. (33) She was condemned to pay a fine but the amount is not stated, (34) and the proceedings were dropped. (35) Meantime Martin appears to have come into possession of a piece of land in addition to his house and lot and brewery. (36) On July 9, 1658, Hermen Vedder haled 'Martin Bierkaecker' into court (37) and on July 16 the magistrates ordered 'Martin Hendricksz.' presumably the same man as the brewer, to pay a debt of fl.95.10 in beavers by August 1 'on pain of execution.' (38) Marcelis Jansen on October 15 also brought suit against him but he defaulted. (39) 'Hendrick, the Brewer' who was ordered to pay Storm Albertsen within 6 weeks the price of 8 beavers for which he became surety, (40) seems to be the same person as Martin. But 'Hendrick Martensen' who on July 23 said that his partner and not he owed Pieter Bronck 'fl.170 for beer and wine delivered,' (41) and on June 10, 1659, was ordered to pay f1.60 in seawan to Roeloff Swartout for another allotment of beer and wine, (42) may have been another man. Before the Fort Orange court appeared 15 of the eldest sachems of the Maquas on August 13, 1658 with 3 French to accompany them to Three Rivers to exchange these prisoners and to make peace. The court sent the town crier around to offer 100 guilders to any man who would volunteer for the service. Hendrick Martensen, a soldier, offered to go. The Indians were pleased and promised to bring him back in 40 days. He carried a letter from La Montagne, chief magistrate, (43) but he got lost at Three Rivers and his Indian companions were taken prisoners. (44) For some reason not made clear in the records Martin in 1659 sold a house and lot at Fort Orange at public auction, reserving his brewer's tools, payment to be made in three installments. (45) Two years later he was still keeping a tavern in Beverwyck. (46) On Oct. 3, 1661, he sold property in Fort Orange to Arien Symonsen (47) to whom he promised to pay 98 guilders in wampum by July, 1662. (48) There is a record of a debt of fl.272 Sept. 12, 1661, which may have been the reason for the sale. (49) In 1664 he owed 27 gulden in seawan to Gerrit Henry van Rei. (50) He reported to the court on Oct. 13, 1670, that his canoe had been stolen. (51) In November of the following year the Deacons of the Dutch Reformed Church paid 40 gulden to the 'husvrow' of 'Mart. Hendricksen' for a month's board of the child of Karsten de Noorman. (52) The eldest daughter of Martin the Brewer asked for help in August and his wife in Sept., 1673. (53) In Jan. 1675, Lisbet Jansen and Susanna Martense received 'abundant alms' from the church, (54) and in March Martin was mentioned. (55) On Aug. 16, 1676, Susanna on the order of the court was paid 6 beavers for the ward of her son by Hans Jansen, (56) and on Sept. 5 she was fined for sending her children to the houses of the Indians. (57) Martin died on June 18, 1677, because on June 19 Susanna told the court that her husband had just died leaving her with 8 children -- 3 needing food and clothes. He left her nothing and 'for a considerable time' the Deacons had supported him, her and the 3 youngest children. She asked to be freed from all debts. (58) To Martin Hendrickz. Beekman and his wife Susanna Janz. were born eight children and when she was left a widow at the age of 43 three of them were still so young that they had to be fed and clothed. The other five were old enough to take care of themselves and no doubt some of them were married. The following have been identified: 1. Johannes who married (1st) Machet Schermerhorn and (2nd) Eva Van Hagen. He was the father of 5 sons and 7 daughters. He owned land in the Kayaderosseras Patent. He made his will at Albany Dec. 16, 1728 and it was probated Dec. 2, 1732. (59) The sons were: John, Jacob, Maring, John Jansen, and Henry. The daughters were: Susanna, Jannetie, Hillens, Maritie, Johana, Alida and Neeltie. 2. Hendrick who married Anetye Quackenbach and lived at Schodack Landing near Albany. (60) 3. Metje who married (1st) Cornelis Van Der Hoeven, who was buried Jan. 10, 1689, (61) and (2nd) Jan Bebout. She had 4 children by her first husband and 4 by her second. (62) 4. Neeltje, 5. Martin After the death of Martin Susanna continued to live in Albany looking after her children the best way she could. That she guarded their welfare jealously is shown by the fact that on Sept. 7, 1680, she complained to the court that Jurisen Tenuise 'committed violence against her children' in the house of her son-in-law, Cornelis van der Hoeve, by beating them and tearing their clothes. He had to pay damages and costs. (63) She did not hestitate to labor in the harvest field because after her remarriage the court record states that 'Susanna Beeckman, wife of Arent Jacobs,' asked the magistrates on March 1, 1681, to force Cornelis Teunise to pay her 80 gulden in seawan for her husband's harvest work and for her thrashing. (64) It is not known how long she lived or when she died, but at the time of her second marriage she was only 47 years old." The Bebout Family In Flanders and North America, by Alexander C. Flick, 1943 Footnotes 1. Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, 821 2. Ibid., He testified in court in 1657 that he ws 30 and born in Oldenborch. Court Minutes Fort Orange and Beverwyck II, 68. Earlier accounts of his arrival give the erroneous date of 1638. these seem to be based on the compilation in Doc. Hist of N.Y. III. 3. Bowier Ms., 821 4. Ibid. 5. Ibid., 818, 821 6. Ibid., 821, 897. 7. Ibid., 821, 875. 8. Doc. Hist. of N.Y. IV, 16. 9. Court Minutes of Rensellaerswyck, 31. 10. Ibid. 11. Ibid., 162-63. 12. Susanna testified in court in 1657 that she was 23 and the mother of 3 small children. Ct. Min. Ft. O. and B., II, 68, 71-72. the Deacons Account Book shows that Lysbet Jans at Albany was her sister. N.Y.G.&B. Record, Vol. 68, p. 398. 13. Ct. Min. Rens., 183. 14. Ct. Min. Ft. Ft. O. and B., I, 40. 15. Munsell, Collections I,2. 16. Ct. Min. Ft. O and B., I, 55. 17. Ibid. 18. Ibid., 154. 19. Ibid., 155. 20. Ibid., 64. 21. Ibid. 22. Ibid., 58. March 18, 1653. 23. Munsell, Collections III, 21. N.Y.G.&B. Record Vol. 16, p. 133, Account of G.C. Beekman. 24. Bowier Ms., 821. 25. Ct. Min. Ft. O. & B., I, 168069. 27. Deacons Account Book 1652-64. Dutch Settlers Soc. Yearbook VIII, 6. 28. Ct. Min. Ft. O. & B. I, 169. 29. Ibid., II, 35, 39, 44. 30. Ibid., II, 43. 31. Ibid., 71. 32. Ibid., 71-72. 33. Ct. Min. Ft. O. & B. II, 68. 34. Ibid., 72. 35. Cal. of N.Y. Hist. Ms. Dutch 316. 36. Ibid., 102. 37. Ibid., 127. 38. Ibid., 133. 39. Ibid., 163. 40. Ibid., 153, 158, 159. Also called Henry Brouwer. 41. Ibid., 140-1. 42. Ibid., 190. 43. Ibid., 149-52. 44. Brodhead I, 650; Docs. Rel. to N.Y. Col. Hist. XIII,89. He may have taken a lot in Wiltwick in 1661, served as a soldier and was taken prisoner by the Indians. Ibid., 195, 202, 230, 246. See Doc. Hist. of N.Y. III, 535. 45. Early Records of Albany IV, 93. 46. Ibid., III, 68. 47. Albany Co. Court House Book 21 (175). 48. Early Albany Records III, 124, 128. 49. Ibid., 113. 50. Ibid., 304. 51. Ct. Min. A., R., and S., I, 190. 52. Munsell, Collections, I, 34. 53. Ibid., 36. 54. Ibid., 38. 55. Ibid., 38. 56. Ct. Min. A., R., and S., II, 138. 57. Ibid., 139. 58. Ibid., 248-49. 59. Cal. of Wills, Albany County, Nos. 62 and 247. 60. N.Y.G..&B. Records, Vol. 16, p. 133; Vol. 28, p. 156. 61. Ibid. 62. N.Y. Hist. Soc., 27:112. 63 Ct. Min. of A. r. & s., III, 35-36. 64. Ibid., 85. 67. NYSE, 1904, p. 48. 66. Ibid., 3, 12. 67. Ibid. 68. Ibid., p. 33. Source Bill Miles' Bebout Web Page
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My Genealogy Data
1617 - 1677 (60 years)
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