Johannes "John" Jacobse Beekman (August 8, 1733 – December 17, 1802) was a

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politician and businessman of Dutch descent. He served as

Mayor of Albany, New York From its formal chartering on 22 July 1686 until 1779, the mayors of Albany, New York, were appointed by the royal governor of New York (state), New York, per the provisions of the original city charter, issued by Governor Thomas Dongan. From 1 ...

and a member of the

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Early life

Beekman was born on August 8, 1733. He was the youngest of six children born to Debora ( Hansen) Beekman and Jacob Beekman (1685–1739), an Albany businessman and blacksmith. His sister, Debora Beekman, married Gerrit Staats. His paternal grandparents were Johannes Beekman, who was married to Machtel ( Schermerhorn) Beekman. His aunt, Maritje "Mary" Beekman, was the wife of Arnout Schermerhorn (grandparents of merchant

Peter Schermerhorn Peter Schermerhorn (October 1, 1749 – January 28, 1826) was an American merchant and landowner in New York City. He was the father of Abraham Schermerhorn and the paternal grandfather of Caroline Schermerhorn Astor. Early life Schermerhorn ...

and great-grandparents of Abraham Schermerhorn).

Career

Beekman was a successful merchant who was one of the wealthiest Albany landowners. In 1756, he was appointed firemaster. In 1763, he was elected Assistant Alderman in the second ward. After several years as assistant Alderman, he was elected Alderman in September 1775. Beekman also served in the Albany County militia becoming a lieutenant by 1768. Early in Revolutionary War, Beekman supported the

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and signed the "General Association" in 1776. He represented the second ward as an involved member of the Albany

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. When Albany government resumed operations in 1778, he was again chosen as Alderman for the Second Ward, serving for several years. Beekman was elected to represent Albany in the

in 1780 for the 4th New York State Legislature and in 1782 for the 6th New York State Legislature. During his time in the Assembly, he was active in Indian diplomacy. He was appointed mayor of Albany in June 1783, coinciding with the end of the War as Beekman. He served as Mayor until October 1786 when he was succeeded by John Lansing Jr. In 1784, he was a regent of the

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Personal life

On November 22, 1759, he married Maria Janse Sanders (1740–1794), the eldest daughter of John Sanders and Debora ( Glen) Sanders of

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. Maria's sister, Margaret, married

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Killian K. Van Rensselaer. As Johannes was the only surviving son in his family, he inherited his father's house at 52 North Pearl Street in Albany's second ward. Together, they were the parents of: * Jacob Beekman (1761–1817), who married Ann McKinney. * Deborah Beekman (1763–1791), who married John De Peyster Douw, son of Mayor Volkert P. Douw and grandson of Mayor Johannes de Peyster III, in 1787. * Barent Sanders Beekman (1767–1767), who died young. * Machtel "Matilda" Beekman (1768–1837), who married Douw Jacob Fonda (1769–1842) in 1794. * Sarah Beekman (1771–1792), who died unmarried. * Evje "Effie" Beekman (1774–1792), who died unmarried. * John Sanders Beekman (1781–1845), who died young. His wife died on November 2, 1794. Beekman died in Albany on December 17, 1802.

Descendants

Through his daughter Deborah, he was a grandfather of Volkert Peter Douw (1790–1869).

References

External links

Guide to the Beekman Family Papers: 1652-1937
at the

New-York Historical Society The New York Historical (known as the New-York Historical Society from 1804 to 2024) is an American history museum and library on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. The society was founded in 1804 as New York's first museum. It ...

. * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ten Broeck, Abraham 1733 births 1802 deaths 18th-century mayors of places in New York (state) Mayors of Albany, New York Members of the New York State Assembly 18th-century members of the New York State Legislature