M. 7 Mar 1649 in Amsterdam, Holland1
Wife: Catherina Margetts
D. 1672 in Flatbush, New York2
Brooklyn, New York was founded by the Dutch in the 17th century, but except for some street names, it’s hard to find any remembrance of its original settlers. An exception to this was Adrian Hegeman, who remarkably has a school named after him, and a prominent plaque in his honor on another school.
So who was Adrian? He was born in Elburg, Holland in about 1624, the son of Reverend Hendrick Hegeman.1 By 1649, Adrian worked as a silk weaver and lived on Egelantier Street in Amsterdam.1 On March 7, 1649, he married Catharina Margetts,1 the daughter of an Englishman. They had eight children who were born between 1651 and 1665.
In about 1652, Adrian moved his family to the Dutch colony in America.3 The motivation for his move is unknown. By March 1653, Adrian was living in New Netherland; this is evident from the baptism of his third child.3 It’s thought that he settled in what is now Flatbush soon after his arrival. This was an area of farms, and in April 1661, Adrian purchased some Flatbush land.4
Adrian's 1661 land deed.
Adrian became a prominent landowner in the area. During his lifetime, he acquired more than 350 acres of land and became one of the largest property owners in Flatbush. He was a magistrate there in 1654-58, 1660 and 1663, and was secretary and schout (sheriff) of the five towns of Kings County in various years between 1659 and 1671.3
Perhaps Adrian’s greatest achievement was that he helped to establish the Flatbush Reformed Dutch Church and School.5 He became directly involved with the school as its first teacher starting in 1659 and continuing for the rest of his life.A bronze plaque honoring him as a teacher is attached to Erasmus Hall High School in the general area of where the old school once stood. A public elementary school is also named in his honor in the vicinity of where his farm and homestead were located.
Perhaps Adrian’s greatest achievement was that he helped to establish the Flatbush Reformed Dutch Church and School.5 He became directly involved with the school as its first teacher starting in 1659 and continuing for the rest of his life.A bronze plaque honoring him as a teacher is attached to Erasmus Hall High School in the general area of where the old school once stood. A public elementary school is also named in his honor in the vicinity of where his farm and homestead were located.
Adrian died in Flatbush in 1672 at the age of 48.2 He was buried in the cemetery of the church he helped found.
Plaque on school in Flatbush honoring Adrian
Children:
1. Hendrick Hegeman — B. before 13 Apr 1649, Amsterdam, Netherlands;6 M. Ariaentje Bloodgood (1660-?), 26 Apr 1685, Flatlands, New York7
2. Joseph Hegeman — B. before 15 Jan 1651, Amsterdam, Netherlands;8 D. about 1725;3 Femmetje Rems van der Beeck (1657-?), 21 Oct 1677, Flatlands, New York7
3. Jacobus Hegeman — B. before 9 Mar 1653;7 D. before 29 Jan 1741, (probably) Flatbush, New York;7 M. Jannetje Ariens (1660-?), 14 Oct 1683, Flatbush, New York9
4. Denys Hegeman — B. about 1658, (probably) Flatbush, New Netherland;7 D. about 1702, New York;10 M. Grace Dollen (1659-1732), about 1680, Maine7
5. Benjamin Hegeman — B. about 1660, (probably) Flatbush, New Netherland;3 M. Barentje Jansen, 9 Apr 16803
6. Abraham Hegeman — B. about 1662, (probably) Flatbush, New Netherland;7 D. after 15 Jun 1720, (probably) New York;7 M. Geertruydt Jans, after 30 Aug 1690, Flatbush, New York7
7. Elizabeth Hegeman — B. about 1665, (probably) Flatbush, New York;7 M. Tobias Ten Eyck (~1653-?), 27 Apr 1684, Flatbush, New York7
8. Isaac Hegeman — B. about 1656, New Netherland;7 M. Marytje Roelofse Schenck, 15 Feb 16877
Sources:
1 Marriage record of Adrian Hegeman and Catherine Margetts, Netherlands, Noord-Holland Province, Church Records, 1523-1948, FamilySearch.org
2 Find-a-Grave listing for Adrian Hegeman
3 Register in alphabetical order of the early Settlers of Kings County, Long Island, New York, Teunis G Bergen, 1881
4 Deed image found in Adrian’s WikiTree listing
5 Plaque at Erasmus High School, Brooklyn, New York
6 Baptismal record of Hendricus Hegeman, Nederland, Indexen van de Archieven, Primaire Archiefstukken, 1600-2000, FamilySearch.org
7 Genealogy website of John Blythe Dobson
8 Baptismal record of Joseph Hegeman, N.I.v.d.A.
9 Marriage record of Jacobus Hegeman and Jannetje Ariens, New York Church Records, 1660-1954, FamilySearch.org
10 In August 1702, 6 guilders was paid for Denys Hegeman's shroud, Flatbush Church records
1 Marriage record of Adrian Hegeman and Catherine Margetts, Netherlands, Noord-Holland Province, Church Records, 1523-1948, FamilySearch.org
2 Find-a-Grave listing for Adrian Hegeman
3 Register in alphabetical order of the early Settlers of Kings County, Long Island, New York, Teunis G Bergen, 1881
4 Deed image found in Adrian’s WikiTree listing
5 Plaque at Erasmus High School, Brooklyn, New York
6 Baptismal record of Hendricus Hegeman, Nederland, Indexen van de Archieven, Primaire Archiefstukken, 1600-2000, FamilySearch.org
7 Genealogy website of John Blythe Dobson
8 Baptismal record of Joseph Hegeman, N.I.v.d.A.
9 Marriage record of Jacobus Hegeman and Jannetje Ariens, New York Church Records, 1660-1954, FamilySearch.org
10 In August 1702, 6 guilders was paid for Denys Hegeman's shroud, Flatbush Church records
