B. 1 Feb 1719 in New Utrecht, New York
M. 10 May 1742 in (possibly) Dutchess County, New York
Wife: Sarah Terhune
D. (possibly) 4 Aug 1793 in Somerset County, New Jersey
Like many other males in his extended family, Adrian Hegeman was named for his great-grandfather, who was the first of the family to settle in America. By 1760, there were something like 15 men who had the same name, creating confusion for genealogists for years to come.
The Adrian Hegeman of this biography was born on February 1, 1719 in New Utrecht, New York, part of present-day Brooklyn. His father was also named Adrian, and his mother was only known as Sarah. He was the oldest of their six children, and had four half-siblings from his father’s previous marriage.
Adrian got married on May 10, 1742 to Sarah Terhune, a 21-year-old woman whose origins are unknown. The wedding was said to have taken place in Dutchess County, but the source for this is unclear. Within two years, the couple had settled in Somerset County, New Jersey, where other members of Adrian’s extended family were already living. Their first child was born in March of 1744, and by 1756, they had four more. The three youngest children were baptized at Harlingen, the main Dutch Reformed Church in Somerset County during the mid-18th century.
It can be assumed that Adrian became a part of the Dutch community in Somerset County, but there seems to be no significant records of him beyond the baptisms of his children. At age 58, he was too old to be a soldier in the American Revolution, which happened nearby. During much of 1777, Washington’s army was camped in central New Jersey, and it’s likely that Adrian could hear the distant sounds of battle from his home.
Adrian is thought to have died on August 4, 1793 in Somerset County, New Jersey. It’s believed that his wife survived him, and passed away in 1799.
Children:
1. Sarah Hegeman — B. 13 Mar 1744, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. about Oct 1820, Hillsborough, New Jersey; M. Peter Abraham Dumont (1734-1818), 23 Feb 1763, Somerset County, New Jersey
2. Alche Hegeman — B. 27 Jul 1749, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. 13 Jun 1816, (probably) New Jersey; M. Jacob Vandeventer (1739-1810)
3. Adrian Hegeman — B. 12 Nov 1751, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. 3 May 1809, (probably) New Jersey
4. Anne Hegeman — B. 7 Sep 1754, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. 31 Mar 1774, (probably) New Jersey
5. Derick Hegeman — B. 20 Apr 1756, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. 18 Oct 1776, (probably) New Jersey
Sources:
Genealogy page of John Blythe Dobson
WikiTree
Hageman-Pendleton Genealogy, Ora E. Burnett and Ethel Millies, 1985
Military pension file of Christopher & Sarah Van Arsdalen, Somerset County, New Jersey, 1832-1843
Adrian’s Descendants Pt. 3, Genealogy.com, James LaLone, 2000
