M. (1) 15 Dec 1706 in Flatbush, New York1
Wife: Elizabeth Van Wyck
M. (2) before 1719 in (probably) New Utrecht, New York1
Wife: Sarah _______
D. before 28 Aug 1762 in (probably) Brooklyn, New York1
The roots of Brooklyn are found in a handful of Dutch families who first made their homes there during colonial times. One member of a prominent early family was Adrian Hegeman, who worked as a baker near the shore of the East River.
Adrian didn't start out in Brooklyn. His father, Denys Hegeman, had been serving as a soldier up in Maine, and married an English girl named Grace Dollen.2 They lived in the town of Pemaquid, where Adrian was born in about 1683.1 It was a dangerous place to try to raise a family, and the Hegemans were in the crosshairs of local tribes who were aligned with the French. In August 1689, when Adrian was about six years-old, Indians raided the settlement, attacking his family's home. They captured his mother and younger sister by force, but he escaped harm.1
After bringing the remaining children to the safety of Brooklyn, Adrian's father went back to Maine in an attempt to rescue Adrian's mother, but was taken by the French.1 Both parents were held in Quebec, and it would be four years before they were freed. The sister who was captured in the raid presumably died early on. Adrian had a brother born while his parents were in captivity, and two more brothers were born in the next few years in Brooklyn.1
Perhaps because of the experiences of his childhood, once Adrian settled in Brooklyn, he more or less stayed there for the rest of his life. On December 15, 1706, he married Elizabeth Van Wyck in Flatbush;1 they had four children born between 1707 and 1714, but she died within the next few years.1 By 1719, Adrian married a second wife whose name was Sarah (her last name is unknown),1 and they had six children together, with the youngest born in 1734.3
Adrian made a living as a baker in New Utrecht,4 then later moved his home and business to near the ferry in Brooklyn.4 The area was mostly rural, but by the mid-18th century, a thriving town was starting to develop near the waterfront which would one day become a major city.
Brooklyn Ferry in 1750.
On August 11, 1762, Adrian wrote his will, mentioning his wife Sarah and surviving children as his beneficiaries.4 Also noted was “my estate in New Jersey and elsewhere,” which likely meant Somerset County, a place where his son Adrian lived. He passed away before the will was probated on August 28th;1 it isn’t known when Sarah died.
Children by Elizabeth Van Wyck:
1. Denys Hegeman — B. Abt. 1707, (probably) Flatbush, New York;5 M. Susanne ________5
2. Cornelius Hegeman — B. Abt. 1709, Flatbush, New York;6 M. Martje Wiltse (1725-?)6
3. Elizabeth Hegeman — B. Abt. 1711, (probably) Flatbush, New York;7 M. Jacobus Simonse4
4. Dirck Hegeman — B. Abt. 1714, Flatbush, New York;7 M. Aeltje Dolsen, 3 Dec 1738, Fishkill, New York8
Children by Sarah ________:
1. Adrian Hegeman — B. 1 Feb 1719, New Utrecht, New York;9,10 D. (possibly) 4 Aug 1793, Somerset County, New Jersey;11 M. Sarah Terhune (1721-?), 10 May 1742, (probably) Kings County, New York9
2. Sarah Hegeman — B. before 16 Jul 1721, New Utrecht, New York;12 M. Richard Morrel4
3. Joseph Hegeman — B. before 3 Jul 1726, New Utrecht, New York;13 D. before 4 September 1734, (probably) New Utrecht, New York3
4. Lucretia Hegeman — B. 11 Aug 1728, New Utrecht, New York;14 M. Alexander Forbus, 30 Jun 1753, New York, New York15
5. Peter Hegeman — B. 10 Nov 1731, New Utrecht, New York;16 M. Christina Pearsall, 4 Jul 1765, New York, New York17
6. Joseph Hegeman — B. before 4 Sep 1734, New Utrecht, New York3
Sources:
1 “The Hegeman Family of New Netherland: A brief outline of the first three generations,” John Blythe Dobson
2 “The Tribulations of Denys Hegeman,” Richard W. Cook, Genealogies of New Jersey Families: A-Z, pre-American notes on New Netherland families, 1996
3 Christening record of Joseph Hegemam (younger), New York, Births and Christenings, 1640-1962, FamilySearch.org
4 Probate record of Adrian Hegeman, Collections of the New-York Historical Society, V. 30, 1897
5 WikiTree listing of Denys Hegeman
6 WikiTree listing of Cornelis Hegeman
7 Approximate birth year based on implied birth order of father’s will.
8 Marriage record of Dirck Hegeman and Aeltje Dolsen, U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records from Selected States, 1660-1926, Ancestry.com
9 Family bible pages of Christopher Van Arsdalen, Military pension file of Christopher Van Arsdalen, 1832, NARA
10 Christening record of Adrian Hegeman, N.Y., B. & C.
11 FamilySearch listing of Adrian Hegeman II
12 Christening record of Sarah Hegeman, N.Y., B. & C.
13 Christening record of Joseph Hegeman (older), N.Y., B. & C.
14 Christening record of Lucretia Hegeman, N.Y., B. & C.
15 Marriage record of Alexander Forbus and Lucretia Hegeman, New York, County Marriages, 1778-1848, FamilySearch.org
16 Christening record of Peter Hegeman, N.Y., B. & C.
17 Marriage record of Peter Hegeman and Christina Pearsall, N.Y., C. M.
