Lieber Listenmitglieder,
Ich bin neue hier. I greatly apologize for the use of English - my high
school German is twenty years old and was never very good. I can translate
written German to English, however.
I also apologize for cross-postings to multiple lists.
My ancestor Marten Hendricksz of Hammelwarden sailed from Texel to New
Netherlands in 1639. He traveled alone. Many years later he stated he was born
around 1627 in Oldenborch (Oldenburg). His name was therefore probably Martin
Hinrichs and he was listed with the Dutch name of Marten Hendricksz because he
was on a Dutch ship arriving in a Dutch colony. No doubt he essentially became
Dutch after living in New Netherland.
He lived in Rensselaerwyck and Beverwyck, New Netherlands, until 1677. By at
least 1657 he was using the surname Beeckman or Verbeek. I do not know if he
used either name in Germany, but this is the name that our family has used
ever since.
I have been in contact with Heero Onnen, who has searched the Hammelwarden
parish records for someone of this name, but without success. Martin may have
been born in Oldenburg, but I do not know how to access those records, and I
am uncertain whether he would be listed as Martin Hinrichs, or with the name
Beeckman.
I know the name Beekman is today common in Holland, but this pattern seems
to date to the 1500-1600s, when Germans Beeckmans/Bekemans fled the religious
wars to Holland. I believe that the name Beekman/Beeckman/Bekeman is oldest
in NW Germany, more or less where my ancestor came from.
My questions are:
1) How common was the name Beeckman/Bekeman in NW Germany in the 17th
century? Were most people using patronymics instead of surnames in the area of the
Wesermarsch? Were urban people more likely to use surnames and rural people
more likely to use patronymics?
2) How can I access the Oldenburg records to search for my ancestor?
3) How could someone from the Wesermarsch escape to Texel during the Hundred
Years' War? Would they go by land or by the river Weser to the sea? Would
there be records if they took a ship from a port like Bremen?
Mit freundlichen grüßen und tausend dank
Chris Beekman
Colorado, USA