He came to New Amsterdam, now New York, from Holland in the same vessel, the ship Princess, on May 27, 1647, with Director-General, afterwards Governor Peter Stuyvesant. Accompanying them were a number of poor persons of good family who came from the Rhine and made settlements on the Hudson River. They became, afterwards, firm supporters of their leader and benefactor, William Beekman.

He was from early youth interested in religious matters and at the age of twenty-one was an officer in the Reformed Church in the Netherlands, which had then become the most advanced nation in the world in learning and thought. He had a good education and a splendid home training which enabled him at once to take a position in the best society of New Amsterdam. It is said that he brought some wealth with him and that his personal charm of manner and friendship with Stuyvesant secured him many advantages as well as a prominent position as treasurer of the Dutch West India Company. At any rate he soon cut out the suitors for the hand of Catalina de Boogh, a belle in the society of New Amsterdam and the daughter of the wealthy Hendricks de Boogh of Albany NY and on September 5, 1649, within two years after his arrival in the country, they were married.

His name is perpetuated in the names of William Street and Beekman Street, New York City, which latter became legally a street in 1734. From the first he was identified with affairs of state and the government of the new city. In 1652 he purchased from Jacob Corlaer a farm known as Corlaer's Hook where he lived with his bride and was fully launched into the delightful society of the Dutch city, which then contained those men and women of culture and earnest endeavor who built up a nation and to whom so many of us are proud to trace back our ancestry.

A general meeting of the Director-General and Council of New Netherlands was held with the Burgomasters and Schepens (magistrates) on the 13th of March, 1653, at which it was decreed that breastworks or a wall should be built to protect the city and that the cost should be levied against the estates. Peter Wolfersen Van Couwenhoven and Wilhelmus Beeckman were chosen Commissioners and authorized to offer proposals, invite bids, and make the contract for the construction of the work. It was completed in May, 1653, and extended along the present Wall Street, skirting De Heere Gracht, an inlet of the bay, where Broad Street now is. At the East River end, at Pearl Street, was a fort called Water Poort, and at the Broadway end was another called the Landt Poort.

In the same year William Beekman was appointed one of the five Schepens of New Amsterdam. He served between 1652 and 1658 as Lieutenant of the Burgher Corps of New Amsterdam and then in 1658 he received, through the influence of the Dutch West India Company, the appointment of Vice-Director or Governor of the colony of Swedes on the Delaware or South River, where he resided until 1663, and then moved to Esopus, now Kingston, N. Y., to assume the duties of his new appointment as Schout (Sheriff) and Commissary at that place. He took the oath of allegiance to Charles II., on October 18, 1664. His jurisdiction as Commissary at Esopus and its dependencies extended from the Katskill, where that of Fort George terminated, to the Dans Kamer, a few miles above the Highlands, which was the northern limit of the jurisdiction of Fort Amsterdam.

His home at Esopus was the scene of many memorable gatherings of distinguished men. He entertained there Governors Cartwright, Nichols, and Lovelace. According to Broadhead's History he resided there until 1672. In 1670 he purchased from Thomas Hall property along the East River, now Pearl Street and bounded by Nassau Street on the west. The southerly boundary of the farm was where Fulton Street now is and the northerly boundary was Beekman's Swamp, then called the Kripple Bush. According to Valentine's History of New York, Beekman's Swamp was sold in 1734 to Jacobus Roosevelt for two hundred pounds by the corporation.

The Beekman homestead in New Amsterdam was built near the present corner of Pearl and Beekman Streets by William Beekman in 1670.

William Beekman was Lieutenant in the militia in 1673 and Deputy Mayor of New York from 1681 to 1683. At about this time he purchased a large tract of land on the Hudson from Indians and built on it a stone house and called the estate "Rhinebeck." He was Alderman of the east ward in 1691. He occupied the Beekman homestead on the estate purchased from Thomas Hall until his death on September 21, 1707, at the age of eighty-five years.

In his will he left this last admonition to his children:

"My desire is that no discord may arise in the division of the estate which the Lord in his mercy hath lent me. The same advice that Joseph gave to his brethren I leave among you all, and that is that you fall not by the way, whilst you live in this world, - so that ye be kindly affectionate one to the other; that what by God's blessing I have advanced, I have endeavoured and laboured to gain it honestly, so would I have you to do, and to keep faith and a good conscience always; for a good name is better than riches and honours."

He was the ancestor of the well-known Beekman family prominent in the history of New York and New Jersey and Wilhelmus Beekman and Catharine De Boogh his wife had children:

I leave to my grandchild, Magdalena Van Vleck, now wife of Alexander Baird, and to each of my children, one lot of land on the south side of the street where I at present dwell. The first lot to the south side to Gerard Beekman, the second to John Beekman, the third to Magdalena Baird, the fourth to Henry Beekman, and the fifth to William Beekman. Each lot to be 60 feet wide except my son Henry's which is more or less. And in length to the water as deep and long as my right is, and as the old foundation of Isaac Allerton doth demonstrate. And they shall not sell without giving the others the preference.

Whereas I have sold to my son John, one small warehouse, which doth stand upon his portion, and where he hath built a dwelling-house, I do acknowledge myself fully satisfied for the same. And whereas I have erected, for the better support of my family, a slaughter-house, and finding no better place for the same than the land I leave to my son John, and he having been at one half the charge of building the same, he is to have the same provided he pay one half the cost of building the slaughter-house, pen or crall, to Magdalena Baird, his sister's daughter, deducting 1/5, together with the allowance of ten feet more of land on the east side of the lot. And it is my will that on the southwest side of the lot of my son John, there shall remain 12 feet for a cartway to the slaughter-house, and for the conveniency of a slip if they make one, and the rest of the land to our bounds shall remain to my son, Gerard Beekman.

I leave to our maid Rachel, one lot of ground adjoining to Christopher Ellsworth, 25 feet wide, and 75 feet long, and she shall be free at the age of thirty-one.

I leave all the rest of my estate to my four sons, Henry, Gerard, John, and William, and to Magdalena Baird. But my son William shall not have power to sell without consent of the executors. I make my sons executors; and provided my son William shall continne to live and settle here in New York, I give to him, in place of the lot above mentioned, a lot in the orchard, opposite to the lot of Magdalena Baird, being in front to the street 40 feet, and in length 100, provided he gives up the lot next to his brother Henry's.

And to the end that no discord may arise in the division of the estate, which the Lord in his mercy hath lent me, my desire is that you receive it from God, with a thankful and contented mind. And I call upon God to bless it to you all, with the same advice that Joseph gave to his brethren, that you fall not out by the way, while you live in the world. I would have you to have faith and a good conscience, for a good name is better than riches.

Witnesses, Abraham De Lanoy, Johanes De Peyster, Thomas Adams.

Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God to remove my son William Beekman by death, his land is to be divided among the rest, and Magdalena Baird is to have the refusal of the house and lot, if she see cause to buy. October 26, 1702.

Witnesses, Bartholomew Vonck, Peter Rycken, Thomas Adams. Proved, November 8, 1708.

Appointing and authorizing us to take a view and Survey of his Majesty's Fort at New York and the Fortifications of the city, and to take a particular and exact account of what repairs are wanting either within or without, the said Fort and Fortifications the houses, buildings and lodgings within the said Fort, the Pallisadoes, and out houses, and also the number of the great guns, both mounted and dismounted, and in what Condition both they and their Carriages are. And what the charge may amount to, to fit and put all in good Condition and Repaire. Also to take an account of all small arms, Powder, Matches, Balls, Bombs, Grenades and all other military stores, and Implements of war, belonging to said Forts and Fortifications. And thereof to make a due report unto his Excellency aforesaid, more or less, distinctly and plainly.

We have accordingly taken two Carpenters, one Mason, and a Glazier with us and have surveyed the same accordingly, and find it as followeth, viz.:

The fence about the Fort, the Posts rotten, Severall Pannels fallen down, and according to ye Carpenters now will require to mend ye same

There were formerly about the Fort, Stockadoes, of about 9 feet high, 10 feet from the walls, but none now. To make it up againe would require 1800 short Stockadoes, 2400 Stockadoes of 12 foot long, the thinnest end 6 inches, at 12d per piece, £120.

And for setting up £25, £145.

Upon the Flag mount there were 6 brass guns, demi Culverins, new Carriages and wheels, only wanting beds and coynes, we guess may cost £12.

A new Platform with Planks and labor may cost £3.

The stone wall about the Fort we find in an indifferent good Condition.

The Flagg Staff is rotten, wants a new one which will cost £5.

Upon the wall curtain are two seekers and a brass with new carriages and wheels, only wanting coynes and bed. Will cost 6 shillings.

Two brass mortar pieces, the one of 7 1/2 inches, ye other of 8 1/2 inches diameter, the carriages wholly rotten, wants new ones which will cost £2.

The whole Platform is rotten and must be made new, for which they will want 1400 foot of Planck of three inches thick, and 30 sleepers of 20 foot long, which will cost with the workmanship, £24.

The wall of the old Battery hangs over, so wants Buttresses, to sustain them which will cost £3.

The old well being fallen in, there wants a new one which will cost £25.

Upon the Magazine Mount are six Demi Culverins, upon Carriages. Four half worn, 1 rotten. Are not fit for the guns, all wanting beds and coynes, £263.11.

Half of them have new Platforms but too narrow, the other half none at all. Wants 1150 feet of Planck and 18 sleepers. All which will cost with the workmanship, £30.

Upon the Armory Curtains, no guns, wants one and a new carriage, beds and coynes and a Platform for which there must be 100 foot of Planck and 4 sleepers, which will cost with the workmanship (???)

Upon the Iron Mount are four Seekers with two carriages, four new wheels, but too small, no Platforms, so wants two new carriage beds and coynes, 1500 foot of Planck, and 30 sleepers which will cost with the workmanship, £40.

The inner part of the Armoury Curtain is to be new made, the charges whereof are computed at £16.

The Roome over the Gate wants shutters, and ye restoring of ye same computed at £3.

Upon the Merry Mount are 4 Seekers and two brass Culverins which need new carriages, a stone Platform wants beds and Coynes, which will cost £12.

Within the Curtain at the back end of the Guard are 4 Seekers and a carriage half worn, wants beds and coynes, which will cost £8.

The Platform rotten, wants to renew it 1600 foot of Planck, and 50 sleepers, which will cost with the workmanship, £30.

Wants a smaller new house of office, computed for timber and workmanship, £3.

Then wants a new Crane for the guns, which will cost £5.

There wants aprons for all ye guns, which will cost £3.

Item, 2 new Centry boxes, besides two new ones new made, £2.10s.

In the Fort before the house two Brass guns, two new mailes but old wheels.

Upon the Spur before the Gate, three Seekers, one iron and 2 brass. No Carriages nor Platform.

The Breast works upon the wall most part quite out of repair, except from ye gate Room to ye Merry mount, ye reparation of ye same will cost £45. Out of the Fort under the Flagg mount, near ye water side, 5 iron Demi Culverins, four sea carriages worth nothing. To make up the same there will be wanting 30 sleepers of 15 foot, 1600 foot of Planck, which will cost with the workmanship, £5.

The cost of the bricklayer work, for ye repairing of ye Great House, the Chimnies, souldiers rooms, officers rooms, and what further ought to be done to the Fort, is computed (besides what is done already as per Sergeant Olpherts account amounting to £18.16.4) the sum of £40.

There wants a new Gate between ye Spur and Iron mount, for which there is to be 4 Posts, 6 Ribs and 15 laths, which will cost with ye Workmanship, £3.

The Guard and Souldiers room we find the Roof decayed and ought to be renewed with boards and shingles. All ye floor is old, ye lodgings as followeth: The 1st Room, 4 Cabbins, one new and three old beds. The 2nd Room, 5 Cabbins out of repaire. The 3d room, 6 Cabbins out of Repaire. The 4th Room, 7 Cabbins out of repaire. The 5th Room, 7 Cabbins, and new beds ye men had at Albany, and two new beds they had new made.

The Armourer's room, 6 cabbins. For ye repairing of all this there wants, according to ye carpenter's calculation, 32 beams of 18 foot, 50 beams of 20 foot 7-8-9 inches square, 60 Rafters 14 foot 5-7 inches square, 2400 feet of oak Planck for ye first floor, 2400 foot ditto for ye middle floor, 2400 foot ditto for ye upper floor, 3360 foot ditto, for ye Roofe, 7000 Cedar shingles 3 foot long, 250 pounds of nayles. Which will cost, with ye workmanship besides ye reparation already done by ye carpenters, and materials used, amounting, as per ye carpenter's accounts, ye sum of £24.13.1 1/2.

The Great House wants some Shutters, doors, ye floor is to be mended. Shores under ye beames in ye cellar, Stairs in ye Garrett, and several other reparations. Ye material and workmanship whereof will cost, according to ye carpenter's calculations, £9. The steps into the Powder room are all rotten. To make new ones will cost about £1.5.

The Glazier, taking a view of all ye Glazier's work, brings in his report of glass to be made and mended as per account amounting to £3.7.4., viz., 9 glasses in ye kitchen, and 4 to be mended, 5 new glasses in the Linto (Leanto). In ye Armory two new glasses and 17 to be mended. In the Court Guard, 8 new ones and 5 to be mended, £13.9. There is wanting at ye outward door of ye Great House and at ye doors within, locks, some hinges and other iron works, which by computation may cost £3.10. Cost of iron works there will be wanting when all is to be made, but not in good condition, cannot well be said at present.

The Great Gate of the Fort and ye gate of ye wood yard must be repaired, which may cost £3. There is also necessary to be made one great Ladder and two small ones, £1.10. Also Twelve Leather Buckets, £4.4.

The Sally Port wants a new door and door case, locks and bars, which will cost £2.

There wants two Barrels of Tar for ye carriage wheels, etc., £1.4. Total, £707,03s.

The military stores and implements of war are as followeth:

56 barrels of Powder in ye Powder room. The store keeper gives an account of 10 barrels sent to Albany and 6 barrels used for ye Fort.

78 Pikes, viz., 6 in ye passage of ye Great House, and 72 in the armoury, and ye store keeper gives an account of 60 Pikes sent to Albany. 7 Halberds in ye armoury, 12 sent to Albany. 2 Partizans in ye armoury.

The store keeper gives an account of 11 Dragoon's fire arms sent to Albany. Also of 87 Basanetts sent to Albany. 50 fire lock musquets, ditto, new. 204 fire locks, viz., above ye souldiers room, 13 in ye passage of ye Great House, 8 in the armourers Shop, 188 in the armoury, 22 broken musquets in the armoury, 198 match locks, viz., 191 in ye armoury, 7 in ye armourers room.

1 Pair of (???) in ye passage of the Great House, 12 barrels of musquet balls, viz., 1 in the armoury, 11 in the Great House.

150 Colers of Bandileers in 26 bundles in ye armoury, 160 carried off to Albany.

The armourer gives an account of 88 Cartouch boxes sent to Albany.

One great iron Borer for ye wheels in ye armoury. Three iron crows, 1 in the armoury and 2 in ye armourer's room. One hand saw, 1000 pieces of match above ye souldiers' room, by guess. 214 shovels and spades, 29 saddles, and 3 sent to Albany. 13 worms and 2 sent to Albany. 45 sponge staves, and 15 sent to Albany. 10 horns and priming irons. A parcel of old bed pieces in ye cellar under ye officers' rooms. 140 Culverin shot, 280 high sequier, 2300 low sequier. 280 Reffuse shot. 173 Grenades shells. 50 Falcon shot. 45 pieces of sleeper, fit for to lay under ye Platform, and 6 used.

In a room over ye Guard are cabbins and a standing bed stead, with 2 Albany beds. A great old Clock in ye armourer's room. A Flagg of Bear port. 16 broken shovels. 44 Pick axes. 21 iron crows over ye souldiers' rooms. 4 iron bands to ye wheels. 92 cartridge cases. 200 pounds of old iron by guess. 19 broken musquets in ye Smith shop. 11 Colers Bandileers over ye souldiers' rooms. 1 Lanthorne. 5 old Powder cases. 10 yards of azenbriggs for shot bags. Two old chests to keep cartridges in. There wants for present use Cortass Paper, thread, twine and needles, flints and drums.

The city Fortifications are as follows, viz.: Before ye Towne Hall, a half moone, most ruined and washed away by ye sea, there are three demi-culverins, and three rotten carriages, fit for nothing, ye stone wall from ye Town Hall to ye half moone by Burgers Path also washed away. But there is new lots laid out before them to low water mark for people to build upon, which will be wharfed out by the several owners of said lots. The half moone by Burgers Path is also most ruined and beaten down by ye water. There are 4 seekers and one minion. No carriages. The stone wall from said half moon to ye water gate ruined, and most part broken down by the water.

The half moone by ye water gate and ye mount all fallen down and washed away. There is two seekers and no carriages, ye water gate all down. The Curtine from ye water gate to the Artillery mount was formerly double stockadoed and a ditch with breastworks within of salt sod and now all down. The ground is laid out in lots, some built, some a building, and layd out to build upon.

The Artillery mount has no guns, ye walls indifferent good, ye sod work out of repair, as also ye Ditch and Stockadoes ruined. A small old house in ye middle of ye mount.

The Curtine from ye Artillery mount to ye land gate mount, formerly double stocadoed, with a ditch and breast works, now all gone. The mount by the land gate, ye stone wall to ye north west post ruined, ye breast or sod work also; ye ground laid out to build upon.

The land gate ready to fall down. The Curtine from ye town gate to ye Locust Trees, formerly stock-adoed with a ditch and breastworks, now none.

The King's Garden by ye Locust trees, all ruined. The Pasty mount formerly Stockadoed, about now falling down. There are 2 seekers, one old carriage all rotten.

The Curtine from ye Pasty mount to ye point of ye merry mount of Fort James was all Stockadoed and breast work but none now. There is no military or other stores at all in ye City of New York, otherwise than is above expressed. We are informed by his Excellency Colonel Dongan that he intended to inlarge ye city and, if occasion, to lay ye Fortifications further out. How much ye charges of Fortifying the city anew will come to we cannot compute till it be laid out and surveyed by some artist, and such one there is none here at present.

This report, containing 12 pages, is hereby offered unto your Excellency by your Humble Servants. Francis Nicholson, Colonel N. Bayard, Wm. Beekman, S. VanCortlandt, Matthew Plowman, G. Minveille.

When Colonel Sloughter came to New York as Deputy Governor in 1691 to succeed Deputy Governor Nicholson, whose government after the accession of William of Orange had been overthrown by Leisler, Dr. Beekman was arrested with Leisler and others and was in prison for seventeen months, but was later pardoned. The unfortunate patriot Leisler was hanged. Governor Benjamin Fletcher, who succeeded Colonel Sloughter was in turn succeeded by Governor Bellomont.

In 1700, Dr. Beekman was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel and then Colonel, under Richard Coote, Earl of Bellomont. The same documentary history of New York has under the heading "Province of New York" the following curious entry:

List of ye present officers of ye Militia in his Ma'tys Province of New York in America commissioned by his Excel. Rich'd (Coote) Earl of Bellomont Capt. General and Gov'r in Chief in and over his Ma'tys said province, etc. (viz.): 'of ye Regiment of Militia in King's County on ye said Island (Nassau): Stephen Cortlandt, Colonel; Gerardus Beekman, Lieut. Col.; and Corn. Van Brunt, Maj'r - field officers.' 'of ye Foot Compa in ye town of New Uytreyt: John Van Dyke, Capt.; Joost Van Brunt, Lieut.; Matys Smake, Ensigne.'