Eva Jans Vinhagen

Biography

Eva Vinhagen Beekman, by Stefan Bielinski. New York State Museum

Eva Vinhagen was born about 1670. She was the daughter of Albany businessman Jan Dirckse and his wife, Maria Vanderpoel Vinhagen.

In October 1692, she married widower Johannes M. Beekman. By 1710, nine of their children were baptized in the Albany Dutch church where she was a member and frequent baptism sponsor.

In February 1728, she was named executor and heir of the estate of her husband with use of it for the maintenance of his twelve living children.

Johannes M. Beekman died in September 1732. Eva Vinhagen Beekman died in March 1755 and was buried from the Albany Dutch church.

References

• “Eva Vinhagen Beekman” by Stefan Bielinski
• “The First Church in Albany” by Stefan Bielinski. Dutch Church - intersection of State Street and BroadwayThe Dutch Reformed Church was the centerpiece of Dutch culture in early Albany and its predecessor the village of Beverwyck. The church building itself was the most prominent feature on the community landscape. It was situated in the middle of the city’s main intersection from the 1650s to 1806. Previously, services had been held in a building owned by the Patroon and located near Fort Orange. Enlarged about 1715, the Dutch church shown on the left, and in all contemporary community iconography, was the largest building in colonial Albany and was described by a number of visitors. The Dutch church clearly was colonial Albany's premier social institution.