Wilhelmus Hendreckse Beekman

We are descended of Wilhelmus through Tom Ferris. His mother, Amanda Beekman Ferris is the link to him. Wilhelmus was a governor of New Amsterdam and a member of the Dutch West Indies Company. His children and grandchildren were leaders in New Amsterdam, later named New York City. His grandfather, Rev Gerardus Beekman contributed to the King James Bible translation and was honored by King James with a new heraldic coat of arms. Wilhelmus and his parents immigrated to New Amsterdam from Holland as Protestant refugees. They were Dutch Reformed.