LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 April Marketplace Auction #87041  / 

90304

Indenture Between William Beekman & John Cannon

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Paper Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:100.00 - 200.00 USD
Indenture Between William Beekman & John Cannon
<B>Indenture Between William & Martha Beekman and John Cannon, January, 25 1732, New York City,</B></I> transferring ownership of a 60 foot wide strip of property running from Queen's Street to the "old dock." The vellum document is one page 26.5" x 13.5". Signed by William Beekman, Martha Beekman (her mark), and Rip van Dam. The document is in excellent condition. Wilhelmus Hendrickse Beekman (1623-1707) was the founder of the Beekman family in New York City. He came from Holland in 1647, on the same ship as Peter Stuyvesant, the last governor of New Netherlands. His close acquaintance to 'Governor' Stuyvesant helped him get two lucrative offices. He was first made resident treasurer of the Dutch West India Company and later appointed vice-director of a colony of Swedes on the Delaware River. After the surrender of new Netherlands to the English, he moved to Esopus, where stayed until 1670. Returning to New York City, William Beekman then bought the property upon which the large Beekman fortune was founded. This property was a large farm, formerly owned by Thomas Hall and stretched along the East River along what later became Beekman Street. The property was later extended to the South to incorporate Cripple Bush, henceforth known as Beekman Swamp and eventually a valuable piece of New York City real estate. Along with the farm, William Beekman acquired a brewery, which he continued to operate with great success. He expanded this business in and around New York, becoming one of the city's largest wholesale merchants. As such he soon owned ships and invested in ship building, bills-of-exchange and other mercantile assets, the typical interests of a large colonial trader. By 1695, he was counted among the richest New York merchants. In true Dutch tradition and against British law, he split his real estate evenly among his surviving children and offspring of a pre-deceased daughter. Each of them notably inherited a 60 feet wide (and probably over 100 feet long) tract of what later became New York's prime real estate property. Very interesting and researchable!<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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