Our Somers Family Heritage

I've recently been reading of the Dutch Reformation and learned of the part Prince William of Orange (aka William the Silent) played in establishing freedom of religion and liberty of conscience in the Netherlands. This video is excellent, and I whole-heartedly recommend it to you. While I have no indication that we are related to Dutch nobility, I do know we have a long history of Protestantism. So, for this reason, I think it is important for us to know a bit of our Dutch Protestant history.   -  Angela Somers Wittman  Direct Link:   The Rebel Prince Who Became The Father Of Dutch Independence? | William the Silent Description:  William the Silent - or William of Orange, as he is known in the Netherlands - started out life as a loyal subject of the Hapsburg empire, the son of a minor noble. Inheriting the principality of Orange at a young age catapulted him into the rich and dangerous politics and schemes of Europe. He would eventually turn against the su...

The Beekmans were steadfast Protestants from the time that Martin Luther protested against the corruptions of the Church of Rome in 1521.  ( History of the Beekman Family , Rootsweb )   Wilhelmus Beekman is reported to be my 7th Great Grandfather on the Somers side of the family. His  Great Granddaughter, Catherine Arden, married Capt. John Somers (Rev. War – my 4th Great Grandfather) in 1780 and they settled in Caswell County, NC. After John died, she married an officer named Lemmon. (I live near Fort Lemmon in Monroe County, Illinois, but haven't yet determined if it is named after Catherine's second husband.) Wilhelmus Beekman's grandfather, Rev. Gerardus Beekman (1558-1625) was active in promoting the Reformed religion and "was one of the distinguished scholars who translated the King James Bible from the original manuscripts into English for James I and for his services received special honors from the King. [12] " ( Wikipedia ) Here is more in...