PRECEEDING BEETHOVEN'S BIRTH [1712 - 1769]

YEAR
DATE
NOTES
OTHER
1600's   First traceable member of Beethoven's family (father's side) - lived near Louvain, Belgium. In 1650 the family member moved to Antwerp [Windham ppg1-2]  
1712 Jan 4

GF Lodewyk van Beethoven [1712-73] was born in Mechelen, Belgium (presently village of Heist -op-den-Berg in the Brabanl area). He was the third son of Michael & Maria Beethoven [Nwsltr v9#2&3]. From age 5 through 18 (1725) he was a student at the choir school of the church of St. Rombaut. In 1725 he began studies of the organ and vocal bass. He was appointed choir director 1731 (church of St. Pierre at Louvin, and sang sang bass at the Cathedral of St. Lambert in Liegre in 1732. In 1733, he married the then 19 year old Maria Josephene Pohl and, also 1733, at the request of the Archbishop of Cologne, he was sent to Cologne, then on to Bonn first as bass soloist and singer in the choir, then as court Kapellmeister from 1761 until his death (of a stroke) on Dec. 24, 1773. Other family income came from activities as a wine merchant and moneylender.

 
1740   Father Johann van Beethoven [1740-92] born. Only surviving child of Kapellmeister van Beethoven & Maria Josepha Pohl (she was subsequently sent to a convent for the remainder of her life w/o family contact because of her alcoholism). Johann was a soprano @8, tenor, then piano & violin in Elector Maximilian Franz's [1756-1801] orchestra. Egalitarian rule under Franz (brother of Emperor Joseph).This was time of revolution and the rights of "Sovereign" rulers were questioned. American, French revolutions soon coming.  
1746 Dec 19 Mother, Maria Magdelena Leym, nee Keverich born to Heinrich Keverich, chief overseer of the kitchen at palace of the elector of Treves at Ehrenbreitstein, near Coblenz. Her family included a number of wealthy merchants, court councillors, and senators.  
1763 Jan 30 Maria, age 16, married Johann Leym, age 27 - a valet of the Elector. They had one son who died in infancy.  
1765 Nov 28 Maria widowed at age 18 after 2yr 10mo marriage. (She was subseq. never seen to smile.) Became singer in the service of Elector of court of Cologne. Met Johann van Beethoven in Ehrenbreitstein and they came to Bonn together to meet family and be married.  
1767 Nov 12 Johann and Maria married - opposed by paternal grandfather, (Kapellmeister & bass singer; had once produced operas at the National Theater built by the Elector); described as short, sturdy w/ extremely animated eyes; highly respected as an artist). He felt she was beneath their station (he claimed to have investigated her and that she was a chambermaid) but may have not wanted orderly family and home to be disturbed as real reason for opposition. He was heard to yell by neighbors, " I never believed or expected that you would so degrade yourself."  
1769 Apr 1 1st child Ludwig Maria born  
1769 Apr 8 Ludwig Maria died at age 1 week. Napoleon Bonaparte born in Corsica.