Ehefrau beethoven biography
Why beethoven is important!
Maria Magdalena van Beethoven (1746-87) Beethoven's mother
Maria Magdalena Keverich was the daughter of Heinrich Keverich, chief overseer of the kitchen at the palace of the Elector of Trèves at Ehrenbreitstein.
Ehefrau beethoven biography
It is this, no doubt, that led her future father-in-law to denigrate her as a chambermaid. In fact her family were well-to-do, including a number of wealthy merchants, court councillors and senators.
Maria married a certain Johann Laym, valet to the Elector of Trèves, in 1763 when she was sixteen.
She bore him one son who died in infancy. In November 1765 her husband died. Thus, by the age of 18, Maria was already a widow and mother - which certainly counted against her when Johann van Beethoven introduced her to his father, the Kapellmeister.
According to the Beethoven's neighbour, Gottfried Fischer, the Keverich family - although they too were opposed to the marriage - would have given Maria a good wedding celebration in Ehrenbreitstein.
But&n