Background
Maria was born in Markelo as the daughter of Johan II van Beckum (d 1526) and Johanna van Wrede (died before 1511).
Maria was born in Markelo as the daughter of Johan II van Beckum (d 1526) and Johanna van Wrede (died before 1511).
She was the sister of Johan III van Beckum. Maria was arrested 31 May 1544 on the orders of Goesen van Raesveldt, the bailiff of Twente, who was a relative and was next in line as the heir of Nijenhuis because January and Ursula van Beckum were childless. Her sister-in-law Ursula accompanied her out of sympathy.
Both women were sentenced to death by burning.
Their case attracted a lot of attention and Maria is remembered in the Martyr"s Mirror by Thieleman J. van Braght.