Debbie deHoog wrote: > I would be very interested in any information you may have. I have heard >that the family was from Germany back in the 1600's but no documentation on >it. Do you have your information on computer? Could you send a gedcom file >on your information? Debbie, I hope you don't mind but am copying this to the Decker list since there are some who might also be interested in this information. I don't have the information on my computer because I am still stuck in the early 1800's on Staten Island with my Deckers even though I am very certain that I descend from Johannes de Decker who arrive in New Amsterdam in 1655. >From Genealogies of New Jersey Families, volume 1, The Decker Family by George C. Evans: The name Decker has several possible derivations. The Flemish word decker means a coverer of roofs. Some of those engaged in this occupation translated the name into the French equivalent, Le Couvreur, due presumably to the impact of French association. Another family group derived the name Decker from the positions they held as Dyck-Heer, that is wardens or "Lords of the Dycks," an office of considerable responsibility and authority, since the very existence of the population in large areas depended upon the diligent exercise of this jurisdiction. Through the centuries, the title Dyck-Heer, or Dyckher, became shortened to Decker, or Deckere. One of these Dyck-Heer (Decker) families became distinguished in Antwerp from the 15th century for their patriotic services in help- ing to liberate their country. The members of this family were officially raised to knighthood, the senior or head of the family was made a ridder or chevalier, while the junior heads of the household were made barons. The present senior head of this distinguished family is the Chevalier Frank de Decker, of De Oude Mick, Brasschaat, Belgium, who furnished this information to the write. The prefix "de" does not imply a French origin in the present case but is solely a Flemish form. The Journal of American History, Vol. V, 3rd quarter, 1911, states that Captain Heinric de Peyster of Ghent had three sons, Heinric, Jr., Joris and Jan. The second son, Joris, married Katheline de Decker about 1350 A.D. at Ghent. Captain Heinric de Peyster was a contemporary of Jacob van Artwelde and maintained the em- inence of his family throughout the regime of that renowned Ghenter, subsequent to Van Artwelde's assassination. The de Deckers were a distinguished Brabant family, according to the Niew Ned. Biogr. Woordenboek, by van Dalen, 1:690-92, members of which saw military service in the defense of Ostende. 1. Jan (or Hans)1 De Decker, b. prob. in Antwerp, Belgium, c. 1555 and m. (first wife's name unknown) in Antwerp about 1580- 81 (N.G.W.; A.D.). Upon the death of his first wife, Jan apparently migrated to Dordrecht, Holland, between 1583 and 1590. On 18 Nov. 1590, banns were published in Dordrecht for his (2nd) mar- riage to Sara Dens (or Deus) of Antwerp, which took place in Mid- delburg, Zeeland. Jan de Decker was a man of considerable substance (in bonis), albeit not a merchant of great wealth, and his name appears fre- quently in the real property tax (verponding) lists. He dwelt in the Voorstraat at Dordrecht, where his name appears in 1604 on the fireplace tax (haardstedengeld) list. (N.G.W.; A.D.). One son and perhaps the only child of Jan1 de Decker and his first wife was 2. Abraham2 see below By his second wife, Sara Dens, Jan1 de Decker had: 3. David2. see below 4. Maria2, b. March 1596 at Dordrecht (A.D.). 5. Jeremias2, b. 1598 at Dordrecht; m. 26 Sept. 1621, at Amsterdam, Maryken van der Heyden, b. 1600. 6. Sara2, b. Aug. 1601 at Drodrecht (A.D.). 2. Abraham2 De Decker b. 1582 in Antwerp, d. at Amsterdam 16 May 1658, m. (banns pub.) at Drodrecht on 18 March 1607 to Maria van den Bremden from Antwerp, b. 1583, d. after 1666. They were probably married by Johannes Becius, pastor of Dordrecht. They settled in Drodrecht, where they resided until 1616 when they moved to Amsterdam. Abraham2 de Decker was one of the commanders who took part in the defense of Ostende. In Amsterdam he made but a frugal livelihood as a grocer, but in 1622 the burgomasters of that city provided him with the post of "broker" which materially increased his income. He had a large family and made many sacrifices to educate his children. He possed an alert, acquisitive mind and an insatiable interest in the classical studies. He spoke fluently both Dutch and French and translated a number of works from the Latin. He soon won a reputation as an able historian and a man of letters among the savants of his day. His translations of Florius and Eutropius were published after his death by his celebrated son, Jeremias (see Jeronimo de Vries, "Jeremias de Decker", pp. 2-7, 51, 76-77; van Dalen; History of Drodrecht by van Balen, 1677). Abraham2 de Decker and Maryken van den Bremden had ten children, among whom were: 7. Jeremias3, b. 1609 in Dordrecht; d. at Amsterdam in Dec. 1666. Van Dalen (N.N.B.W., 1:690-92) describes him as a distinguished poet, classical scholar and grammarian (see "Jeremias de Decker" by Jeronimo de Vries, Amsterdam, 1807, et. al.). Jeremias was an intimate friend of the painter Rembrandt, who executed a portrait of him which van Dalen reported was in the Hermitage Museum at St. Petersburg. Bode, however, states that this picture is not of de Decker and that the portrait of Jeremias de Decker has disappeared. Jeremias never married, but devoted himself to the affectionate care of his mother. 8. Johannes3, bapt. in June 1611 at Drodrecht. 9. David3, b. prob. in Amsterdam (A.Am.). 10. Katherine3, b. prob. in Amsterdam (A.Am.). 11. Abraham3, b. prob. in Amsterdam (A.Am.). 3. David2 de Decker, b. c. 1595, prob. at Dordrecht, d. in Dor- drecht in Nov. 1652, m. 15 May 1618 (banns pub. 29 April 1618) Maeyken Gisbrechtsdr. Melcen, from Shiedrecht. She d. in April 1637 at Dordrecht. David was a cooper, who resided at the time of his death near the Groethoff (a city gate and bastion) next to the house (probably an inn) named the "Peacock." David2 de Decker and Maeyken Gisbrechtsdr. Melcen had nine children: 12. Sara3, b. July 1619 at Dordrecht (A.D.). 13. Gisbrecht3, b. July 1621, at Dordrecht (A.D.). 14. Anna3, b. March 1624 at Dordrecht (A.D.). 15. Johannes3, b. June 1626 at Drodrecht (A.D.). The American progenitor. see below. 16. Maria3, b. Dec. 1628, at Dordrecht; d. prior to 1632 (A.D.). 17. Christina3, b. Dec. 1630, at Dordrecht (A.D.). 18. Maria3, b. July 1632, at Dordrecht (A.D.). 19. Elisabeth3, b. March 1635; d. shortly thereafter. 20. Elisabeth3, b. Nov. 1636, at Dordrecht (A.D.). All of the above children of David2 de Decker were probaly baptized in the Groot Kerk at Dordrecht which still stands. At the time of David's death, the family resided near the City Gate, known as the Groethoff (a bastion) and next to the house called "The Peacock," probably an inn. After David's death, his wife moved to a house called "the Thistle," since the records show that, at the time of her death on 12 April 1637, a bier was ordered for her at that residence. 15. Johannes de Decker, b. June 1626, at Dordrecht (A.D.), d. prob. at New Springville, S.I.,........<this is where I started in my previous message>. I hope that some found this of interest. Of couse there are many Deckers of various origins and this is only one of them. - Ed Edward Coates Sinker - email: [email protected] Church Lea Bosbury Herefordshire HR8 1PX U. K.