Hi Ronald, you wrote: > You mentioned that you have information on the DeDecker family. As I >recall, the first male Decker in the Dutch Colony of New Amsterdam was a >DeDecker (I have his first name in my notes somewhere), from Amsterdam, > who was a key advisor to Governor Peter Stuyvestant.......<snip> Thank you very much for your interesting reply. I have always been under the impression that the Orange County/Sussex County Deckers were an entirely separate family to the New Amsterdam/Staten Island Deckers but I could be completely wrong about this. My only source of information on the Deckers comes from an article published in Genealogies of New Jersey Families, vol. 1, The Decker Family by George C. Evans. It is twelve pages and full of a great deal of information but is the only source that I know of and would love to have more than this. >From what you have written, it would appear that you are referring to the same Decker line that is written of in the article but it does not mention the Sussex/Orange County connection. The article does stress the point that there is a lot of confusion concerning the Deckers by saying, "The Deckers were among the most prolific colonial families of the Island's pioneer days, and their intermarriages with neighboring families, together with their frequent use of similar Christian names, has complicated the task of the genealogist." Interestingly, I do find an Isaac Decker mentioned who almost matches your Isaac but the dates vary a bit: 50. Isaac Decker, twin of Abraham, b. 30 Aug 1765, d. 21 Nov 1853. He and his wife had issue; among others: 60. Henry C. b. 29 July 1805 There is a bit more on this line and I will skip the early Dordrecht info and transcribe some of what is written about Johannes De Decker the original settler. p. 193 15. JOHANNES DE DECKER, . June 1626, at Dordrecht, d. prob. at New Springville, S.I., m. (banns pub.) at Dordrecht on 27 Oct. 1657 to Margareta van Belcamp, b. 1636 in Amsterdam, dau. of Jacob van Belcamp and Hester Bachers of Amsterdam. He was the progenitor of this family in America. While not receiving, perhaps, the same thorough educational training as his distinguished cousin, Jeremias, it must be presumed that Johannes de Decker did acquire an above-the-average amount of schooling or tutoring, probably from his uncle, Abraham, with whom he resided at the time of his marriage and possibly for a few years prior to that date. At the early age of 21 years he was registered as a notary in Dordrecht, on 7 Oct 1647, and later he was registered as a notary of Schiedam in 1650, 1653, and 1654 and as a State' attorney. In April 1655, Johannes arrived in New Amsterdam on the ship, Swarte Arent (Black Eagle), having served as supercargo on the voyage, and bearing a letter dated 23 Nov 1654 from the directors of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West Indies Company, addressed to Governor Pieter Stuyvesant and recommending de Decker as one "whose abilities we admit, deserve of better and higher position, for besides being a well conducted man, experienced in business, having served faithfully for some years as procureur (States' attorney) and notary at Schiedam, he is a young man of sound judgment and writes a neat and manly style. You may try him and employ him provisionally in the office, or in some other place, for we have concluded that he shall remain there in the Company's service, recommending that upon the first occasion offer- page 194 ing, you give to the said Decker a proper and decent appointment, for we are confident that the Company and you will be benefited by his good and faithful services." Again on 26 May 1655: "The good tes- tiony given us every day concerning the life, suitableness and indus- try of Johannes de Decker, arrived lately in the ship Swarte Arent, has so increased our good opinion of the man, that we have concluded to confirm our recommendation of 23 Nov 1654 and to direct you to pay special attention to him . . . . in the mean time we increase his salary by 150 fl. a year or as much as you already may have allowed him." In accordance with these instructions, the director general and Council, on 16 June 1655, appointed him presiding commissary at Fort Orange (Albany), replacing Johannes Dyckman, who has become insane. From 13 July 1655 to 17 July 1656 de Decker's name appears in the court minutes of Fort Orange as "Commissary Officer here, ex-officio plaintiff," in all official cases, and minutes are in his own hand, signed "J. de Deckere" or "J. Deckere." There arose a conflict between Johannes de Decker and certain members of the court at Fort Orange, namely, Ret Jacobse and Volkert Jansz, regarding de Decker's duties and his request for additional salary, but soon after Stuyvesant's arrival, the Directors recommended that "de Decker should assume the duties of both Inspector and Commissary, and that he also be appointed a member of the Council." This was on 13 March 1656. Brodhead also gives him the title of vice-director under Stuyvesant. On 19 Dec. 1656, the Directors wrote, "As you have given permission to the Commissary of the aforesaid Fort, Johannes de Decker to come to Holland on private business, we trust that you have provisionally filled his place with a proper and honest man, until the said de Decker shall have returned, which he will undoubtedly do in the spring . . . ." *********** I will stop here and continue either privately or if there seems to be enough interest to the list. - Ed Edward Coates Sinker - email: [email protected] Church Lea Bosbury Herefordshire HR8 1PX U. K.