Chris, Hi, Saw your post on the DECKER-L Mailing list. I have 9 Moses DECKER's in my data. The closest that I have in age to your Moses is the one mentioned by Charles Ostrander (in his post to the DECKER-L Mailing list). Like Charles, I have no further break-down of Moses,i.e., no spouse no children, etc. If this Moses was born in Orange Co., NY, I would take exception to the idea expressed in the "Historical and Biographical Memories of Muskingum County, Ohio 1892" that he is of German descent. DECKER's born in that part of this country in that time period (ca-1790) were almost 100% sure of being a descendant of the Dutchman, Jan Gerretsen or the Dane, Jan Broersen. These men arrived in the Dutch colonies about 1640. They both assumed the name DECKER. Probably about the time the British defeated the West Indies Company and the Dutch of early New Amsterdam (ca 1665). The early dutch used the patronymics naming convention and didn't have last names as we know them. So, they assumed a last name. Many of them took the Van or Von (from) coupled with the name of their home town. Some, like the Jan's, just assumed a name. Why they chose DECKER remains a mystery. I'll keep looking and if I come up with anything I'll E-mail you. In the mean time, I'd like a copy of your data on the DECKER's that you are researching. I am trying to compile a file and link as many of the DECKER's as I can. Let me know what software that you use and maybe we can agree to a file exchange. Thanks for your time. Regards, John Decker 5508 Lynn St. Greenville, TX 75402 ---------- > From: HulaLULU <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: [DECKER-L] Intro - researching Moses DECKER b abt 1788 > Date: Saturday, May 09, 1998 2:03 PM > > Hi fellow Decker researchers! > > We have hit a brick wall looking for siblings and parents of Moses DECKER but > have extensive info on his decendants (14 children) to share. If any of the > following info rings your bell, or if you have any suggestions please respond > either to the List or my personal email address. Thank you for your time. > > Chris Farris > mailto:[email protected] > > Historical and Biographical Memories of Muskingum County, Ohio 1892 ) says he > was born (in Orange Co, NY we believe) of German parents and brought to > Muskingum Co, OH as a child. The first record of Moses, so far, is recorded > in 1809 in Muskingum Co, OH in a court document. > > Muskingum Co. Marriages 1803 to 1818 shows Moses Decker and Elizabeth SHEPLER > Dec. 17, 1810 by Benj. Reasoner JP. Hand written record shows "Married on > the 19th November, 1810 Moses Decker and Elizabeth SHEPLOR of Muskingum County > given under my hand this 17th December 1810." signed Benj. Reasoner JP. > Typed record shows location of Highland Twp. (We understood her maiden name to > be REASONER.) > > In 1836 Moses moved most of his family to Suez Twp, Mercer Co, IL. Suspect > they left OH about 9/21/1836 with the McPherren group. > > In January, 1847 they moved to (then) Bad Ax Co, WI founding the village of > Viroqua, (now) Vernon Co, WI. > >