welcome to ...

the Decker Journey

mark of Jan Broersen Decker


Home -> Updates

Unable to display menu

 

Updates

Recent Updates:

5/6/2020 - Article from The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, April 2005, written by Wayne R. Decker, regarding the DNA Study he completed to distinguish between the families of Jan Broersen Decker and Jan Gerritsen Decker.  (This is the second of two DNA studies.)

8/25/2013 - The 14th Annual Decker Reunion for descendents of James Franklin Decker was held August 4, 2013 in Sanford Michigan.

11/13/2012 - Posted a newspaper article from the Omaha Sunday Bee discussing the appearance by Sarah Platt-Decker, of Denver, described as a "Leader in Woman's Movement."  Published January 26, 1908.

9/5/2012 - Posted a Minnesota newspaper article describing the 1907 injury to the mother of Charles L. Decker, injured in Towanda, Pennsylvania due to a runaway buggy.

8/17/2012 - The 13th Annual Decker Reunion for descendents of James Franklin Decker was held August 5, 2012 in Sanford Michigan.

7/26/2012 - Added the 1890 story of Goldsmith Maid, and how 'Squire Tom Bingham helped John H. Decker buy her from his uncle John B. Decker in 1864.  Goldsmith Maid held the record for career winnings by a horse until the 1950s.

7/12/2012 - Posted a Biography of Charles Decker (b. 1824) printed in the Salt Lake City Herald, July 11, 1897.

7/11/2012 - Added an article titled Frauds in The Piano Trade - 1876 news article from The Highland weekly news (republished from a December 3, 1875 article in the New York Music Trade Review.  Discusses the several firms that used the "Decker" name in the manufacture of pianos.

3/6/2012 - Posted Civil War documents for Clark W. Decker from Adrian, Michigan.

1/24/2011 - Posted Civil War & Later Letters amongst the children of Michael Decker & Elizabeth Bovee, who lived mostly in the area of Berne, Albany Co., New York.  There are currently 8 letters posted as PDF files with transcriptions provided.  These letters have been in the possession of descendants of Angeline (Decker) Kniskern.

1/21/2011 - I have posted PDF files containing the Civil War Pension Records for Minard Decker, son of Michael Decker and Elizabeth Bovee.  The pension was applied for & received by his widow, Catharine (Eignor) Decker, and includes information on their marriage & children for purposes of obtaining the pension (32 pages).

1/13/2011 - Completed listing of gravestones & pictures for Decker graves in Wantage and Monatgue Townships in Sussex County, New Jersey.  Fourteen cemeteries were visited on October 10, 2010, with 342 pictures & videos taken to compile the information.

11/24/2010 - Posted transcriptions and pictures of the Decker Bibles under the care of Historic Huguenot Street (Roosa House Library and Archives), New Paltz, New York.  Includes the bibles of Elsie Ann Decker and Cornelius Decker.

9/1/2010 - Added the 1784 will (abstract) of Mattheus Decker, Shawangung, Ulster County, New York.  I previously had an abstract/list of names in this will, but this copy is more complete.

8/25/2010 - Added links to Deckers in Dutch Reformed Church cemetery of New Hurley, New York (new window) - Including Sarah, Joseph, Lydia (w. of Matthew Roosa) Decker and family of Renssallaer Decker.   (Photos by Jarald Nichols received 8/25/2010)

8/25/2010 - Posted a biography of Biography of Frederick Decker (b. 1812), son of Aaron M. Decker and Mary Vandroff.  Frederick was born in Morris Co., New Jersey, and lived in Delaware Co., Ohio.

5/13/2010 - Posted a biography of George Decker (b. 1820), son of Jeremiah Decker and Nancy Bishop, and lived in Seneca County, New York.

4/14/2010 - Added a list of Decker burials and photos from Morgan County, Illinois.  I have been researching this area and had an opportunity to be nearby, so I compiled a list of Decker burials from the Rootsweb site for the county and tried to photo as many as I could find.

1/25/2010 - Posted a biography of Grant Decker (b. 1814), born in New Jersey, then lived with his family in New York, before moving to Flint, Genesee County, Michigan.  He served as the first mayor of Flint, Michigan.

1/25/2010 - Posted a biography of Silas Decker (b. 1852), Calhoun County, Michigan, born Union County, Pennsylvania.  His parents were Simon and Mary Ann (Reitz) Decker of Union County, Pennsylvania.

1/25/2010 - Posted a biography of Thomas E. Decker (b. 1846), born in Jefferson County, New York, living in Waushara County, Wisconsin.

1/25/2010 - Posted a biography of Charles F. Decker (b. 1863), son of one of the Utah pioneers, Isaac Perry Decker.

1/25/2010 - Posted a biography of John W. Decker, M.D. (b. 1863), of Lake City, Michigan (parents natives of New York).

1/25/2010 - Added biographies of Amos Decker (Ohio, b. 1845) and James Knox Polk Decker (Indiana, b. 1839), cousins, both grandsons of John Decker and Julia Ann Royer (Pennsylvania & Ohio).

1/18/2010 - Posted a Biography of William Henry Decker (b. 1836) of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, great-grandson of Nicholas Decker of Copake, Columbia County, New York.

12/10/2009 - Added another article on the Decker House from the book:  Dutch Colonial Homes in America (Blackburn, et. al., 2002), pages 134-143.

11/16/2009 - Added an article on the Decker House from Antiques, The Magazine April 1998;  Living with antiques:  The Johannes Decker Farm in Ulster County, New York by Mary Anne Bunting.

10/11/2009 - Added a list of all Decker burials (and selected related names from including Wood, Smith, and Bulson) in Lenawee County, Michigan from the records of Harriet Cole Brown, compiled in the years 1933-1943.  Also includes some updates from Lenawee County Family Researchers in 2000-2003.  Update 11/3/2009:  I have also completed posting headstone pictures for all Decker graves and related names in Lenawee County as listed in the Harriet Cole Brown records (personally photographed October 10 & 11, 2009).

9/10/2009 - Added a list of Michigan, Bay County - Early Deaths and Marriages.  Marriages from 1867 to 1914 and Deaths from 1914 to 1933.  (New Window)

8/17/2009 - Added Decker baptisms from the Reformed Church (1731-1899) in Rhinebeck, New York.

8/17/2009 - Added Decker baptisms and marriages from the Low Dutch Church at Klyn Esopus (1791-1899) in Ulster Park, New York.

7/27/2009 - Posted research into the parentage of Jan Broersen, which was presented at a previous Decker reunion in 1999.

7/9/2009 - Posted information on a book written by John Tippets, with help from his wife Bonnie Decker Tippets.  The book, Hearts of Courage (pdf), is the story of how his father survived 29 days in the Alaska wilderness after a plane crash in 1943.  (Article published 4/30/2009 in Deseret News - pdf)

6/27/2009 - Posted a biography of Casper G. Decker [son of Dr. Casper Shermerhorn Decker], who was born in Sullivan Co., New York in 1860, and lived in Elmira, Chemung Co., New York.

5/7/2009 - Posted a story of the settlement of Viroqua, Vernon Co., Wisconsin.  This village was first settled by Moses Decker (born in N. Y.) in 1846.

4/13/2009 - Added biographies of Decker men living in Mecosta County, Michigan in 1883, which includes Richard S. Decker, James N. Decker, Gilbert A. Decker, John D. Decker, and Peter S. Decker.  The biographies of Richard S. Decker and James N. Decker also include portraits (sketches).  These men all have connections to New York and Canada.

2/9/2009 - Posted photos from the descendents of Uriah Decker and Experience Baker, and contain many pictures of William Wood.  These photos are from an album collected by a family member, many of which are tintype, and date to the 1860s.

2/1/2009 - Updates to the site are mostly complete.  I haven't yet bothered to migrate some pages, primarily those in the "My Journey" section, as well as a final determination of whether I need to enhance the search page.

1/1/2009 - Added a Biography of John C. Decker (b. 1822) (Livingston Co., New York, grandfather from Germany)

12/31/2008 - Posted biographies of William H. Decker (1868) (grandfather was John A. Decker, born in Holland) and James Henry Decker (Troy & Watertown, New York), as published in Genealogical and Family History of the County of Jefferson, New York (1905).

12/31/2008 - Posted a history of Orion Township, Oakland County, Michigan, description of Decker settlement, named for Jesse Decker (1825) - from History of Oakland County (1912).

12/17/2008 - Added a Biography of Clark W. Decker (b. 1838), son of Uriah and Experience (Baker) Decker.  Also included is a biography of William Wood, who married Adeline Decker, daughter of Uriah and Experience.  These are from separate historical biographies from 1888 and 1879.  (Lenawee County, Michigan)

12/9/2008 - Added a Biography of Lawrence Decker (b. 1818), son of Peter L. Decker (reported as descendant of Jan Broerse Decker) and Cornelia Swart.  Also includes information on the parents and siblings of Lawrence. (New York, Branch County, Michigan)

12/2/08 - Added a Biography of Cecil E. Decker (b. 1852)  (New York, Gratiot Co., Michigan) [Also included is John Brewer, who married Mrs. Ruth Decker (nee Convis), daughter of John D. and Submitte (Graves) Convis]

11/28/2008 - Posted a 1909 biography of John Ferdinand Decker, born 1839 in Germany, lived in Erie County, Pennsylvania.

8/13/2008 - Added a 1912 biography of Freeman L. Decker, born 1851 in Michigan, and long time politician who lived in Lake City, Michigan.

8/3/2008:  The 9th Annual Michigan Decker reunion was held today at the home of Chris & Peg Decker, just north of Sanford, Michigan.

7/21/2008 - Posted biographies of Samuel Decker, M.D. and George C. Decker, both of Delaware County, New York, from Biographical Review, 1895, Leading Citizens of Delaware County.

7/12/2008 - Posted photos and inscriptions of Deckers buried in Arenac County, Michigan.

7/12/2008 - Posted an article on Johannes & Ruth Decker in Battle Creek, Michigan, based around the grave for their children buried in the 1870s and the statue placed there.

7/10/2008 - Added a list of Decker marriages in Indiana (1118 records) from Indiana Vital Records index.

7/10/2008 - Added Decker listings of records from churches in Albany (no Decker entries) & Greene Counties, New York.  Most are from the Prattsville Church in Greene County, New York.

7/10/2008:  Posted information on the family of Tunis Decker and Mary Shew (descendents) derived from bible records, as reported by D.A.R.

7/10/2008:  Added a list of Decker/Converse/Graves burials in the Town of Ellisburg, Jefferson County, New York.  Earlier burials based on information at the Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library, Watertown, Jefferson Co., New York.

6/12/2008:  Posted a biography of Alexander N. Decker (b. 1859), who lived in Delaware County, Ohio.  His father, Frederick Decker, was born in New Jersey, then lived in several locations in Ohio before settling in Delaware County.

3/22/2008:  Posted a biography of William Decker (b. 1823) and George H. Decker (born 1858), both of which are listed in The Progressive Men of the State of Montana, published about 1901.

1/28/08:  Posted a biography of Jesse A. Decker, born 1841 in Ohio, the son of Obadiah Decker.  This Decker family is prominent in the 1850's history of Clay County, Indiana.

10/8/07:  Posted a biography of James B. Decker, born 1883 in Utah.  This is a remarkable family line, original pioneers of the Mormon faith, with a long tradition.  I previously had this information and came across it again.  There is quite a lot of information on his parents & grandparents.

9/14/07:  Posted a biography of Albert I. Decker, born 1876 in Illinois, but lived most of his life in Kansas.  This biography is from "Kansas and Kansans," published in 1918.  He was the son of J. E. Decker, and grandson of Elisha Decker (born in Pennsylvania).

9/4/07:  Added early records of marriages and births from Arenac County, Michigan.  Births from 1883-1904 and Marriages from 1886 to 1898 [No more Decker marriages until 1940].

8/14/07:  The 8th Annual Michigan Decker reunion was held on August 5, 2007 at the home of Chris Decker in Sanford, Michigan.  Overall nearly 40 people attended the reunion on what turned out to be a really nice day (not as hot as the week before or after).

8/7/06:  The 7th annual Michigan Decker reunion took place at noon on August 6th, 2006.  The reunion was held at the home of Chris Decker in Sanford, Michigan.

4/25/2006 - Added a list of Deckers who fought for the Union and died at Gettysburg (1863).  There are five men listed (three from the 80th N.Y. Infantry) with details on their service and death.

12/13/2005 - Happy birthday to Kaylie Marie Schantz, daughter of Jerome Schantz & Stephanie Decker, born 12/8/05 at 7:30am.  Kaylie was measured at 20 3/4" and weighs 8 pounds.  My first grandchild - and latest addition to my family genealogy.

12/6/2005 - Posted several items, including a list of Deckers from Ulster County who served in the Revolution, Deckers listed on the 1835 Pension Roll, and a list of Deckers buried before 1932 in Schoharie, County, New York.

10/27/05 -   I have posted the pictures of  The Decker Reunion for descendents of Jan Broerson, which was recently held in New York. 11/19/05 - Descriptions have now been added.

10/27/05 - I've created a page where I can post some of my pictures that may be used as Wallpapers for your computer.

9/13/2005 - Posted pictures of Gettysburg & description of the involvement of Lucius & Minard Decker in the 20th N.Y.S.M.  These pictures were from a side-trip that made on the way to a conference in Richmond.  Pictures of Jamestown, Arlington National Cemetery, and others from the return trip are also included.

4/7/2005 - It may be somewhat dull (trip pictures?), but having gone to the Grand Palladium Resort for 7 days this February & March, I've posted my pictures of the trip, along with a description of the days' events.

3/31/2005 - Upgrade to new server is complete, except for some fine tuning.  I've changed to a new package at Yahoo! that costs less, but has 20 times the storage.  This should allow for plenty of growth (and posting lots more odds & ends).

3/8/2005 - Posted a group of pictures and drawings of the Johannes Decker house in Shawangunk, Ulster Co., NY.  These images were found on the Library of Congress - American Memory website.  This is the same building that was documented in the book "Dutch Houses in the Hudson Valley Before 1776," by Helen Wilkinson Reynolds, published in 1929.

1/9/2005 - Added a series of gravestone pictures from the Midland, MI Cemetery, taken December 2004.

12/21/2004 - Posted a listing of Wills from Ulster County, N.Y. containing any reference to Decker, dating back to 1665.

10/27/2004 - Posted a list of Deckers who died in Michigan from 1867 to 1882, and a biography of Victor E. Decker (b. 1894) of Michigan, published in 1939.

9/14/2004 - Added a list of Decker baptisms & marriages from the German Reformed Chuch/Montgomery Reformed Church in Orange Co., NY.

6/28/2004 - The 2004 Decker Reunion for descendents of James F. Decker was held June 13, 2004 at Homer Township Pavilion.

3/31/2004 - Posted  an article from The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, January 2004, written by Wayne R. Decker, regarding the DNA Study he completed to establish the paternity of two sons of Jan Broersen Decker.

3/30/2004 - Added a number of headstone pictures sent to me by David Decker.

3/9/2004 - Added a will for Jan/John Decker, dated 1790, Knox Co., IN.  Also added a listing of Decker burials in New Jefferson Cemetery, Jefferson, Greene Co., NY.

3/4/2004 - Added a will for Samuel Decker, dated 1869, Shawangunk, Ulster Co., NY.

1/30/2004 - Added a list of Deckers from Early Settlers of New York State (Volume 1 of 2) and New York Marriages previous to 1784.

1/4/2004 - New:  Civil War records for Lucius H. Decker, son of Michael Decker and Elizabeth Bovee.  Updated 1/21/2011 to include PDF files of the original records.

11/1/2003 - Posted a list of Decker entries from the "History of Sussex & Warren Counties, New Jersey" published in 1881, and included Decker entries from "Abstracts of Divisions of Warren and Sussex County Estates Filed at Sussex County Courthouse, Newton, New Jersey, from 1789-1918"

10/6/2003 - Added a list of Decker records from the Goshen Presbyterian Church (1767-1885) in Goshen N.Y., and a list of Decker records from Marbletown Reformed Dutch Church, Ulster Co., N.Y., including baptisms (1772-1806) and marriages (1796-1859).

8/7/2003 - Posted list of Decker records at New Prospect Reformed Dutch Church, border of Orange & Ulster Counties.

7/19/2003 - Also added Marriage Records from four Reformed Churches in Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, New York.

7/19/2003 - Added Marriage Records from four Reformed Churches in Germantown, New York, and Baptism records for the Gallatin Church in Germantown, New York.

6/6/2003 - Posted information on Deckers listed in the "History of New Paltz 1678-1820" by Ralph LeFevre in the Stories section, and the New Paltz Reformed Dutch Church, Vol III, and Deckers in the Reformed Dutch Church of Guilford, Township of Gardiner, Ulster Co., NY.  Also posted a handful of Decker/Dekker entries for the Reformed Dutch Church in New York.

5/29/2003 - List of Marriages from the Kinderhook Reformed Church, Kinderhook, NY (1717-1899), and also baptisms from the New Hurley Reformed Dutch Church, Ulster Co., NY (1770-1923).

4-17-2003 - I recently met with Sharon Poole Sherrick and was able to make a copy of an album that was owned by her Grandmother, Elva Lucina Ward.  This album contains pictures of Samuel Decker & Mary Lovina Barber, and their children.

March 28, 2003 - Posted a list of Decker burials for Cedar Park Cemetery, Hudson, New York (up to 1970). (Thank you Betsy)

March 3, 2003 - Added a page dedicated to the family of Jan Gerretsen Decker.

November 25, 2002 - Updated the list of soldiers named Decker from "The Roster of Union Soldiers 1861-1865" to include all states.

November 22, 2002 - Added a Search Feature to the website.

November 17, 2002 - Posted Story of Jan Broersen from "Scandinavian Immigrants in New York" by John O. Evjen.

November 12, 2002 - Finished migrating to my own Guest Book.  This is due to a change in policy in the site at free.guestpage.com ( View My Guestbook) that limits the number of new people that can sign the Guest Book, at which point it is no longer free.

October 28, 2002 - Posted a list of soldiers named Decker(s) who served in the Civil War from New York, 1861-1865. (Updated November 25, 2002)

July 12, 2002 - Posted a biography of John B. Decker, great-grandson of Peter Decker and descendent of Jan Gerritson Decker, from "History of Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey" by James P. Snell, 1881.

July 10, 2002 - Posted complete baptisms from the Shawangunk Reformed Church (1750-1911) - completing the list posted on 4-15-2002.

July 5, 2002 - Added stories of three houses in the Minisink valley region (New Jersey/New York) with connections to the Deckers.  One house was built by Stephanus Tietsoort - his son William married Sarah Decker.  Also listed are the homes of Abraham Van Campen and Isaac Van Campen, who are descended from Tietje Jans Decker (daughter of Jan Broersen) who married Jan Gerritzen van Campen.  John Adams frequently spent the night at the home of Isaac Van Campen.

June 23, 2002 - The third annual Michigan Decker reunion was held today at Plymouth Park in Midland, MI.  The weather was warm and sunny, the food was great, and a good time was enjoyed by all.

April 30, 2002 - Added Decker Baptisms and Marriages at the Claverack Reformed Church, Columbia County, NY.

April 22, 2002 - Posted Will Abstract of Jacob N. Decker, son of Nicholas Decker.

April 15, 2002 - Added a list of baptisms at the Shawangunk Reformed Church (1750-1800), and all Deckers listed as head-of-households in the 1800 Federal Census for New York.

March 30, 2002 - Posted the last will and testament of Nicholas Decker, grandfather of Robert Decker (whose biography was posted February 6.

March 22, 2002 - Added list of Deckers buried in Shawangunk Reformed Church cemetery, Ulster County, New York.

February 6, 2002 - Posted a biography of Robert Decker, born 1818, from the "History of Columbia County, New York."

February 2, 2002 - Added a document detailing the proof (or documentation) of the line from James F. Decker to Jan Broersen.

January 29, 2002 - Posted NY State Census for Samuel Decker family (1855, 1865, 1875) and 1920 Federal Census, Midland, MI for James Decker family.

January 28, 2002 - Added Agriculture statistics for Samuel Decker from the 1855 & 1865 New York State Census, Newfane, Niagara County, New York.

January 19, 2002 - Added Niagara County information, including maps of Newfane area in 1875 and today, and Guardianship information for children of Samuel.

January 14, 2002 - First update of information after my trip to New York looking for proof, and to visit the towns of our ancestors.  Includes NY Trip diary, and Linlithgo Reformed Church baptisms.

December 22, 2001 - Updated family tree information to include all baptisms from the Kingston Reformed Dutch Church with the name Decker/Dekker for mother or father.  Added pictures of the Decker houses in the stories area.

December 8, 2001 - Added a list of Decker/Dekker baptisms at the Reformed Dutch Church, Kingston NY (1660-1809).  These records were entered as found barring any unexpected typos.  This list includes baptisms for Jan Broersen and Jan Gerretsen.  There are 280 entries.  Created the Data Files area.

November 24, 2001:  Added all children of the third generation - great grandchildren of Jan Broersen.  This information is subject to verification, as there is a good deal of conflicting information on the Internet.  Having them entered into the family tree will allow me to have a concise listing to use for verification later on.

November 20, 2001:  Added a description of the Decker house in Shawanguk, NY, built by Johannes Decker replacing a log house built by his father, Cornelius Decker.

November 18, 2001:  Added all children & Grandchildren of Jan Broersen Decker (with birth year) to the family tree information.  This will help to fill in more information later.

October 22, 2001:  New family tree information with family of Myndert and Gerrit Decker.  Information obtained from ancestry.com information from Donna Howard.

October 19, 2001:  New family tree information with family of Michael Decker including families of Mary Etta Decker and Wesley (Josiah) Decker, children of Myndert (siblings of Samuel Decker). Information obtained from ancestry.com information for Donna Howard.

October 19, 2001:  New family tree information with family of Angeline E. Decker, sister of Samuel.  Information from familysearch.com - reference to website http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/wht (broken link) by William H. Turner.

June 2001:  Information & Pictures of Reunion 2001

June 2001:  New website up & running.


May 6, 2020