Jacob Decker, Town of Chemung
.... Other early settlers to the area were: Jacob Lowman, Jonathan Griswold, John Squires, Abijah Batterson, Ebenezer Green, James Wilson, Uriah Wilson, David Burt, Justus Bennett, Benjamin Wynkoop, John Hillman, Joseph Drake, Moses De Puy, Jacob Decker and Samuel Westbrook. -- Ausburn Towner
Recently, I received an inquiry regarding Jacob Decker, his son Harrison and Harrison's son Guy. I decided to do some research to add this family to our list of Chemung families. If you have information to share about a particular branch of this family tree and would like it added, please contact me!
- Mary Ellen Kunst 9.28.16
updated 1-20-2020
- Mary Ellen Kunst 9.28.16
updated 1-20-2020
DID YOU KNOW??
In 1836, Southport was authorized to set up for a town by itself.
The Town of Ashland was formerly a part of Elmira, the Town of Southport and Chemung but, as the people of this community had to travel a great distance to vote, a resident of Wellsburg, R. E. Lockwood, secured a petition of the people and presented it to Assemblyman George W. Buck of Chemung, who had it formally acted upon. It became a town April 25, 1867.
In 1836, Southport was authorized to set up for a town by itself.
The Town of Ashland was formerly a part of Elmira, the Town of Southport and Chemung but, as the people of this community had to travel a great distance to vote, a resident of Wellsburg, R. E. Lockwood, secured a petition of the people and presented it to Assemblyman George W. Buck of Chemung, who had it formally acted upon. It became a town April 25, 1867.
Jacob Decker came to the Town of Chemung, Montgomery County, New York from Shawangunk, Ulster County, New York, at the time many early settlers were arriving in the newly formed town and quite possibly as early as 1788. Jacob was born August 17, 1759, in Minisink, Orange Co, NY. Baptized, September 13, 1761.
Jacob came to Chemung with his wife, Mary Maria Terwilliger (1760-1852), and their six children: Jacob and Mary Maria were married in Deerpark, Orange Co, NY, January 29, 1787.
(If you look at the date of marriage and dates of birth they don't match unless there was another spouse.)
Their children (when arriving in Chemung) were:
Laura, born 1772 Shawangunk, Ulster Co, NY
Rebecca, born 1774 Shawangunk, Ulster Co, NY
Mary Maria, born 1777 Shawangunk, Ulster Co, NY
Solomon, born 1784 Shawangunk, Ulster, Co, NY
Jacob, born 1786 Shawangunk, Ulster Co, NY
Simon, born 1787 Shawangunk, Ulster Co, NY
While living in Chemung they had two more children:
Catrina, born 1792
Zephaniah, born 1798
Jacob appears in the 1825 State Census.
In his household were living 3 males, 2 females, one being married).
2 men of age to join militia and 2 qualified to vote.
Jacob and Zephaniah both appear in the 1835 State Census. Both owned 10 acres of improved land.
Jacob had 1 male and 1 female in his household.
Zephaniah had 4 males and 2 females.
Jacob appears in the 1840 United States Federal Census in the Town of Chemung, Chemung Co, NY, as a farmer. It claims his birth was about 1756; he was 84 years of age and was a Revolutionary War Veteran. There were three other Decker’s living in the area; Isaac, Garret and Solomon. Isaac, born 1767 and Solomon, born 1746 were brothers of Jacob. The family connection between Jacob and Garret has not been determined.
Jacob died February 19, 1849 in the Town of Chemung, Chemung Co, NY. He is buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Chemung.
Jacob and Mary Maria Decker’s son; Jacob who was born September 11, 1786 married Eunice Kelsey. Local history records claim Jacob was born in what is now known as the Town of Ashland, however at the time of his birth, that area was actually the Town of Chemung. It wasn’t until 1867 the area became Ashland.
Eunice Kelsey was born March 16, 1789, daughter of Abner Kelsey, and the first child born in what is now the Village of Wellsburg, Town of Ashland, NY. (At that time the area was considered Town of Chemung, creating much confusion in genealogy research.)
Their children all born in Chemung were:
Jacob, born 1806
Aurelia, born 1808
Aaron Eaton, born 1811
Addison, born 1813
Polly, born 1815
George D, born 1816
Thomas, born 1817
Jane, born 1819
Harrison, born 1820
Julia Ann, born 1827
Jacob Decker died in Chemung, Chemung Co, NY, Nov. 4, 1845. In 1867 this area became the town of Southport. There seems to have been much confusion over both Jacob's; father and son. In the listing of Abstracts of Wills, 1836 – 1850 of Chemung County, NY, located at the Court House at Elmira, NY: Son, Jacob Decker was listed with the date of his will, October 14, 1845 and the probate date, December 29, 1845. There were notes written at time of transcription that are not correct. They listed him as a Revolutionary Soldier. This was not possible; he was born after the war in 1786. They also listed him as 109 years old. Whoever added notes, had the father and son statistics mixed up. Jacob the son, died at the age of 59 years. His wife Eunice was mentioned along with children: Elizabeth Jane, Grace, Julia Ann, Polly Mariah. Sons, Aaron Eaton, Addison and George were Executors and witnesses included; James Griswold and Thomas Decker of Southport.
Jacob and Eunice’s daughter Julia Ann Decker was also listed on the Abstract of Wills.
She and her father are buried at the Old Baptist (Wellsburg) Cemetery. The date of her will was January 20, 1849. The probate date was May 7, 1849. Brother Harrison Decker was Executor. Witnesses included James Griswold and Thomas Decker of Southport.
Harrison Decker and Harriet Tubbs were married by Rev. Crow, December 24 or 26th, 1849, both of Southport. They are listed on the 1850 U.S. Federal Census, in Southport:
Harrison was 30 years, Harriet was 20 years. They were listed as farmers and were both born in New York State. Living with them, his mother Eunice, 60 years. Brother, Aaron Eaton Decker, farmer, 40 years was also living with them along with laborers, Richard Albertson, Charles Goodwill, James Carsey, and child Frances Griswold. The 1860 census did not show any results, however the 1870 census shows the family living at a Wellsburg’s Post Office address:
Harrison, 50 yrs.
Harriet 40 yrs.
and children:
Charles 19 yrs.
Cayton 15 yrs.
Frank 13 yrs.
Anna 10 yrs.
Guy 7 yrs.
Frost 2 yrs.
Harrison’s occupation was listed as a Butter Purchaser. Harriet, Keeping House. Charles, Clerk in store.
The Decker family name is steeped in New York State history. They arrived in New York State at a very early date. Using Ancestry.com as a basis to look up this family genealogy I found the following information, starting with son, Jacob.
Jacob came to Chemung with his wife, Mary Maria Terwilliger (1760-1852), and their six children: Jacob and Mary Maria were married in Deerpark, Orange Co, NY, January 29, 1787.
(If you look at the date of marriage and dates of birth they don't match unless there was another spouse.)
Their children (when arriving in Chemung) were:
Laura, born 1772 Shawangunk, Ulster Co, NY
Rebecca, born 1774 Shawangunk, Ulster Co, NY
Mary Maria, born 1777 Shawangunk, Ulster Co, NY
Solomon, born 1784 Shawangunk, Ulster, Co, NY
Jacob, born 1786 Shawangunk, Ulster Co, NY
Simon, born 1787 Shawangunk, Ulster Co, NY
While living in Chemung they had two more children:
Catrina, born 1792
Zephaniah, born 1798
Jacob appears in the 1825 State Census.
In his household were living 3 males, 2 females, one being married).
2 men of age to join militia and 2 qualified to vote.
Jacob and Zephaniah both appear in the 1835 State Census. Both owned 10 acres of improved land.
Jacob had 1 male and 1 female in his household.
Zephaniah had 4 males and 2 females.
Jacob appears in the 1840 United States Federal Census in the Town of Chemung, Chemung Co, NY, as a farmer. It claims his birth was about 1756; he was 84 years of age and was a Revolutionary War Veteran. There were three other Decker’s living in the area; Isaac, Garret and Solomon. Isaac, born 1767 and Solomon, born 1746 were brothers of Jacob. The family connection between Jacob and Garret has not been determined.
Jacob died February 19, 1849 in the Town of Chemung, Chemung Co, NY. He is buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Chemung.
Jacob and Mary Maria Decker’s son; Jacob who was born September 11, 1786 married Eunice Kelsey. Local history records claim Jacob was born in what is now known as the Town of Ashland, however at the time of his birth, that area was actually the Town of Chemung. It wasn’t until 1867 the area became Ashland.
Eunice Kelsey was born March 16, 1789, daughter of Abner Kelsey, and the first child born in what is now the Village of Wellsburg, Town of Ashland, NY. (At that time the area was considered Town of Chemung, creating much confusion in genealogy research.)
Their children all born in Chemung were:
Jacob, born 1806
Aurelia, born 1808
Aaron Eaton, born 1811
Addison, born 1813
Polly, born 1815
George D, born 1816
Thomas, born 1817
Jane, born 1819
Harrison, born 1820
Julia Ann, born 1827
Jacob Decker died in Chemung, Chemung Co, NY, Nov. 4, 1845. In 1867 this area became the town of Southport. There seems to have been much confusion over both Jacob's; father and son. In the listing of Abstracts of Wills, 1836 – 1850 of Chemung County, NY, located at the Court House at Elmira, NY: Son, Jacob Decker was listed with the date of his will, October 14, 1845 and the probate date, December 29, 1845. There were notes written at time of transcription that are not correct. They listed him as a Revolutionary Soldier. This was not possible; he was born after the war in 1786. They also listed him as 109 years old. Whoever added notes, had the father and son statistics mixed up. Jacob the son, died at the age of 59 years. His wife Eunice was mentioned along with children: Elizabeth Jane, Grace, Julia Ann, Polly Mariah. Sons, Aaron Eaton, Addison and George were Executors and witnesses included; James Griswold and Thomas Decker of Southport.
Jacob and Eunice’s daughter Julia Ann Decker was also listed on the Abstract of Wills.
She and her father are buried at the Old Baptist (Wellsburg) Cemetery. The date of her will was January 20, 1849. The probate date was May 7, 1849. Brother Harrison Decker was Executor. Witnesses included James Griswold and Thomas Decker of Southport.
Harrison Decker and Harriet Tubbs were married by Rev. Crow, December 24 or 26th, 1849, both of Southport. They are listed on the 1850 U.S. Federal Census, in Southport:
Harrison was 30 years, Harriet was 20 years. They were listed as farmers and were both born in New York State. Living with them, his mother Eunice, 60 years. Brother, Aaron Eaton Decker, farmer, 40 years was also living with them along with laborers, Richard Albertson, Charles Goodwill, James Carsey, and child Frances Griswold. The 1860 census did not show any results, however the 1870 census shows the family living at a Wellsburg’s Post Office address:
Harrison, 50 yrs.
Harriet 40 yrs.
and children:
Charles 19 yrs.
Cayton 15 yrs.
Frank 13 yrs.
Anna 10 yrs.
Guy 7 yrs.
Frost 2 yrs.
Harrison’s occupation was listed as a Butter Purchaser. Harriet, Keeping House. Charles, Clerk in store.
The Decker family name is steeped in New York State history. They arrived in New York State at a very early date. Using Ancestry.com as a basis to look up this family genealogy I found the following information, starting with son, Jacob.
- Jacob Decker, b. Sept. 11,1786, Ashland, NY – d. Nov. 4, 1845, Southport, NY. Married - Eunice Kelsey, 10 children.
- Jacob Decker, b. Aug. 17, 1759, Minisink, Orange Co. NY – d. Feb. 19, 1849, Chemung, NY. Married - Mary Maria Terwilliger, 8 children. Attended Dutch Reformed Church before arriving in Chemung.
- Solomon Decker, b. Jan. 28, 1721, Kattsban, Ulster Co, NY – death unknown. Married - Lena Eleanor Quick, 11 children. Attended Dutch Reformed Church.
- Jacob Janse Decker, b. May 22, 1671, New Amsterdam, New Netherlands, NY – d. 1762, Ulster Co, NY. Married – Antje ‘Annetje’ Hendricks Cortwright, 5 children. Attended Dutch Reformed Church, New Amsterdam, NY
- Jan Gerritsen Decker, b. April 23, 1640, Husum, Schleswig-Holsteink, Germany – d. Feb. 23, 1708, Port Jervis, Orange Co, NY. Married – Grietjen Hendricks Westercamp, 6 children