From Olde Ulster Magazine by Mrs. G. B. Munger
AMONG
the earliest settlers of the Esopus was a man who was usually known as
" Jan Broersen."
He was here as early as 1657 and in the complaint made by Thomas
Chambers
of the sale of brandy to the Indians, and of the first murderous attack
of
the savages, he appears as one of the signers. When he immigrated from
the
Netherlands is not known; nor whether he was related to the Commissary,
Johan
de Deckere, but this is probable. The latter came to the Manhattans
from
Holland in I655 and was immediately appointed Receiver-General. About
this
time Jan Broersen [Decker] appeared in the Esopus. We find his name to
the
above protest on May 18, 1658; upon May 31, 1658, he signs the compact
to
remove into the stockade when built; on August 17, I659, he signs the
petition
that Domine Blom be sent as minister to the Esopus; in September of
that
year he joins with other citizens of Esopus in a letter to Stuyvesant
concerning
the outrages by the savages in the First Esopus War; his name appears
on
the muster roll of the military company on March 28, 1660; again upon a
like
roll of June 15, 1661; he subscribed fifteen florins to the salary of
Domine
Blom; he had been in possession of Lot No. 11 in Wiltwyck before the
place
was laid out and was one of the witnesses sworn in the proceedings of
inquiry
into what it known as "The Esopus Mutiny" in 1667.
- A special thanks to Beverly and Mary Ann who have allowed me to post
sections of their files, whithin these pages, which have resulted from
years of personal research.
- Additional work in this file was
done by Donna - Anyone wishing
to contact her concerning the Decker lines can email her.
- Other major portions of this file
were contributed by Iris.
