User Home Page Book: The Family History of Donald Joseph La Coste, and Ellsworth John La Coste: NGS Quarterly Report of Jan De Deckers

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Page 138 of 797

Descendants of Jan De Deckers

Generation No. 3
15.Johannes³ De Deckers (David², Jan¹) (Source: The Decker family History FHL 6087897..) was born June 1626 in Dordrecht, Holland, and died Unknown in New Springfield, Staten Island, New York.He married Margaret Van Belcamp October 27, 1657 in Dordrecht, Holland, daughter of Jacob Van Belcamp and Hester Bachers.She was born Abt. 1636 in Amsterdam,Holland, and died Unknown in Staten Island, New York.
Notes for Johannes De Deckers:
Johannes may have been baptized in the Groot Kerk (Great church) in Dordrecht, but this is not known for sure by this author.Johannes lived for awhile with his uncle Abraham de Deckere, and he may have known the famous artist Rembrandt,who was a friend of his uncles.On 07 Oct., 1647 he was a Notary in Dordrecht, and in 1650, 1653, and 1654 a Notary in Shiedam, Holland. He was also listed in town records of Shiedam in 1654 as that states Attorney.That he was a well placed, and educated man there can be no doubt, he could write very well, Judaical, and was a leader.In April, 1655 he arrived in New Amsterdam on the ship "Swarte Arent".He served as the Supercargo on this voyage, and he bore a letter dated 23 Nov., 1654 from the Director of the Amsterdam Charter of the Dutch West Indies Company, addressing his fine qualities, and great abilities.This letter was addressed to Pieter Stuyvesant, the Governor of the New Amsterdam colony. Upon his arrival in New Amsterdam he soon came into contact with this famous Statesman, and Pieter liked him, and made him a State Attorney in New Amsterdam,as shown in the Colonial Documents of this period.Other letters dated 23 Nov., 1654, and 26 May, 1655 also spoke of Johannes good qualities, and that he was a good financial man.Shortly after his arrival in New Amsterdam,Johannes was sent to Fort Orange in Albany, New York to become their Commissary Manager.He appears in this role on 16 June, 1655 (New York Colonial Documents). From 13 July, 1655 until 17 July, 1656 the court records of Albany shows a conflict between Johannes, and members of the Albany court.Pieter Stuyvesant sided with Johannes, and made him both the Commissary, and the Inspector of Goods, and on 13 March, 1656 he was appointed a member of the Fort Orange Council (Colonial Documents of New York 14:342).He shortly after became the Vice-Director of Operations for the Dutch West Indies Company in Fort Orange.These sequential promotions show his trust-worthiness.On 19 Dec., 1656 Johannes was sent back to Holland by the company to procure supplies (CDNY 14:391;401).At this time he received as compensation 25 Florins monthly, and 50 Florins for being Councilor, and 200 Florins for rations.He published his marriage banns in Amsterdam, Holland on 27 Oct., 1657.Just before his marriage he stayed with his uncle Abraham, and with his wife's father Jacob Van Belcamp who lived on the Keizergracht in Amsterdam.They were married in the New Church in Amsterdam on 13 Nov., 1657.In December, 1657, he and his new wife left Holland and sailed back to New Amsterdam,but in early 1658 he once again made the journey back to Amsterdam on company business.In the spring of 1658 he returned to New Amsterdam to join his wife, and on 28 May, 1658 he received a license to operate a Ferry with Nicassius de Sille (CDNY 14:421).On 13 Feby., 1659 he received as compensation from the West Indies company 300 Florins for rations (CDNY 14:432).In 1659 Johannes, and his wife Margreta made another journey to Amsterdam, Holland on the ship "Trouw" (CDNY 14:443).This gave Margreta a chance to visit her parents, and family.Johannes returned to New Amsterdam on 14 April, 1660 as the colonies new Councilor, and Superintendent of Finances, and the name of his ship was the "Golden Otter" (CDNY 14:462).This bears testimony to his great rise in the company, and his importance for this new Dutch colony.On 21 July, 1659 Johannes acquired from Hendrick Jans de Boer a lot which he resold on 10 Oct., 1663 to Johannes de Witt in New Amsterdam.It was located by the old Dutch church,which is now located on Pearl street.In April, 1662 he left the employ of the Dutch West Indies company, and he visited Esopus, New York, now located in Ulster county.On 20 Jan., 1664 he was asked once again by the Dutch West Indies company to help them out.Just after this date he went to Virginia with the new Commissary Verlet,because of the seizure by 20 English privateers of the ship "T Waepen van Amsterdam".He left with Verlet, and a cargo of slaves.He was given a send off in New York Bay by the Governor, with a cannonade of 18 pounds of powder.He was gone 6 months,but the trip was unsuccessful.He returned to New Amsterdam, and was one of the first signatories to the articles of surrender of the Dutch Colony to the British forces under Col. Nicolls on 27 August, 1664.However, soon after this date Nicolls accused Johannes of fermenting discord.No doubt Johannes wanted the Dutch rule back,but Nicolls saw differently.Johannes was charged by Nicolls of transporting, and selling gun powder, and slaves in Albany, New York,and other settlements along the Hudson.The then newly elected Governor Nicolls orderedJohannes to leave the New York colony,and on 08 Oct., 1664 (CDNY) Johannes sailed with 8 Negroes for any of the French Plantations of Martinique, Guadaloupe, or St. Christophers, and then he went to Holland (HNN 2:305).On 15 May, 1664 before he left the colony he secured a patent for 60 morgens of land on Staten Island.He was owed 7350 Florins by the Dutch West Indies company, and he secured such, and then wrote a letter to the newly elected Governor of New York, Mr. Lovelace, asking him if he could return to New York.On 21 Dec.,, 1670, and on 09 Jan., 1671 he was living now on his property in Staten Island.The New York council decided against him moving to New York city, but they let him live on his land in Staten Island.New York colony court records show Johannes in May of 1655 when he was appointed as an Attorney for Claes Jansen,and then again for Cornelis Melyn.In 1670 these records list him again as an Attorney for Johannes de Witt.

Children of Johannes De Deckers and Margaret Van Belcamp are:

Jacobus⁴ De Deckers, born November 17, 1658 in New York Dutch Reformed Church.

Notes for Jacobus De Deckers:
The baptism records indicate that his parents were from Hoogerant, Holland. Jacob may have returned to Holland, for he does not appear in New York county records, or Staten Island records.His father was referred to in the NYDRC record as De. Herr, which was a title given to important people in the new colony, and witness was Cornelius Van Ruyven.

ii.

Matthew De Deckers, born Abt. 1670 in Amsterdam, Holland; died Bet. 1715 - 1718 in Carles Neck, New York.