Re: Sarah DECKER COYKENDALL, b. abt.1745
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In reply to:
Sarah DECKER COYKENDALL, b. abt.1745
Susan Austin 11/20/98
Susan
I don't have the answer you arelooking for , but the Coykendall's and Deckers married many times between the families for about 170 years . Pioneering into KY and IND.
From what I have seen they began their connection in Kingston NY , mid 1600's . Jan
Gerritsen ( later Jan Decker ) moved his famiy from Kingston/Esopus area to the Port Jervis area in NY in the early 1700's . I think you will find your path will take you back to Jan Gerritsen and Grietje Hendrisckse Westercamp,1654 in Kingston NY. Maybe you can back track down the line and get to what you are looking for.
I have heard a fewreasons why Jan Gerritsen changed his name to Jan Decker in the 1600's . One being that when the British took New Netherlands from the Dutch , they wanted to have surnames to more easliy tax the people. The name Decker was probably a trade name , meaning roofer or carpenter .
Good luck
Bob Decker