USA > New York > Orange County > Deerpark > A history of Deerpark in Orange County, N.Y. > Part 4
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t Now (1889) occupied by Henry Cuddeback.
# Now (1889) occupied by Cornelius Caskey.
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
part of his farm. They had two sons-Peter E. and Abraham. The latter died when a small boy.
Daughter Mary Gumaer married James Devens. They became owners of the old Devens' farm in Mam- akating, on which they continued to reside during their lives. They had five sons-Elias, Jacob, Peter, James and Abraham, and one daughter Charity.
Youngest son, Elias Gumaer, married Margaret De- puy, daughter of Benjamin Depuy, Esq., of this neigh- borhood. He first had a farm of his father, on which he resided for some years. This he exchange'd for the farm on which he last resided and sold to Abraham Cuddeback, Esq. He and his wife, in their old age, removed to the western part of New York, where their children had previously settled. They had four sons- Benjamin, Elias, Samuel and Peter E. Gumaer, and two daughters-Charity and Elizabeth.
FIRST GENERATION.
FAMILY OF HARMANUS VAN INWEGEN AND WIFE, SWARTWOUT.
His son, Gerardus Van Inwegen, married Jane De Witt, daughter of Jacob De Witt, of Rochester, in Ulster county. He became owner of his father's farm and resided where his son Cornelius lived previous to his removal from this neighborhood.
His daughter, Hannah Van Inwegen, married Thos. Decker. He was or became owner of the present farm
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
of George Cuddeback, and resided at his present resi- dence. (Now, 1889, occupied by Henry Cuddeback.)
SECOND GENERATION.
FAMILY OF GERARDUS VAN INWEGEN AND WIFE, JANE DE WITT.
First son, Harmanus Van Inwegen, married Mar- garet Cole, daughter of David Cole. He became owner of the farm now of Col. Peter Cuddeback, and resided near his present dwelling house. He was a Justice of the Peace for some years in and after the Revolutionary War, and also one of the Committee of Safety in that war. They had eight sons -Gerardus, David, Cornelius, Jacob, Samuel, Jacob and Josias, and two daughters-Charlotte and Hannah. Ge- rardus was killed or taken prisoner at Fort Mont- gomery, when it was taken, and the first Jacob died when about 12 or 14 years old of a short illness.
Second son, Jacob Van Inwegen, never married. He owned a part of his father's estate, which, after his death, became the property of his two brothers. He resided with his brother Harmanus until the end of his life.
Third son, Cornelius Van Inwegen, married Eleanor Westbrook, daughter of Terrick V. Westbrook, of now Westbrookville, in Ulster county (now Sullivan county, 1889.) He continued to reside on the homestead of his father, and became owner of that part of his father's farm. They removed, in their old age, into
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
the western part of this State, where nearly all their children hal previously settled. They had nine sons- Abraham, Gerardus, Daniel, John, Jacob, Levi, Cor- nelius, Henry and Martin, and one daughter Mary. Cornelius, the seventh son, died when a child, and Martin was killed by lightning in driving a wagon from a hay-stack towards home in time of haying. Both horses driven by him were also killed.
One daughter, Margaret Van Inwegen, married John Wallace. They resided in this town until a few years after the Revolutionary War, when they removed to Onondagua, in this State. They had one son Corne- lius and one daughter Jane.
Another daughter, Hannah Van Inwegen, married Peter Gumaer, as mentioned. (For their history refer back to their names.)
The descendants of this last family have all moved into Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the western part of New York.
(Kingston church records show the baptism of another daughter Jenneke, Feb. 2d, 1735, and Mahackamack church records those of Tjaade, May 30th, 1739, and Elizabeth, March 15th, 1747.)
SECOND GENERATION.
FAMILY OF THOMAS DECKER AND HANNAH VAN INWEGEN.
First son, Daniel Decker, married
They settled in New Jersey, some distance down the
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
Delaware river, where he owned a farm. They had
sons, -, -, - -,
- -, and
daughters, -,
Second son, John Decker, first married Margaret Gumaer ; for their history refer back to their names, and afterwards Sarah Hornbeck, daughter of Benja- min Hornbeck, of Rochester, They had two sons- Benjamin and Daniel, and four daughters Margaret, Jane, Hannah and Mary. At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, he became Major of a Regi- ment of Militia of Orange county, and, when the In- dians invaded the lower neighborhood, he was wounded by the enemy, on his return from a funeral, and nar- rowly escaped from being taken.
Third son, Peter Decker, married (Catrina) Cole. They resided in the north part of New Jersey, and had two sons Thomas and John, and - daughters- Sarah (bap. July 24, 1763), Jane.
First daughter, Hannah Decker, married Anthony Van Etten, son of Latch Van Etten, of Rochester, or its vicinity. He obtained a piece of land of his father- in-law and built the house afterwards occupied by his son, Henry Van Etten, on which he also erected a help of an blacksmithı shop, and with the
business, of apprentice pursued the blacksmith
he obtained a great run and became which
owner of one of the best farms in the pres- ent town of Deerpark. He served some years as a Justice of the Peace. They had - sons-Levi (bap. Feb. 12, 1758), Henry, Thomas (bap. Sept. 8, 1751), Anthony. (The Mahackamack church records gives the baptism of other children, namely : Antje,
See page 13, note
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
bap. Jan. 14, 1753 ; Jenneke, bap. Ap. 28, 1754 ; Mar- grieta, bap. Feb. 13, 1756 ; Alida, bap. Aug. 19, 1759 ; Blandina, bap. Sept. 4, 1763 ; Maria, bap. Nov. 2, 1765 ; Tomas, bap. October 16, 1768 ; Jacob, Oct. 29, 1770), and --- daughters.
Second daughter, Hulda Decker, married Jacob De Witt Gumaer. (For their history refer back to their names.)
The descendants of those four ancient families are dispersed into different parts of our country, and have become settled in different parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Cal- ifornia, and probably in some other States and territo- ries ; and some, in connection with those among whom they have intermarried, have remained on the prem- ises of their forefathers and now possess nearly all the valuable land for agricultural purposes in the present town of Deerpark.
The reader will learn from this history that generally the descendants of the first pioneers became farmers, and continued in those occupations to the end of the third generation ; and the greatest proportion of the fourth and fifth generation of the present time (1858) are farmers. Our ancestors were not in opulent cir- cumstances, but generally had a plenty of the neces- saries of life and were a thriving people, and, so far as the writer's knowledge extends in relation to those who have settled in other parts of our country, they have generally acquired farms.
Jacob Cuddeback has been known to say that by leaving France he had been deprived of many enjoy- ments he might have had in that country, but for these
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
sacrifices he had the satisfaction of leaving his pos- terity in a country of good land and easily to be ac- quired.
It appears that the first emigrants craved title for no. more land than what they wanted to occupy, thinking that the mountainous land bordering on it would re- main unsold, and that they and their descendants could always get wood from it without paying for the land. This continued so for about sixty or seventy years, when they had to buy it at a higher price than they felt willing to pay for it, for a supply of fuel, fencing, timber, &c. The patentees now saw their mistake, and Jacob Cuddeback at a certain time was censured by his son William for not having included land enough in the patent to cover an additional tract of wood land. The old man, not relishing this, re- plied, " We all can see the mistake now, when it is too late. You have the same chance I had to provide for your family. See if you will do better."
The descendants of the four pioneers have generally acquired as much territory as was necessary to obtain by the sweat of the brow comfortable livings for their respective families ; and not only have they obtained a competency for their livelihood, but a large surplus, which, as the avails of it, have reached all branches of mechanical and other business whatever in our coun- try ; and many of their productions, together with the masses of other producers, have been conveyed to European countries. In consequence of which they have been valuable citizens, and have rendered exten- sive benefits to mankind, from whom, in return, they have received an equal amount of necessary articles
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
and luxuries. The whole annual surplus amount now produced by the fourth and fifth generations of the ancient little neighborhood of Peenpack, must amount in value to many thousands of dollars.
FAMILY OF JACOB R. DE WITT AND WIFE, JANE DEPUY.
They removed from Neponaugh (Napanock), in Ulster county,into the neighborhood of Peenpack about the year 1760. He was a son of Egbert De Witt, of the former place, and she was a daughter of Moses Depuy, of Rochester. He built the old stone and framne house at the Neversink river, and a grist mill near the present aqueduct across the river, and owned the farm he formerly occupied, together with those premises. In the commencement of the Revolutionary War a fort was built contiguous to his house, which has been termed Fort De Witt +, and he was commis- sioned Captain of a Company of Rangers for guarding this frontier. According to Eager's History, it is satis- factorily ascertained that De Witt Clinton was born in this house. The writer has also been informed by a near neighbor, formerly of the Clinton family, that he was born at that place.
The family of Jacob R. De Witt and wife consisted of three sons-Moses (bap. Dec. 12, 1766), Egbert and
+ Fort De Witt was located near the Suspension Bridge which crosses the Neversink river, on the road leading from Port Jervis to Cuddeback- ville, about one mile south of Cuddebackville. The small house stand- ing (1889) near the present dwelling of Jesse Tillson, is on the foundation of this fort.
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
Jacob, and seven daughters-Mary, Rachel, Margaret, Jane, Hannah and Esther.
Moses had a suitable genius for obtaining scientific knowledge, and an uncommon relish for the same ; he also was naturally a very persevering student and of an amiable disposition. His opportunities for obtain- ing education were small ; but he acquired much in view of the disadvantages under which he labored, and far beyond that of any of his contemporaries in this part of our country who had the same opportuni- ties with himself. He became employed as one of the under-surveyors to run the line between the State of New York and Pennsylvania, and afterwards one of the Surveyors to survey the military lands in the State of New York. He died about the age of 27 years, possessed of a very valuable property of unsettled lands in the district of military lands in this State. He and his brother Egbert both died unmarried.
Youngest son, Jacob, removed from this neighbor- hood before he arrived to manhood.
Daughter Mary De Witt married William Rose, from Little Britain or its vicinity. In the time of the Rev- olutionary War he was commissioned a Captain to in- list a company of soldiers to serve in that war, and, after it ended, he became Captain of a company of militia. He, in the latter part of his life, owned the farm, mill, &c., of his father-in-law, then deceased.
Daughter Rachel De Witt married Robert Burnet, of Little Britain, where he owned and occupied a farm. He has served in different county and State offices.
One daughter married * ,
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
daughters Margaret and Jane married Cuddeback, as has been mentioned. (For their history refer back to their names.)
Daughter Hannah De Witt married James Ennes, son of Daniel Ennes, of New Jersey. They became owners of a farm near the outlet of Skaneateles lake.
Daughter Esther De Witt married James Depuy, son of Benjamin Depuy, Esq., of the Peenpack neigh- borhood. They settled at Onondaga, where they owned and occupied a farm. He served in civil and military offices.
Abraham Westfall and wife, Blandina Van Etten, became residents in the southwest end of the Peenpack neighborhood, in the latter part of the Revolutionary War, and he became owner of a small, ancient West- fall farm, now included in the farm occupied by Capt. Henry Swartwout. A few rods east of his dwelling house stood the old stone house of Westfall. This was the house where the fort was in the time of the French war, and which the Indians attacked and killed part of a company of soldiers who were traveling from New Jersey to Esopus, and, just before the at- tack, had stopped in to rest and take refreshments. The particulars of this are stated in Eager's History of Orange County.
Abraham Westfall was a son of Westfall, and his wife was a daughter of Anthony Van Etten, Esq., of the lower neighborhood. In the latter part of the Revolutionary War, Westfall was commissioned a Cap- tain of the soldiers, who, from time to time, were sta- tioned on this frontier. Near the end of the war he built a small fort at his house, and, with a few soldiers
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
and one or two families, occupied the same. Some- time after the war ended, he removed with his family to one of the Southern States. Chio
(Children, Joseph, baptized Aug. 18th, 1782 ; An- natje, baptized April 20th, 1784. Mahackamack church records.) - Catherine Quarries grace Patrich in new Philadelphia Q. 18:01 FAMILY OF JAMES DAVIS AND WIFE, ELIZABETH KATER.
They removed from the lower neighborhood into the Peenpack neighborhood soon after the Revolutionary War ended. She was originally from Rochester or its vicinity. They had three sons-Solomon, James and Daniel, and daughters-Leah, Elizabeth, Anna, - and Polly. They all removed into the western part of this State, excepting some of the daughters.
FAMILY OF WILLIAM GEEGGE AND WIFE, LEAH DAVIS.
He was originally from Ireland and by trade a mill- wright. His wife was a daughter of James Davis, . father of the preceding family. They were married a few years after the Revolutionary War ended. He built and occupied a grist-mill on a farm he purchased. The mill seat and farm is now owned by John Van Etten, Esq. They had one son, William, and a daughter.
There were a few other families in the vicinity of the Peenback neighborhood.
ANCIENT FAMILIES
OF THE LOWER NEIGHBORHOOD.
The following were ancient families wbo resided in the lower neighborhood of this town, who, as near as
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
can be ascertained, must have commenced to settle in the same more than 20 years after the first settle- ment was made at Peenpack :
FAMILY OF HENRY CORTRIGHT AND WIFE, MARGARET
DECKER.
She probably was a sister of Thomas Decker. He must have been from Rochester. They resided where Aaron Whitlock now lives, and became owners of his present farm.
One son, Daniel Cortright (bap. May 3, 1743), mar- ried They first resided on the east side of Shawangunk mountain, in the town of Mini- sink, and from thence removed into the western part of York State. They had -- sons, , and ---- daughters.
Another son, Moses Cortright (bap. March 24, 1745), married Van Etten, daughter of Anthony Van Etten, Esq. They continued to reside in the house of his father, and he became owner of his homestead farm. A few years after the Revolutionary War ended, he with his family removed into the western part of this State. They had -- sons, namely, , -, and -- daughters.
FAMILY OF ABRAHAM VAN AUKEN AND WIFE.
They resided between the present residences of David Swartwout and Joseph Cuddeback, where he owned a farm. They had three sons-Cornelius, Jo-
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
sias and Abraham. They, or two of them, moved into the western part of this State soon after it began to be settled. They had daughters, namely-
-
FAMILY OF JOHN WESTBROOK AND WIFE, MAGDELENA WESTBROOK.
He owned the farms now of Abraham J. and Isaac Cuddeback, and resided where the old house of the former now stands, in a stone house. He for some years kept a small store for Indian trade and a tavern. He was Captain of a company of militia. He had (six) sons, namely -- (Anthonie, bap. Oct. 31, 1738 ; Johannes, bap. Sept. 19, 1740 ; Johannes, bap. Nov. 16, 1746 ; Samuel, bap. March 12, 1749 ; Joel, bap. April 11, 1756 ; Gideon, bap. Nov. 21, 1759), and (four) daughters, namely-(Antje, bap. Dec. 23, 1744; Alida, bap. June 21, 1747 ; Elizabeth, bap. March 24, 1751 ; Sara, bap. June 17, 1753.) Nearly all his descendants have removed from this place.
FAMILIES OF VAN AUKEN-HENRY DECKER,
And another individual were early settlers on the farm heretofore occupied by Benjamin Cuddeback, Esq., now by his sons, Elting and Dr. Thomas Cuddeback. Van Auken resided at the former resi- dence of Jacob Shimer, Decker where Elting now re- sides, and the other near the mouth of the brook. The
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
two latter had grist-mills. None of their descendants have remained in this town. The wife of Jacob Shimer was a daughter or grandaughter of Van Auken. They had one son, Richard, who married a daughter of Daniel Ennes, and two daughters, one of whom married Hezekiah Fredenburgh, and the other
- - They, all of this family, removed into the" western part of this State.
FAMILY OF JAMES VAN AUKEN AND WIFE,
Settled at the present residence of James D. Swart- wout, Esq., and owned his farm. He was the first Jus- tice of the Peace in the present town of Deerparkt which office he probably derived from the governmen, of the State of New Jersey. He was a brother of Van Auken mentioned.
. His son, Daniel Van Auken, married Leah Kettle, daughter of He became owner of his father's farm, and occupant of his house, at which a fort was built in the time of the Revolutionary War ; and when the Indians invaded this neighborhood, they attacked the fort and two Indians were shot. They shot old James Van Auken as he looked through a window on the chamber. They had - sons-Elijah, Nathaniel, Nathan, Absolum, Joshua, Daniel, Jere- miah, - -- , and daughters, namely,
, , -, whole num- ber fifteen. One of his sons, a school teacher, was killed by the Indians when they invaded the lower
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
neighborhood. These descendants became dispersed into different parts of our country.
-
SOLOMON KUYKENDALL AND WIFE, SARAH COLE,
Resided at the present residence of the widow Elt- ing and her family, and owned their present farm. He was a Justice of the Peace in the time of the Revolu- tionary War and after it ended. James Van Fliet, jr., . became owner of his real estate. From which I infer that the former had no children living at the time of his decease. Van Fliet had two sons-Solomon, who married a daughter of Benjamin Carpenter, and the other, Daniel, married a daughter of Jacob West- brook.
Van Fliet, after some years' occupation of the premises, sold and removed with his family west into Pennsylvania or York State.
FAMILY OF SIMON WESTFALL AND WIFE, JANE (JANNETJE) WESTBROOK.
They resided in the old stone house now or lately occupied by James Bennet, Esq. He owned a grist- mill there and some land. They had (eight) sons- Simeon (bap. Feb. 12, 1749) ; Wilhelmus (bap. July 8, 1753) ; John De Witt (bap. May 19, 1751) ; Jury (bap. April 23, 1744) ; Jury (bap. Jan. 24, 1748) ; Solomon (bap. Jan. 27, 1759) ; Daniel (bap. June 5, 1763), and Reuben (bap. April 8, 1764.) Also (three) daughters, namely-Aeltje (bap. Oct. 6, 1745) ; Aeltje (bap. Feb. 1756), and Blandina (bap. Nov. 9, 1760.) Wilhelmus
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
settled east of the Shawangunk mountain, near Deck- ertown, in the State of New Jersey.
His son, Simeon Westfall, married Sarah Cole, daughter of David Cole. They became residents in the old stone house at Port Jervis, in Pennsylvania, where he had a good farm, now possessed by different occupants, Samuel Fowler, Simeon Westfall, Dimmick and others .. Westfall and wife had three sons, Simon (bap. Feb. 9, 1766), David and George, and two . daughters, Jane and
Son John D. Westfall married Mary Davis, daughter of Samuel Davis. They resided in the stone house now occupied by (David) Westfall, in the Clove, in the north part of New Jersey, where he became owner of a good farm. They had - sons, Samuel De Witt Westfall (bap. Oct. 29, 1780), ---
They all removed into the western part of York State.
Son Reuben Westfall married (Tjaetje) Kuykendall, daughter of Jacob Kuykendall. They remained in the old homestead and he remained in possession of the farm and mill of his father. They had -- daughters,
One daughter (Blandina) Westfall, married John Brink. They and family have moved into western countries. (The Mahackamack church records contain the baptism of two children-Femmetje, Oct. 29, 1780 ; Reuben Westfall, April 22, 1784.)
FAMILY OF WILLIAM COLE AND WIFE.
They settled near the present dwelling house of Eli Van Inwegen, Esq., and owned a farm there.
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
His son, Wilhelmus Cole, married Leah Westbrook, daughter of Cornelius Westbrook, of Jersey State. He occupied the house of his father until he built a new one after the war ended at the same place ; and owned his father's farm. They had two sons-Josias (bap. Nov. 21, 1764), and Cornelius Westbrook Cole (bap. Feb. 7, 1767), and two daughters-Maria, (bap. Oct. 16, 1772), -
Solomon Decker, from Old Shawangunk, and wife, Eleanor Quick, daughter of - Quick, an early resident of the present township of Westfall, in Penn- sylvania, settled with their family in the lower neigh- borhood in the time of the Revolutionary War, near the present residence of David Swartwout *. They had seven sons-Solomon (bap. Feb. 9, 1746), Jacob (bap. Sept. 13, 1761), Thomas (bap. Aug. 19, 1759), James (bap. Feb. 2, 1752), Joseph (bap. July 4, 1756), Peter (bap. June 21, 1767), and Isaac M. Decker, and three daughters-Margaret (bap. April 14, 1754), Lydia (bap. Oct. 11, 1747), and Mary (bap. March 4, 1750.) None of this family have remained in the present town of Deerpark. Youngest son, Isaac M. Decker, is yet liv- ing and now in 1859 is 92 years old.
-
FAMILY OF PETER KUYKENDALL AND WIFE, FAMITJE DECKER.
They resided in now Port Jervis, where Elias Kuy- kendall formerly lived, and he was owner of a farm there ; all, or nearly all, of which is now covered by the Village of Port Jervis. (The Kingston church
* Now (1889) the residence of Peter D. Swartwout.
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
book records the baptism of a son, Martinas, June 18, 1734, and the Mahackamack records that of Jacob, Aug. 23, 1737, and a second Jacob, Oct. 30, 1739.)
Son Peter Kuykendall married (Catharina) Kettel. He continued to live with his father and became owner of his farm. They had four sons -Wilhelmus, Mar- tin (bap. April 8, 1764), Solomon (bap. Oct. 21, 1753), and Elias, and (three) daughters, namely-Elizabeth (bap. June 19, 1757), Christyntje, (bap. Aug. 26, 1759), and Lea (bap. Dec. 8, 1765.) Their descendants are dispersed into different parts of our country.
FAMILY OF JOHN DECKER AND WIFE.
He owned an extensive farm or tract of land along the Delaware river, the southeast part of which bounded on the land of Kuykendall, near which he probably first settled +.
+ It is now a few years over a century since the fall of the deepest snow ever known in this part of our country ; and before it fell Peter Kuykendall and wife went to Esopus and left their children home, where John Decker and his wife were to go daily and see to them and render such assistarce as would be necessary. Two or three days after they started this snow fell, and the morning after its falling John Decker commenced to shovel and make a footpath through the snow to Kuyken- dall's house. He worked all that day and the greatest part of the next day before he got to it, and found the door shut so that the children could not get out of the house. The door opened to the outside, and the snow laid so deep against it that it could not be opened from the inside before the snow was removed. It is probable that they first settled as near to each other as their situations of ground, water, &c., would admit. No victuals had been prepared for the children on the previous day to serve them for the next. They contrived to get meal, mix it up with water, bake it some or the hearth before the fire, and lived on it till they were otherwise provided for.
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HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
One son, Martin Decker, married
They lived in the old stone house of Stephen St. John, and he became owner of a part of his father's farm. They had two sons-John and Richard, and - daughter,
FAMILY OF SOLOMON DAVIS AND WIFE, LEAH DECKER.
They resided near the present grist-mill of Thomas Van Etten, Esq., and he owned a grist-mill at that place. They had - sons-James, Daniel, Joel,
- , and daughters-Beletje,
(The following is the baptismal record of the children of Solomon Davis and Leah Decker : Kingston re- cords-Lea, March 26, 1735 ; Jacobus, May 18, 1736. Mahackamack records-Beletje, May 31, 1738 ; Daniel, June 18, 1740 ; Joel, April 23, 1744 ; Jonas, June 16, 1745 ; Catharina, June 21, 1747 ; Elizabeth, Jan. 20, 1748 ; Petrus, April 15, 1750 ; Salomon, April 5, 1752.)
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