Descendants of Hendrick Westercamp
of New Amsterdam

Generation #2

Gretje Hendricksen (¹Hendrick) Westercamp

Gretje Hendricksen Westercamp was christened on 10/19/1642 in Manhattan, New Amsterdam. Gretje migrated with her family in 1651 to Rensselaerswyck, Ft. Orange (now Albany) NY.

Gretje is first documented in church records on 10/1/1662 where she baptized son Pieter. Needless to say, Gretje was not married nor did she ever marry Pieter Jacobsen, the child's father. And, suits were filed at the Esopus/ Kingston Court:

1. On 10/4/1662 suit was filed as Grietje Hendricks Westercamp, plaintiff, vs. Pieter Jacobsen, defendant. Gretje stated that Pieter had "ruined her"; asks to "have her honor restored." But, Pieter denied being the father of the child.
2. Gretje demanded why Pieter denied his child." Pieter answers, "I have my doubts about it.’ Child Pieter was never declared to be the son of Pieter by the court.
3. Pieter counter sued asking for "release" and was granted the "freedom to marry whom he pleases."
4. On 2/6/1663 the court ordered Pieter to pay Gretje 200 guilders for her "services in having lain with him."
The issue was never settled as Pieter Jacobsen, the father, died by 12/1665.

On 6/7/1663 at Wiltwyk (now Kingston) and the nearby "New Village" were attacked by Indians. And, eighteen settlers died and nine were taken prisoner. There is a distinct possibility that Gretje and her future husband, Jan Gerritsen Decker, were  among the captives taken. "Jan Gerritsen on Volckert’s bouwery" and one woman and three children from the "household of Grietje Westercamp" were listed as a captives.

On 3/23/1664 at Wiltwyck (now Kingston), Gretje married Jan Gerritsen Decker b. c. 1640 Heerden, Gelderland, Dutch Republic.

Jan Gerritsen and Gretje lived their lives in the Wiltwyck area which would become Kingston, Ulster Co NY. And, Gretje was regularly in court filing suit for disputes. Gretje died after 1701 in Kingston, Ulster Co NY.

• Christened 10/19/1642 Manhattan, New Amsterdam

• 1661 Relocated w/ family to Esopus (now Kingston NY)

• 10/01/1662 Wiltwyck (now Kingston), New Amsterdam Baptism

• 10/1662 Wiltwyk (now Kingston), New Amsterdam Court Record:

• Married 3/23/1664 in Wiltwyck (now Kingston NY) to Jan Gerritsen Decker b. c. 1640 Heerden, Gelderland, Dutch Republic

• 1664 New Amsterdam captured by an English fleet sent by the Duke of York, renamed New York

• 12/1665 Kingston NY Court Record:

• 3/1666 Kingston NY Court Record:

• 9/1672 Kingston NY Court Record:

• 11/1673 Kingston NY Court Record:

• 1683 New York organized counties

• 1701 Witness at christening in Kingston, Ulster Co NY:

• Died after 1701 Kingston, Ulster Co NY

    Children with Pieter Jacobsen

    1. Pieter Pietersen

• Christened 10/1/1662 Esopus, Dutch America

• Date and place of death unknown