The earliest record is taken from the Friends' Meeting records: "The twelfth day of eighth Mo., 1692, Francis DAVENPORT and Rebecca DECOU, widow of Isaac DECOU, were married at Burlington."
The farm being occupied in 1882 by Joseph DECAMPE. Jacob DECOU had a brother Isaac who settled at Burlington and was at one time surveyor-general of New Jersey.
The married certificate between Jacob DECOU and Elizabeth NEWBOLD is dated December 21, 1699. Their children were Susanna and Rebeca born February 23, 1703; Isaac; Esther, born March 22, 1705; Elizabeth, born December 19, 1708; Jacob, February 19, 1710; Eber, February 6, 1712; Abi, May 24, 1714.
Jacob DECOU's will dated 1735. It being the homestead, Isaac having had his share previously. This Isaac DECOU is the ancestor of our subject, and had one daughter named Hannah by his first marriage, who married David ANGTIM in 1766, and by his second marriage to a Mrs. Crips, who maiden name was Eaves, one daughter, who married Samuel SATTERTHWAITE.
Deeds and other papers in possession of the subject of this sketch show that one Issac Decou, owned lands in Freebold, New Jersey, in 1722 and that the family have been residents mostly of Burlington, Monmouth, and Mercer Counties. His grandfather, Issac Decou, resided in Mansfield township, Burlington County, and was a farmer. His will ws dated July 18, 1761. His children were Stacy, who died in Mercer County, was clerk of the Chesterfield Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends for many years, and at the time, in 1827, when that society was divided, since being known as Orthodox and Hicksites; Daniel lived and died in Burlington County; Isaac resided in Mercer County; Achsah married and settled in Burlington County; and Nathan, father of our subject, spent most of his active business life in Hamilton township, Mercer county, was a representative farmer, accumulated quite a large property by his own industry, and died in 1850, aged about 55 years. Nathan Decou's wife was Deborah, daughter of Nathaniel Coleman; who died in 1854, age about fifty years. Their childred are Mary, deceased; Samuel C., of Burlington County; Nathan, deceased; Isaac; Frank, of Hamilton township. The Decous have always been identified with the Society of Friends, good citizens, and known as industrious and thrifty agriculturists.
Isaac, son of Nathan and Deborah DECOU, born in Hamilton township, January 15, 1840, spent his boyhood at home, and during his minority received a liberal education in the Friend's school at Providence, R.I., and in the private school of William Ivans, near Trenton. In 1866, he purchased the property he now occupies in his native township of two hundred and twenty-acres called the Lee farm, and has been engaged mainly since in dairying, berry-,fruit, and vegetable-raising, finding a home market for most of his products.
He married, in 1867, Sarah T., daughter of Joseph SATTERTHWAITE and Mary C. TAYLOR of Burlington County. Their children are Samuel S, Joseph, and Lilly S.
The SATTERTHWAITES were among the early settlers of Burlington County, and records in possession of Issac DECOU show that His Excellency William FRANKLIN, Esquire, Captain-General, Governon, and Commander-in-Chief over His Majesty's province of New Jersey, appointed Robert Burchan surrogate of the county, before whom the will of Samuel Satterthwaite was proved on August 23, 1773, and that this Samuel married in 1745, Susanna Forsyth.
The Decou's have never been identified to any extent with official place, but have been stanch members of the Whig and Republican parties.
Notes on Jacob and Abner Decou
Jacob is listed in Reid's The Loyalist in Ontario.
Jacob lived in Thorold and Burford townships.
Jacob died in Ontario Canada.
Abner died in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario.
ABBOTT DECOU'S HOUSE
HOUSE
DECOU FAMILY LINKS
