My friend Steve Decker is a Hutterite living in Australia. His Decker ancestors likely lived on the Vistula right bank by the late 17th century where they were members at the "die kleine Schule" at Schönsee. The 1727 Jeziorki land contract includes a Jacob Decker, and this was either Steve’s ancestor or a close relative to Steve’s ancestor. We find this summary in volume II of the Hutterite Chronicle.
Hans Decker (42344, PRZ 419) was born about 1704, probably in the vicinity Schönsee (GRanDMA says Jeziorki but that’s impossible since Jeziorki wasn’t established until 1727). In 1765, this Hans Decker was an original settler at Brenkenhofswalde in 1765.
In 1767 we find Hans Decker living on Lot #15 in Brenkenhofswalde where he and his family were likely the original occupants. In 1771 we find them living in Lot #1 in Brenkenhofswalde. In 1778 we find the Decker family back at Lot #15. Hans died between 1778-1782 and could very well be buried in the Brenkenhofswalde cemetery. After Hans’ death, his widow, Elisabeth Schmidt along with the three youngest children (Eva, Jacob, and Benjamin) went to Wischenka where they joined the Hutterites. [Neumark Families by John D Richert]
Steve’s ancestor is probably Benjamin. Benjamin was baptized in Wischenka and made his living as a carpenter.
On 23 May, Steve and his family made a visit to Błotnica (Brenkenhofswalde) where my good friend Magdalena Szydełko guided them around the village of their ancestors.
What an amazing visit for the Decker Family!
