17 Oct 1998
"Russell Dutcher, III" <>

To All My Dutcher Cousins:

I have very extensive records on our family from the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania area. Also some from Ohio and Illinois.

We need any additional information on your particular lines as they relate to that of Jan Cornelissen "van Heerde" and his son, Wilhelm Janszen "van Heerde".

My particular line is that of Jan Willemszen "ye Duitcher" thus so named in the petition to Governor Dongen of the Province of New York. Additionally, his son, Cornelius first appears as that of Cornelius "ye Duitcher".

After perusing through some of the family files relating to Parcefor Carr dutcher and Johanna Low Frink, I find that his son Andrew has bee erroneously listed as having died on 25 July 1860. This however, is not the case. His first wife, Harriet Martin jenks, is the bearer of this date. Andrew was married for a second time on 2 october 1862, to Marion Cotton Holton.

Andrew served as a Member of the Trenton, New Jersey City Council and as City Attorney. He was also the Captain of a local Militia Company. He served as a member of the New Jersey Assembly from 1856-57 and was elected Speaker of the House. he resigned in 1857 and was a Law Reporter for the Supreme Court of New Jersey. From 1862-1869, he was Clerk of the United States Circuit Court of New Jersey.

In 1868, he moved to Elizabethtown, union County, New Jersey, where he served as City Attorney and a member of the City Council. He was elected as a Democrat in 1872 to the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

MyGreat, Great Grandfather, John Y. Brokaw, served in the same capacity as a member of the city council, but was a Lifelong Republican and adversary of Andrew. John's son, my Great uncle, James Oscar Brokaw, would be elected to the Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1915 and serve in that capacity until his death in 1948.

James Newton Jenkins, (My 3x's Great), the first Republican Mayor of Elizabethtown, (1860) was to serve with our cousin, Andrew Dutcher in the New Jersey Assembly, where they held an admirable respect for one another.

If any additional information is needed on the New Jersey Dutcher's, please do not hesitate.

Thanks,

Russ, "Dutch" Dutcher, III

Home