The family name was spelled Decro in the early years in America, with Valentine's grandson, Seth, being the first of the family to sign his name as Decrow on his marriage certificate in 1769. Valentine Decrow's name was not on the 1664 list of freemen of Marshfield, MA, so it is assumed that he came to this country after that year. There is a record in Marshfield, MA that three years after his marriage he was selling cider in Marshfield or Plymouth, MA. Bernice O. Newborg, Descendants of Valentine Decrow of Marshfield, Mass., p. vi.

Valentine and his wife Martha (Bourne) Decrow had five children, all born either in Marshfield or Braintree, MA:

• Margaret, b. 10 Jan. 1679 (Braintree, MA vital records); m. Ebenezar Sherman.
• John, b. 11 Sept. 1683; m. Mary Trouant.
• Robert, b. 17 June 1690 (Marshfield, MA vital records); m. Susanna Tilden.
• Susanna, b. in May 1692; unmarried.
• Martha, b. 11 Aug. 1694; died in 1764; unmarried.

Robert and Susanna lived in Marshfield, MA, where Robert Decrow was chosen a member of the petit jury, Inferior Court, on May 12, 1755 and of the Superior Court on April 9, 1759.

Robert and his wife Susanna (Tilden) Decrow had six children, all born in Marshfield, MA:

• Abigail, b. 18 March 1718; m. Jeremiah Hatch.
• Hannah, b. 15 Feb. 1720; m. Benjamin White.
• Seth, b. 29 July 1725; m. Elizabeth Sylvester.
• Zephaniah, b. 17 June 1727; m. Jane Thomas.
• Sarah, b. 29 Oct. 1730; m. (1) Nicholas Proter; m. (2) Ephraim Little.
• Lydia, b. 27 Oct. 1732.

In 1780, Zephaniah and Jane (Thomas) Decrow sold their farm in Marshfield, MA, to their cousin, Elisha Sherman, and moved to Lincolnville, ME. Sons Daniel, Peleg, and Isaac are recorded as going with them. Daughter Lydia is recorded as going with them in a letter written on Feb. 7, 1946 to "Stella" by Alice E. Field of 129 Washington St., Islington, MA, a copy of which we have seen. I suppose that daughters Betsey, aged 16, and Exie (or Achsah), aged 7, also went with the family. Nephew, John, who was the son of Seth and Elizabeth (Sylvester) Decrow, is recorded as going with them and, at a later time, Israel, John's brother, joined them. In 1796, Daniel Decrow built on 172 acres he bought from General Knox. Bernice O. Newborg, Descendants of Valentine Decrow of Marshfield, Mass., p. 2 and p. 182.

Zephaniah and his wife Jane (Thomas) Decrow had nine children, all born in Marshfield, MA:

• Hannah, b. 15 Dec. 1749; m. Amos Eames.
• Robert, b. 10 June 1751.
• Thomas, b. 25 May 1756.
• Daniel, b. 17 Nov. 1758; m. Azubah Gay of Lincolnville, ME.
• Lydia, b. in 1761; m. Job Pendleton, son of Capt. William Pendleton.
• Betsey, b. in 1764; m. Ezekiel Studley.
• Peleg, b. in 1768; m. Desire Griffin of Prospect, ME.
• Isaac, b. in 1770; m. Lydia Gay.
• Exie (or Achsah), b. 1773; m. William Kidder.

Note: Daughter Hannah did not go to Maine with her parents as she was already married and settled in Marshfield, MA. Sons Thomas and Robert did not go to Maine with their parents. Robert may have gone to Canada with his brother, Thomas, who was banished from Marshfield, MA at the time of the Revolution for being a Loyalist.