From the Ackerman Family: Geneaolgy of the Ackerman Family (1641 - 1906), Volume I: The first five generations, compiled by Barbara W. Tobey (1980).
ABRAHAM ACKERMAN was born May, 1659 in Berlicum, near Den Bosch, N. Brabant. He was married on 28 May 1683 to AELTIE VAN LAER (b. 14 May 1663; baptised 26 April, 1666 at Kingston, NY) at Flatbush Long Island. He of New York, she Bedford, Long Island NY (Marriage recorded at NY RDCh. as Breuckelen. Also recorded at Bergen.) AELTIE daughter of Adrian Van Laer and Abigael Ver Planken. Abraham Ackerman lived in Bedford Long Island (now part of Brooklyn NY) in 1683. In that year he paid a poll tax of 18 and tax for a cow of 5 in Midwout. Aaltje Akkerman joined the Reformed Dutch Church of Flatbush, NY (Brooklyn) on 21 Sept 1683. (Where they had been married in May) Abraham Ackerman joined the Bergen Reformed Church (Jersey City, N.J.) on April 1 1684 by certificate from Midwout. They moved 3 October 1696 to Hackensack, NJ.
From the deed dated March 10, 1689 from John Berry to Lawrence Ackerman-1650, brother of Abraham Ackerman -1659, we learn that Abraham owned a tract South of that conveyed to Lawrence, reaching from the Hackensack River to the Saddle River. The location of which now comprises most of what is now known as the towns Woodridge and Hasbrouck Heights and several other smaller towns. A considerable portion of the property at Woodridge, N.J. on which Abraham originally settled in the 1980s was still in the possession of one of his descendants; Abraham A. Ackerman in 1905 was living in the house erected by his grandfather Abraham K. Ackerman (A71002) in 1833. Many of the stones used in the construction were formerly in the walls of the house first occupied by Abrm. Ackerman and Aeltje Van Laer, which stood a short distance East of the present house.
Between 1689 and 1704 Abraham Ackerman purchased a piece of property on Essex Street, Hackensack, N.J. (Now near the station of the New Jersey & New York RR.) Here he built his home, which was still standing in good repair in 1946. The building shows evidence of having been added to. The wall at side of the main hall is the thickness of the other outside walls to the East. On the Eastern wall is enscribed the following:
First stone at left: ANO 1704 C star of crossed lines A A M plow cross in circle
Second (middle) stone: Inside of heart design with point up: Spinning wheel at top 10 at left 7 at right G A M with a figure 4 between A - M
Third stone at right: D A M
The explanation of initials: A A M - Abraham Ackerman (A2) G A M - Garret Ackerman (A32) D A M - David Ackerman (A31)
(Note - "Am" is frequently used as an abbreviation for Ackerman.)
Abraham Ackerman was received into the Dutch Reformed Church at Hackensack, N.J. on October 3 1696, his wife Aeltie Van Laer on January 3 1697. Among the founders of this Church were the two brothers of Abraham--David and Louwerens and their wives. This Church was also known as the Church-on-the-Green.
An inscription on an oil portrait of Abraham Ackerman was the following invocation (in Dutch):
"Abrm. Ackerman, Gebeer den 15 May, ano 1659 .
O God leert my myn dagen tellen En de doet Voor Oegen Stellen; Hoe can een Ackerman bestaan? Daar goen zen on schynt sterren en de maan Hou de ouden vader wot bedogon Hou God voor oogen Leef vroom en D. O. D. D. Denk on de Dood."
The inscription is translated as:
Abram Ackerman, born May 15, A.D. 1659 .
O Lord teach me to count my days, and to keep the death before my eyes.
How could an Ackerman thrive if there was no sunlight or without the stars or moon.
The law of our forefathers is just as necessary.
Keep the Lord before your eyes, live piously and think on the Angel of Death.
Background copyright © Regard-it, 1998