French Huguenot Christian Deyo was born in the province of Artois, France (c.1610), and married Jeanne Wibau (c. 1642), by whom he had five children. It is believed that Christian and his family relocated to Mannheim, Germany in 1660 in order to avoid religious persecution. The family then traveled to America on the same ship as Abraham Hasbrouck in 1675. After spending a year at Kingston (then called Wiltwyck), the Deyo family settled at New Paltz in 1677, where Christian Deyo and his son Pierre both signed the patent and became two of the twelve original trustees of New Paltz. Other than Christian's mark on the New Paltz Patent, the only records referring to him during his lifetime consist of testamentary disposition dated Aug. 10, 1676 and a fair copy of a slave purchase in 1680. Christian's son, Pierre, purchased a slave in 1694.

Throughout the old documents, Christian is often referred to as “Granpere.” In fact, all four of Christian's daughters married New Paltz patentees, therefore making Christian Deyo the literal grandfather to a large majority of the early New Paltz inhabitants. Because of this development, “Granpere’s” grandchildren were constantly dividing and redistributing Christian’s share of the patent during the next fifty years. As Town Historian Al Marks writes, “the DuBois and Deyo families were soon brought even closer together by the marriage of Abraham DuBois with another of the daughters of Christian Deyo, who thus became grandfather of so many of the New Paltz inhabitants that even his property became known simply as ‘Grandpere’ in the old deeds. The calculation of shares of that property passed down to his heirs became, after a generation or two, an exercise in high mathematics.” When the Freeholders of New Paltz decided to elect the “Twelve Men” to administer to the defense of the Patent in 1738, Daniel Hasbrouck B-6 (1692-1759) was elected to represent Christian's share, not a Deyo. In fact, no Deyo was ever elected to represent Christian's share throughout the 85 years of the existence of the institution.

Christian’s son Pierre Deyo A-2 (also known as Pieter) was most likely born in France in 1648. He married Agatha Nicken in Mutterstadt, Curr Pfalz, Germany just prior to their emigration to America in 1675. Pierre and Agatha had eight children, all of whom, it is believed, were born in New Paltz and baptized at the Dutch Reformed Church at Kingston, New York. In 1692, Pierre built the “Deyo House,” which still stands and is now owned and operated by Historic Huguenot Street. Pierre died sometime between 1703 and 1708.

In 1708, Pierre’s lands were divided between his four sons Abraham B-1 (1676-1725), Christian B-3 (1681-after 1765), Pierre B-4 (1683-after 1755) and Hendricus B-7 (bp. 1690-after 1737). At this time, Hendricus was given unto the care of Col. Jacob Rutsen of Marbletown and his share of Pierre’s lands divided between his three brothers. Hendricus later married Margaret Van Bommel (1715), had 10 children, paid taxes in New Paltz in 1723, and was listed as a freeholder in 1728. Abraham B-1 married Elsie Clearwater in 1702 and had three children. The Deyo House was most likely transferred to Abraham after his father's death. 'Two surviving receipts reveal that Abraham was a New Paltz taxpayer in 1712/3, and Tax Collector in 1723.

Christian B-3 settled in the hamlet of Springtown in New Paltz, married Mary deGraff in 1702 and had seven children. He is listed as a New Paltz inhabitant and taxpayer in 1713 and 1723, respectively, a freeholder in 1728, a slaveholder 1755, and served as a soldier under Capt. Hoffman in 1716. Christian helped to build the Dutch Reformed Church of New Paltz in 1720, of which he later served as Deacon and Elder in 1733 and 1765, respectively.

Abraham Deyo C-3 (1710-1777), son of Abraham, married Elizabeth DuBois (1735), by whom he had five children. As a member of the “Twelve Men,” he represented his grandfather’s share of the New Paltz Patent for 64 years (1738-1772). Extremely active in town affairs, he was elected Overseer of Roads (1763-1764), Overseer of the Poor (1773?), Fence Viewer (1761), and Commissioner of Highways (1763-1764). He was also appointed Elder of the New Paltz Dutch Reformed Church (1766-67, 1771-72, 1775-76), and Church master (?-1777). Abraham also became the next owner of the Deyo House.

Hendricus’ son, Benjamin Deyo C-15 (1725-1798) resided in the Bontecoe area of New Paltz. He purchased land there from Christophel Deyo C-17 (1762), Abraham Donaldson (1775), and from Marinus Van Aken (1785). He married Jenneke VanVliet in 1751 and had five children. As a member of the Twelve Men, he represented Pierre Deyo’s share of the New Paltz Patent in 1773, and later in 1780-90. Also, in 1780 Benjamin Deyo was elected to two town officer positions: Commissioner of Highways and Overseer of the Poor. At the Dutch Reformed Church at New Paltz, he served as Deacon (1766-67, 1774-75), and Elder (1782-83, 93-94). Benjamin also signed the Articles of Association in 1775.

Johannis Deyo, C-16 (1726-after 1761) married Sarah Van Wagenen in 1756, by whom Johannis had seven children. He was elected Constable of New Paltz in 1761 and appointed Deacon of the Reformed Dutch Church at New Paltz (1757). Christophel Deyo C-17 (1728-1792) married Debora Van Vliet (c. 1756) and had three children. He sold land at Bontecoe to Benjamin Deyo in 1761 and 1762. At New Paltz, he was elected Assessor (1772-1773), Fence Viewer (1780), and Overseer of Roads (1780, 1782, 1788). At the Reformed Dutch Church at New Paltz, he was appointed Deacon (1764-1765, 1769-1770) and Elder (1779-1780, 1788-1789). Henricus Deyo C-19, like his brothers Benjamin and Christophel, (1731-1805) also resided at Bontecoe. He married Elizabeth Beem (1753) by whom he had six children. At New Paltz he held the positions of Overseer of Roads (1776-1777, 1779, 1785-1787, 1789-1790, 1792) and Overseer of the Poor (1783).

Captain Abraham Deyo D-1 (1734-1805) married Elsie LeFevre in 1764 and later married Maria LeFevre sometime after 1766. Abraham Deyo was commissioned First Lieutenant (1775) and later Captain (1778) of the Third Ulster County Regiment, Second Company. He was a member of the Twelve Men representing his great-grandfather Pierre’s share of the patent (1774-1779, 1794-1805), and held numerous offices in the town of New Paltz. Positions include the offices of Constable (1771), Tax Collector (1771), Overseer of the Poor (1773), Fence Viewer (1774-76, 1784-1789), Overseer of Roads (1775-1776, 1783-1784, 1788-1789), Commissioner of Highways (1779) and Assessor (1790, 1794, 1796). Also active in the Church, he was appointed Manager in charge of "building a new church at New Paltz" (1771-1775), Church master (1777-1805) Deacon (1778-1779) and Elder (1776-1777). According to Ralph Lefevre, Abraham Deyo was entrusted with caring for the Town's papers during the Revolutionary War when there was a fear that the British were going to march on New Paltz. This chest was supposedly kept hidden in the cellar of the Deyo House, which was at that time owned by Captain Deyo.

Abraham’s brother Philip D-7 (1752-1831), married Gertrude Lefevre in 1781, who bore nine children. Like his brother Abraham, Philip was also engaged in numerous public activities at New Paltz. He represented Pierre’s share of the Patent as a member of the Twelve Men from 1791-1793 and served as Overseer of Roads (1792) and Assessor (1795). In 1791, the Twelve Men selected Philip along with Roelof Eltinge and Josiah Hasbrouck to represent New Paltz in a Case of Ejectment against Titus Ketchum and the people of Marbletown. This case dealt with a long-standing border dispute between New Paltz and Marbletown. New Paltz finally won the case in 1804. Like the rest of his family, Philip was also a member of the Dutch Reformed Church at New Paltz.

Other Deyo family members represented in the papers include William Deyo D-81 (1761-1842) Michael Deyo E-63 (bp. 1767), Abraham A. Deyo E-2 (1793-1873) and Abraham W. Deyo E-257 (1802-1870). William married Sarah Elting (1781), who bore eleven children. William bought land in New Paltz from Johannis Bruyn in 1793. William served on the “Duzine,” representing the share of Pierre Deyo (1806-1818, 1820-1824). He also served as Deacon of the Reformed Dutch Church at New Paltz (1810-1811). His son, Abraham W. Deyo married Catherine Bogardus in 1829 and had five children. Michael married Martha Dusebury (?) and had one son, Henry Deyo. Although he was listed as a yeoman of New Paltz in 1770, Michael later turns up in Beekman, Dutchess County.

Also serving as a member of the Twelve Men, he represented the Patentee’s share of Antoine Crispell (1776-1777). Abraham A. Deyo married Margaret T. Deyo (F-3) in 1812, had four children, and lived in the Deyo House for some time until he relocated to Plattekill, where he served as Supervisor (1835-1839, 1841-1842). He may have also served as a circuit judge. Following his tenure as Supervisor, Abraham A. Deyo served on the New York State Senate from 1843-1846. Upon his death in 1873, Abraham bequeathed the house and property to his son Abraham A. Deyo, Jr.

Theodore Deyo F-77 (1831-1893) married Mary E. Elting in 1855 and had 5 children. Theodore was born at the “Old Deyo Homestead” in New Paltz and later owned the property from 1855-1866. In 1866, he sold the property and purchased a farm southeast of the New Paltz village. He attended the Academy of New Paltz, pursued studies at Springfield, Massachusetts, worked as a clerk for Jewett & Wood in Poughkeepsie, and established hardware store in New Paltz, later bought out by D.A. Hasbrouck in 1870 when Theodore became Postmaster at New Paltz (1870-1884). Theodore also served as a Trustee of the New Paltz Academy as well as a member of the Sons of Temperance. He was also hailed as a “recognized leader” of the Republican Party.