Vedder/Veeder were Dutch versions of the German "Vetter", meaning a distant male relative, but not the father. There appear to be at least 4 different families of Fetterly/Fetherly/Featherly in Schoharie/Mohawk/Hudson Valley areas of NY: those descended from (1) Johannis Fetterly/Vetterly of German Flats, (2) Henrich/Henry Vatter/Vetter (maybe a brother of #1) who was killed at the battle of Oriskany during the Revolution, (3) my ancestor - Philip Fetter/Vetter/Fetterly, (4) and those that descend from Lucas Fader/Vedder (a Loyalist during the Revolution). There is some conjecture that #1 and #2 are brothers. Philip Fetterly was born around the time of #1 and #2, but I've seen no connection. #4, Lucas Fader, was also around the ages of #1-#3. Interesting.