"History of Rensselaer Co., New York" Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester 1880 BEGIN COUNTY CIVIL LIST. 1815. - David Allen, Henry A. Lake, Jaoob A. Ten Eyck, Zebulon Seriven. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. Robert William Leake, June 11, 1774. EARLY SETTLEMENT. Other settlers at St. Croix, following soon after the elder Van Ness, 1724 to 1735, were Jacob A. Fort, John Vandenberg, Arent Van Curler, Mr. Van Vechten, John Fonda, David and Stephen Van Rensselaer, Robert Leake, William Nichols. Mr. Norwood, and others, whose only record is the moss-covered stone or grassy mound that marks the spot where "the rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." The farm occupied by Thomas Chambers, near Troy, was the tract lying between the Poestenkill and the Wynantskill, and was opposite the farm called the "Flatt," - de "Vlachte" - leased to Arendt van Curler in 1647, and which was afterwards known as the Schuyler farm, near Fort Schuyler, at West Troy. THE MANOR OF RENSSELAERSWICK. The magistrates held their offices for a year, the court appointing their successors. The most important office in the colony was the schout-fiscaal, or sheriff. Jacob Albertsen Planck was the first sheriff of Rensselaerswick. Arendt Van Curler, who came out originally as assistant commissary, was soon after his arrival made commissary-general, or superintendent of the colony, and acted as colonial secretary till 1642, when he was succeeded by Anthony de Hooges. But the real thing about the settlement of the manor of Rensselaerswick was the lease hold tenure of the soil. To give the reader some idea of what that tenure was we insert below a copy of the ancient leases. It was granted Arendt Van Curler, and was a base of the property since belonging to the Schuyler family at Port Schuyler, in West Troy: [copy of ancient lease not inserted; illegible] Schenectady. [insert p31.jpg here] Hoosick. SCHNEIDER PATENT. July 8, 1761, a petition was presented to the Governor of the Province of New York by Hendrick Schneyder, John Watteck, Hendrick Lake, John Johnson, Garret Williamson, Nathaniel Archerly, Benjamin Abbott, William Taylor, Martinus Voorheis, all of New Jersey, and Daniel Hallenbeck, of Albany, asking for a patent of a certain tract of land "bounded northwardly by the patent of Wallumshack, southwardly by the patent of Rensselaerwyck, westwardly by the patent of Hoseck, and eastwardly by other vacant lands, containing about the quantity of 10,000 acres." The petition was granted, and the patent issued March 24, 1762. TOWN OF HOOSICK. Robert Lake was an extensive land-holder in this neighborhood before the Revolution. He adhered to the cause of the crown, and his lands were confiscated by authority of the State and sold to Joab Guile, a son of the pioneer Guile. The next settlement was upon the Schneider Patent. This tract is in the eastern part of the town, and extended nearly across its entire breadth. It was locally known in the early times as Mapleton, and a small portion of it still retains that name. Of the grantees Hendrick Schneider, John Wetteek, Hendrick Lake, John Johnson, Garret Williamson, Nathaniel Ackerly, Benjamin Abbott, William Taylor, and Martinus Voorhies became actual settlers soon after securing the patent. BURIAL PLACES. A very old burial-place is the one connected with the early Van Ness Church of St. Croix. On one of the sunken headstones, in quaint and nearly illegible characters, is the name of Arent Van Curler, died in 1795, aged one hundred and seven years. Quackenbush Benjamin V. owns and occupies the Garret Lake farm, two miles east of the Falls, on the Bennington road. John L. owns the old homestead, which has been in possession of the family more than one hundred years. METHODIST CHURCH.* NORTHEAST PART OF THE TOWN. This is the "Walloomsac Methodist Episcopal Church," which was incorporated April 18, 1811, the certificate being attested by William Lake and Thomas Skeel, and was sworn to before Judge William Bell. * Known as "Up-River Church". This church was incorporated a second time under the name of the "Methodist Episcopal Church of Old Hoosick." July 19, 1845, the certificate was attested by Wm. Henry, moderator of the meeting, and by James Lake, secretary. The trustees in the instrument were James Lake, John Barnett, Simeon Sweet, George Barton, Palmer S. Shrieves, Nathaniel Barnett, Jr., and John W. Clark. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TOMHANNOCK. At the firsl session-meeting after the organization, Nov. 28, 1819, there were admitted the following additional members: George Walker, Julia Ann Weston, Nancy Lake, Jemima Downs, Harriel Bostwick, Esther House, J. F. Downs, Cornelia Olin, Candace Rouse, Elizabeth Van Veghtcn, Lydia Harmond, Martha Rouse, Sally House. Anna Benjamin, Elizabeth Willett, Electy Bostwick. TOWN OF SAND LAKE. GEORGE B. HUFF. Among the successful farmers of the town of Sand Lake the subject of these lines deserves especial mention. He was born in the town of Nassau on Oct. 27, 1826, and is the second son of Henry Huff of that town. The earlier years of his life were passed upon his father's farm, and his educational advantages were limited. At the age of ten years he started forth in life to earn his own livelihood, and at the outset of the rugged ascent to success was compelled to work much for others. Gradually, by industry and economy, he accumulated a fine property, upon which he still resides. His vocation has been strictly that of an agriculturist, and he would never permit himself to seek or accept public office, or to engage in anything that would interfere with his chosen calling. In his church connections he is a member of the Lutheran Church, and is a liberal supporter of church institutions. Mr. Huff has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Almira Lake, of Sand Lake, to whom he was married in 1851, and who survived the union but a few months. His second was Miss Mary A. Shouts, on March 2, 1854. Their son, Warden D., was born in December, 1855, and still resides with his parents. END Note - Robert Lake, AKA Robert Leake & Robert William Leake, is likely not part of any of the LAKE families shown in this database. - MEL