transcription of Records->Misc->28. Transcription of a document mentioning John Lake: BEGIN New Jersey Supreme Court case #35143 Thomas M Force Constable vs Aaron Sutton Summons in debt ? 16 day of February 1819 return all on the 1 day March demand - #19.00 summons returned by John Lake Constable served on the defendant G. Nading and delivered him a coppy [sic] on the 18th day of February 1819 Plaintiff files his state of demand in wrighting [sic] the defendant also filed his demand in afsd the ? stands adjurned [sic] for two weeks by request of the defendant the plaintiff demanded a ? for a jury of six men wich [sic] I granted and gave to John Lake Constable March 15th Constable Lake returned the ? with the following names annexed David Parks Thomas Leonard Richard Rounsavill James ? Robert Carhart Samuel A Johnston the jury was sworn according to law to try the ? William Apgar Henry Hildebrand George Fritts & John Lake was ? as witness on the part of plaintiff and in execution was handed as evidence towit one out of the court of Zahariah Flumerfelt against Philip Shilar in favour of Charles Tifford / do from Flumerfelt against said Shilar at the suit of Joseph Canon / do from Flumerfelt at the suit of Daniel ? / do from the court of Silas Watters and afsaid Shilar at suit of Isaac Vannatta / do out of the court of John Apgar and afsd Shilar at the suit of David Trimmer making in all six executors wich [sic] the deffendant [sic] had assumed to pay after hearing the evidence and the objection of the partys the constable was sworn to take charge of the jury after some short time the jurors returned into court they ? call or assured the partys also assured the jurors was asked for who they found and what sum their fourman [sic] they answered they found for the plaintiff the sum of eighteen dollars and twenty three cents with six cents court I therefore give judgment favour of the plaintiff for the sum of eighteen dollars and twenty three cents of debt and four dollars and eighty three cents of court continued on the other side the plaintiff paid the jurors ? ? seventy five cents February 15th 1820 I granted executors and gave to the plaintiff to be handed to John Lake Constable. I certify the within to be a true coppy [sic] of the proceedings had in the within named ? given under my hand and seal this 9th day of June 1820 Joseph Johnston ? Mem: no promise in writing - deft. had ? chart of ? would take $10 for his demands also ? ? it but ptiff. refused to accept it. Transcript Geo Arder of the Supreme Court ? fourth with transmit the parading of the ? Act Execute the vinna wish is on my files but can't at present find it for want of time. Joseph Johnston Hunterdon County ss. In a Court for the trial of ? ? Joseph Johnston Esqr Justice. Thomas M Force Constable plaintiff } vs } In debt Aaron Sutton Deft } 1818 To cash wich [sic] I returned wich [sic] money was not payable $8 to an afs ? for Philip Shuyler ow [sic] sundry ? to the amount of 12.68 for wich [sic] I ? judgment $20.68 March 1st, 1819 - Thomas M. Force Constable State of Demand Thomas M Force Plaint vs Aaron Sutton Deft Demand $20.68 cts Hunterdon } The State of New Jersey County } Court for the Trial of Small Aaron Sutton } causes before Joseph Johnston at the suit of } Esq Justice Thos M. Force Constable } in debt The defendant in the above action cometh into court and for plea say that ? the plaintiff no money whatever, and ? an adjournment for two weeks in order to procure testimony to make out his defense Aaron Sutton Dated 1st March 1819 Plea Aaron Sutton at the suit of Thos M Force Constable in debt Justice J. Johnston Filed 1st March 1819 New Jersey ss. The State of New Jersey to Joseph Johnston ? one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Hunterdon greeting: We being willing for ? ? our colector [sic] ? of a ? ? and ? ? ? ? ? ? for the ? of small causes before you at the ? of the: ? ? (Constable) against ? judgment aforesaid, ? ? ? & concurrency the same as fully and ? as before ? they accuracy by whatever ? the said ? may be called there in to our ? ? of ? ? Court of Judication at Trenton on the first Tuesday of September next, you ? and find together with this writ and in your time that we may ? cause to be done therein what of right and according to law we shall consider fit to be done. Witness Andrew Kirkpatrick Esquire Chief Justice of our said Supreme Court at Trenton the second Tuesday of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty. Nathaniel Saxton Atty Rossell Clk Supreme Court Hunterdon Aaron Sutton } ? v } ? to Thomas M Force } Joseph Johnson ? N Saxton Atty ?: September term 1820 Allocation Saml L. Southarz Sept. 1820 received Supreme Court September term 1820 Aaron Sutton } v } ? ? Thomas M Force } Reasons for reversal 1. because the state of demand is ? insufficient & does not ? a legal cause of action 2. because the Justice admitted legal evidence in ? sundry execution ? other barter ? forth in the state of demand 3. and in ? ? execd ? ? ? ? ? ? ? find out to answer for the debt of another person 4. because a jury of ? ? the ? ? and a verdict for a ? exceeded $ Nathaniel Saxton Atty for pliff in error Supr Court Sept 1820 Aaron Sutton } ? v } ? Thomas M Force } Reasons Filed Sept. 6 1820 Know all men by these presents, that we Aaron Sutton of the Township of Lebanon, County of Hunterdon & State of New Jersey and Conrad Apgar of the place aforesaid are ? and firmly bound unto Thomas M. Force of the place aforesaid in the sum of one hundred & fifty dollars good & lawful money of the United States, to be paid to the said Thomas M. Force Constable or his certain attorney, heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves and each of us by himself, our & each of our heirs, executors, administrators, firmly by these presents sealed with our seals, and dated this eighth day of June in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and twenty the conditions of this obligation is such that whereas the above bounden Aaron Sutton intends to prosecute or ? out of the Supreme Court of Judication of the State of New Jersey, against the above named Thomas M. Force to remove the judgment and proceedings in a certain plaintiff, before a certain Court for the trial of small causes, in the County of Hunterdon, whereof Joseph Johnston Esq is Justice, wherever the said Thomas M. Force hath recovered the sum of eighteen dollars and twenty three cents debt, and the sum of four dollars & eighty three cents for his costs of ? by the judgment of the said Justice Joseph Johnston, ? therefore of the said Aaron Sutton shall prosecute the said writ of ?, in the said Supreme Court, shall pay the sum recovered in the Court by law with intereste & cost of the judgment be affirmed, and shall in all things stand to and abide the judgment, order or proceedings, given or made by the Court below, then the above obligation to be void, or alse to remain in full & V vitue - signed, sealed & delivered } Aaron Sutton in the presence of } J D Jenkins } Conrad Apgar Sup Court Aaron Sutton } Cert vs } Bond Thomas M Force } Filed 18 June 1820 ? Bond Aaron Sutton vs Thomas M Force Constable Aaron Sutton } ? ? v } Reason for reversal Thomas M Force } because the Justice admitted unlawful ? N. Saxton, atty for plaintff New Jersey ss. The State of New Jersey to the sheriff of the County of Hunterdon greeting. Whereas Thomas M Force lately in our court for the trial of ? causes before Joseph Johnston Esq one of the justices of the ? ? & for our County of Hunterdon by the judgment of the said justice would against Aaron ? debt and ? of the record and ? thereof which by one writ of the ? we lately covered to the ? unto ? ? ? unto ? of ? ? before the Justice of our said Court at Trenton appears and whereas for ? errors on the said ? and proceeding and ? ? ? the ? aforesaid we have ? the ? and it is adjudged in our said Supreme Court that the said Aaron Sutton be allowed to ? change which he hath ? ? of the said judgment and for the ? ? appears is our said wait that the said Thomas M Force hath and ? execution ? ? said judgment in the writ below and the said Aaron Sutton hath and the ? of twenty six dollars and four cents thence ? therefore we concluded ? that of ? goods and chattels of the said Thomas M Force in your county you ? to as was the case ? of twenty six dollars and four cents, and have you ? money before the Justices of our said Supreme Court at Trenton aforesaid on the last Tuesday of February next to ? to the said Aaron Sutton the monies awarded to him by our said Court ? ? ? of the said judgment and have you there then writ - witness Andrew Kuhlpaugh Esq Chief Justice of our said Supreme Court at Trenton aforesaid the second Tuesday in November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one N. Saxton, atty Rossell, clk Supr Court Hunterdon Aaron Sutton } ? v } for Thomas M Force } ? N Saxton, atty Levy ? paid on judgment ? } 26.04 cost of ? 13.50 ----- ? ? ? 39.54 107.20 tot paid ----- ? ? Recd this writ February 9th AD 1822 Edw Welsted Shff By virtue of the within execution I have levied on three horses, four cows, two beds and bedding two tables, one waggon [sic] and harness one plow and one harrow and on all the residue of the goods and chattels of said defendant valued at fifty cents subject to all legal prior incumberances. February 22, 1822 Edw Welsted, Shff Supreme Court Aaron Sutton } ? ? v } cost of restitution Thomas M Force } ?: & Nov term 1820 ? atty copy & file 1.25 ? for ? & ? fee 2.05 ? & ? juror rule for df .62 ? & ? .68 clk ? constables ? .14 atty & court ? fee 5.00 ? fee .80 ?: & Feby 1822 ? ? copy & ? 1.12 writ: ? ? 1.04 ? fee .80 ---- $13.50 ? ? the bell of cost at thirteen dollars & fifty cents Rossell, clk Supr Court Huntn Aaron Sutton } costs v } of Thos M Force } restitution N. Saxton atty Filed 18 Jany 1822 Rossell, clk END from http://www.bowlbyfamily.org/cemetery/mvc_l.htm ... John & Abigail buried in Musconetcong Valley Cemetery Asbury Road Hunterdon County New Jersey John's headstone - died April 16th, 1854; aged 78 yrs & 2 dys; Husband of Abigail Case Abigail's headstone - died May 17, 1870; 84yrs, 4 mos & 2d's; Wife of John Lake transcription of Records->Misc->28.jpg From Hunterdon County, New Jersey Common Court records: BEGIN February Term 1829 183 Jacob Bryant & Daniel Horton } Exers. of Elias Bryant, dec'd } In case. Judgment February v } Term 1818 Peter D. Lowrance } The defendant in the above stated cases having produced in court the receipt of John Lake late deputy sheriff of the county of Hunterdon to whom the writs of execution issued in the above stated cases, was delivered to be executed, acknowledging full satisfaction of the debts, interests & costs of the above stated judgments & executions - the execution of which receipt has been duly proved - the court orders satisfaction of the above stated judgments to be entered - on motion of Charles Bartles Atty of the Defendant. END from the Hunterdon Republican Flemington, NJ 4 Feb 1857 abstract by William Hartman LAKE, Joseph P., LAKE, Jesse J. and LAKE, John C. - Executors of LAKE, John, deceased. "HISTORY OF HUNTERDON AND SOMERSET COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY" JAMES P. SNELL 1881 BEGIN CIVIL LIST OF HUNTERDON COUNTY. CORONERS. 1813 John Lake 1822 John Lake COMMISSIONERS TO TAKE ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND PROOF OF DEEDS. 1821 John Lake 1827 John Lake 1831 John Lake FREEHOLDERS. Bethlehem Twp. 1825-26 John Lake (died April 16, 1854, aged seventy-eight) BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP CIVIL LIST Clerk. 1822-1834 John Lake TOWN COMMITTEE. 1835 John Lake THE MUSCONETCONG VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 4 Feb 1837 John Lake elected as a Trustee END Hunterdon Gazette Flemington, Hunterdon County, NJ BEGIN 5 May 1825 John Lake is named as one of three Commissioners in the auction of land seized in Lebanon, Hunterdon Co 3 May 1825 19 May 1825 John Lake is named the Administrator in the auction of land seized in Alexandria, Hunterdon Co 12 May 1825 John Lake is named as a member of the board of chosen Freeholders from Bethlehem, Hunterdon Co 11 May 1825 17 May 1826 John Lake is named as a member of the board of chosen Freeholders from Bethlehem, Hunterdon Co 10 May 1826 28 Jun 1826 John Lake was named as a former Sub-sheriff in the auction of land in Bethlehem, Hunterdon Co 28 Jun 1826 6 Sep 1826 John Lake was named as administrator of Jacob Hawk, dec'd 28 Aug 1826 8 Nov 1826 John Lake was named as commissioner in Appointments in Joint-meeting scheduled for 9 & 10 Nov 1826 9 May 1827 John Lake was named as clerk in Bethlehem in an Appointment 5 Mar 1828 John Lake was named administrator of Henry Creveling, dec'd 1 Mar 1828 29 Oct 1828 John Lake was named administrator in the auction of land seized in Bethlehem, Hunterdon Co 29 Oct 1828 9 Sep 1829 John Lake ran for Assembly and lost in Hunterdon Co 5 Sep 1829 4 Nov 1829 John Lake was named as a Commissioner in an auction of land seized in Alexandria and Bethlehem, Hunterdon Co 30 Oct 1829 7 Apr 1830 John Lake was nominated for Constable in Amwell Township, Hunterdon Co 5 Apr 1830 15 Sep 1830 John Lake was nominated for Assembly in Hunterdon Co 22 Sep 1830 John Lake was chosen as a Coroner Bethlehem, Hunterdon Co 17 Nov 1830 John Lake was chosen as a delegate for Hunterdon Co in Bethlehem 16 Nov 1831 John Lake was appointed as Commissioner for Hunterdon Co 9 Nov 1831 17 Apr 1833 John Lake was named Clerk in Bethlehem, Hunterdon Co 1 Apr 1835 John LAKE is named as having a letter at the post office in Clinton. 29 Apr 1835 John LAKE named as being on the Town Committee of Bethlehem. 10 Aug 1835 John LAKE is named as the administrator of the will of Ferdinand SHROPE. 12 Dec 1835 John LAKE is named as a Commissioner in Bethlehem Township. 11 May 1836 John LAKE is named as a Commissioner in Bethlehem Township. 8 Aug 1836 John LAKE is named as the administrator of Ferdinand SHROPE, deceased. 18 Nov 1836 John LAKE is named as the administrator of Ferdinand SHROPE, deceased, in Bethlehem Township. END "More Records of Old Hunterdon County Volume II" by Phyllis B D'Autrechy, 2000 BEGIN Abstracts of Wills, 1818 - 1825 1822, May 12. Philip C. Anderson of Bethlehem Twp., will of. Executor, John Lake, constable. Proved 2 Sep 1822. (4/63) Inventories, 1818 - 1825 1822, Sep 18. Phillip C Anderson of Bethlehem Twp, dec'd, made by James D. Wiggins and Samuel King. It included a good watch and wearing apparel. Total: $32.74. Proved 6 May 1824 by Jno. Lake, ex'r. (109) 1823, Sep 4. John Anderson of Bethlehem, dec'd, made by Imla Drake and Jno. Lake. It included a silver watch and knife, gun, livestock and crops. Total: $1032.69. Proved 6 Sep 1823 by Adam Runkle, adm'r. (15) 1823, Oct 7. Jacob Runkle of Lebanon Twp., dec'd, made by Peter Fisher and Jno. Lake. Proved 9 Oct 1823 by Phillip Runkle, adm'r. (23) 1825, Mar 11. Benjamin Eaton, of Bethlehem Twp., dec'd, made by Abraham Dremer and John Lake. Proved 14 Mar 1825. (1700) Letters of Administration, 1818 - 1825 1825, Mar 14. Benjamin Eaton, dec'd. Jabob Deremer, adm'r. Securities: Abraham Deremer and John Lake. (176) END From the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey ... BEGIN Washington Presb. Ch. Records Baptisms John & Abigail Lake Margaret born 10/4/1818 bap 11/24/1820 END Who was the father of Abraham LAKE, born in 1796 in New Jersey? last revision - 30 Apr 2022 Marshall Lake BEGIN Abraham LAKE (born in 1796 [1] in New Jersey [6, 8, 9]) is as far back as my LAKE line has been traced with certainty. No primary source record has been found showing the names of the parents of Abraham LAKE (nor the names of any of Abraham's siblings). However, based upon a short biography, some circumstantial evidence, and DNA evidence a probable determination can be made. The following is what is known about Abraham LAKE ... Abraham LAKE was born 20 Apr 1796 [1] in New Jersey, [6, 8, 9] probably Hunterdon County [13]. He was also known as Abram. [5, 6, 8, 9] Abraham could not write nor read. [8] According to his son John's words "... Abraham ... was a farmer and a large dealer in horses and stock. He was reputed to be a good judge of horses, and his own opinion was sought in their sale by men far and near." [2] In 1850 Abraham was a hotel keeper in Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey. [6] Abraham married Susan GARRISON in about 1818, [14] probably in Hunterdon County. [13] Susan GARRISON was born 19 Dec 1793 [1] in New Jersey, [6, 8] probably Hunterdon County, [13] to James GARRISON and Dinah ROBINS. [16] Abraham and Susan were probably living in Hunterdon County at the time of their marriage. Sometime between 1820 and 1827 [based upon the birthplaces of their children and census reports] Abraham, Susan, and their children removed to Warren County, first to Greenwich [5] then to the township of Knowlton. [6] (Note - Warren County was formed in 1824 from Sussex County.) On 8 Apr 1841 Abraham bought 175 acres of land for $1,600 in Knowlton Township. [10] He sold the same land while living in Pennsylvania 16 Feb 1865 for $3,000. [11] Abraham and Susan lived in Knowlton Township until sometime between Aug 1855 and Jun 1860 [8, 19] when they removed to Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania with at least two of their children: Mary Jane and Rachael. Also accompanying them on the trip was Enoch L COOL who resided with them in New Jersey [7] and subsequently married Mary Jane. [20] All their children except for Elizabeth (who had her own family by this time [21]) and Diane/Diana and Abraham (both died while the family was living in Warren County [17]) eventually (either before or after Abraham and Susan) moved to the same area in Pennsylvania. [22] In 1860 Abraham and Susan were living with their son, John, in Dimock Township. [8] Susan died 8 May 1861 [1] while residing in Dimock Township and was buried in Jersey Hill Cemetery, Auburn Township, Susquehanna County. [1] Subsequently Abraham married Lydia M CANFIELD 24 Jul 1865 at the Baptist Church in Rush Township, Susquehanna County. She was 32 years his junior. (Lydia was previously married to William ESTES. [23]) Abraham and Lydia had an agreement that in the event of Abraham's death Lydia would receive a severely reduced share of his estate. [12] Abraham worked as a farmer and a stock dealer in his earlier years in New Jersey [2] and later as a hotel keeper. [6] After moving to Pennsylvania he began farming again and continued until at least 1870 when he was 75 years old and living in Rush Township. [9] In 1870 Abraham's personal property was valued at $5,000. [9] In 1872 Abraham was residing in the East Rush District (#5) of Rush Township. [15] On 14 Jul 1874 Abraham died [1] while residing in Rush Township. He was buried next to his first wife in Jersey Hill Cemetery. [1] Abraham's will is dated 16 Sep 1868 and probated 25 Aug 1874. [12] The children of Abraham and Susan were: Elizabeth, John L., William G., Mary Jane, Rachael, Diane/Diana, Abraham, and Isaac G. [7] In a short biography concerning John L LAKE, a son of Abraham LAKE, which appears in "Centennial History of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania" by Rhamanthus M. Stocker in 1887 it is stated: "His [John L LAKE's] grandfather, John Lake of Hunterdon County, N. J., had an extensive business as auctioneer, was a farmer and a prominent politician and served as sheriff of the county." Bios like this have a good chance of containing errors but this info is too specific in nature to be completely disregarded. Additionally, the John LAKE described did indeed exist. No evidence has been found (other than the quote above) which shows a John LAKE who had a son named Abraham with the right timing to be the Abraham in question. A John LAKE has never served as a sheriff in Hunterdon County but there are records showing a John LAKE referred to as deputy sheriff, sub-sheriff and constable. [3, 4] There are also records of a John LAKE indicating that he was an auctioneer. [3, 4] Additionally there are records referring to a John LAKE as Commissioner, Clerk and Coroner. [3, 4] Taking into consideration this evidence it can be ascertained that the father of Abraham LAKE is indeed John LAKE of Hunterdon County. The next question is which John Lake. It's probable that John C LAKE (of Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County) is the father of Abraham LAKE. Additionally, this LAKE family lived in Bethlehem Township in the locale of what is today Hampton. The GARRISON family lived in Alexandria Township, Hunterdon County about a mile south of what is today Bloomsbury. The two areas are close enough in proximity to make it easy for Abraham LAKE to meet his spouse, Susan GARRISON. (There was a John LAKE of Alexandria Township who died in 1808 but there is no record of him being a public servant.) Also, the father of this John LAKE, Abraham LAKE, and the grandfather of John LAKE, Thomas LAKE, were both public servants in Bethlehem Township. [4, 24] Additionally, John LAKE bought land in Bethlehem Township from a ROBINS in 1831. [26] Susan GARRISON's mother's maiden name was ROBINS. John C LAKE, the probable father of Abraham LAKE, is described here: John C LAKE lived in Bethlehem Township. [3, 4] He was born 14 Apr 1776 in Bethlehem Township [18] and died there 16 Apr 1854. [18] He is buried in Musconetcong Valley Cemetery, Hunterdon County. [18] His will is dated 1 Jul 1851 and proved 30 Jan 1855. [27] He was a trustee elected 4 Feb 1837 in creation of the Musconetcong Valley Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem Township. [24] He bought 58 acres from Jonathan and Margaret ROBINS in Bethlehem Township 1 Dec 1831. [26] He married Abigail CASE/KASE/KAES (born 15 Jan 1786, died 17 May 1870, [18] buried Musconetcong Valley Cemetery [18]). Their children were [27]: 1. Catherine (born Bethlehem Township, married John FRITTS, [27] children: Sarah Ann) [27] 2. Joseph P (born 1813/1814 Bethlehem Township, died 1899, [18] buried Musconetcong Valley Cemetery, [18] will proved 19 Jul 1899, [31] lived Bethlehem Township, High Sheriff Hunterdon County 1865-1867, married Mary SMITH (born 1815/1816, died 1891, [18] buried Musconetcong Valley Cemetery [18]), children: Abigail, Margaret, Elisabeth Caroline, Thomas B, Ervin, Jesse L, Mary Jane, Joseph P, Sarah C, Tille, John and Frances Matilda) [31] 3. Jesse J (born 1815 Bethlehem Township, [29] a farmer, [32] died 26 Nov 1897 Bloomsbury, Warren County, [29] buried Belvidere Cemetery, Warren County, [29] married Matilda HULSIZER [30] (born 1827, died 1902, [29, 30] buried Belvidere Cemetery [29, 30]) 7 Jun 1851 Bethlehem Township [30]) 4. Elizabeth (born 20 Apr 1817 Bethlehem Township, died 10 Apr 1893, [18] married Jacob TUNISON [18], buried Musconetcong Valley Cemetery [18]) 5. Margaret (born 4 Oct 1818 Bethlehem Township, baptized 24 Nov 1820 [25] Washington Presbyterian Church, Sussex County, New Jersey, died 18 Aug 1889, buried Musconetcong Valley Cemetery, [18] never married) 6. John Case (born 1 Aug 1820 Bethlehem Township, [25] baptized 24 Nov 1820 [25] Washington Presbyterian Church, died between 1 Jun 1883 and 1 Jun 1884, a farmer in Bethlehem Township, accused of fathering a child out of wedlock in 1839 [4] to Elizabeth ANDERSON (born about 1819), lived in Hampton Junction 1869 1870, a Justice 1860 1865 1871 1876, Bethlehem town committee 1866-1868, [24] married Harriet SKINNER 17 Jun 1841 [33] in Hunterdon County, children: William, Minna, Jackson, Jacob Skinner, Lydia, Amanda and Ida) [18] The following identifies connections between Abraham LAKE and John C LAKE ... Notice previously that John Case LAKE was accused of fathering a child out of wedlock. There are three other cases of LAKEs around the same time period having children out of wedlock [4] ... Othniel G LAKE, a third cousin once removed of John Case LAKE, was accused of fathering a child out of wedlock in 1816 to Mary MOORE (born about 1800, daughter of Jonathan MOORE) of Amwell Township. Jacob Skinner LAKE, a son of John Case LAKE, was accused of fathering a child out of wedlock 12 Jul 1870 to Anneta BEREY/BERRY of Franklin Township, Warren County. And Mary LAKE, a probable cousin of John Case LAKE, had William (born out of wedlock in 1795, probably died 4 Aug 1865 at Larison's Corner, Hunterdon County). I believe that Abraham LAKE was born out of wedlock to John C LAKE (but not with Abigail CASE ... she would have been only 10 years old in 1796 when Abraham was born). I believe that the lack of any records showing the parentage of Abraham LAKE suggests that he was illegitimate. Besides the occurrences of other LAKEs having children out of wedlock around the same time period there was also a longer-than-normal time period after John C LAKE died before his will was probated (about 9 1/2 months). Abraham was not included in the will. It's a possibility that Abraham put up some stink about the will in court and slowed down the process of it getting probated. (Although I cannot find any record of this happening.) Additionally, Abraham moved west to Susquehanna County, at a relatively advanced age soon after John C LAKE died. That could mean nothing, or it could mean that Abraham was upset at not being recognized by his father and wanting to get out of the area. It also appears that John C LAKE named his firstborn son for his father, even if he was illegitimate. Naming the firstborn son after the father's father was standard practice. John C LAKE didn't have any other children named Abraham. One final child-naming clue ... William LAKE, a son of Abraham LAKE, named his firstborn Marshal. Was that in respect to Abraham's father being a sub-sheriff? This is the first time that any child in the LAKE line was named Marshal or Marshall that I can find. Also, William named another one of his son's Hampton. Hampton is an area (now a borough) in Bethlehem Township where I believe Abraham was born and where Abraham's assumed father, John C LAKE, lived his entire life. I've never seen any other LAKE child named Hampton. As for the mother of Abraham LAKE, it is difficult to determine. If Abraham truly was illegitimate then he was probably raised by either his mother or his grandparents. The father of John C LAKE, Abraham LAKE, died in 1796, the same year that Abraham (the grandson) was born. And the grandmother moved to Georgia to live with her son, Richard, after her husband died. There is no evidence that Abraham (the grandson) was raised in Georgia. And since Abraham's mother is unknown, the names of his maternal grandparents are also unknown. Did Abraham LAKE (father of John C LAKE) commit suicide in disgrace of having a son who had an illegitimate child? Did Elizabeth (mother of John C LAKE) move to Georgia to live with her son and his family because of the disgrace of having a son who had an illegitimate child (and possibly a husband who committed suicide)? Elizabeth had only one child living in Georgia. All of her other children were living in New Jersey at the time. In the 1840 census living with Abraham and his family in Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey was a free white female between the ages of 60 and 70, the right age to be the mother of Abraham. This free white female is not part of the family during the 1830 or the 1850 census. This free white female is also the right age to be the mother of Susan (GARRISON) LAKE, the wife of Abraham LAKE. She was Dinah (ROBINS) GARRISON. Her husband, James GARRISON, died in 1825. [28] Dinah died in 1857 in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, [28] and there she is buried. [28] Judging from Dinah's will and from things known about Dinah she was a very independent woman. Dinah's parents and grandparents lived in the same area as Dinah. [25] It's doubtful that it's Dinah who shows up in the 1840 census. Something else which could be related is that John C LAKE and Abigail CASE/KASE/KAES did not marry until 1811 or 1812 (judging by the birth year of their firstborn child). John C LAKE would have been 35 or 36 years old at the time of marriage, older than normal for a man to be married in that time period. Did having an illegitimate child have something to do with him being older before marrying? The various LAKE families at this time and earlier (as well as other families) practiced a naming pattern for the children where they would name the firstborn male child for the paternal grandfather, the firstborn female child for the paternal grandmother, the secondborn male child for the maternal grandfather, and the secondborn female child for the maternal grandmother. If Abraham named his firstborn female child for his mother then his mother's name was Elizabeth. And going by the 1840 census report Elizabeth was born sometime between 1770 and 1780, and probably died sometime between 1840 and 1850. The final piece of evidence supporting the probability is DNA testing, specifically the LAKE DNA Project (see https://www.familytreedna.com/public/lake?iframe=yresults). Testing my DNA has shown that my LAKE ancestry goes back to the LAKEs of Gravesend. The same can be said for John C LAKE via a paper trail. In summary, Abraham LAKE (1796 - 1874) is the illegitimate son of John C LAKE (1776 - 1851) and unknown. The ancestry of John C LAKE has been proven via a paper trail to be: Abraham LAKE (c 1755 - 1796) and Elizabeth ------ (d 1839), Thomas LAKE (c 1718 - 1787) and Eleanor ------ (or Elender, d 1790), Thomas LAKE (c 1685 - 1765) and Jannetie STRYKER (b 1679). Sources: 1. headstone(s) - Jersey Hill Cemetery, Auburn Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania 2. "Centennial History of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania" by Rhamanthus M. Stocker in 1887 3. newspaper - Hunterdon County Democrat, Flemington, NJ 4. "Hunterdon County Records 1701-1838" (1977), "More Records of Old Hunterdon County, Vol I" (1998), and "More Records of Old Hunterdon County, Vol II" (2000), all by Phyllis B. D'Autrechy 5. 1830 Federal Census Report for Abraham Lake (Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, NJ) 6. 1840 Federal Census Report for Abraham Lake (Greenwich Township, Warren County, NJ) 7. 1850 Federal Census Report for Abraham Lake (Knowlton Township, Warren County, NJ) 8. 1860 Federal Census Report for John Lake (Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, PA) 9. 1870 Federal Census Report for Abraham Lake (Rush Township, Susquehanna County, PA) 10. indenture dated 8 Apr 1841, recorded 11 Jan 1842 (Knowlton Township, Warren County, NJ) 11. indenture dated 16 Feb 1865, recorded 6 Apr 1868 (Susquehanna County, PA) 12. will of Abraham Lake (Rush Township, Susquehanna County, PA) 13. both the Garrison and Lake families lived, died, and conducted business in Hunterdon County for many prior generations (the Lake family referenced is the family which is determined to be correct from the evidence outlined in this article) 14. based upon the birth of the firstborn child of Abraham Lake and Susan Garrison 15. "Atlas of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania" by Beers in 1872 16. will of Dinah (Robins) Garrison (Hunterdon County, NJ) 17. headstone(s) - Hainesburg Cemetery, Hainesburg, NJ 18. headstone(s) - Musconetcong Valley Cemetery, Hunterdon County, NJ 19. 1855 New Jersey State Census Report for Abraham Lake (Knowlton Township, Warren County, NJ) 20. marriage record for Enoch L Cool and Mary Jane Lake, Hainesburg, Warren County, NJ 21. 1850 Federal Census Report for Jacob J Beck (Knowlton Township, Warren County, NJ) 22. various 1860 Federal Census Reports (Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, PA) 23. pension document for Lydia M Canfield 24. "History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties New Jersey" by James Snell in 1881 25. records of Washington Presbyterian Church, Warren County, NJ 26. deed - Jonathan & Margaret Robins to John C Lake, Bethlehem Tp, Hunterdon Co, NJ dated 1 Dec 1831 27. will of John C Lake (Hunterdon County, NJ) 28. headstone(s) - Garrison-Tharp Cemetery, Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, NJ 29. headstone(s) - Belvidere Cemetery, Warren County, NJ 30. death certificate for Matilda (Hulsizer) Lake (Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, NJ) 31. will of Joseph P Lake (Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, NJ) 32. 1887 Warren County History and Directory 33. "Marriage Records Hunterdon County New Jersey 1795-1875" by Hiram Deats in 1918 END