From: "Annette Truesdell" Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 14:05:32 -0500 I do NOT think your [Jay Wright ] Zenas Lake or Marshall's [Marshall Lake ] Abraham Lake descend from the Thomas Lake of Hunterdon family. In my research of the Thomas Lake of Hunterdon line, I have made some "leaps of faith" judgements that may or may not be accurate, but they make sense to me. (My line descends from Nicholas Lake and Mary Johnson and so I have spent a bit of time trying to sort thru the many NJ LAKEs.) From my notes: !NAME: LDS film 461818 - NJ Wills, #00657. wd 7 Feb 1755, Thomas Lake of Amwell Twp, Hunterdon Co. BIRTH: Thomas Lake of Hunterdon, NJ whose will was dated 1755 and proved 1765 has been assumed by other researchers to be the same Thomas Lake identified as a son of John Lake, Jr. of Gravesend. (See "The Lake Family in America" by Devereaux Lake, pub. 1937, pg 73.) There is no direct evidence of this link but only circumstantial, based on John Lake naming a son, Thomas in his will. There is also circumstantial evidence, based on Dutch naming patterns that suggest that Thomas and Jane Lake of Hunterdon are the same couple as Thomas Lake and Jannetje Stryker who lived on Staten Island until at least 1725. Thomas was probably born between 1678-1682. This conclusion is based on the baptismal date of 1679 for Jannetje Stryker who is assumed to be the wife of Thomas Lake. Jannetje's parents (Garret Stryker and Wyntje Cornelise Boomgard) were neighbors of John Lake Jr. in Gravesend. I am assuming that Thomas Lake is the son of John Lake, Jr. Since John Lake, Jr. is a head of household in the 1683 Gravesend rateables, I am assuming that he was married previous to Neeltje Claasen and that she is not the mother of Thomas Lake. NOTE: Per "Early Settlers...", Bergen, cites Thomas Lake as a son of Daniel Lake and Alice Stillwell, b. c1694. This birth date does not appear to be probable since Alice Stillwell was 49 yrs old in 1694. There is also no other documentation that has been found to support the premise of Alice Stillwell as his mother. Since there are many errors in Bergen's work, without any evidence of support I find this not to be reliable. As for Thomas being a son of Daniel from a prior marriage, the 1683 rateables list Daniel as 1 adult, not head of household. So, a prior marriage for Daniel is unlikely. MARR: In Thomas' will dated 1755, wp 1765, his wife is named "Jane". Assuming her to be the same person as Jannetie Stryker, dau of Garret Stryker and Wyntje Cornelise Boomgard per baptismal records of their son, Thomas at the Port Richmond DRC. (Note: Their children named in "Gen of Lake Fam" as Thomas, Sarah, Elce, Daniel is also probably in error. Sarah, Elce and Daniel were children of Daniel Lake and Sarah Connors of Staten Island per research of Mullane/Johnson). I'm assuming "Jane" to be the same individual as Jannetje Stryker at this time but am still seeking evidence to confirm or refute these assumptions. CHILDREN: Named in will were Thomas, Garrat (Garret), John, Winefreat (Winifred), Sarah, Catherine, Ann, Ellen. All birth dates of children are estimated and may not be in birth order. Some of these children may have been twins. (Note: some of these names are the same as those of the parents and grandparents of Jannetje Stryker. This is circumstantial evidence supporting the premise that Thomas Lake of Staten Island and Thomas Lake of Hunterdon could be the same individual). LAND: From 25 Mar 1737 thru 25 Mar 1746 mortgage payments made to Loan Office in amount of L20 for 102 acres in Amwell Twp. LDS film 1028302. DEATH: LDS film 461818 - NJ Wills, #00657. wd 7 Feb 1755, Thomas Lake of Amwell Twp, Hunterdon Co. Son, Thomas, 100 acres where he lives, being the eastern most side or end of the tract of land which I bought of Thomas Gordon. Son Garrat, 100 acres of land on the western most side or end of the aforesaid tract of land bought of the said Gordon, thus shall that 200 acres of land be divided between my two sons Thomas and Garrat. Wife, Jane, the tract where I live, while my widow. Son, John, land where I live, which I bought of Adam Aller, after wife's marriage or death. Daughter, Winefreat Hull, L15. Daughter, Sarah Bets, L15. Daughter, Cathrine Sutphin, L15. Daughter, Ann Aller, L15. Daughter, Ellen Lake, L15. Granddaughter, Jane Hull, a "wheel" and cow when 18. Each of five daughters 1/14th part of the mine which is "now discovered" on the place where I now live; the remaining parts of the said mine to sons Thomas, Garrat and John. Executors - sons, Garrat and John. Wit: William Sine, Humphrey Hughes, Nichlass Zayn. wp 19 Oct 1765. HISTORY: Abt 1680 - assumed birth date. Abt 1705 - assumed marriage date. 1715 - Thomas Lake listed on Richmond Co. Militia, List of the South Company, James Poillon, Captain. 1718 - only documented birth or bp date (Thomas) of any of his children. 1720 - probably the same Thomas Lake who witnessed a baptism in New Brunswick in 1720: "Catharyntje Stillewill and Thomas Leeck" were witnesses to the baptism of "Jacobus Wilmsen" on 17 Apr 1720, son of "Jacobus and Marietje Wilmsen" at the New Brunswick First Ref Church. 6 Aug 1725 - Thomas Lake was a witness, along with Edward Hilyer and William Hilyer to the will of John Crocheron of Staten Island, will proved 7 Jun 1727. 1732 - witness to will of Duncan Oliphant, 12 Feb 1732 of Amwell Township Hunterdon Co., Proved August 7, 1734, Lib 2, PG. 425. Duncan Oliphant's dau, Margaret was married to Thomas Gordon from whom Thomas Lake purchased land as noted in his will. Duncan Oliphant and Thomas Gordon also came from Staten Island. NOTE: Per "Early Germans of NJ", by Chambers, pg 634, it is interesting to note that Thomas Lake (or any Lake) does not appear on the 1735 list of the West Jersey Society Lands. Lewis Morris, Jr. was required to make a list of those persons who had leased parts of this tract, which comprised the names of settlers in what was Hunterdon Co. Morris affirms that "there were no other families than these 98 except on the Coxe and Kirkbride tract of 10,000 acres". The Coxe and Kirkbride tract extended from Clinton to Flemington. Regardless of not appearing on the list, it would appear that Thomas was in Hunterdon Co. as early as 1732 when he was a witness to the will of Duncan Oliphant. 1738 - Freeholder of Hunterdon Co., representative to serve in the Genl Assemby of the province of NJ. 1745: reference is made to a tract of land (See "Lake Fam", Devereaux Lake) that was purchased in 1745 by Thomas Lake from Benjamin Whitehead of Jamaica, Queens Co., and from Thomas Stevenson of Somerset, East Jersey. Note: Amwell Township as originally patented contained nearly one half the present county of Hunterdon. 7 Feb 1755 - will dated. 19 Oct 1765 - will proved. ------------------------------------- In short, I believe that this Thomas Lake was the son of John Lake, Jr. and an unknown first wife. (I'm probably the only LAKE researcher in the universe that thinks this, but that's OK.) In looking at the sons of this Thomas Lake, I surmise the following: 1. Garret Lake: his will names 3 children -- Thomas Jean and Garret. Thomas and Jean are obviously older children from a first marriage. Garret's son, Thomas, was married to Catherine LaRue of Amwell and I've only been able to identify two of their sons. They were William Lake (married Mary Rounseval) and Othniel Lake (married Permelia Holcombe). Thomas and Catherine probably had other children but I haven't been able to identify them from any records as yet. Garret Jr. (married to Margaret Hann) removed to Morris Co., NJ and his family has clearly been identified. In looking at the older Garret Lake's known family, it seems unlikely that Zenas Lake or Abraham Lake are linked to this family group from the information that is known about them. 2. Thomas Lake: this family is the best documented of all the family groups. Although his son is named Abraham, again I see no link between this group and Marshall's Abraham Lake. Also, no link to your Zenas. 3. John Lake: this is the least known son. However, I believe there are some assumptions that can be made about him. From the terms of his father Thomas' will, dated 1755, it states that the land Thomas has left to John should be divided between Thomas' other sons, Thomas and Garret if John should die without lawful children. This would mean that John has none in 1755. I've made some assumptions about this John (which may or may not be correct). From my notes: !NAME: Named in father's will, proved 19 Oct 1765. BIRTH: estimated about 1723. NOTE: In his father's will dated 1755, it states that the land Thomas has left to John should be divided between Thomas' other sons, Thomas and Garret if John should die without lawful children. This would mean that he has none in 1755. NOTE: named executor of his brother, Garret's will, along with Garret's widow, Sarah, LDS film 461825 - NJ Wills Lib 29 pg 243 #1383) wd 30 Jul 1787, wp 26 Sep 1787. NOTE: There is no evidence as yet but am assuming him to be the same John Lake of Amwell who died intestate 3 May 1809. DEATH: Probate record 23673, Hunterdon Co., NJ, Lib B, LDS film 466550. Inventory made by Peter Prall and Jacob Fulper. One of the items in the inventory is a 1/2 interest in "the cattle in pardinship with Tho. Lake". Sworn to by Cornelius Lake and Henry Trimmer, Adm'rs, 3 May 1809. (Note: I believe that Cornelius Lake was his brother.) MARR: Anna _____. In the will of Thomas Lake of Amwell, wp 16 Jan 1811, he refers to himself as the "son of John Lake" and his "mother, Anna Lake, widow". NOTE: children of John Lake are presumed from will of Jane Lake, dau "of John Lake, deceased" (LDS film 463008, NJ Wills #3564. wd 27 Dec 1826, wp 13 Jun 1827) and will of Thomas Lake, "son of John Lake, deceased" (NJ Wills, #2478J, wd 6 Dec 1810, wp 16 Jan 1811). Dates of birth are also estimated. Children known from these wills are Thomas; Jane; Mary; Isaac; John. May have been others. Am also linking Cornelius Lake as a son due to the close relationships between him and the other children of John Lake. NOTE: Hunterdon County, NJ Rateables, Amwell Township, January 1780 and February 1780: Lake, Isaac 1h, unmarried man, living at John Lake's Lake, John 100 acres; 3h, 6c, 1p c=horned cow ex=exempt h=horse p=hog -------------------------------------------- So, that takes care of Thomas Lake of Hunterdon's bunch. To identify the other Hunterdon Lakes, I believe we have to go back to the other sons of John Lake and Ann Spicer of Gravesend. I've made some assumptions about them and their children that also differ from the published LAKE histories. I believe that Abraham Lake was the youngest son of John Lake of Gravesend. I believe the Gravesend town records support this. From this assumption, this makes him the uncle of Thomas Lake of Hunterdon. They would have been close to the same age and probably removed from Gravesend to Staten Island at the same time. Abraham's children and Thomas' children would have been contemporaries, although a generation apart. This is why I believe the name "Abraham" was used in Thomas' family. From my notes: ABRAHAM LAKE BIRTH: Assumed youngest son of John Lake and Ann Spicer. Birth year of 1676 based on Staten Island census of 1706 where Abraham is named and listed as being 30 years old per Stillwell. Bergen in his "Early Settlers.. ." says that Abraham is a son of Daniel Lake and Alice Stillwell and twin of Joseph. No other sources cited. Bergen's account contains many errors and I believe this to be one of them based on Abraham's age and the fact that Daniel and Alice didn't marry until after 1684. MARR: Classje Langestraat/Longstreet, dau of Dirck Stoffel Langestraat and Katrina van Lieuwen. This is assumed from baptismal record of their son John found in Brooklyn DRC records. Adams/Risley, pg 19 give Abraham's wife's name as "Alce or Alice" but cite no sources. CHILDREN: 1. John, bp 26 Apr 1696 Brooklyn DRC. 2. Richard, b. c1698 per 1706 Staten Island census. 3. Daniel, b. c1700 per1706 SI census. 4. Ann, b. c1702 per1706 SI census. 5. Sarah, b. c1705 per 1706 SI census. 6. Joseph, bp 20 Aug 1708 Port Richmond DRC. 7. Margaret, 25 Jul 1710 Port Richmond DRC. 8. Abraham, 19 Apr 1715, Port Richmond DRC. HISTORY: 2 Jan 1691/2 - (Town Records, Book 4, p. 43) Abraham Lake and Abraham Emans to be paid by the town for repair of fences. 29 Sep 1698 - recorded his cattle mark on Staten Island (Mullane/Johnson). Apr 1705 - named in an instrument recorded for the "Commissionr of Highways" as living in the County of Richmond. 1706 - Staten Island census of 1706 records age as 30 years per Stillwell. 1715 - Abraham, John and Richard appear as members of the No. Comp of Militia on Staten Island per Stillwell. NOTE: disappears from the Staten Island records after 1715. Between the years 1727-39, an Abraham and Daniel Lake appear as witnesses on wills in Baltimore and Kent Co., MD. This bears further research to see if perhaps Abraham could have removed to MD. NOTE: From unpublished Manuscript by Mrs. Judy Cassidy, "LAMBERT DORLAND & HARMPTJE PIETERS", "While living in Brooklyn, Lambert Dorlandt and others purchased land, confiscated from Charles Gabry, and obtained from Governor Lovelace on or before Feb. 3, 1672/73... In DEC 1680 he applied for 130 acres, Northside of Staten Island, the front of Gov. Lovelace's land to the water side. Philip Wells surveyed the 145 acres of land laid out for Lambert Dorland. This was described as being situated on the North East side of Staten Island against Constables Hook... It totaled 130 acres with 8 rod by the water side being left for a highway together with a 15 acre meadow against John Tunisons Neck on the North West side of the Island. He received the Patent Dec. 2, 1680. There is a survey map attached to this document. The land was resurveyed on May 26, 1712 by Philip Wells. A road was laid out on the 23 of March 1704/5, described as from the house where Abraham Lake now dwells along the up land of the waterside and along the front of Justice Duxbury, Lambert Durland, Nich Tunison, Garret Veighte so over a bridge to be make over a creek etc. This is probably today's Shore Road". -------------------------------------------- There are no tax, land, militia or church records for Abraham Lake on Staten Island after 1715 so he had to have moved somewhere. My guess is Maryland but have not had the time to thoroughly research this. As to his sons: JOHN: His oldest son, John, stayed in Gravesend and married Catherine Benson. Their children can be found in baptismal records. No information about what happened to his sons John and Abraham. RICHARD: No record of him after the 1715 militia record. Could have died or removed somewhere else. DANIEL: I'm of the belief that he is the one who settled in Kingwood, Hunterdon Co., NJ. JOSEPH: remained on Staten Island, married Aeltje Burbank. ABRAHAM: the LAKE books have him remaining on Staten Island but the data on him is too sketchy to be reliable. We know that Daniel of Kingwood had sons William, Abraham, Thomas, John, and Timothy. So, although it doesn't really help you with anything specific, I believe that your Zenas,and Marshall's Abraham descend from the line of Abraham Lake and Clasje Longstreet through one of the following (some birth dates estimated): -John, b. 1696 -- Abraham b. 1725 -- John b. 1731 -Daniel b. c1700 (this line thru either Abraham or John would be my first guess) -- William b. c1725 -- Abraham b. c1728 -- John b. c1730 -- Thomas b. c1740 -Abraham b. 1715 The unfortunate thing at this point is that there are so many unlinked Johns, Abrahams and Thomas Lakes floating around Hunterdon County. I know this has been long and wordy but I would look at these folk as opposed to the descendants of Thomas and Jane Lake. Please let me know if you ever link your line to one of these guys.