January 26

 1768  clear warm weather, began to haul logs for sawing. – Gilliland.

 1782  In Kinderhook, Columbia County, on a farm afterwards the home of ex-President Martin Van Buren, was born Cornelius Peter Van Ness, son of Peter Van Ness.  At fifteen, not caring to study law as his older brother had done, he gave up a college course, but later, he entered the office of his brother William P., at New York as a law student and there had for a companion Martin Van Buren.  From his admission to the bar in 1804 until his removal to Vermont in 1806 he practiced law in his native place.

 1787  Certificate of location granted to Zaccheus Newcomb and others of Vancour’s Island, in Lake Champlain, 700 acres.  He was an uncle of Cyrenius Kinner and Simon who located in Plattsburgh; a farmer and Miller.  He died about 1790 near Kinderhook while on a visit to his daughter.

 1859 At his home Treadwell’s Bay died Elder Thomas Treadwell, son of Judge Thomas Treadwell (1748-1832).  Before coming here as a pioneer, none had attained greater eminence than the father, participating as he did in the formation of the new government as a member of both Provincial and Continental Congresses, Committee of Safety, etc.  As one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church it was Elder Treadwell who opened the correspondence with the Rev. Frederick Halsey, which resulted in the latter’s coming here as a first pastor.

The same day died Mary Hay, daughter of the Scotchman William Hay, the first settler in Peru, and “relict” of Lott Elmore.

 Today In the Champlain Valley History