William Bertram Lake (Jacobus," Jacobus," Court,"
Daniel,^ Daniel,* John,^ John^). He was born November 24,
1852, and married, November 12, 1879, Phebe Maria, daughter of
Andrew J. and Sarah Elizabeth (Du Bois) Cropsey, who was
born October 15, 1857. Mrs. Lake is of Huguenot ancestry, and
both the Du Bois and Cropsey families are old New Utrecht residents.
Mr. Lake lives in a handsome home within a stone's throw
of the old homestead at Gravesend, at the corner of Lake Place
and Gravesend Beach Road. He may be regarded as in a sense
the head of the Lake family, being descended from the eldest son,
and living at the old home. The old stone house, built probably
by the son of the settler, was torn down in 1800, and the present
old homestead built. This is a fine specimen of the Long Island
farmhouse of its period, a relic too few of which remain.
Mr. Lake, following in the footsteps of his ancestors, began
life as a farmer ; but about twenty years ago he became a general
contractor, in which business he has prospered.
For twenty-seven years he has been Secretary of the Sunday
School of the Gravesend Dutch Reformed Church, and has not
missed a session in all that time. Through his efforts the old
Gravesend Cemetery was preserved and restored. It is the last
resting place of the dead of Gravesend for the past two hundred
and more years. Mr. Lake is President of the Cemetery Association,
having been chosen first during the administration of
Mayor Seth Low.
Mr. Lake is a Trustee of the St. Nicholas Society ; Vice-President
of the Kings County Historical Society; a past president
of the State Volunteer Firemen's Association; and was several
GENEALOGY OF THE LAKE FAMILY 17
times president of the Coney Island Mardi Gras, of which he
was one of the originators. He is also a member of many other
social and fraternal organizations. He takes a great deal of interest
in historical and genealogical matters; and in general is
active in all that makes for the good of the community.
Children
:
i. James, b. Oct. 30, 1881 ; d. Sept. 27, 1900.
ii. Elizabeth Hamilton, b. March 11, 1883; m., June
12, 1907, George R. Stillwell, who was born May
19, 1880.
iii. Sarah Bertram, b. Sept. 3, 1884; m., Nov. 24,
1908, Lester Robe Van Sicklen.
13. iv. John Ryder, b. April 18, 1886.
V. Phebe Cropsey, b. Aug. 2, 1889.
vi. Agnes Livingston, b. March 16, 1898.