The name in Holland carried by the ancestors of the Albany county family of Brate was "Brett," but in America it has in many instances become Brate. The founder of the family in Albany county was Belthassar Brate, or Brett, born in Holland in 1741, and came to America early in life, settling on wild, unimproved land in New Scotland, near Feurabush, where he died in 1820. He had at the time of his death his farm fairly well cleared and several fields under cultivation. He erected a dwelling of logs, which served as a home for himself and family for a great many years. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed church, as was his wife, they being among the organizers of the first congregation of that faith in the town. He married Rosanna Fuller, born in New Scotland, near the Brate farm, in 1741, died 1815.
(II) Nicholas, son of Belthassar and Rosanna (Fuller) Brate, was born on the Brate homestead in the log house home in New Scotland, 1767, died on the same farm, 1827. He replaced the log house in 1810 with a frame dwelling, so well and strongly built that now, a century later, it is the comfortable home of his great-grandson, Orville H. Brate. The original Brate estate contained several hundred acres that later were divided into smaller farms. Nicholas Brate was a prosperous farmer, and greatly improved the estate. He was an ardent Democrat, and worshipped in the church his father helped to erect. He and his wife were buried on the farm, but in later years their remains were removed to the Jerusalem cemetery, where a granite block, with suitable inscription, marks their resting place. He married Lucy Britton, born in Connecticut, 1760, died in New Scotland, 1836. She was a woman of education, strong character and great ability. In her unmarried years she was a school teacher. After settling in her own home, she became well known in the neighborhood and was much depended on for counsel and advice. She was a remarkable woman, and withal was an energetic worker. She was highly respected and honored in her church and community. Among their children was William.
(III) William, son of Nicholas and Lucy (Britton) Brate, was born on the old farm in New Scotland, April 26, 1801, died June 28, 1882. He inherited and tilled the family acres all his active life. He was prosperous in business, and a most active and zealous Christian. He was elected honorary elder of the Feurabush Dutch Reformed Church, the only man so honored in that congregation. He was an active Democrat, and wielded considerable power in local affairs. He married, in New Scotland, Christianna Bradt, born in the town, January 12, 1802, died at the Brate homestead, September 20, 1868. She was an earnest worker in the church with her husband. Children: Nicholas, Lucy, Jane, Rosene (1), Rosene (2), and Lucy M., all died young. Those who reached maturity were:
- Peter W., born 1826, died 1904, at Voorheesville, New York; a farmer of New Scotland; married Polly Shutter, sister of Stewart Shutter, keeper of the New York state prison at Albany; children:
- Margaret A., married Smith E. Jones; children: Peter W., Ida, Leonard, Eli, Emma, wife of Dr. Vanderzee; Mary, Benjamin F.;
- William P., died unmarried;
- Imogene, wife of Benjamin F. Van Atten, of New Scotland; children: Lillian, John B., Jacob, Imogene.
- Henry, see forward.
- Samuel K., born June 27, 1839, a merchant and liveryman of Albany; member of Albany Burgess Corps, died 1906; married Sarah Hotaling, born 1836, who yet survives him a resident of Albany; children:
- William C., a manufacturer of blueing, on Church street, Albany;
- Charles P., a printer of Albany.
- Hester, born 1845, married John Johnson; child,
- George W., married Grace Vosburg, and has two children,
- Charles, deceased, and
- Esther, a trained nurse, at Albany.
- George W., married Grace Vosburg, and has two children,
(IV) Henry, son of William and Christianna (Bradt) Brate, was born on the old farm in New Scotland, April 26, 1837. He was the fourth in direct line to own and cultivate the family acres. He continued on the farm which he successfully operated until 1900, when he retired from active effort and settled in the village of Feurabush, where he now (1910) resides. Like his father he is a lifelong and zealous worker in the Feurabush Dutch Reformed church. He has held all the church offices, is a deacon, member of the board of consistory and member of the building committee. He is most liberal in church support, and a man highly respected in community. He was a Democrat until about 1900, when he changed to the Republican Party.
Mr. Brate married, December 2, 1858, Rosanna, born in New Scotland, November 18, 1840, daughter of Isaac and Anna Maria (Moak) Johnson. Isaac Johnson was son of Isaac Sr. and Lavina (De Reemer) Johnson, who were married, lived and died in New Scotland town; Reformed church people; his father came from Holland, and located in Dutchess county, lived and died there. Mr. and Mrs. Brate celebrated their golden wedding, December 2, 1908, an occasion fittingly remembered by their many friends. Mrs. Brate is in full sympathy with her husband in his church work. They have worshipped together as members of the same church fifty-two years, and are both well preserved and active for their years.
Their children:
- Ella A., born September 10, 1860; educated in Albany high school; married George I. Mosher, a farmer of Bethlehem, and has children:
- Burton, married Iola Selkirk, of Selkirk, New York, and has two children: Marion and Harold;
- Ernest;
- Edwin;
- Edna, deceased;
- Orville.
- Orville H., born on the old farm, where he yet resides, September 24, 1869. He was educated in the Albany high school and Albany Business College. After finishing his education he returned to the farm which he has since operated. The farm consists of one hundred and twenty-five acres, one hundred acres being under cultivation and twenty-five acres of the finest native timber, the only piece left in the town to any extent. He is a modern farmer, and tills his land with all the latest aids to successful farming, not impoverishing, but building up the soil for greater results. He is active in the Dutch Reformed church, being deacon, treasurer and a member of important committees. Politically he is a Republican. He married, at Feurabush, November 25, 1893, Lois Ackerman, born in the town of Bethlehem, Albany county, December 12, 1871, daughter of John V. L. and Martha (Ramsey) Ackerman. John V. L. Ackerman was born August 16, 1836, and is now in his seventy-fifth year. His wife, Martha Ramsey, born April 11, 1835, died May, 1905, was the daughter of Albany county parents of Scotch ancestry. Mr. Ackerman is a son of Isaac Platt Ackerman, grandson of Eliphalet Ackerman, son of Casparus Ackerman, who in 1790 settled in the town of Coeymans, erected the first mills in that town, and was a large land owner. Orville H. and Lois (Ackerman) Brate have no children.