Prior to the year 1750 John Livingsteen, of German extraction, settled in Guelderland, now Guilderland, Albany county, New York. He founded a family that numbers many members in both Albany and Montgomery counties. The family name soon became Livingston, and is easily confounded with that of Robert Livingston, founder of the family of Livingston in New York, to whom was granted, in 1683, the great tract known as the manor of Livingston, lying on the east bank of the Hudson river. John Livingsteen was one of the early settlers of Guilderland, and was a contemporary of the early Crounse, Van Wormer, Van Aernam, Frederick, Van Patten, Groat, Winne, Becker, Van Alstyne, Van Valkenburg, Hart, Hilton, Fryer, and other well-known families. He married and reared a family, who at once took a prominent position in the town.
(II) Peter, son of John Livingston (Livingsteen), was reared in Guilderland, Albany county, New York, and always lived in that town. He was a farmer; married and had issue.
(III) Peter (2), son of Peter (1) Livingston, was born in the town of Guilderland about 1755. He was a farmer.
(IV) Peter (3), son of Peter (2) Livingston, was born in the town of Guilderland, Albany county, New York, in 1775, died on his farm in the Helderbergs, in the town of New Scotland. He married (first) Hannah Barkoff; (second) Mary Van Alstyne, daughter of Matthew Van Alstyne. He had issue by both wives. Children: Peter, John, Henry, Philip and Matthew.
(V) Peter (4), eldest son of Peter (3) and Hannah (Barkoff) Livingston, was born November 8, 1799, in the town of Guilderland, Albany county, New York. In 1832 he removed to New Scotland, where he purchased the farm, now owned by his grandson, Charles Livingston. Here he lived until his death in September, 1869. He was a good farmer, and left his farm well improved. He was a member of the Methodist church, and a Whig and Republican in politics. He was one of the first supervisors of the town, and held office for several terms. He married (first), in New Scotland, Hannah Winne, born in the town of Berne in 1802, died aged thirty-five years. He married (second) Mary Hurst. Among the children of his first wife were:
- Peter, see forward;
- Philip, born July 14, 1833; a farmer of South Bethlehem, Albany county, New York;
- John, born August, 1841;
- Rebecca, 1843; married William Van Alstyne, who was a veteran in the rebellion; first lieutenant of his company, was killed at Port Hudson.
Children by second wife:
- Mary and
- Margaret, both deceased.
(VI) Peter (5), eldest son of Peter (4) and his first wife, Hannah (Winne) Livingston, was born in the town of Berne, Albany county, New York, July 4, 1830, while his mother was temporally located there. When he was two years old his parents removed to New Scotland and settled on the farm, which has ever since been his home, and to whose ownership he succeeded. He received a good education, and is a well-informed man. He has followed agriculture all his life, and is now living a retired life on the old farm, which has passed into possession of his son Charles. His life has been a well-spent and prosperous one, and has brought him a full measure of success. He is a member of the Lutheran church, as was also his wife during her lifetime, and a Republican. He married Catherine M., born June 13, 1840, died in New York, June, 1893, daughter of Andrew and Catherine M. (Winne) Winne, and granddaughter of Henry Winne. Children:
- Emma, married Alvin Rosseau, of the town of Bethlehem; children: Amanda and Ada;
- Edward, now of Albuquerque, New Mexico; married Alice Venn; child, Howard;
- Anna, married Peter Relyea, of Schenectady, New York;
- Charles, see forward;
- Minnie, married Edward Van Woert, of Saratoga, New York;
- Margaret, resides in Schenectady, New York;
- Ida, married Oliver Scouten, of Crescent, Saratoga county, New York;
- Frank and
- Ada, died young.
(VII) Charles, second son and fourth child of Peter (5) and Catherine M. (Winne) Livingston, was born on the home farm in New Scotland, Albany county, New York, August 8, 1868. He received a good education, and has always been engaged in agriculture. He owns and cultivates the farm on which he was born, and is a successful, prosperous and influential citizen of his town. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is his wife. He is Independent in politics and a firm believer in the principle of local prohibition, and in the practice of total abstinence for the individual. He is known as a liberal supporter of all worthy enterprises of a benevolent or charitable nature. He is progressive and modern in his methods, and has one of the well-kept productive farms of the town. He married, May 30, 1894, Ella, born July 18, 1872, daughter of Isaac and Hannah E. (Bradt) Albright (see Albright IV). She is the fifth of seven children born to her parents. Child of Charles and Ella (Albright) Livingston:
- Catharine, born March 21, 1906.