Those in the United States who bear the name Laux, Loux, Lauck, Laucks, or, Loucks descend from a common ancestor, the father of Philip and Nicholas Laux, Palatinates, who came to the American colonies in the emigration of 1710. The origin of the family is recorded in the ancient chronicles of the region on either side of the Pyrenees, in the extreme southeast of France, the head of the family as traced being Inigo Lope du Laux, Seigneur de Biscaye and Count of Alava, who had two sons, one of whom, Guillaume Sanche du Laux, being the founder of the house or family from whom all those bearing the name of Laux descend. The family was rich and powerful, holding high and important offices in the state. In later generations many of the members of the several families became Protestants and suffered in consequence.
The Huguenot forefathers of Philip and Nicholas Laux settled in the Palatinate of the Rhine in Hesse-Darmstadt and Hesse-Nassau, their parents or grandparents going there previous to the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes and settling during the religious war known in history as the "Thirty Years War." Germany had barely begun to recover from the effects of the war, which was more severely felt in the Palatinate than in any other part of the Fatherland, when the wars of Louis XIV. of France began, and life was again made a horror for the inhabitants. On the advice of the leading generals of the French King, the Palatinate was ordered to be destroyed and soon but the blackened ruins of cities, towns, and hamlets remained. To flee from such horrors and to escape the vengeance of the French King, who was particularly bitter against his Protestant subjects who had fled from his tyranny, is why thirty thousand Palatinates went to London, England, for the kind-hearted English Queen Anne had invited the distressed Protestants of Germany to make their home in her American colonies. In this company were Philip and Nicholas Laux with their families.
Of these many went back to Germany and several thousand were sent to Ireland, where they found homes in county Limerick. Thousands more perished at sea and on shipboard from fever and want of food. Four thousand, among them Philip and Nicholas Laux, left England in ten vessels on Christmas day in 1709 and after a perilous voyage of six months arrived at New York, June 14, 1710. Of the four thousand, seventeen hundred died at sea, and while in the act of landing. The remaining twenty-three hundred were encamped in tents on Nutting, now Governor's Island, New York Harbor. In the late autumn fourteen hundred were taken one hundred miles up the Hudson river to Livingston Manor, where they were shamefully treated by Governor Hunter and associates. As Queen Anne had expended ten thousand pounds in bringing them to America they were expected to repay the government under a contract by making tar, pitch, and raising hemp (naval stores) in America, for a certain period. The plan proved a failure and the Palatinates again became desperate, for they were suffering for the necessaries of life. The Palatinates were men of honor and willing to carry out the terms of their contract, but the forests and soil were not suitable for the production of naval stores. They moreover showed their devotion by enlisting in the Canadian expedition of 1711, fully one-third of the able-bodied men serving in that campaign. They were to receive wages the same as other soldiers, their families were to be taken care of and the arms they fought with were to be retained on their return. Many lost their lives in the campaign and the survivors found their families in a famished condition on their return, no food having been given them by the colonial government, as promised. Their arms were also taken away. Then their hatred of wrong and injustice burst forth and they determined to break away from the spot where treachery and starvation seemed their only portion. When in London they had met a delegation of Mohawk Indians who had promised them land in the Schoharie Valley and the land had been conveyed to the Indians by Queen Anne for that purpose. Remembering this, they petitioned Governor Hunter that they might settle on the land promised them by the Indians. He refused in a great fury saying, "Here is your land, where you must live and die." But now fully aroused to their danger they began deliberate preparations, and late in 1711 one hundred and fifty families, among them Philip Laux and family, quit the scene of their misery and started for Schoharie, sixty miles northwest of Livingston Manor. They had to make their way through a roadless wilderness, without horse to draw or carry their belongings. They harnessed themselves to rudely constructed sledges on which they loaded their baggage, children, and sick and delicate women, and dragged them over the snow. They were three weeks in making the journey, suffering greatly from cold and hunger. After their arrival their situation was but little improved, and but for the kindness of friendly Indians all must have perished. But their indomitable courage and energy enabled them to survive the winter, and a year later found them housed and the cultivation of land well under way. The vindictive animosity of Governor Hunter, however, still pursued them, and after a sojourn of ten years in the Schoharie Valley the greater part left for permanent homes in more hospitable regions, the majority going to the Mohawk Valley, where they became prosperous. Many of the descendants of Philip Laux are found there today, wealthy and influential. A branch settled in Pennsylvania, including Conrad Weiser, a son of John Conrad Weiser, whom Governor Hunter threatened to hang for being "disobedient and mutinous." Many of the Laux family served in the colonial wars and in the revolution. They served with Herkimer at Oriskany and the revolutionary rolls teem with the family name in its various forms. They were prominent in the war of 1812 and in the great civil war.
(I) Philip Laux bought land at Middleburg and in the town of Sharon, Schoharie county, upon which his descendants are yet settled. He had four sons: Peter, Cornelis, Andrew and William. Andrew was a well known local musician and chorister of the Lutheran church at Schoharie. Both Philip and Nicholas Laux were among the Palatinate volunteers for the expedition against Quebec in 1711. They belonged to the Haysbury Company that was formed in Livingston Manor.
(II) William Loucks, son of Philip Laux, the emigrant, settled in Middleburg. He was the only Tory in his family except most of his sons. When Johnson invaded the valley in 1780 all the Loucks buildings were burned except his, which was made a resting place and supply station. He had by first wife, Andrew and Peter, of Sharon; Jeremiah of Middleburg; and daughter who married John Ingold (2), of Schoharie. By his second wife he had John W., Jacob, Henry William, David, Mrs. Storm Becker and Mrs. William Borrt.
(III) Peter, son of William Loucks and his first wife, settled with his brother Andrew in Sharon, Schoharie county, New York, about 1765. Peter was a farmer and an energetic business man. The Sharon historian says, "he had clearer views upon political matters than his brother Andrew, especially during the 'struggle for liberty.'" This would indicate that Peter was a Patriot and Andrew a Tory. Peter erected a house in 1802 from timber that had been prepared to build a church, but a controversy arose that ended in the church being built at Lawyersville. The lumber was then sold at auction and purchased by Peter Loucks. This house yet stands. Children of Peter Loucks:
- William,
- John H.,
- Hollis,
- Daniel,
- Andrew P.,
- Mary, married Peter Brown,
- Sarah, married Joseph W. Van Schaick.
(IV) John H., son of Peter Loucks, of Sharon, New York, was born in that town where he lived for many years. He settled later in Albany county, New York, where descendants are plentiful. He married and had sons.
(V) James Harris, son of John H. Loucks, of Sharon, Schoharie county, and Albany county, New York, was a prosperous farmer of the town of Bethlehem. He owned a good farm, and was a man of high character and good standing in his town. He married Hester Slingerland, sister of William H. Slingerland, of Slingerlands, Albany county, and daughter of John A. and Leah (Brett) Slingerland, descendant of Teunise Cornelis Slingerland who came from Holland in 1650 to what is now the town of Bethlehem, Albany county. They had several children.
(VI) John Albert Slingerland, son of James Harris and Hester (Slingerland) Loucks, was born on the old Loucks homestead in Slingerlands, Albany county, New York, July 19, 1841.
He was educated in the public schools of his town and of Albany county, New York. He grew up on a farm, and on arriving at man's estate became a farmer on his own account, continuing that occupation all his active years. He prospered in his chosen business and is now (1910) living a retired life in the village of New Scotland. He enlisted October 11, 1862, in Company H, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry, at New Scotland, to serve nine months; mustered in as sergeant of Company H, November 21, 1862; mustered out with company September 10, 1863, at Albany, New York. He married Susan Slingerland, daughter of Peter, son of Maus, son of Peter, son of Teunise Cornelis, son of Cornelis, son of Teunise Cornelis Slingerland, the Dutch emigrant and ancestor. His son Cornelis, born June 7, 1670, married Eva Mabie, May 28, 1696. Their son, Teunise Cornelis Slingerland, born March 1, 1722, married and had four sons: John, Cornelius, Peter, Henry. Peter Slingerland, third son, was born February 5, 1759, died 1847. He built mills and converted the timber on his land into lumber. He married Gertrude Bloomingdale. Their only son, Maus Slingerland, was born March 7, 1806. He inherited the saw and grist mills built by his father and owned in addition seven hundred acres of land. He married Susanna, daughter of William Sager, and had four sons and four daughters. Their son, Peter Slingerland, was a farmer and a member of the New York state legislature, serving under two elections to the assembly. He married Rachel Mosher. Their daughter, Susan Slingerland, married John A. S. Loucks. Their children are:
- Elizabeth L., married Ambrose J. Wiltsie, of Feurabush, Albany county, New York.
- Anna S., wife of John V. D. H. Bradt, a farmer of Feurabush.
- James Harris, of further mention.
- De Ette, died in infancy.
- Estelle.
- John A. S.
(VII) James Harris (2), son of John A. S. and Susan (Slingerland) Loucks, was born at Feurabush, town of New Scotland, Albany county, New York, November 13, 1877. He was educated in the public schools, graduated from from Albany high school in 1897. Until 1905 he was engaged in farming. In that year he began the study of law with Harris & Rudd, lawyers, of Albany, New York. In 1909 he was graduated from Albany Law School (Union University) and was admitted to the bar the same year. He is still associated with the law firm of Harris & Rudd. He is a member of the Masonic order, the Patrons of Husbandry, and the Albany Club. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Jerusalem Reformed Church at Feurabush. He married, September 19, 1907, Sarah B. Creble, of Feurabush, daughter of Francis and Sarah (Callanan) Creble. They have one child, Frances Elizabeth Loucks, born April 5, 1909.
(The Creble Line)
(I) Francis Creble was born in 1794, died in 1848. The farm on which he was born was located by his grandfather prior to the revolution. His father lived and died on the same farm, where in 1819 he built the present farm dwelling. He was an expert wood worker. He married Mary A. Bush.
(II) Henry, son of Francis and Mary A. (Bush) Creble, was born on the old farm, 1810, died there 1897. He served in the New York state assembly, and was a well-known, influential man. He married Ann Eliza Houck, born in Bethlehem, Albany county, New York, 1812.
(III) Francis (2), son of Henry and Ann Eliza (Houck) Creble, was born on the old homestead at Feurabush, July 1, 1844. He married, in New Scotland, Sarah Callanan, born February 27, 1850, daughter of David and Harriet (Simmons) Callanan.
(IV) Sarah B., daughter of Francis and Sarah (Callanan) Creble, a graduate of the State Normal College, married James Harris Loucks (see Loucks VII).