John Lusk, of Massachusetts, was an associate of General Hyde, of Lenox, Massachusetts, in the settlement of "Township 13, Range 7" of the "Phelps and Gorham" purchase and had fifteen hundred acres of land at the head of Irondequoit Bay (now Monroe county, New York). He was a pioneer in the settlement of that township, going with his son Stephen and a hired man early in the summer of 1789. The father went by way of Schenectady, from there by batteau; the son and hired man drove cattle overland, crossing Lake Cayuga on a raft, swimming their cattle. They returned to Massachusetts in the fall. In the spring of 1790 he returned with his family and permanently settled on his tract. He died 1814, aged sixty-six years. He had sons, Stephen, Erastus, Norman, John Kellogg and Aaron.
(II) John Kellogg, son of John Lusk, was born in Massachusetts, April 25, 1781, died in Coxsackie, Greene county, New York, November 23, 1818. He lived for a time in Coxsackie, later removed to West Coxsackie, where he was engaged in general mercantile business until his death. He married Christina Van Denburgh, and had children: John Kellogg (2); Jacob; William Henry and Matthias.
(III) Matthias, son of John Kellogg and Christina (Van Denburgh) Lusk, was born September 9, 1807, died April 13, 1883, in Coxsackie, New York. He was a graduate of Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey, also of the Theological Seminary of same college. Ordained a minister of the Gospel, and was pastor of the First Reformed Dutch Church of Jersey City for seventeen years, when he retired, and moved to Coxsackie in 1864. He was a man of substance and high character. He married Ann Sickles, born April 23, 1806, in Kinderhook, Columbia county, New York, died November 30, 1872, daughter of Rev. Jacob and Elsie (Bronck) Sickles. (See Sickles VII; the Bronck line appears in preceding sketch). Children, born in Jersey City, New Jersey:
- Jacob S., died in childhood;
- Elizabeth C., born November 10, 1840;
- Anna L., July 3, 1843;
- Sarah C., twin of Anna L., died 1882.
Matthias Lusk in 1864 purchased the handsome residence in Coxsackie, New York,, which has since been his home.
(The Sickles Line)
Zachariah Sickles was born in Vienna, Austria, about 1630, went to Holland, thence to Curacoa [Curacao?], where he served as a cadet. When Governor Stuyvesant returned from a visit to Curacoa in 1655 Sickles came with him and was soon after attached to the garrison at Fort Orange. He remained in Fort Orange until after the surrender in 1664; removed to New York, 1693, admitted a freeman, 1698. He married, 1658 or 1660, Anna, daughter of Lambert and Annatie Van Valkenberg, who were residents of New Amsterdam, 1644, afterwards settled in Albany.
(II) Zachariah (2), son of Zachariah (1) and Anna (Van Valkenberg) Sickles, was born in Albany in 1670, died January 20, 1729. In 1693 he went to Harlem where he bought land of his father-in-law. He married (first) August 23, 1693, Maria, daughter of Jan Hendricks and Annatje (Bastiens) Brevoort; married (second) July 19, 1717, Myntje Dyckman. Sons: Johannes, Jacobus, Zachariah, Hendrick, Geraldus, William, Cornelis and Robert.
(VI) Rev. Jacob Sickles, descendant of Zachariah Sickles, was born April 25, 1781. He lived in Tappan, Rockland county, New York. He married Elsie Bronck, November 27, 1799 (see Bronck VI).
(VII) Ann, daughter of Rev. Jacob and Elsie (Bronck) Sickles, was born April 23, 1806, at Kinderhook, Columbia county, New York, died November 30, 1872. She married Matthias Lusk (see Lusk III). Children:
- Jacob S., died in childhood;
- Elizabeth C.,
- Anna L.,
- Sarah C., deceased.