This branch of the Slade family was founded in America by Edward Slade, who was born in Wales, and of whom little is known further than that he lost his life in a voyage between America and Wales.
(II) William, son of Edward Slade, settled at Newport, Rhode Island, where he was admitted a freeman of the colony, August 23, 1659. He removed to Somerset, Bristol county, Massachusetts, in 1680, where he died in 1729. He was a prominent man in the early settlement of Somerset and a large land owner. He was the first white man to own and keep the ferry known as "Slade's Ferry," formerly run by Indians. The ferry descended to his son Jonathan and by him willed to a nephew. William Slade married Sarah, daughter of Rev. Obadiah Holmes, of Rehoboth. William Slade died in 1729; his wife outlived him many years and at her death had five hundred and thirty-five descendants.
(III) Philip, son of William and Sarah (Holmes) Slade, married, October 9, 1755, Mary Read, who bore him eleven children.
(IV) Joseph, fifth child of Philip and Mary (Read) Slade, was born at Chelsea, Massachusetts, March 31, 1763. He was a farmer. He married Elsie Sherman. Children:
- Wilbur, born at Somerset, Massachusetts;
- Sarah, born at Pittstown, Rensselaer county, New York;
- Caleb, died young;
- Joseph, born in Pittstown, New York;
- Philip, born in Pittstown, New York;
- Caleb (2), born in Troy, New York;
- Israel S., born in Troy, New York;
- Mary S., born in Troy, New York;
- Benjamin, see forward;
- Nelson;
- Nancy, twin of Nelson.
(V) Benjamin, son of Joseph and Elsie (Sherman) Slade, was born in Hoosick, Rensselaer county, New York, March 19, 1806, "4th day of the week 10 o'clock in the afternoon," died in the town of Half Moon, Saratoga county, New York, March 29, 1875. He was a farmer of Half Moon, and a leading member of the first Baptist congregation of Waterford, New York, where his zeal and liberality was of great benefit in building their first church. He was a Whig in politics and later a Republican. He married Angeline Babcock, born September 26, 1809, in Grafton, New York. They had eleven children, seven of whom arrived at years of maturity, four dying young. Children:
- Unnamed, born November 8, died December 28, 1828;
- Lafayette, February 4, 1830, died April 15, 1833;
- Daughter, January 1, died February 13, 1832;
- Sarah Angeline, March 29, 1833, still living (1910);
- Child, February 2, died June 2, 1836;
- Benjamin J., see forward;
- Jenny Frances, September 28, 1839, died December 22, 1893;
- Catherine Almira, March 20, 1844, living (1910);
- John D., August 23, 1846, resides in Nebraska;
- Anna M., September 25, 1849, living (1910);
- Fayette, April 2, 1854.
(VI) Benjamin J., son of Benjamin and Angeline (Babcock) Slade, was born at Green Island, (between Troy and Cohoes) March 27, 1837, died March 25, 1899, at Waterford, New York. He was four years of age when his parents removed to the town of Half Moon, where he grew up and was educated. He engaged in the coal, wood and lumber business in Waterford, and was a successful, prominent citizen. He was a trustee of the village corporation for several years, and an active member of the Baptist church. He married, March 15, 1865, Elizabeth Mary Flagler, born in Half Moon, Saratoga county, New York, March 18, 1844, died April 2, 1871, in Waterford, New York, daughter of Thomas Flagler, born on the homestead farm in Clifton Park, Saratoga county, New York; died in same town; he was a farmer of the county; his wife, Eliza (Davis) Flagler was born, lived and died in Clifton Park, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Davis. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Slade:
- Emmett Flagler, see forward;
- Edith, married William Nealy, of the printing department of Union Bag & Paper Company.
- George D., born June 16, 1898; formerly engaged in the coal and real estate business in Waterford, New York, and now in the real estate business at Waterford and Troy, New York.
(VII) Emmett Flagler, son of Benjamin J. and Elizabeth Mary (Flagler) Slade, was born in Waterford, New York, May 28, 1866. He obtained a good education in the common and high schools of Waterford, took special courses in bookkeeping, and when his business education was completed was admitted to the office of his father as a bookkeeper. After obtaining a practical knowledge of the coal and lumber business with his father, he went to Cohoes and there established a branch office, April 15, 1883, and was the manager for three years. In 1886 he embarked in business for himself, buying out his father's interests in Cohoes, and established himself in a new location on Saratoga street, which he purchased from F. B. Shattuck. He confined himself for a time to the standard lines, coal, wood, hay and feed, but in 1896 added an ice department to his already large and growing business. A few years later the hay and feed were dropped and the other lines pushed with greater vigor. His business has become a very large one, and as his contact with the D. & H. Pocket Company covers the handling of their coal, a large number of men and teams are constantly employed by that department. The ice business has grown to be the largest in the city, probably two-thirds of the ice used in Cohoes being delivered from his wagons. He has given his time freely to the public, served the city twelve years as fire commissioner, and as delegate to the local and state convention of his party. He is a Republican in politics. He is an active member of the Baptist church, and serves on the advisory board. He is prominently connected with the Masonic order in Cohoes and Troy, holding his lodge and chapter memberships in the former city, and his council, commandery and shrine degrees in the latter. His summer home is that famous old landmark, "the Red, White and Blue House," which stands on the old homestead farm of Benjamin Slade in Half Moon, now the property of his grandson, Emmett F. Slade. Benjamin Slade built the house, which was the birthplace of his children, and is still standing, carefully preserved. The house takes its name from the patriotic colors employed in its painting.
Mr. Slade married, April 1, 1891, Harriet Ann Ladd, born in Amsterdam, New York, daughter of Lemuel Ladd, born in Schenectady county, New York, died in Schenectady, New York, and his wife, Lydia (Wood) Ladd, daughter of Hiram P. Wood, of Waterford. and his wife, ———— (Wendell) Wood, a daughter of the early Dutch family of Wendell, settlers of the Mohawk Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Slade have one son, Benjamin J. (2), born September 9, 1893, now (1910) in his senior year at the Egbert high school.