The earliest record found of a Staats (Staes) is of Major Abraham, surgeon, who came to Rensselaerwyck in 1642 with Dominie Megapolensis; in 1643 he became one of the council and president of the board in 1644 at a salary of one hundred florins. He obtained a license to trade in furs and in 1657 sent to New Amsterdam forty-two hundred beaver skins. He also owned considerable land and pursued the practice of his profession. For many years he was captain of the sloop "Claverack" plying between Albany and New York City. In 1684 he married Catrina Jochemse, daughter of Jochem Wesselse. His house at Claverack was burned in 1642 by Indians and his wife with others of his family perished. He had four sons who reached maturity: Jacob, Abraham, born 1665; Samuel, Jochem. The order of birth is not known further than that Jacob was the eldest son.
- Jacob resided in Albany. He was a surgeon; master of the sloop "Unity," plying between New York and Albany in 1684; justice of the peace, 1680; surgeon to the garrison at Albany, 1698-1708. His wife Ryckie died September, 1709. It is not known that he left any children.
- Abraham, born about 1665, was of Claverack. He married Elsie, daughter of Johannes Wendell, July 3, 1696, and had a large family.
- Samuel Glabts, "cherugeon," is said to have learned his profession in Holland, and on his return to have settled in New Amsterdam.
When the province surrendered to the English in 1664 he returned to Holland where he remained until the Prince of Orange was seated on the English throne, then returned to New York. During Leisler's administration he was a prominent leader and councilor. He died in 1715. His second wife was Catharine Howarden.
(II) Jochem, second or third son of Major Abraham and Catrina Jochemse Staats, married Antje, daughter of Barent Reyndertse. She died 1707. He was commissioner of Indian affairs, 1690. Children:
- Barent, of further mention;
- Tryntje, baptized January 7, 1685, died young;
- Isaac, January 15, 1688, died young;
- Tryntje, September 8, 1689;
- Isaak, June 28, 1691, died young;
- Reynier, baptized in New York, July 29, 1696;
- Richard, August 16, 1698;
- Isaak, July 20, 1701.
He married a second wife not named:
- child, Elizabeth, June 18, 1712.
(III) Barent, eldest son of Jochem and Antje Staats, married Neeltje Gerritse Van Den Bergh, December 15, 1700. Children:
- Joachem, baptized May 3, 1702;
- Anna, December 24, 1703;
- Ariantje, May 13, 1706;
- Catharina, December 12, 1708;
- Geertruy, March 11, 1711;
- Jannetie, February 22, 1713;
- Joachim, September 15, 1717;
- Teuntie, March 20, 1720;
- Gerrit, June 3, 1722;
- Elisabeth, October 3, 1725.
(IV) Gerrit, son of Barent and Neeltje Gerntse (Van Den Bergh) Staats, was baptized June 3, 1722. He married Debora Beekman. Children:
- Jacob, baptized July 3, 1748;
- Neeltje, May 3, 1750, died young;
- Debora, May 10, 1752, married Major John Graham;
- Anna, baptized September 29, 1754;
- Jacob, November 20, 1756;
- Neeltje, March 25, 1759;
- Barent G., of further mention;
- Hendrick, born July 27, 1764.
(V) Barent G., son of Gerrit and Debora (Beekman) Staats, was born May 16, 1762, died August 25, 1840. He was a merchant of Albany. He married, March 25, 1789, Catharina, daughter of Jacob Cuyler. She died September 16, 1852, at the age of eighty-two years. Children:
- Willem, born March 22, 1790, died at Haverstraw, New York, 1830;
- Catherine Cuyler, born July 13, 1792;
- John, November 15, 1795;
- Gerrit, March 1, 1798;
- Richard C., July 16, 1800;
- Henry, January 17, 1802;
- Richard H., October 3, 1803;
- Cuyler, 1806, died 1832;
- Edward, January 31, 1810;
- Lydia, May 8, 1814
(VI) John, son of Barent G. and Catharina (Cuyler) Staats, was born November 15, 1795. He married (first) Lydia Yates; (second) Maria Leverse. Children by first wife: Bernard Everson and Matilda Ann; by second wife, Douw Leverse, of further mention; Mary; Sarah and Elizabeth.
(VII) Douw Leverse, son of John and Maria (Leverse) Staats, was born in Albany, New York, in 1818. He was educated in the public schools and at Claverack Academy. He succeeded to the old Staats homestead at Crescent Station, and spent his life engaged in farming. He married, in 1841, Catherine, daughter of John and Alida (Van Vranken) Clute, of Vischer Ferry, New York. Children:
- John, died in infancy;
- Alida H.;
- William H.;
- John (2);
- May Elizabeth;
- Bernard Evertson;
- Sarah Matilda;
- Maria Theresa;
- Rachel M., of further mention;
- Edward Leland.
(VIII) Rachel M., ninth child of Douw Leverse and Catherine (Clute) Staats, married Benjamin B. Smith, of Mechanicville, New York. He is the son of William Wallace and grandson of Bliss Smith, of Bemis Heights, Saratoga county, New York, who was descended from Lord Nelson. William Wallace Smith was the founder, and for many years the president, of the First National Bank of Mechanicville. He was the benefactor of Mechanicville, and did much toward building up the village. He was a country boy, left home penniless, and amassed a fortune. Was a close friend of the Vanderbilts and Goulds. Benjamin B. Smith succeeded his father as president of the bank. He married, April 30, 1884, Rachel M. Staats. Child: Roy Wallace Smith, a graduate of the Albany Boys' Academy. Benjamin B. Smith died August 31, 1909, aged fifty years. He was a lover of good horse flesh and the owner of some of the best. Was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, as is also his son, Roy Wallace, who is engaged in the stone-crushing business, and also connected with the First National Bank of Mechanicville, being a heavy stockholder and director. He is endowed with much literary ability, a great student, especially fine as a German scholar. Benjamin B. Smith was of a liberal, generous disposition. His benefactions were unostentatious.