"Bent" Roberts was a householder in the village as early as 1669. His house lot was on the north side of Union street, 150 feet westerly from Church street, — 51 feet front and rear and 404 feet deep, extending through the block to Front street. Roberts purchased this lot of Arent Van Curler or of his estate and subsequently sold it to Reynier, son of Dominie Gideon Schaets of Albany. (139-1)
His patent for this lot dated March 17, 1669, described it as "a certain lot of ground at Schenectady now in his occupation, which was granted to him by A. Van Curler deceased, containing in length 400 feet — in breadth 50 feet, abutting on the West [east] side with Symon Groot, on the north [west] with the bouwery [house lot] of Willem Teller and Pieter Jacobse Borsboom." (139-2)
His bouwery, called Maalwyck was just west of the village of Scotia and in the confirmatory patent granted to him July 1, 1669, was described as "a piece of land near Schenectady on the north side of the river over against the hindmost piece of land heretofore belonging to Arent [Bratt] the Noorman, running in breadth on the east side along by the high woods 17 rods and on the west side along said woods 56 rods, in length on the south side along the river 278 rods, — all cleared land, together with the several corners or hoeks of land, containing about 36 acres or 18 morgens; as also a parcel of woodland beginning at the east end and running with a deep half moon to the west of the aforesaid cleared land, being divided by the highwoods, containing about 40 acres or 20 morgens; — in all 38 morgens, as conveyed by the Indians to said Roberts with the approbation of the commissioners at Albany." (139-3)
He made his will June 28, 1706, and gave his property to his wife Maria, and in case of her death or remarriage, to his stepsons Pieter and Joseph Clement.
In 1711, Pieter Clement sold his half of the farm to Cornelis Vielè together with Benten island, for 445 pounds; (140-1) and on March 17, 1712, his brother Joseph sold the other half to Carel Hansen Toll for 400 pounds.
Roberts was also the original owner of Poversens lying opposite to Maalwyck on the south side of the river. (140-2)
Notes
(139-1) Roberts also owned a house and lot in Albany, which he sold in 1684. — Deeds, III, 266; V, 106; Not. Papers, II.
(139-2) Patents, 647.
(139-3) Patents, 981.
(140-1) Deeds, V, 108, 141.
(140-2) See Douwe Aukes, Toll, and Vielè.