The First Birth in Buffalo, NY -1786

The First Birth at Buffalo

The Ezekiel Lane whose birth date was in 1786 cannot have been the man of that name who accompanied Martin Middaugh from Lewiston to Buffalo, there to settle, for all records show that that Ezekiel Lane was the son-in-law of Middaugh. Truman C. White states that Martin Middaugh, "a Dutch Cooper, and his son-in-law, Ezekiel Lane, settled near Johnston in a log house which they built with his consent." Johnson, or Johnston, is supposed to have built his log house in 1794, but, as has been shown, he may have been a resident very much earlier. Certainly the records are unsatisfactory. Perhaps it would be better to group Cornelius Winney, William Johnston, Martin Middaugh and Ezekiel Lane as the first settlers rather than single out one for that honor.

This text is Copyright 2001 all rights reserved by Stephen Powell and buffalonian.com. This electronic text may not be dupicated or used in any manner without written consent of Stephen R. Powell or buffalonian.com

Judge Augustus Porter was in the district in 1795, and passed through Buffalo. He found that the place then consisted, in white inhabitants, of: "a man by the name of Johnstone, the British interpreter; also a Dutchman and his family, named Middaugh; and an Indian trader, named Winne." Somewhat later, Middaugh moved from his log house, and "squatted" on the south side of Buffalo Creek, "above the foot of Main street, probably with Ellicott's consent, and remained there until his death, his heirs, who were of the Lane family, there being no male descendants claiming title to the land upon which Middaugh had squatted; without success, however, the court deciding adversely.

Excerpted from the book: Hill, Henry Wayland, Ed. Municipality of Buffalo, New York, A History. 1720-1923. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc. New York. Chicago.

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This text is Copyright 2001 all rights reserved by Stephen Powell and buffalonian.com. This electronic text may not be dupicated or used in any manner without written consent of Stephen R. Powell or buffalonian.com