(1)  Jean La Forte alias Liberté, (spelled variously Jean, Jan, Johannes, Johannis, Jan, John) was born somewhere in France about 1650, possibly earlier, and died 1707 in Nistagioene, New York; his will of 3 November 1706 was proved 3 October 1707 in Albany.  Research indicates that he was a Huguenot, not a Dutchman as some have assumed.
        Author Jerome Fort concluded that Jean was closely related -- perhaps brother -- to Antoine LaForte, born about 1640, probably in France, who died in Canada in 1699, and buried at St. Laurent, Ile d'Orleans.  Antoine's family consisted of four daughters and one son, Antoine, Jr., born 18 March 1699 at Chateau Richer, of whom no other records exist.  Several records corroborate such a theory.
        Jean likely grew to manhood in France and then emigrated to the New World.  Indicatiosn are athat he went to Holland first and then shipped out, but it is much more probable that he sialed from a French port and headed straight for the French Settlements along the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence River.  If he had sailed from Holland, he likely would have docked at New York City, but it is known that he lived in Canada for some time, so the French port theory is likely.
        Being a Huguenot, Jean was probably seeking religious freedom when he left the Old World, but since French Canada was Catholic Jean would be required to renounce his Protestant beliefs if he ever wished to hold title to land.  Others in his family had done so and were prospering, if we are to assume that Antoine was his brother.  Jean was not satisfied and about 1670 to 1675, he struck out across the Adirondack Mountains for the Dutch Protestant settlement of Fort Orange, which later became Albany, New York.  Records from this time forward show that Jean adopted the alias "Liberté" as his own declaration of personal freedom.
        He married about 1678 Margariet Rinkhout, born Albany, New York.  They emigrated to New Netherlands before 1687.  Jan's last name is recorded as Fort, Ford, Van der Vort, and Libertee.  Some of his descendants were designated Van der Fort.
        The earliest authentic record of Jean's life west of Albany is a paper translated "Transfer of some Woodland in which Jean La Forte Liberté is interested."  The document is dated 4 March 1681 and bears the signature of Robert Livingston.  The next deed is dated 10 June 1684 by which Jean Le Fort bought from Teunis Willemse Boots a farm at Canastagioene, on the north bank of the Mohawk River in what is now the southwest corner of the township of Clifton Park, Saratoga County.  The deed states that the land had been occupied by Jean Le Fort for three years prior to the transaction, pushing the date of his occupation of the farm back to at least June 1681.  His name is given in this deed as "Jean Forte, alias Liberté."
        Jean La Forte was not the only one to go to Canastagioene.  Six other men from Albany, Jean Rosie, Dirck Arentse Bratt, Jan and Reynier Quackenbos (brothers) and Garrit Ryckse and Maas Ryckse Van Vrancken (brothers) all settled on farm land with the same Mohawk River frontage and having unbroken forest to the rear of the lots.  The men likely chose this location since land to the east of Albany belonged to the Van Rensselaers and could only be leased, not owned.  The settlement was constantly in danger of Indian raids and four of the settlers finally removed to safer locations, but Jean La Forte and the Van Vranckens remained.
        One of the first things Jean La Fort did was to establish a ferry across the Mohawk River, and a road to Albany.  The ferry was still in use in 1923 and was called "Fort's Ferry."
        The will of Jean La Forte, dated 3 November 1706, names every member of his family.  He must have died shortly thereafter, since it was proved before Lord Cornbury at Albany on 3 October 1707.
        After his death, there was some dispute between his children over how to split up the farm and most of the sons moved away.  Jean's widow, Margariet, survived him many years, for her name appears on a legal document dated 19 October 1734.
       On 18 November 1745, the date of the destruction of Saratoga by the French and Indians from Canada, several people were killed and others taken prisoner to Canada and put into the military prison there, including three of Jean and Margariet's sons.

Children:

1. Maria, born about 1680, probably at Nistagioene, died after 1749; married 8 July 1705 in Schenectady, New York, Johannes Vedder.  The name "Mary Fort" appears in a list of names of the members of the Schoharie Church dated 3 January 1730.
2. Johannes, born about 1681;  married 1661 Rebecca Danielbe Van Antwerpen.  John was captured at Saratoga and died in the military prison at Quebec on 4 December 1746.  John was a captain in the Colonial militia.  In the New York State Historian Vol. II there is an entry which reads, "Paid to John Fort on December 11, 1711, who has been on the outskirts in the expedition against Canada, four pounds ten shillings."
3. Daniel, baptized 11 September 1687 in Albany, New York, died after 1720; married 23 October 1709 in Albany, Gerritie Van den Bergh.  They settled with his brother Jacob near Half Moon, and in the vicinity of what is now Stillwater, Saratoga County.
4. Isaac, baptized 3 September 1699 in Albany, New York, buried 25 October 1755; married first on 7 September 1729 in Schenectady, New York Jacomyna (Jemima) Viele.  He took up a farm with his brother Abraham in Shagticoke, east of the Hudson River in the manor of the Van Rensselaers.  They were the first white settlers of what is now Washington Co., New York.
5. Nicholas; married 11 February 1720 in Schenectady, New York, Maria Van Antwerpen.  They settled near Half Moon where their descendants were numerous.  Parents of:
1. Simon, captured at Saratoga and taken to the military prison at Quebec.
6. Abraham; married 15 January 1716 Anna Barber Clute.  He took up a farm with his brother Isaac in Shagticoke, east of the Hudson River in the manor of the Van Rensselaers.  Abraham appears to have gone first, accompanied by a Dutchman named DeWandelner, possibly a father or brother of the Sara DeWandelner who married Abraham's brother Jacob.  They were the first white settlers of what is now Washington Co., New York.  Abraham was captured at Saratoga and died in the military prison at Quebec on 19 May 1747.
7. Jacob, baptized 16 September 1696, died 17 May 1760; married first on 14 January 1726 in Albany, New York, Sara De Wandelear; married second Maritie Oosterhout.  They settled with his brother Daniel near Half Moon, and in the vicinity of what is now Stillwater, Saratoga County.  Jacob was captured at Saratoga and taken to the military prison at Quebec, but he escaped.  Jacob was father of:
1. Johannes, was captured at Saratoga and taken to the military prison at Quebec; his fate is not known and his father never heard from him afterwards.
8. Anna, baptized 5 April 1702 in Schenectady, New York, died after 1723; married 7 March 1723 Pierre Benoit, baptized September 1697 at Albany, son of Pierre Benoir and Hendrickie VanSchoonhoven of Rochelle.

SOURCE: Genealogy of the Fort Family in New York State, by Jerome H. Fort.  Fredonia, NY: Edacra, 1993. Reprint of 1923 edition.