PROVIDENCE, RI — With great sadness we regret to announce Vincent “Vin” Ely Isaac, 19, on the evening of April 23, 2021 unexpectedly gained his wings in Providence, Rhode Island at his shared home with his fiancée. For online condolences, visit compassionatefuneralcare.com
In 1976, as the nation prepared to celebrate its 200th birthday, my parents, Joan and W. Donald Carola of Mechanicville, were already a year into the hunt for records of an elusive ancestor: Sanbun Ford, a founder of the town of Milton.
Trips to local court houses and towns in New England resulted in a Ford family genealogy story, dating back to 1637, that they presented to my mother’s father, Joseph Ford, a retired paper mill electrician from Mechanicville. In 1976, he was invited to Milton’s Founders Day celebration where he and other descendants of the town’s early settlers were welcomed as guests of honor.
Through my parents’ long-ago sleuthing and my own research, our family has learned much more about Sanbun Ford. He was born on April 23, 1762 in Wallingford, CT, the fifth-generation Ford descended from Timothy Ford, an Englishman who arrived in New England circa 1637.
On Dec. 4, 1779, Sanbun enlisted as a private in the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons, known as Sheldon’s Horse for its commander, Col. Elisha Sheldon. There are indications that he joined the Patriot cause to replace a sick older brother. Sanbun would serve five-and-half years with the unit. Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester’s “History of Saratoga County, New York” has a paragraph describing Sanbun as having served from Bunker Hill to Yorktown, but I’m still working on verifying details of his service.
Sylvester’s book also mentions that Sanbun once captured a “cowboy” by making him place his finger into the barrel of Sanbun’s pistol. Cowboy was the name given to Loyalists who attacked residents and stole livestock and personal possessions in Westchester County, which during the Revolutionary War was the scene of vicious partisan fighting.
We know from Sanbun’s military pension papers, dated June 1837, that he captured a notorious cowboy named Jesse Mills, who was among the 450 Westchester Loyalists sent on two ships to Saint John, New Brunswick in Canada after the war.
A roster of Sanbun’s regiment compiled by Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge shows that he was 5 feet, 3 inches tall with light complexion, gray eyes and brown hair. Like many American veterans of the war, Sanbun was given land by Congress for his service. In 1790, he and his wife, Ada, and their first child, Simeon, settled in Hillsdale in Columbia County, NY.
Two years later, they moved to Milton in Saratoga County. Together, Sanbun and Ada raised nine children, four boys and five girls. At least two sons would fight in the War of 1812. The daughters would go on to marry men with last names Hall, Shepard, McLean, Irish and Lewis.
Grandsons of Sanbun and Ada would fight in the Civil War. Their names can be found on the Civil War monument located at Low and Front streets in the village of Ballston Spa. There is a street named after the Fords, many of whom are buried in the Village Cemetery in Ballston Spa. Later generations of Fords branched out to Mechanicville and Green Island. Others ended up in western New York.
Various documents note that Sanbun settled at Spiers Corners, now West Milton, and later ran a public house near the Rosehill farm of Judge John Thompson where aging fellow Patriots came to dine and reminisce about their wartime service. During the War of 1812, after U.S. victories, Sanbun and the Rev. Elder Langworthy would fire off a cannon they had purchased in Albany.
By 1820, Sanbun was destitute and penniless, living off his Revolutionary War pension and the generosity of fellow members of the local Baptist church. Employed to ring the church bell, he eventually had to give up that duty due to poor eyesight. A religious man, Sanbun called his Bible his side-arm.
Sanbun died at 84 years old on Oct. 20, 1846, a year-and-a-half after his beloved wife Ada. Before he died, he asked that an American flag, his Bible and Continental Army papers be buried with him.
Sanbun was buried in an unmarked grave in the Village Cemetery. A chance meeting with cemetery caretaker Rich Fox led me to the location of the Ford plots. I then went to work acquiring a veteran’s grave marker from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The marker was placed on Sanbun’s grave just prior to July 4, 2017. Every Fourth of July, I place two American flags on his final resting place as a tribute to a Patriot once forgotten, now remembered.
Don Carola is a local history buff who was born and raised in Mechanicville. He retired from the state after 33 years from NYSITS as Manager of Information Technology. Don is a volunteer firefighter for Hillcrest Fire Department. He is also a member of Rev War reenactor unit 2nd Continental Light Dragoons “Sheldon’s Horse” out of Connecticut. Don can be reached at doncarola@nycap.rr.com
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A three-week auction of the county-owned building at 31 Woodlawn Ave. recently concluded. The high bidder for the building, which once housed the DMV, was identified as the Adirondack Trust Company. The bid is for $2.8 million. County approval of the sale of the building is expected to take place later this month, city Supervisor Matt Veitch said.
Saratoga Springs, NY – Richard Earl Robenstein of Saratoga Springs died suddenly on April 13, 2021. Born in Hackensack, NJ he was the son of the late Richard A Robenstein and Marguerite Earl Robenstein. He graduated from Northern Regional High School in 1967. He began his successful nuclear career in the US Navy. He held a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering. When leaving the Navy he went to work for Westinghouse in Pittsburgh, PA. After leaving Westinghouse he moved on to become Vice President of ECI, forming a nuclear training division. After a few years he formed his own very successful nuclear consulting firm ETC/ETCI and finishing his career at Entergy Corporation.
Rich loved most of all spending time with his family. He enjoyed traveling, playing bridge, and golfing. He was an active member of the Ballston Spa Elks Lodge #2619. While in the Elks he served as the Veterans Chair. A committee very dear to his heart.
Besides his parents he was predeceased by his brother Randolph Earl Robenstein and a sister Rita Ellen Robenstein Procter.
Survivors include his loving and devoted wife of 52 years Candyce Haley Robenstein, two sons Richard Earl Robenstein II and Christopher Earl Robenstein, grandsons Richard Earl Robenstein III, Tyler Jacob Robenstein and Connor Ryan Robenstein.
A memorial service will be celebrated at the Historic Church of St Peter’s on Saturday May 1, 2021 at 11 AM. Burial will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery, West Ave. Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/ Bussing& Cunniff Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs.
Memorials may be made in his name to Church of St. Peter 241 Broadway Saratoga Springs NY 12866 or Ballston Spa Elks #2619 10 Hamilton St. Ballston Spa, NY 12020.
Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.
As a small business owner, having the right tools and resources is crucial for stability, growth and continued success. The same is true with your company’s banking relationship. When you partner with a financial institution, you want as much value and support as possible — both financially and strategically. Finding a community banking partner that serves your complete small business needs is vital. Let’s examine what challenges exist for small business resources and what a small business owner like you can do to best access financial support, such as lending and business credit, provided by financial institutions.
Saratoga County — The Saratoga County History Center participated in the statewide “Spring Cleaning” activities along New York State Canal System, April 24-25. Scheduled to honor Earth Day 2021, this multi-community celebration is the product of a partnership between the New York State Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails New York.
On Saturday, April 24, trustees, staff, and members of the History Center teamed-up with the Quaker Springs Country Kids 4-H Club to clean-up the Old Champlain Towpath Canal Trail in the towns of Saratoga and Stillwater. The following day, History Center folks were joined by New York State Senator Daphne Jordan (R, C, I-Halfmoon), Saratoga Deputy Town Supervisor Michael McLaughlin, and students from the Notre Dame Visitation Church School to restore the March to Surrender Canal Trail in Saratoga.
Beginning with the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825, the 524-mile New York State Canal System is comprised of four waterways: the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego, and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. The Canalway Trail System saw increased use in 2020, with nearly 3.9 million visits to the 360-mile Erie Canalway Trail, a more than 30% increase over 2019.
WILTON — A local teen’s foul shooting skills have advanced him to the Elks National Hoop Shoot Finals. After winning the National Regionals of the Elks Hoop Shoot competition, Evan Rosettie, from the Town of Wilton, competed in the Elks National Hoop Shoot Finals on Saturday, April 24. Both competitions were done virtually.
On April 1, Evan competed in the Boys’ 12-13 Year Old Division of the National Regionals of the Elks Hoop Shoot competition. He was crowned the winner after making 24 out of 25 free throws, more than his competitors, who were state champions from New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
On April 24, Evan advanced to the Elks National Hoop Shoot Finals, where he made all 25 of his free throws. He then shot 5 sets of 5 for tiebreakers, in the event that other contestants also make all 25 shots. Evan’s score will be compared against eight other National Regional winners.
The Elks National Hoop Shoot is a free foul shooting contest for youth ages 8 to 13, and advances through local, district, state, and regional contests before the National Finals. Six national champions are selected, and their names are permanently inscribed in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Normally, the annual National Finals are held in Chicago, but were conducted virtually this year due to COVID-related restrictions. The winners will be announced on May 15.
“We never would have imagined he would have gotten this far,” said Kara Rosettie, Evan’s mother. “So many kids do this, but he is just so dedicated.”
Evan has been playing basketball since second grade, when he joined Gavin Park’s Jr. NBA Youth Basketball Program with his friends. He also plays on the CDYBL (Capital District Youth Basketball League) team for Saratoga and the Saratoga Battle AAU team. To practice for his competitions, Evan spent an hour almost every day in the gym working on his shooting.
The last local teen to get this far in the Elks Hoop Shoot competition was Joe Girard III, who now plays basketball for Syracuse University.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs Little League (SSLL) held their opening ceremonies this past Saturday, April 24.
The opening event this year was split into three different ceremonies to avoid crowds and allow for social distancing. At each ceremony, Abby DeGregory, daughter of board member Tim DeGregory, and Nora Taliaferro sang the national anthem. Caden Cameron, who is in his first year in the Majors Division, read the Little League Pledge for each ceremony as well.
Jackets were handed out to the 12-year-old boys who will be transitioning out of Little League after this season. The jackets are personalized with each kid’s name, and were generously donated by Mrs. Fitzpatrick. Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who was in attendance, is the wife of a late sponsor of many years. There will still be a Fitzpatrick’s team this year, as there is every year.
The SSLL has 6 different divisions/levels of play from ages 4 to 13 years old, including a Challenger Division for individuals with disabilities.
Monica Isenovski, Marketing and PR Manager for the SSLL, says that everything the league does is made possible by the board members and volunteers, some who don’t even have children in the program anymore. Such as SSLL President, Derrick LeGall, who has been volunteering for approximately 20 years.
“Many of them don’t even have children in the league anymore, but they continue to devote their time because of the wonderful experinces their families have had,” said Isenovski. “And, they wish to continue that for the next generation of little leaguers.”
Congrats to Athlete of the Week – Audrey Letts!
Audrey is a senior at Saratoga Springs High School and rows with the SRA (Saratoga Rowing Association). She trains crew all year round, and competes in the fall and spring. Some of her rowing accomplishments include being selected to row at the Head of the Charles her sophomore year and junior year, competing in the Scholastic Nationals in the 2v 8+ her sophomore year and placing third, and also being selected as a sophomore to represent SRA at Youth Nationals in the 8+. Audrey has been recruited to row Division I at The George Washington University (GW) in the fall.
When Audrey is not rowing, she is Irish Dancing. She has been dancing for almost 12 years, and has performed in local parades, at independent living facilities, and at schools.
Some of her academic accomplishments include maintaining a high honor roll GPA for all four years of high school, taking a total of nine AP classes by graduation, participating in Tri-M Music Honor Society, being selected for the Chamber Orchestra, and participating in the National Honor Society. At GW, she plans to major in Biology on a pre-med track.
