Peebles Island

There had been an unsuccessful attempt in 1829-1831 to annex Peebles Island (at that time named Haver Island) to the Town of Lansingburgh, an attempt initiated by Gerrit Peebles. Gerrit Peebles, for whom the island is named, was at the time a resident of Lansingburgh. The island had gone into the hands of the Peebles family via Gerrit Peebles’ wife Maria Van Schaick, as Warren Broderick has written:

Maria Peebles inherited an interest in a 138-acre island at the junction of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, known as Haver8 (or sometimes Oat or Stone) Island, from her brother, Anthony Van Schaick, in 1822 and proceeded to acquire the interests of her siblings soon thereafter. The island was one of a series of colonial patents including the larger island we now call Van Schaick Island granted to her great-great-grandfather, Goosen Gerritse Van Schaick, beginning in 1665. […]
8. Haver in the Dutch language is “oats.”
Broderick, Warren. “Saratoga Heritage: Peebles Island and the Family Who Owned It; Saratoga County’s Southernmost Place.” Saratoga Living. November 25, 2015. https://books.google.com/books?id=PEpKAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA60

[January 28, 1831]
Mr. Beardsley, from the committee on the division of counties and towns, on the petition of Gerrit Peebles and Elisha March, reported a bill entitled “An act to annex Hauver Island, in the county of Albany, to the town of Lansingburgh, in the county of Rensselaer;” which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read a second time, and committed to a committee of the whole.
Journal of the Senate of the State of New-York, at Their Fifty-Fourth Session. Albany, NY: E. Croswell, 1831. 78. https://books.google.com/books?id=PEpKAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA78

[January 29, 1831]
The Senate then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill entitled “An act to annex Hauver-Island, in the county of Albany, to the town of Lansingburgh, in the county of Rensselaer;” and after some time spent thereon, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Westcott, from the said committee, reported progress, and asked for and obtained leave to sit again.
Journal of the Senate of the State of New-York, at Their Fifty-Fourth Session. Albany, NY: E. Croswell, 1831. 84. https://books.google.com/books?id=PEpKAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA84

[February 2, 1831]
Mr. Warren presented a further petition of Gerrit Peebles, relative to Hauver-Island; and also the memorial of sundry freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Watervliet, in favor of annexing said island to the county of Rensselaer, which were read, and referred to a committee of the whole, when on the bill to which the subject relates. […]
The Senate then again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill entitled “An act to annex Hauver-Island, in the county of Albany, to the town of Lansingburgh, in the county of Rensselaer;” and after some time spent thereon, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Westcott, from the said committee, reported progress, and asked for and obtained leave to sit again.
Journal of the Senate of the State of New-York, at Their Fifty-Fourth Session. Albany, NY: E. Croswell, 1831. 92. https://books.google.com/books?id=PEpKAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA92

[February 4, 1831]
Mr. Seward, from the committee on enrolled bills, reported five bills as correctly engrossed, of the following titles, to wit: […]
“An act to annex Hauver Island in the county of Albany, to the town of Lansingburgh in the county of Rensselaer;” […]
The said engrossed bill, entitled “An act to annex Hauver Island in the county of Albany, to the town of Lansingburgh in the county of Rensselaer,” was read the third time and passed.
Journal of the Senate of the State of New-York, at Their Fifty-Fourth Session. Albany, NY: E. Croswell, 1831. 97-98. https://books.google.com/books?id=PEpKAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA97

[February 4, 1831]
The remonstrance of sundry inhabitants of the town of Watervliet in the county of Albany, against annexing Hauver Island in said county, to the county of Rensselaer, was read, and referred to the committee on the erection and division of towns and counties.
Journal of the Assembly of the State of New-York, at Their Fifty-Fourth Session. Albany, NY: E. Croswell, 1831. 191. https://books.google.com/books?id=Ua0FAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA191

[February 4, 1831]
Four several messages from the Senate, delivered by their clerk, with the bills therein mentioned, were read, informing that they have passed the bill entitled […] the bill entitled “An act to annex Hauver Island in the county of Albany, to the town of Lansingbourgh in the county of Rensselaer;” […] in which bills they request the concurrence of this House.
The said bills were severally read the first time, and by unanimous consent were also read a second time, and […] the bill entitled “An act to annex Hauver Island in the county of Albany, to the town of Lansingburgh in the county of Rensselaer,” was referred to the committee on the erection and division of towns and counties
Journal of the Assembly of the State of New-York, at Their Fifty-Fourth Session. Albany, NY: E. Croswell, 1831. 196. https://books.google.com/books?id=Ua0FAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA196

[February 9, 1831]
Mr. Walker, from the committee on the erection and division of towns and counties, to whom was referred the engrossed bill from the Senate, entitled “An act to annex Hauver Island in the county of Albany, to the town of Lansingburgh in the county of Rensselaer,” reported, that they have examined the said bill, and see no reason why the same should not be passed into a law.
Ordered, That the said bill be committed to a committee of the whole house.
Journal of the Assembly of the State of New-York, at Their Fifty-Fourth Session. Albany, NY: E. Croswell, 1831. 212. https://books.google.com/books?id=Ua0FAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA212

Have Discovered that it is Valuable.
Regarding the bill introduced by Assemblyman Donaldson to annex Haver island, in the Mohawk river, to Saratoga county, a Cohoes correspondent says: “We have just discovered how valuable Haver island is. It would have been many years before our appreciation of it took active shape, but for the bill just presented to have the island transferred to Saratoga county. Historically, the place ranks with Bemis Heights and Saratoga.”
Daily Saratogian. January 20, 1888: 5 col 3.

It looks as if Albany was about to lose a little bit of its territory at the extreme northern end of the county — Haver island. At the hearing yesterday on Assemblyman Donaldson’s bill to cut Haver island from Albany county and add it to Saratoga county, no one opposed the measure, and the committee decided to report it favorably. In our local columns to-day wee explain what there is about the measure. Haver island, a little spot of about 130 acres, completely separated from Albany county and united to Cohoes by a bridge, is occupied by about half a dozen families, who pay taxes to Albany county, but have to go to Saratoga county for their school facilities and for other benefits that the county government is supposed to confer. It is only right that this hardship should cease, and by unanimous consent the people of Albany county will say to the people of Haver island, “Go in peace.”
Albany Journal. February 16, 1888: 4 col 3.

Peebles Island State Park. http://nysparks.com/parks/111/maps.aspx

Friends of Peebles Island State Park. https://www.facebook.com/Friends-of-Peebles-Island-State-Park-595437830620433/