Jacques Lasty, sometimes spelled Laty, was probably from Grenoble, France. He was the son of Joseph Lasty and wife Francoise Giraud. This information was found in the English record of naturalization for Jacques Lasty and also in the Le Conte Genealogy. The original name could have been Lastique.

Grenoble is in southeast France about 75 miles by rail from Lyons. The name Lasty or laty is a modification of lattis which means artisan. A Marguriet Laty was hanged at Chalcacon as part of the reformation, and this could be the same family.

Jacques Lasty was in England after leaving France. Jacques must of had some influence as he had a private naturalization act passed by parliament during the reign of James II and it was enacted the 1st year of his reign. royal assent was 27 June 1685. Jacques was listed as James Lasty in the naturalization Act and shows Lasty had taken the sacrament before introduction of the naturalization bill. This taking of the sacrament was required to show fidelity to the King and Church of England. It was not necessary to be in England.

Jacques Lasty may have been in the West Indies during this time. It is thought that Lasty was on St. Christopher(St. Kitts) in the Caribbean as early as 1672. He may have been in Jamaica also as later evidence points to some contact and business in Jamaica.

Governor Thomas Donegan, New York City Catholic Governor had granted religious freedom to all Christians in his Province 200 families (French Huguenot) decided to leave St. Kitts for New York in Nov 1686 because of the French government . In 1687 these ;people settled in New Rochelle, New York. This French settlement took its name after their homeland, Rochelle, France.

Baird states in his book on the Huguenots that Lasty and William Le Conte were part of a group of refugees who came from St. Christophers and Martinique in 1686.

There is evidence that Jacques Lasty had traded with the Dutch in New York from the West Indies and that they knew him. The french found the Dutch willing to trade and very friendly to them. Wm. Le Conte was the son in law of Jacques Lasty, having married his eldest daughter Ann Martha Lasty. Wm. Le Conte and Jacques Lasty owned a ship called "Le Point de Sable"(Sandy Point) and probably used the ship to transport goods to New York and to trade with the Dutch. There is a place called Sandy Point on St. Christopher's and this gives additional evidence of their location on this Island.

In 1626, a french trading company was formed with Richelieu's support to settle the West Indies with 500 families, many of them Huguenots who either volunteered or were enforced to exile among the people in those remote islands. St. Christopher, Martinique and Guadalupe Islands were colonized in this manner. The French company demanded 50 pounds of cotton, or 100 weight of tobacco from each inhabitant from 15-60 years of age. This was very hard on most settlers. when the Dutch heard of the problems in the West Indies they came offering more agreeable terms for provisions and for coastwise trading between West Indies and NY colonies. These dealings had to be carried on very carefully because of French reprisals.

Jacques Lasty came into this situation about 1672. He received his allotted plantation on St. Kit's and began successful trading with the Dutch in tobacco and sugar, by which he amassed a small fortune. However, after the Revolution in 1685, the West Indies were used by France as a penal Colony for the offending Huguenots. Among those who arrived for one reason or another at this time were the Leconte's from the Provance of Normandy.. Guillaume from Rouen, Pierre from Diep and Francois from Pont l'Eveque. Probably all related, but not proved.

Guillaume Le Conte probably had smuggled a large amount of money with him to the West Indies, entered into partnership with Jacques Lasty on his plantation where he worked for 3 years, also allowing Astry the use of his Negroes. together they bought the brigantine "La Pointe de Sable". Lasty paid Le Conte 200 pounds of sugar a day for the right to use the ship. They both appeared to have prospered. Wm. Le Conte then married Ann Martha Lasty, daughter of Jacques Lasty and unknown named wife.

The French decided to stamp out the Huguenots and therefore the local officials in the West Indies were ordered to subjugate these people and of course this caused the widespread stampede of;Huguenots to whatever part of the world they could go and especially to North America.

Because of his trade with the Dutch, Jacques Lasty and 200 other families fled to New York. Jacques Lasty's other daughter Katherin Lasty had married Bartholomew Mercier and they were in New York city with the son Heni Mercier about 1684-5. They had come via Boston and asked for permission to become citizens of New York City and this was granted in 1685. When Jacques Lasty's and Wm Le Conte arrived ;they had a relative waiting for them in the Merciers.

Jacques Lasty's was one of the first property owners in New Rochelle and purchased 180 acres in several parcels and a small island. Wm. Le Conte and Ann Martha Lasty were also purchasing land in New Rochelle at the same time. these families were considered among the founding fathers of New Rochelle, New York. Jacques Lasty's tried ;to begin farming as he did in St. Christophers. He had seven oxen, eight cows, twelve pigs, flocks of hens and geese. In those days that was a very considerable wealth. Jacques also owned 4 great Negro with their families. They probably came with the family from the West Indies. the other neighbors came with the family from the West Indies and they also became citizens and of course we know that Jacques had already received ;British citizenship earlier before he came to the New York area.

1. Ann Martha Lasty
2. Catherine Lasty