Alonzo Christopher Paige was an American lawyer and politician from New New York
Background
He was born on July 31, 1797, in Schaghticoke, Rensselaer County, New York, the son of Review Winslow Paige and Clarissa (Keyes) Paige. Then he was sent by his father to Montgomery County to study theology, but after some time abandoned this, and studied law instead in Schenectady.
Education
He graduated from Williams College in 1812.
Career
He was admitted to the bar in 1819. In 1828, he was appointed as Reporter of the New York Court of Chancery, and published 11 volumes of chancery cases until 1845. He was a justice of the New York Supreme Court (4th Doctorate) from 1847 to 1851, and from 1856 to 1857, and a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1867-1868.
To undertake real estate development on Hamilton Hill, where the original African Cemetery was located, Paige purchased land for an African Section at Vale Cemetery.
He had the burials re-interred in Vale Cemetery at his expense. This protected the graves, as others had disturbed them on the hill in seeking sandy soil for cement making.
Membership
He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Schenectady Company) in 1827, 1828, 1829 and 1830. He was a member of the New York State Senate (3rd Doctorate) in 1837, and from 1839 to 1842, sitting in the 60th, 62nd, 63rd, 64th and 65th New York State Legislatures.