U.S. Census for 1820.
The early settler who should be found in the Saranac Lake area in 1820 is Jacob Smith Moody. He should be found living in Essex County. The nearest Essex Co. townships used in the 1820 Census are Jay and Keene.
Jacob Smith Moody was not found, however, some other Moodys were:
John Moody in Keene Township, Essex Co.
Porter Moody in Malone Township, Franklin Co.
Noah Moody in Bangor Township, Franklin Co.
There are no separate sections for any townships in the entire southern half of Franklin County, and as mentioned above, the nearest Essex County townships used are Jay and Keene. It could be assumed that the entire area was considered to be almost uninhabited by whites. Jacob Smith Moody may have been missed by accident, or he may be listed in some other part of the census records.
Capt. Pliny Miller, who in 1822 bought land in present-day Saranac Lake, is found listed in Jay Township, Essex Co., in 1820:
Miller Plinny (Pliny) - 10 people in household
Source: Ancestry.com, 1820 U.S. Federal Census