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Thursday, November 26, 2009 - 10:50 AM
I hope that blogs will help others to find the answers to their questions! Click on other comments to add your own.
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H4 lineage
Hello Justin,
Have intended to e-mail you for quite some time. Just found the blog section tonight so I thought I would go this route. I am hoping to clarify question regarding the children of Jacob Shirk (code H493) and Nancy Garver.
Previous H lineage from this website (I think) listed their children in the following order;
H4931- Annie Shirk
H4932- Benjamin Shirk
H4933- Abraham Shirk b: 1827 in Greene Twp., Franklin Co., PA
H4934- Jacob Shirk b: ABT 01 AUG 1833
I am a descendant of Abraham and have found a copy of the 1850 census from Green Township, Franklin Co., PA that lists the children by age as follows;
Abraham age 20, so b: 1830
Ann age 15, so b: 1835
Benjamin age 12, so b: 1838
Wondering if you can confim one order or another. Anxious to clarify this issue and appreciate any information you can provide.
Thanks!
Gregg Allen Shirk
H493311122 (maybe?) LOL!
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Linda Sherck, Code H
Received an inquiry from Linda Sherck, Code H2, which I shared with the historians.
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Emil Otto Schurch of Switzerland
Tom Sherk assisted Jamie Louise Lang with her query:
The book Schurch – Schuerch Family History, by Terry L. Schurch, has information about Emil Otto Schürch (the one inquired about) on pages 133 – 151. Included on these pages is a copy of his naturalizations papers, his certificate of marriage to Susannah, and information on many of their descendants in the USA. He emigrated from the port of Havre, France on June 11, 1881, and arrived at New York, NY on June 21, 1881. There are a few minor differences: Terry Schurch says that Emil Otto Schürch was born 22 Aug 1859 vs. the date 25 Aug 1859 in the inquiry we received; Emil Otto and Susannah were married 27 Dec 1852, Polk County, Iowa; he was born in Worb, Switzerland (near the city of Bern) per T. Schurch vs Wolfisberg in note we received. T. Schurch says he thinks Emil Otto’s community of origin may be Roggwil.
Both Wolfisberg and Roggwil are in Canton Bern, and both are among the various known communities of origin for the greater Schürch Family in Switzerland. Actually both of these communities are not too far separated from each other; they lie near the city of Langenthal. So I suppose that either one could be the community of origin, but I lean towards Wolfisberg.
Here is the easiest and quickest way to get the information to connect Emil Otto Schürch to his proven lineage in Switzerland. SGNS has researched and published the Schürch Family Trees for each of the Schürch communities of origin in Switzerland. They have these family trees in both hardcopy and digitized formats. Send an email inquiry to Walter Schürch and Ueli Schürch in Switzerland, asking them to search their data base for the Schürch ancestry of Emil Otto Schürch, who was born in Switzerland 22 or 25 Aug 1859, emigrated to the USA in June 1881, and whose community of origin is believed to be Wolfisberg or possibly Roggwil. I’m confident that they will be able to find him in their Schürch database with very little trouble.
I hope this will help find the answer sought by the person who sent the inquiry.
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Code H -- Mennonites and the Revolution?
Hi.
I have been doing some research and I am really curious to know if anyone has information on the reasons for Caspar Shirk fighting in the Revolution. After all, Mennonites were pacifists. In fact, I found the same thing occurred on my mother's side of the family.....a Swiss Mennonite fighting in the Revolutionary War. The Shirk is on my father's side. Also....can you answer whether Casper was a minister or just donated land in order to establish the Mennonite church in Shirksville. I am not clear on that.
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Owner of land where cemetery is
I am looking for anyone that has information on who owns the land where the old Shirk Eby cemetary is, in the middle of a cornfield next to Hortons Kennels in lancaster county, I would like to take some relatives there to see the stones, but i dont want to get shot at, in doing so, and want permission
John S Shirk,who is now deceased, gave me this information long ago, which i no longer have, can anyone help here?
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Jacob D. Sherick
Dear Steve,
Thanks for your inquiry, and sorry that it took so long to get back to you. As the chairperson for the Historical Committee of the Schurch Family Association of North America, I am hopeful that we can make a connection between your ancestor and our family, and also assist you to find the information that you seek about him.
Some online genealogies have Jacob Daniel Sherrick, b. November 9, 1834, as the son of Abraham Sherk (1799-1870) and wife Magdalena (b. 1808), and indicate that he is the 15-year-old son in their household in Thompson Township, Seneca County, Ohio. As he was born in Ohio, this would fit with what we know about him in later life. Abraham Sherk was the son of Casper Sherk (1766-1840) and his wife Susanna Light (1770-bef 1805). This Casper was the son of Casper Sherk (1734-1817) and his wife Barbara Hunsicker (1739-1823). This Casper was the son of Casper Schurch/Sherk/Shirk (c1705-1770) and his wife Magdalena Foulke (d. 1796). The original Casper came to America from Europe, arriving on the ship "Norris" in 1732 after a disastrous trip on the "Love and Unity." DNA proves that he is part of the Schurch family of Sumiswald, Switzerland, and a tentative lineage has been established for him. We have much more information available on these early generations.
Note that while I indicate that this is your probable lineage, I have not found documented proof that the Jacob Sherk who appears as a 15-year-old in the household of Abraham Sherk on the 1850 census in Seneca County, Ohio, is the same Jacob Daniel Sherrick who was living in Mercer County, Ohio in the later 1850s and 1860s. Perhaps one of our historians can help confirm this connection, which seems very likely. If not, more research is necessary on the ground in both counties to establish documents to make the connection.
Their marriage record indicates that Jacob D. Sherrick and Rebecca Tomlinson were married on January 28, 1855, in Mercer County, by John T. Tomlinson, J.P. Permission for the marriage was given by Rebecca's father, Jean L. P. Tomlinson.
I found your Jacob Sherick in the 1860 census of Celina, Mercer County, Ohio. He is 26 years old, a master carpenter. Living with him is Rebecca Sherick, age 20, James Sherick, age 3, and Joseph Sherick, age 2/12. The family members were born in Ohio. This fits well with the information that you provided.
In the 1870 census, I find Jos. W. Sherrick, age 9, and Orville G. Sherrick, age 1, in the home of Benjamin F. Griffith, age 56, and his family. I'm not sure what the connection is as neither of their parents is around.
In the 1880 census, I find the family in Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio, living at 16 Shannon Street. Rebecca Sherrick is age 41, married, but with no husband listed; she is the head of household. Living with her is her son Joseph, age 20, a school teacher, and her son Orville G., age 11, at school. All of these individuals were born in Ohio, as were their parents.
Unfortunately the 1890 census of the United States was destroyed by a fire.
In the 1900 census, in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, I find a Rebecka Sherick, born in April, 1839, aged 61, working as a servant in the home of William E. and Helen C. Mayer, at what looks like 105 Bar street. She was born in Ohio, as were her parents, she was listed as a widow, and she was the mother of 5 children, 2 of whom were still living.
In the 1905 state census of Minnesota, Rebecca B. Sherrick is listed as age 68, in Kettle River Twp., Pine County, Minnesota.
In the 1910 census of Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio, I find Rebecca B. Sherick, age 70, a widow, who had given birth to 4 children, 2 of whom were still living. She was listed as a servant in the home of Charles M. and Mary Siders, at 819 Sycamore Street in Van Wert. She was born in Ohio, as were her parents.
In the 1920 census of Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio, I find Rebecca Sherrick, age 81, a widow, residing with her sister, Hannah Ireland, age 72, in a house that she owned at 602 Crawford Street in the city. They were born in Ohio, as were their parents.
I didn't find her after the 1920 census. Fortunately, the Ohio Death Certificates from 1908 to 1953 are searchable at www.familysearch.org. There we find Rebecca's death certificate, which provides these facts:
Place of death - Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio. Name of deceased, Rebecca B. Sherreck. Female, white, widow. Date of birth, Nov. 9, 1838, age 89y 8m 27d. Occupation - housekeeping. Birthplace - Ohio. Father's name, Louis Tomlinson, born in Ohio. Mother's maiden name, Rachael Boroff, born in Ohio. Informant was sister Mrs. Hannah Ireland, Van Wert, Ohio. Date of death, Aug. 6, 1928. Attended from Aug. 4, 1928 to Aug. 6, 1928, by Charles R. Keyser, M.D.; she was last seen alive on Aug. 5, 1928, and death came at 5 a.m. as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage. Burial - Tomlinson Cemetery, Aug. 8, 1928. Undertaker - Gamble and Alspach, Van Wert, O.
So from this, it appears that Jacob Sherick/Sherrick left the family after 1860, probably between the birth of his son Orville in 1869 (if he was Jacob's biological son) and the 1870 census. Perhaps Rebecca initially went with him but she returned later with the children.
Your Jacob should be listed somewhere from the 1870 census forward. I can't find him readily in 1870 or 1880, but in 1900 I find Jacob D. Sherrick, born in February, 1835, living in Ozark Township, Barry County, Missouri. He is a farmer, owning a mortgaged farm, married 18 years, and was born in Ohio; his parents were born in Pennsylvania. His wife, Mary J. Sherrick, was born in July, 1862, was married 18 years, and was the mother of 7 children, all of whom were living. She was born in Alabama and her parents were born in North Carolina. Daughter Pearl was born Sept. 1883, in Arkansas, daughter Maud was born Apr. 1886, in Missouri, daughter Inez was born May, 1888, in Missouri, daughter Etna was born June, 1890, in Missouri, daughter Mamie was born June, 1892, in Missouri, daughter Minnie was born Oct. 1894, in Missouri, and daughter Katie was born Dec. 1896, in Missouri.
In the 1910 census of the same place, we find Jane D. Sherrick, age 47, widowed, mother of 8 children, with 7 living, born in Alabama, parents born in North Carolina, a farmer on a general farm, which she owned free and clear. Living with her were children Pearl J., 26, born in Arkansas; Maud, 23, Inez, 21, Edna 19, Mamia, 17, Minnie, 15, Katie, 10, Lena L., 7. All of the other children were born in Missouri, are listed as farm laborers, and all of the children stated that their father was born in Ohio.
So, it seems that Jacob D. Sherrick left his family in Ohio in the 1860s, apparently went south for a while, was in Arkansas in 1882, at least, when he married and had a daughter the following year, and then moved to Ozark Township, Barry County, Missouri, with his new family of a much-younger wife and eight children, dying in the first decade of the 20th century there.
More research in Barry County would probably find his death information and his descendants from the second family.
I hope that this information has been helpful to you. I'm copying our family historians in hopes that they can add further to this information and confirm some of the connections. We're happy to share more information.
We hope that you'll consider becoming an active part of our family association. Our websites are www.schurchfamilyassociation.net and www.schurch.us. We have a reunion every other year, the next one will be in Canada in 2012. They feature seminars, bus tours, great meals, etc. We also have a newsletter published twice a year to which we hope you'll subscribe. Information is on the website. We're also working to compile a digital database of Schurch genealogy information, and if this is something you're interested in doing, we'd love to have your help in keying the information into the genealogy software.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Justin Houser
Historical Committee Chair
Schurch Family Association of North America
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Code E Shirks
John Shirk, Code E1, wrote asking about hisfamily connection and was interested to join the Association.
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VOTE FOR HYRNS AND SHERK
http://www.twtpoll.com/r/108g5p
Vote for Hyrns and Sherk!
Jake Hyrns and Andrew Sherk, Junior World Cup Champions, have been nominated as United States Olympic Committee Team of the Month. Cast your vote at http://www.twtpoll.com/r/108g5p
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Code E Shirks
Thomas Slick inquired about his family origins. Tom Sherk responded:
Hello Thomas, and Merry Christmas!
I am one of the historians in the Schürch Family Association. I read the reply that our Historical Chair, Justin Houser, sent to you in respose to your inquiry. I recognize your surname and realize that you are referring to the book, Shirk Family History, by Henry Yocum Shirk, which was reprinted by John S. Shirk of Lititz, PA, in 1992. Your grandfather, Arthur Slick, and his wife Stella C. Hahn (Shirk code E4124344), are listed on page 42 of this book. John S. Shirk and I were well acquainted, and in the course of our conversations over the years he made mention of your father, Reid Slick, many times.
Since your grandmother was a Shirk descendant, so are you, and therefore you are already a member of the Schürch Family Association! We have no membership dues! However, there are many ways that you can become actively involved in the association, such as attending the family reunions that are held every two years, subscribing to the Schürch Family Association Newsletter that is published twice a year in April and November, and receiving help with your genealogy quest. So we welcome you to the association and look forward to getting better acquainted. A good place to start your participation would be by subscribing to the association newsletter, which is packed with information about Schürch heritage in every issue, as well as news about what is happening in the association.
Let us know how we can assist you in your heritage quest, and we will be glad to offer a guiding hand. I look forward to meeting you in person at one of the family gatherings.
Tom Sherk
Schürch Family Historian
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Code H inquiry
From Don Kenagy:
Greetings. I found you on the Schürch site.
My G-G-G-grandmother was Anna Shirk/Sharrick, born 12 July 1763 in Sherksville Crossing PA, died 15 Jun 1828 near Shippensburg PA. Her marriage to Joshua (Yost) Kenege is cited in the little book by Heinecke, who also mentions being present at her funeral. I now know where Yost’s land was located and have high hopes of soon finding her grave.
I think Anna’s parents were Casper Sherk Jr. (1734-1817) and Barbara Hunsicker Sherk (1739-1825), but I have no proof. If I could find some, I could connect myself to the DAR-recognized Patriot (#A204494) and thus qualify my grand-daughters for membership.
I have paperwork listing the descendents of “Casper and Magdalena Foulk Sherrick.” It lists 10 children, including “Casper Sherk Jr”. Then it gives 8 children of Casper Jr and Barbara. Seven of them grew to adulthood; my list shows the spouses of all – except for Anna! Frustrating, no?
Can you help me with Anna’s parentage?
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Good morning, Don,
Thank you for writing to me! My notes indeed show that Anna Shirk, b. 1763, daughter of Casper Jr. and Barbara Hunsicker, married to Jost Knägy, which would seem to confirm the connection you indicate.
I believe the information I have came from Ron Sherk's 1982 book Shirk-Sherk Freundschaft. I am descended from Casper Jr.'s younger brother Joseph who moved to Franklin County, PA. This is called the Code H line of the family because Casper Sr. was the 8th known Shirk/Schürch to immigrate to North America.
We have a great family association and we'd be happy to have you become a part of our organization. Our websites are at www.schurch.ca and www.schurchfamilyassociation.net. We have a newsletter available twice a year, and have a huge family reunion every other year, alternating between the U.S. and Canada, where hundreds of people from all the different lines come together to meet each other, listen to interesting genealogical, historical, and cultural discussions, take some tours of family and historical sites, and, of course, eat! The next one will be in 2012, likely in Canada, and we hope that we can see you there!
Our family association has many interesting projects, including the creation of an online database to sort and index all the known Schürch genealogy information for future reference, a DNA project to locate and establish our connections in Europe and Switzerland, and ongoing family research to better understand the various branches of the family lines. We would certainly welcome any knowledge that you care to share about your branch of the family. I have almost nothing on it, and am completely unfamiliar with the Heinecke book that you mention. I'd love to hear more. If you are so inclined, we'd be thrilled if you'd care to contribute something on your branch for our newsletter (anything from short stories to articles), or any descendancy information from your research for the family database.
I'm copying our Schürch Family Historians on this e-mail, as I'm sure some of them can step in to offer more information and some further proof of the connection. We will be happy to help connect this together and share your ancestral origins with you as best we can. We know the line solidly back to Casper Sr., and from him back, we have a probable family connection (not yet absolutely proven, but DNA suggests this is the case) which connects with the early Swiss Schürchs, the ancestors of most of the branches of the family to come to America.
We look forward to discussing things further with you!
Justin
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Hi All:
I will give you references on information you seek on Anna Shirk later today. Am babysitting right now.
Take care,
Lyle R. (Ron) Sherk
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Wow, thanks for your reply. We have a lot to talk about. Since we apparently share GGGGGG Grandparents we are 7th cousins. I have our common ancestors as Casper and Verena Burkhart Scharch, but I got that from ancestry.com and can’t swear to it.
About the Heinecke book: I thought it had a bunch of Shirks in it and therefore would be known to your group. I just looked again and found only Anna. Anyway, the book has a long and ambitious title:
“Genealogy From Adam to Christ with the genealogy of Adam Heinecke and Henry Vandersaal from 1747 to 1881,” by the Rev. Samuel Heinecke, published by John A. Hiestand, Lancaster PA 1881. Samuel was an itinerant preacher. Henry Vandersaal was my GGGG Grandfather, a little younger than Casper Shirk Jr.
The book states (pg 53): The maiden name of Joshua Kenegy’s first wife was Ann Sharrick. She died June 15th, 1828. I was present at the funeral, near Shippensburg, Cumberland County PA.”
Joshua grew up on a farm near Jonestown, Lebanon County PA, down the road from Shirk’s Corners. He married Anna there, in Bethel Twp, Mar 7 1779. They moved to Cumberland County and bought land. Anna died there. Since the preacher does not mention any church or cemetery, as a preacher should do if such were involved in the funeral, I infer than she was buried on that land.
Attached are a few of my Shirk-related photos in case you don’t already have them.
I found a copy of “Sherk Freundschaft” in Carlisle, at the Cumberland County Historical Society, but I did not find Anna’s marriage info in it. I’m not saying it’s not there though, as I was not thorough. By the time I found it the place was closing and I had to move on. A
I would like to join. And, as Anna seems to be nearly forgotten, I might actually write something. Later, after I know more.
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Code H inquiry
Hello Justin Houser begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting,
I am doing some genealogy research on my family . My greatgrandmother is a Sherk and far enough back in 1700 it was spelled Schirch... and I am sure it could have been with the u umlaut before that. Anyway, in 1700 I have a Kasper Schirch born in Canton Basile Switzerland who later immigrated to Pennsylvania. That is as far back as I can go on that line.
I was wondering if any of this info is useful to you or if you have any information which would be useful to my Genealogy lists.
Thanks,
Cassandra Hindman Heidler
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Hello Cassandra,
Thanks so much for your note. I think that we will be able to share some beneficial information. My ancestor is the same Kasper Schirch/Schurch/Shirk that you mention. He was my 7th great grandfather, and his son Joseph was my ancestor. Our Schurch Family Association of North America has a lot of information on this line, known as Code H, because Kasper was the 8th immigrant of the family who is known to have come to America.
We have *tentative* probable ancestry for Kasper which connects him to the family lineage from Sumiswald, Switzerland. The paper trail is not complete yet but DNA evidence suggests that we are on the right track. Also, we have just acquired copies of old deeds and papers belonging to Joseph, son of Kasper (my 6th great grandfather).
Our Family Association publishes a newsletter twice a year and you are welcome to subscribe to this. Information is available via our websites at www.schurchfamilyassociation.net and www.schurch.ca. Also, we host a huge reunion every other year and you and your family would be very welcome to attend. Everyone is always interested in meeting new cousins! Our next reunion will be held in 2012, details to be announced on the websites and in our newsletter.
Also, we are in the midst of a project to compile the known data about the Schurch family into a convenient online genealogy database. We're happy to share information that we have concerning your ancestry and also would be very interested in anything that you can provide to us to update us on your branch. I have copied all of our family historians on this e-mail so that they can correspond as well. Please let me know which of Casper's children, grandchildren, etc., you descend from, down to you, and we can provide information on your specific line.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Justin
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Thank you so much Justin....
I have everything on Family Tree Maker and can save it as a Gedcom file I think or just type it here...
Kasper Schirch son Abraham Sherk was the father to Casper Sherk who was the father from Casper Sherk who was the father of Noah Bashore Sherk who was the father of Mary Elisabeth Sherk who was the mother of Beulah May Streyfeller who was my grandmother. Her father is also from a family out of Switzerland but they immigrated in the mid 1800s and they are not Sherk..... so probably not of interest to this group.
That is all I have on that line except for the names of the wives....
Do you also have info on that first Kasper Schirch's wife Magdalena Foulck? I just have her name but no info on her. I pretty much have no info on the wives in the family tree, just on the men. A cousin of my dad did all the research that I have on the family and it was given to me already in family tree maker.
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Cassandra,
I too would like to welcome you to our Family Association. I am one of the Historians who conduct research of the Casper lineage. I would like to share our proud history with you if you are interested in learning more about this branch of the tree. So far I have consolidated much of the Code H lineage on a CD saved in Microsoft Word format. Please let me know if I can help you with your research.
Stephen D. Shirk
Historian
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Schurch DAR inquiry
Hello Mary Ann and Sue,
I am copying all of our Schurch Historians on this, in case they have something to add.
There may be a family Bible record of the Jacob Shirk family in the Kittochtinny Historial Society in Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Pa. I believe I saw something on this order there. Also, you can write to the Franklin County Courthouse in Chambersburg, Pa., to see if they have copies of the will or estate papers of Jacob Shirk naming his children.
If you are not already involved in our Association, I invite you to participate by visiting our websites, www.schurch.ca and www.schurchfamilyassociation.net, and subscribing to our newsletter. Also, please consider attending our next international family reunion, scheduled to be held in the year 2012. Watch the website and newsletter for details!!!!
Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Justin Houser
On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 10:40 AM, Sue Shirk wrote:
Good morning Mary Ann.
What an interesting e-mail! I'm forwarding your note to several Association folks, president Joe Sherk and historians Justin Houser, Stephen Shirk, and Tom Sherk. One of the historians will pick up ongoing communication with you. I trust you'll find the supporting data you need for DAR membership.
Wishing you a good day.
Sue Shirk, Secretary
Schurch Family Association of North America
-----Original Message-----
From: Mary Ann Fassler
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2010 8:53 AM
To: Sue Shirk
Cc: Stephen Shirk; John Shirk
Subject: Shirk Genealogical Research
Good morning,
I am looking for a document that will be sufficient for DAR membership that lists both Jacob Shirk
1774-1845 and his son Jacob Shirk 1806-1878. Jacob 1774-1845 was married to Sophia Balmer or Palmer 1781-1860. He was born in Greene, Franklin, PA and died in St. Thomas, Franklin, PA. Jacob 1806-1878 was also born in Greene, Franklin, PA and died in Mt. Carroll, Carroll County, IL. He was married to Susan Stauffer.
Father of Jacob Shirk 1774-1845 was Joseph Shirk/Sherk 1738-1811, a Revolutionary War patriot from Pennsylvania. His mother was Barbara Kauffman. Joseph's will documenting his relationship to his son Jacob was probated 5/28/1811. If a similar document showing the relationship of father to son for the two Jacobs could be found it would meet my requirements very nicely.
I am attaching a transcript from the Bible of Benjamin Shirk 1819-1893, who was a brother to Jacob 1806-1878 (?1877) which lists the family records very completely. Unfortunately, we have not been able to find the original document. A transcript will likely not be sufficient evidence for DAR use.
Any help you can provide will be very much appreciated.
Mary Ann (Shirk) Fassler
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Am I Related to Ulrich Schürch – Code N?
Question:
The data I have suggests a trail back to Ulrich Scherich ( I know there are countless spellings) but it is vague after John Henry Clay Scherich's father John. I have some data on them and contacted my uncle who has the old family bible. I was wondering if you could help steer me in the right direction.
My father is Warren Scherich (Inland Nebraska), His dad was Clarence Harry Scherich born June 2, 1896: His father Harry Erwin Scherich born june 19th 1869 by Harrisburg PA, his father Johnathon Henry Clay Scherich born York County PA 8/25/1843 wife Margaret Rebecca Kerr wed 1/16/1866, his father was John Scherich born lancaster Pa 1812, wife Rachael Millard. Now we assume his father was Joseph?? I have details from JHC Scherich down and some of the other branches I am more than happy to fill in any missing blanks I can. My uncle is doing some checking for me also Thanks again talk to you soon
Thanks,
Clarence Scherich
Response:
Greetings Clarence,
I was very pleased to read the inquiry you sent to Justin Houser concerning your Scherich genealogy. I am one of the historians of the Schürch Family Association of North America, and Justin forwarded a copy of your inquiry to me. With the information you have provided about your Scherich lineage, I can connect you with the known and documented earlier generations of your Scherich lineage, since it ultimately merges with my own lineage. This lineage is what is referred to within the Schürch Family Association as the code N lineage. I will briefly sketch this out for you in the following summary, beginning with John Scherich, born 1812, your earliest known ancestor that you have mentioned. Afterwards we can flesh out the details more fully and address any questions you may have about it. In the outline below, I have added the respective identification code numbers that we use in the Schürch Family Association to uniquely identify and keep track of the various Schürch ancestors, many of whom had the same name, as the same given names were used over and over again in succeeding generations.
N311
John Scherich, b. Apr 7, 1812 d. Feb 27, 1886
Son of Christian and Anna (Spitzer) Scherich
m. Oct 10, 1833, Rachel Quincy Millard, b. Mar 15, 1814 d. Jul 12, 1893
John was born and raised in Allen Township (which by division later became Upper Allen Township), Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He was the oldest child and only son of his father, Christian Scherich. John became a carpenter. He lived near Lisburn, Cumberland County. In 1875 he moved to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, in the same county. John and Rachel are buried at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Mechanicsburg.
N31
Christian Scherich, b. Oct 19, 1785 d. May 10, 1822
Son of Christian and Barbara (Martin) Scherich
m. Anna Spitzer, b. Mar 31, 1792 d. Mar 3, 1859
Dau. of Conrad and Barbara Horsch (or Hursh) Spitzer
Anna m.2 Christian Crall (or Krall)
Christian, the father of N311 John Scherich, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was the oldest of ten children that were born to his parents, Christian and Barbara (Martin) Scherich. In 1805, when Christian was about twenty years old, he moved with his parents and sibling from Mount Joy Township, Lancaster County, to a 290 acre farm that his father had purchased in Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The farm bordered the Yellow Breeches Creek, and was located in what later became Upper Allen Township, Cumberland County. This property is presently (2010) a part of the campus of Messiah College. When Christian’s father died the following year, in 1806, the farm was awarded to Christian by action of the Orphan Court, he being the oldest son of his parents and of legal age. Christian died at the relatively young age of thirty six. His grave marker is at Hilltop Cemetery, located at one edge of Grantham Memorial Park Cemetery, which overlooks one of the athletic fields of Messiah College. Christian’s widow, Anna, married a second time to Christian Crall (or Krall). She is buried at Lantz Schoolhouse Cemetery, Upper Allen Township, Cumberland County, which is also known as the Lantz, Lambert, Krall Cemetery.
N3
Christian Scherich, b. d. Feb 1806
Son of Ulrich and Maria (Grundbach) Schürch
m. Mar 30, 1783, Barbara Martin, d. 1807
Dau. of John and Barbara (Ebersole) Martin
Christian was one of three sons of his parents, Ulrich and Maria (Grundbach) Schürch. Christian married Barbara Ebersole in 1783, and they lived in Mount Joy Township, Lancaster County, next to her parents. Christian appears in the 1790 census of residents in Mt. Joy Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he is listed as Christian Sherk. He engaged in the trade of weaving. He was a member of the Mennonite Church. In 1805, Christian moved the family to Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, where he had purchased a fine 290 acre farm located along the Yellow Breeches Creek. He died there intestate (without a last will and testament) in Feb 1806. Tragically, his wife Barbara also died a year later, in 1807, leaving ten children (seven boys and 3 girls), some of whom were very young. Christian’s children are documented in the Cumberland County Orphan Court Records.
N
Ulrich Schürch, b. Jul 22, 1703 d. May 1766
Son of Jacob and Barbara (Brand) Schürch
m. Maria Grundbach,
Ulrich Schürch was born in the town of Sumiswald, Canton Bern, Switzerland. He emigrated to America in 1752, arriving at the Port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sep 23, 1752, aboard the ship St. Andrew. He was a Mennonite whose family had experienced religious persecution in Switzerland because of their faith, and he sought refuge in America. He settled in Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, which later by division became West Hempfield Township. He engaged in the trade of weaving. This Ulrich Schürch, code N, is not to be confused with the older Ulrich Schürch, code E, who in the year 1728 also emigrated from Sumiswald, Switzerland, and settled in Cocalico, Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Research has shown that the 1728 immigrant, Ulrich Schürch, code E, was an uncle of the younger 1752 immigrant, Ulrich Schürch, code N. Earlier researchers who investigated this were often led to believe that the older 1728 immigrant, Ulrich Schürch, code E, was the ancestor of all Schürch (Scherch, Scherich, Scherck, Sherk, Shirk, Sherick, Sherrick) descendants in North America. Research in modern times utilizing Swiss records has conclusively shown that this is definitely not the case, although the lines of descendancy do merge to a common ancestor further back in time in Switzerland. The known family of Ulrich Schürch, code N, and his wife Maria, consisted of three sons: N1 Johannes; N2 Andrew; and N3 Christian.
N1 Johannes Scherck (pronounced Scherick in the Swiss German dialect that they spoke) was my gr gr gr grandfather. He was a Mennonite farmer who lived in Manor Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania until 1795, when he migrated to Canada. There he settled on a 200 acre farm in the Niagara area on the Canadian side of Niagara River, across from Buffalo, NY. In the tax assessment rolls for Manor Township, he is listed during various years as: John Scherch, John Sherich, John Sherick, John Sherrick, and John Scherg. He had a large family including four sons named Jacob, John, Joseph, and Andrew. Your lineage and mine merge with our common ancestor, code N, Ulrich Schürch, the immigrant of 1752.
N2 Andrew Sherich was a bachelor, who lived in the western part of Lancaster County until 1801, when he moved to Fairfield County, Ohio, where he was one of the first settlers.
N3 Christian Scherich, who was your ancestor, mentioned above.
I also want to let you know of another person who is a descendant of your ancestor, code N311, John Scherich, b. 1812, who is researching this lineage. She has the family Bible of N311 John Scherich.
I’m sure she would be pleased to hear from you. You may tell her you were referred by me.
I think I will stop here for now. We can continue our dialogue later. I can take our common Schürch lineage in Switzerland back to the mid 1500s, and I will be glad to share that information with you if you are interested.
I am very pleased that you contacted the Schürch Family Association for help in your family heritage quest. We are truly related as “cousins”, even if somewhat distantly. I think you will agree with me that we have been blessed with a goodly heritage.
Warm and friendly greetings, come with this note.
Tom Sherk
N16A643
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Scheurich Family
Assisted in connecting early lineage of a Scheurich family from Bavaria who lived in Indiana and Missouri.
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B. P. Shirk of Hanford, California
Made a tentative connection between B. P. Shirk of Hanford, CA, who appears in an old photo, and Code E Michael Scherck of Juniata County, Pa., in order to obtain a photograph of him.
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John Sherrick, b. 1778, Code E
Tom Sherk confirmed some genealogical information from a past newsletter concerning John Sherrick, b. 1778, son of Code E82 Casper, for Pam Sherrick.
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Shirks in Washington County, MD
Assisted Robert E. Shirk to develop information on his relatives, Henry and Sophia Shirk, of Washington County, Maryland. It appears that this ancestry connects with Code H through Jacob and Sophia (Palmer) Shirk. Robert will undertake further research to solidify the connection.
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Henry Yocum Shirk
Assisted Ron Sherk in determining the death date of Henry Y. Sherk, who died in 1919 in Indiana.
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Connection between Code E and C families
Assisted Raymond Sauder Martin, a Code E, who was inquiring about the connection between the lineage of Joseph Schürch (Code C) and Ulrich Schürch (Code E). He also informed us of several interesting books on the Martin and Sauder families.
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CHRISTIAN EMIG WEBSITE
Go to the links tab to find the link to Christian Emig's website where you will find more family genealogy escpecially for the the Code H side of the family.
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