John Bricker Clemens

Other Events:

• Misfortune: mental condition
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1864

Notes:

John B. Clemens, "was born April 2nd, 1822. On January 31st, 1843 he was married to Nancy Groff who was born October 5th, 1822. He died in the Toronto Asylum in November, 1879. To them were born seven children"

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

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Nancy Groff was married to John Bricker Clemens, born April 2, 1822, in Waterloo County, Upper Canada, he died at Rockwood Asylum, Portsmouth, Frontenac County, Canada, August 14, 1879. He had been incarcerated for four years there and was previously resident in Kingston Penitentiary. In January 1880 she married the widower, John Eby, 1814-1899.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147500344/nancy-huber-clemens
________________

During the mid 1800's before the construction of the Rockwood Asylum for the Criminally Insane, Kingston Penitentiary was overrun with mentally ill and criminally insane inmates. To solve this problem, The Rockwood Criminal Lunatic Asylum was built on the shores of Lake Ontario, close to the penitentiary and built by the prisoners themselves. Construction began in 1859 and although it was not completed until 1870, men began to occupy portions of the building as early as 1862. Female prisoners were admitted during this time period and lived in the old horse stables that remained from when the property was a private villa. In 1868, the female inmates were also moved inside. Once completed, the asylum housed 300 patients.

This was the criteria an inmate had to meet to be transferred to Rockwood Criminal Lunatic Asylum:

1. Convicts in the penitentiary becoming insane while under sentence there.
2. Certain classes of lunatics committed to jail as lunatics dangerous to be at large.
3. Persons charged with some offence of which they had been acquitted on the ground that they were insane at the time such offence was committed.
4. Persons indicted for any offence, and upon arraignment thereof found, by a jury especially impanelled for the purpose, to be insane.
Patients wore distinctive canvas uniforms bearing the word LUNATIC. The medical goal in the mid 1800s was not to cure criminal lunatics, but rather to calm them. Chloral hydrate and alcohol were used to pacify patients, and they were also often bled. Dr. Litchfield, the only physician at Rockwood at the time, had a simple treatment plan that relied heavily upon "a pretty free use of alcohol by day and sedative by night." Treatment also involved restraints, blistering, leeching, enemas, and blood-letting.

https://www.ontariogenealogy.com/kingstoninsaneasylum.html

John married Nancy Groff 31 Jan 1843. Nancy (daughter of Andrew Groff and Annie Huber) was born 5 Oct 1822, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 8 Nov 1897, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Andrew Jackson Clemens was born 15 Nov 1843, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 26 Feb 1924, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Bloomingdale Mennonite Cemetery, Bloomingdale, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
2. Mary Ann Clemens was born 23 May 1845, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
3. Cyrus Clemens was born 19 Apr 1846, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 14 Sep 1846, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
4. Sarah Ann Clemens was born 22 Sep 1847, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 14 Dec 1908, Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, United States; was buried , Greenwood Cemetery, Hastings, Barry, Michigan, United States.
5. Nancy Ann Clemens was born 10 Oct 1849, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
6. John Henry Clemens was born 6 May 1851, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
7. Susannah Clemens was born CALC 15 Jun 1853; died 16 Jul 1853.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00023-1863
• Occupation: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Sawyer
• Residence: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1871, Saugeen Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada; farmer
• House of Industry and Refuge: 1876

Notes:

Henry L. Clemens, "was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, November 25th, 1802. He came to Canada when a young man. Here he was married to Nancy, daughter of John and Anna (Erb) Bricker. She was born at Blair November 25th, 1802, and died April 17, 1845. After her decease he was married to Elizabeth (born June 8th, 1816 and died May 5th, 1872), daughter of Sylvester Dodge and widow of Samuel Schlichter. He died at Berlin, June 17th, 1876. To him and his first wife were born nine children and with second wife there were five children"

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

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"It seemed as if the luck of the Clemens's family was ruined. In spite of all his natural talents, the father [Henry] became a squanderer and fell into vice. Later, he stopped drinking, claimed conversion, and was totally poor. He came to the children of his first wife in an insane condition and was taken to the poorhouse where he went totally mad."

Detweiler Meetinghouse, A History of Mennonites near Roseville, Ontario:

Henry — Nancy Bricker. Nancy (daughter of John Bricker and Anna "Nancy" Erb) was born 21 Nov 1802, Blair (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 17 Apr 1846, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Blair Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Nancy Clemens
• Eby ID Number: 00016-1258

Notes:

Nancy Bricker," the second daughter of John and Annie Bricker, was born November 21st, 1802. She was married to Henry Clemens who was born November 24th, 1802, and died June 17th, 1876. She died April 17th, 1846. To them were born nine children".


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00023-1829

Notes:

Jacob C. Clemens, "third son of Abraham and Catharine Clemens, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in 1754. He was married to Elizabeth Lederach. In 1776 he received eighty-two acres of his father's old homestead which he possessed for nine years. On June 30th, 1785, he sold his land to his brother, Abraham, and moved to Chester County to which place his brother George had moved several years previously. They resided in the vicinity of West Pikeland P. O., Chester County, Pennsylvania, where they both died. His death took place in 1819. To him and his wife, Elizabeth, was born a family of five children"


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Jacob — Elizabeth Lederach. Elizabeth was born Abt 1754, Of, Chester Co., Pennsylvania; died , West Pikeland, Chester Co., Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Clemens
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1829.1

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00016-1221
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Old Survey Lot 11, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 011, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 036, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

John Bricker," the eldest son of Peter Bricker, was born December 28th, and died February 19th, 1854. He was married to Anna, daughter of Christian and Mary (Scherch) Erb. She was born December 11th, 1774, and died October 13th, 1866. In 1802 they, with others, moved to Canada and settled in Waterloo County, near the village of Blair where he died. After his death the mother had her home with her son David who resided near Roseville where she died. They had a family of twelve children, two of whom died in infancy and are buried at Blair. There were three Johns, the first died, aged nearly nine years; the second was born a few weeks after the decease of the first; and after second's decease they named a third one John."


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

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A-1-29 John Bricker Snr.: Last Will and Testament of John Bricker, Sen. of North Dumfries, deceased.

…I, John Bricker, senr., of the Township of Dumfries…make and publish this my Last Will and Testament. (First) I will that my funeral expenses and all my other debts, if there shall be any, be paid out of my estate as soon as can be after my decease. I will that my beloved wife Nancy shall have to live in the house which we now occupy during her natural life, and my son David Bricker shall keep a cow for my wife Nancy during her life, which cow he shall in every respect keep in the same manner as he keeps his own cows. I also give and bequeath unto my wife during her life, all my household furniture which I may be possessed of at my decease and that my beloved wife Nancy Bricker, shall yearly and every year as long as she lives, have Twenty five pounds, and if my wife Nancy shall through sickness or otherwise happen to need more than twenty five pounds, then my Executors shall give her so much more as will suffice to keep her comfortable. I will that all the above-mentioned bequests to my said wife shall be instead of her lawful Dower. And it is my will that the real and person property together with the five hundred dollars, together with all I have heretofore given and paid to my eldest son Peter Bricker, shall be taken, and the same really is, the whole share of my said son Peter Bricker's heirship by me bequeathed to him out of my real and personal estate. And it shall be considered, and it is so truly, that my said son Peter Bricker is, by his having receiv'd from me as before said, amply remunerated for which time he has worked for me, after he was twenty-one years of age. And I consider that my son David Bricker and my daughters Nancy and Susanna have their full share of heirship out of my real estate, in the land and their property which they have already received from me, for which reason I exclude them from any further share out of the same. I will that after the decease of myself and my wife, all the household furniture then belonging to my estate shall be equally divided between my three daughters, Mary, Magdalena and Lydia, except my Clock, which I have already given to my son David Bricker. I will that they residue of my real property of whatever kind or nature it may be, shall after the demise of myself and my wife be equally divided between my sons John and Abraham, and my daughters Mary, Magdalena and Lydia, share and share alike. Nevertheless I give, devise and bequeath all that legacy left to me by my brother Peter Bricker of Cumberland County, State of Pennsylvania, deceased, to be equally divided between my children now living likewise including my son Peter, and likewise the share that would have come to my daughter Nancy, if living shall be equally divided amongst all her children, share and share alike. I will that for the above legacy of my brother Peter Bricker, as said before, I have executed a power of Attorney to Wendell Bowman, Esq., and my son John Bricker to settle that part of my estate. And lastly I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my son John Bricker and Samuel B, Bowman to be the lawful executors.

Witnessed by Benjamin D. Rosenberger and Jacob W. Detweiler.
Will dated: 10 January 1852
Proved and insinuated 1 March 1854
Inventory £550/-

Surrogate Court Records Copybook Register A 1853-1871 transcript to 1863. Frances Hoffman transcriber.

John — Anna "Nancy" Erb. Anna (daughter of Christian Erb and Maria Scherch) was born 11 Dec 1774, Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania; died 13 Oct 1866, Roseville, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 16 Oct 1866, Blair Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Anna "Nancy" Bricker
• Name: Annie Erb
• Name: Nancy Erb
• Eby ID Number: 00016-1221.1
• Residence: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

In Wilmot, Waterloo Co., C. W, at the residence of Abraham Bricker, son of the deceased, on the 14th October, Nancy, wife of the late John Bricker, at the advanced age of 91 years, 10 months, and 2 days. She came from Cumberland Co., Pa., to Canada in the Spring of 1802, and lived here, respected by all, to the day of her death. She was a sister of Daniel and Jacob Erb, to whom the German Company Tract of Waterloo Township was deeded in 1865, also of Abraham Erb, the founder of Waterloo Village. She was buried on the 16th in the old burying-ground in the village of Blair. This is the oldest piece of ground selected for burying purposes in Waterloo, and she was the one who made the selection.

Sixty-two years ago, while her husband was away to the States, one of her sons died, and as there was no place to bury the dead she went up to the hill, a little distance from where they were then living, and found an open little little(sic) place where she decided to bury her dead. She planted a tree at the foot of the little grave which tree is now about ten inches in diameter. She herself gave ground for a public cemetery, and for that reason wished to be buried there. Moses Bowman and Daniel Wismer officiated on the occasion. Only one or two are still living who came to Canada so early as the deceased.- Waterloo Chronicle

Herald of Truth November 1866 - Vol. III, No. 11 Page 92

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36902668
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1617

Notes:

Abraham Clemens, "was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in 1710. On May 27, 1741, his father conveyed 260 acres with buildings and improvements to him for Ð270, being a part of his father's extensive real estate. Here he and his wife, Catharine, resided many years. He died some time during the beginning of May, 1776. We find his will was made March 9th, 1776, and probated May 31st of the same year. His will made ample provision for his widow, Catharine. Their family consisted of ten children"


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Abraham — Catharine Bachman. Catharine was born 25 Aug 1722, Of, Montgomery Co. Pennsylvania; died 17 Aug 1810; was buried , Lower Salford Mennonite Cemetery, Harleyville, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36904349
• Name: Catharine Clemens
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1617.11

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00016-1218

Notes:

Peter Bricker," son of old Jacob Bricker, was born in 1720, and was married to Mary, daughter of Hanes and Elizabeth(Eby) Baehr* They resided in Warwick Township, Lancaster County near his father's place. Their family consisted of six children viz".

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Peter — Mary Baehr. Mary was born Abt 1730, Of, Pennsylvania; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Mary Bricker
• Eby ID Number: 00016-1218.1

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58525406
• Eby ID Number: 00032-2777

Notes:

Christian Erb, "was born in Warwick Township, in October, 1734. He was married, in 1756, to Maria Scherch. She was born in 1737. They resided in Warwich [Warwick] Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. When well advanced in years they came to Canada, and made their home with their daughter, Elizabeth (Mrs. Christian Schneider), who resided at Doon where they both died. He died July 7th, 1810, and she died August 17th, 1814. Both lie buried in the Blair cemetery. They had a family of twelve children, namely:...Of the twelve children of the family, seven, namely Abraham, Jacob, John, Magdalena, Anna, Mary, and Elizabeth, resided in Canada, and two of the children of Susannah, Mary and John."

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Christian married Maria Scherch 1756. Maria was born 1737, Of, Warwick Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 17 Aug 1814, Doon (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Blair Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Erb
• Eby ID Number: 00032-2777.1