Magdalena Bock

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00012-1136

Notes:

Magdalena Bock, "was born August 4th, 1822, and died August 15th, 1876, on her parents' old homestead. She was unmarried."


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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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.].

____________________________________

December, 1876 Aug. 15th, in Waterloo Co., Ontario, of consumption, Sister MAGDALENA BOCK, aged 54 years, and 11 days. Funeral the 18th. Services by Wentel Hallman, Jacob Hallman and Moses Bowman


Herald of Truth - Volume XIII, Number 12 - December, 1876 - page 206, 207

Other Events:

• Land: Wilmot Township - Block A Concession 4 Lot 09, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Military: War of 1812
• Eby ID Number: 00012-1130
• Birth: 18 Feb 1798
• Land: 1816, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 118, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Public Service: 1823, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Assessor - Waterloo Township
• Public Service: 1823, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Clerk - Waterloo Township
• Land: 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 118, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Public Service: 1843, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Assessor - Wilmot Township
• Occupation: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; potter
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Retired Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Jacob Bock, "was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, February 18th, 1798. He came to Canada when a mere lad and made his home with his uncle, Christian Reichart, who resided at Freeport, Ontario. He was married to Catharine daughter of old John and Elizabeth (Diefenbacher) Shupe. She was born March 29th 1798, and died May 2nd, 1869. He died March 18th 1867. The resided near New Dundee, Ontario, on the farm now possessed by Mr. David E. Bergey. To them was born a family of fifteen 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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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.].

_________________________________

On the 18th of March, in Wilmot Township, Waterloo Co., C.W., JACOB BOCK, aged 78 years and one month. He leaves a widow and ten children to mourn their loss. Funeral sermons were preached by the brethren George Smith and Moses Bowman. He was a Deacon in the Mennonite Church for 24 years. L.B.

HERALD OF TRUTH - Volume IV, Number 5 - May 1867 - Page 78

____________________________________


Jacob Bock's Will:

The last will and testament of Jacob Bock the Elder of the Township of Wilmot in the County of Waterloo, in the Province of Upper Canada. I Jacob Bock considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being yet of sound mind and memory thanks be to God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament in the following manner and form.

First, I will that my funeral expenses and other lawful debts shall as soon as may be paid by hereinafter named Executor out of my Estate. I will that after my death my beloved wife Katharine shall have and own and possess all the household furniture together with all and singular the effects commodities and income from the farm on which we now live and every property that I may be in possession of at my death the same to have and to hold for her own use and benefit as long as she shall live.

I Will that after her death all the household furniture and all her private property shall he appraised and sold by my after named executor to the best advantage either public or private as to him shall seem most fit and proper. I also will that my daughter Magdalena shall have the sum of One Hundred Dollars and the privilege of taking any article at the appraisment for her own use, all this over and above her lawful share.

I Will that one year after the demise of myself and wife my Estate shall be settled and a division made among all my children so they all receive ever equal and alike, and concerning the legacy in my favor from my Brother John's Estate in the State of Pennsylvania when that becomes due and is collected then I Will that that also be divided even equal and alike, and lastly that Wendle Hallman of the Township of Wilmot in the County of Waterloo and Province of Upper Canada be constituted and appointed the Executor of this my last will and Testament and he is hereby enpowered to collect debts grant receipts and to do my thing and everything that may be required in settling up the Estate, revoking all former wills heretofore by me made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty ninth day of January one thousand eight hundred and sixty one.

Signed, Jacob Bock

Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Jacob Bock as his last will and testament in the presence of us, who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed their names.
Signed, John Hallman; Jacob Bock, Junior.

Filed for recording, October 27 A.D. 1876. A true copy taken from the original Nov. 16, 1876. A. A. Skinner, Register.
(Source: Will Book, Vol H., Page

________________________________



JACOB BOCK (1789-1867): WATERLOO COUNTY'S FIRST POTTER by Michael Bird

Dr. Bird, an associate professor of Religious Studies at Renison College, University of Waterloo, has made an extensive study of Germanic folk arts and crafts in Ontario and is the author of a number of books and articles dealing with the subject.

The tradition of village craftsmanship was particularly strong throughout the 19th century in Waterloo County, supported by the German settlers and their descendants who patronized local cabinetmakers, blacksmiths, weavers and potters. Of special interest is a Mennonite craftsman who produced redware pottery in the 1820s, making him the earliest known potter of Waterloo County, and one of the earliest in Upper Canada.

During the early waves of emigration from Pennsylvania to Waterloo Township, numerous talented craftsmen brought with them the necessary skills required by a fledgling community along the Grand River. Among these early settlers appears the name of Jacob Bock, a Pennsylvania-German Mennonite whose family made the trek from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to Canada in the early 1800s. According to the account of local historian Ezra E. Eby, Jacob Bock came to Canada when a mere lad and made his home with his uncle, Christian Reichert, who resided at Freeport, Ontario.(Footnote 1) Married to Catharine Shupe (1798-1869), he lived in the Freeport area until eventually moving a few miles further to the west, where he took up farming near New Dundee, settling on the farm later owned by David E. Bergey.

Throughout his life, Jacob Bock was to serve the local community in various capacities, including both civic and religious functions. In 1823 he was appointed township clerk, a task he performed until 1827, when the position was filled by David Clemens. (Footnote 2) Bock returned to these duties in later years. In a letter written in 1844 to his brothers John and David, of Greencastle, Pennsylvania, Jacob narrates the following interesting story:

I myself have now been confined for two weeks with a sore foot. I had for two years to travel our township regularly to take the assessment, and this year on the 8th of March, when on my return home after taking my route, my horse fell with me and bruised my right foot in such a manner that after riding about a mile my foot swelled so that I had to cut the boot to get it off. (Footnote 3)

In addition to his services as township clerk, Jacob Bock accepted, somewhat reluctantly, the township position of superintendent of Common Schools, which he described as a very critical, harassing, difficult, unprofitable and like-wise responsible business, and an imposed task which ...I still expect to get through with credit to myself and without incurring any penalty. (Footnote 4)

That Jacob Bock was a man of strong religious character is attested by family recollection and by notes preserved by descendants, (Footnote 5) and by the fact he was ordained the first deacon in the Blenheim Mennonite Church, assuming that position in 1841. (Footnote 6) He served in this capacity until his death in 1867, when he was succeeded by John Cressman. (Footnote 7)

On the basis of known signed and dated pieces, it appears that the pottery-making career of Jacob Bock was brief and of modest proportion. The positively identifiable crocks from his hand were made within a few short years. Most were made in a single year, 1825, between the dates of January 4 and September 17. One jar is dated 1822, making it possibly the earliest known surviving example of Ontario redware pottery. That pottery-making was a short-lived activity is suggested in the remark by descendants, pottery-making must have been a sideline for him; he was really a farmer first and foremost. (Footnote 8)

Pottery examples attributable to Jacob Bock are few in number, but include several unusual straight-sided earthenware jars with applied decoration in the form of faces and a figure labelled S. Ambrosius. From these pieces it is apparent that he employed a mould with which he was able to fashion identical details. Made of dark earthenware, these jars are finished with transparent glaze. They do not possess the dramatic mottling or spatter technique used by many Germanic potters in Ontario, although the interiors are finished with a black speckling similar to that used by later Waterloo County potters such as William K. Eby (1831-1910) of Conestogo.

The choice of design motifs on the Bock earthenware jars suggests the possibility that he was familiar with comparatively sophisticated European press-moulded ceramics. Such applied figurative details are to be seen also on stoneware pottery. It is not inconceivable that he had seen a single piece from which he adapted general design arrangements used in his own work. The figure of St. Ambrosius, known traditionally as patron saint of bees, is imprinted four times on some jars, while on the September 17, 1825 example it appears twice. Some jars have a small number of applied faces, while the September 17 jar has this detail applied in 46 places around the exterior of the piece! In contrast to much simple utilitarian earthenware of Ontario's Germanic settlements, the pieces made by Jacob Bock present an almost formal appearance, an effect to be achieved again at a much later date by Germanic potters in Huron County who produced urns and flowerpots with applied sprigs and floral embellishments. While Jacob Bock made a very small number of jars during a brief period for localized use, these later potters manufactured a large quantity of decorated earthenware over a lengthy period for comparatively wide distribution.

Two other pre-1830 pottery examples found in Waterloo County are of somewhat less certain attribution. One is a simple storage jar with the date 1820 inscribed on the bottom, found in Preston (Cambridge). Another is a redware barrel, inscribed Waterloo 1827. The signature on this piece, if by the same hand, suggests a production of at least five years. If by another hand, it raises the intriguing possibility of two potters at work in Waterloo Township at an extremely early date.

Although the pottery-making career of Jacob Bock was of short duration, it is interesting that he apparently continued to think of himself as a craftsman until late in life. Indeed, in the 1851 Ontario Census there appears a last descriptive entry: Jacob Bock potter retired craftsman. (Footnote 9)

FOOTNOTES
1. Ezra E. Eby, A Biographical History of Early Settlers and Their Descendants in Waterloo Township (Kitchener: reprinted by Eldon D. Weber, 1971), p. 69.
2. Waterloo Historical Society, vol. 16 (1928), p. 39.
3. Waterloo Historical Society, vol. 50 (1962), p. 93.
4. Ibid., p. 93.
5. Much helpful information was generously provided to the writer by Evelyn Blundell, Mildred Lehman and other descendants in
conversations in August and September, 1980.
6. Cf. L. J. Burkholder, A Brief History of the Mennonites in Ontario (Toronto, 1935), p. 280.
7. Ibid., p. 64.
8. Cameron Bock of New Dundee made this observation in conversations with the author in January, 1980, indicating that it was a generally-held view among family descendants.
9. Recorded in 1851 Ontario Census Returns, District 2, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, p. 69.
(Source: Waterloo Historical Society, Volume 20, 1982)

________________

"... On the 18th day of June, 1812, President Madison declared war against England. This placed the Pennsylvania people in a very trying position and as they could not be induced to take up arms, they were pressed into service as teamsters and were obliged to furnish their own horses. Ox-teams were employed when no horses were to be had. Those who were required to serve in this capacity were Christian Schneider Jr., Peter Erb, Joseph Eby, Samuel Eschelman, Benjamin Springer, Frederick Herner, Jacob Bock, Henry Pannebecker, John Scheirich, Henry Wismer, John Biehn, Adam Shupe and Wildfong.

In January, 1813, General Proctor defeated the Americans near Detroit, capturing General Wilkinson with 500 men. In September General Harrison having been joined by a fierce body of riflemen from Kentucky, advanced towards Detroit in such force that General Proctor crossed the Detroit River and retreated up the Thames. On being followed by the American Army of 3500 men, he made a stand at Moraviantown with 800 British and 500 Indians under Tecumseh. This warrior was killed, and Proctor retreated in great confusion to Burlington Heights in order to join the Niagara Army. A number of the Waterloo people were up at the battle on the Thames. These Waterloo boys acting as teamsters had taken shelter in a swamp near by while the battle was being fought. An officer of the British army, seeing that all was lost, gave them warning, said 'Boys, all is lost, clear out and make the best you can,' upon which some ran, while others unhitched their horses and rode off for their lives. Christian Schneider Jr., who carried the money-safe on his wagon, cleared out on his horses, leaving the wagon with all its contents behind. In this defeat old Adam Shupe was taken prisoner by the Americans. He was taken before General Harrison who, perceiving his innocent and harmless appearance, dismissed him and granted him permission to return to his Canadian home. He lost both his horses and wagon. Christian Schneider was away the greater part of the summer. On his first trip he had a two-horse team. After being home a few weeks he had to go again, this time with a four-horse team. During this war which lasted a little more than two years, quite a number of small battles were fought in the Niagara Peninsula and in the vicinity of Detroit. Quite a few of these Pennsylvania Dutch boys were pressed to serve as teamsters and exposed to all manner of danger, but strange to say, not one lost his life through the war.

On the 24th of December, 1814, peace was made between England and the United States, leaving each in exactly the same position as they had been before the war. After peace was restored the government of Canada fully compensated those teamsters for their losses during the war and for their valuable services. Christian Schneider Jr. was paid $5.00 a day for the time he served with a two-horse team, and $8.00 per day for a four-horse team, besides they were paid for horses and wagons that were lost during the time they served the government."


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 — Catharine Shupe. Catharine (daughter of John Shupe and Elizabeth Diefenbach) was born 29 Mar 1798, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 2 May 1869, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 5 May 1869, Blenheim Mennonite Cemetery, Blenheim Township, Oxford Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Catharine Bock
• Eby ID Number: 00095-5353.3

Notes:

On Sunday, the 2d of May, in Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Widow Catharine Bock, aged 71 years, 2 months and 4 days. Her maiden name was Schupp. She was sick about eight days, during which time she suffered much; not withstanding she said: "My Savior suffered much more and was entirely innocent." She was much concerned about the Salvation of her Children, and admonished them to live peaceably together, and finally she said she had committed them to the care of the Lord, and desired to meet them all in heaven. She was buried on the 5th at Blenheim M. House. The funeral services were conducted by John Baer, Jacob Hallmann, Enoch Detweiler and George Smith.


Herald of Truth - Volume VI, Number 12 - December 1869 - pages 190 & 191

Other Events:

• Name: Mary Bock
• Eby ID Number: 00089-5135

Notes:

Mary Reichert (Mary and her husband never resided in Canada), "was born in 1769. In 1795 she was married to Frederick Bock who was born February 21st, 1769. They resided in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where they had a family of six 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: 00113-7169.9
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 16, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

John Shupe, "Among the early pioneer settlers of this county was old John Shupe. He was a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to which place his grandparents had moved from the Palatinate, Germany, as early as 1715 if not earlier. Mr. Shupe was born in 1759. When a young man he was married to Elizabeth Diefenbach. In 1801 he, with his wife and family moved to Canada and settled in Waterloo County, on the east bank of the Grand River, near Freeport, where he died November 8th, 1812, and she died March 21st, 1825. To them was born a family of 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.].

John — Elizabeth Diefenbach. Elizabeth was born 1763, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 21 Mar 1825, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Shupe
• Eby ID Number: 00113-7169.10

Notes:

A POEM ON THE LIFE AND DEATH OF ELIZABETH SHOOP

The following verses were written in memory of the late Elizabeth Shoop, who was an inhabitant of the township of Waterloo, in the District of Gore, Upper Canada, where she resided with her family until the day of her death. The time of her living in that place, was something like twenty-four years, which about one-half of that time, in the latter part of her life, she lived in a state of widowhood with her children. The following poem is a true and short history of her holy life and death. The late Elizabeth departed this mortal life, March 21, 1825; and the following remarks were made a few days after her death, by JOHN A. CORNELL, an intimate acquaintance with her person, life, death and character, who had the great satisfaction to preach her funeral sermon to a numerous concourse of people, from the following words, taken from Heb. 4: 9, "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."

Ye nations of the earth give ear
To what I here relate;
Your Maker learn to love and fear,
Prepare to leave this state.

The sacred truth I now indite,
God print it in your minds;
Strong memory on your hearts to write,
With letters more divine.

Oh! cruel death, how dreadful bold,
He bears a mighty sway;
He calls away both young and old,
To long eternity.

The Lord his messenger did send,
The Widow Shoop hath died,
She was the poor, the orphan's friend,
Likewise the Pilgrim's guide.

Religion is a glorious prop,
Surely it is the best:
We have a consolating hope,
Her soul has gone to rest.

She was a soldier of the cross,
Her duty she'd fulfill;
No toil, no pain she counted loss,
To do her Master's will.

The church of God, she lov'd to meet,
To see her brethren there;
That they might fall at Jesus' feet
And join in holy prayer.

The place of praise, the house of prayer,
It was her chief delight;
She was a constant member there,
She kept the end in sight.

She never left the house of God,
But like Anna of old;
She marked the steps her Savior trod,
Bro't fruit an hundred fold.

Her heart to church and God was true,
Her soul was sanctified;
Her happy spirit never knew,
What it was to backslide.

That hateful sin. call'd dressy pride,
Her soul it did abhor;
Such vain and foolish sins as these,
She kept at open war.

What others took to paint their clay,
And dress their bodies fine;
Unto the poor she gave away,
To cheer the feeble mind;

The lame, the sick, naked and poor,
They were her constant care --
Were always welcome at her door,
With her they had a share.

She often borrowed of the rich,
To give it to the poor:
Her love and charity was such,
She gave them all her store.

She laid her own advantage by,
To do the needy good;
Yet all her hopes they did rely,
Upon her Savior's blood.

Third of March she was taken ill,
And to her bed confin'd ;
Yet to her heavenly Father's will,
Appeared to be resigned.

She seemed to think her morning sun,
Was then about to set;
She thank'd the Lord her work was done,
In Christ was made complete.

While she could use her feeble tongue,
Her Maker she ador'd;
By exhorting both old and young,
To seek and serve the Lord.

Her friends and children she did teach;
From Scripture truth was drawn,
Hoping her words would louder preach,
When she was dead and gone.

Twenty-first of March, on that day,
She bid this world adieu;
Her longing spirit left its clay,
The age of sixty-two.

At God's great and sovereign will,
Resigned her fleeting breath,
Without a doubt, without a fear,
She pass'd the gates of death.

She bid the church farewell below,
To join the church above;
Where all the happy spirits go,
To sing Redeeming Love.

Come sick, come Christians mourn your loss
Of your departed friend;
And learn to bear an equal cross,
As she unto the end.

Oft at her tomb, my heart shall rove,
To drop a sacred tear;
In token of that Christian love,
While she was with us here.

Whatever we may count our loss,
Shall be her greatest gain;
She now can say, farewell to cross,
Farewell to grief and pain.

A life so holy, true, and just,
Example so divine;
Must not be buried in the dust
Before the world must shine.

Now I'll refrain, why should I weep?
Since she has gone to rest;
She's only laid her down to sleep,
Upon her Savior's breast.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00089-5141

Notes:

"The Reicherts (Tradition has it that Daniel and Jacob Reichert in coming to America were on board a vessel that was seized by pirates and the crew and passengers were taken to Turkey where they were landed on some barren coast. In time of six months they were back to London, England, where they again set sail for America and landed safely in 1753. They belonged to the Moravian Brethern in Switzerland from which place they emigrated to America) of Wilmot Township are descendants of Daniel Reichert (Tradition has it that his wife was a Susannah Kindig) who emigrated to America in 1753 and settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he died after his family was of age. We cannot ascertain at so late a date the names of all of the old progenitor's family, but the names of three of the children were Mary, John and Christian."


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.].