Polly Shirk

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00101-5651

Notes:

Polly Shirk, "was born in 1804. She was never married and had her home with her brother, David, where she died."


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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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

• Name: Joseph Schörg
• Name: Joseph Sherk
• Name: Joseph Shurick
• Eby ID Number: 00101-5597
• Residence: CONSTRUCTED 1830, 381 Pioneer Tower Rd., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 11, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Joseph Schorg, "was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, February 3rd, 1769. He came to Canada in fall of 1799, and in spring, 1800, he with his wife and family of five children settled on lot No. 11, B.F. Beasley Block, S. R., on the banks of the Grand River, opposite Doon. Here they raised a family of ten children. He died February 17th, 1853."


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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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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February 17, 1855 - Joseph Schorg. The first settler of Waterloo township. 86 years, 14 days.


Death Announcement - Deutsche Canadier, March 1, 1855

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Joseph Sherk

It was 100 years on Monday since the first settler came to Waterloo County. His name was Joseph Sherk; after he visited the area in 1799, he and his family settled on Lot 11, Beasley Block, on the banks of the Grand River opposite Doon. He died February 17, 1853.

Berliner Journal 3 Mar 1904 Translated by: Patricia J. Kauk October 28, 2005 for the Kitchener Public Library

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A-1-60 Joseph Sharick: Last Will and Testament of Joseph Sharick of Waterloo, Yeoman, ..

I Joseph Sharick the Elder, of the Township of Waterlooo, Yeoman, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, but being of sound mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament, in manner following, that is to say : I will and desire that all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expensees be paid by my Executors hereinafter named, as soon as conveniently may be after my decease, and as to my worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to blessw me, I give and dispose of the same as follows, that is to say, I give and devise to my beloved wife the Bedstead and bedding and the bureaus which she brought with her at her marriage with me, and my will is, that my executors do support and maintain my said wife Barbara out of my estate hereinafter named in such manner as shall be ample and sufficient for her proper maintenance during the time of her natural life. And my will is further, that all the proceeds out of my real and personal estate hereinafter named shall be divided unto and among my hereinafter named children, viz: Catharine, the wife of John Brubacher, John, David, Elizabeth the wife of Peter Woods, Joseph, Magdalena the wife of David Codlin, Susanna the wife of John Thornton, Lidia[sic] the wife of Morgan Thompson, share and share alike, subject nevertheless to the following conditions, that is to say that Magdalena shall have the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars in addition to the different sum and articles which she already has received, over and above her equal share as aforsaid, and said one hundred and fifty dollars and the different sums and articles which she already has received, shall be in lieu of wages for the time she has worked for me over age, and the said Susannah shall have the said one hundred and fifty dollars less than her equal share as aforesaid. And my will is further, that the said Magdalena shall only be entitles to draw one half of the amount of her share and the one hundred and fifty dollars, and for the other half the Executors shall pay her the lawful interest, provided always that if it shall appear to said Executors that the said interest shall not prove sufficient at any time for the support of the said Magdalena, the said Executors then shall have power to pay over to the said Magdalena such sums out6 of the said remaining half share, as they may think sufficient, and my will is further that if my said daughter Magdalena should die without leaving lawful issue, that then my Executors shall divide the remainder of her share unto and among the other of my above named children share and share alike. And my will is further that my Executors in dividing the proce3eds of my estate, shall take my Book wherein I have made charges to my said children as and for their guide and divide accordingly to said charges already made, and before any of my heirs shall receive his full share, my will is that all the above named heirs are placed on an equal footing according to the above named charges in the book, and none of my heirs shall have any right to demand their respective shares of my Executors during the lifetime of my said wife Barbara….I nominate my trusty and worthy friends Jacob Hagey of the said Township of Waterloo, Blacksmith, Abraham Kinsey, of the same place, Yeoman, and my son David Sharick of the same place Yeoman, to be the Executors of this my last Will and Testament.

Witnessed by John Betzner, Aaron Biehn, Otto Klotz, Notary Public
Will dated 6 March 1852
Will proven 26 February 1855
No Inventory amount
Died 17 February 1855

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

Residence:
The Schoerg Homestead is a classic representation of the Mennonite Georgian style. The house is a two-and-a-half-storey dwelling, constructed of hand-made red-brick, with a two-storey wood frame wing to the rear. The structure is in sound condition and has been altered very little from its original appearance. The brick portion of the home is set upon a foundation of rough squared granite stone. The fieldstone foundation of the two-storey rear wing suggests an earlier farmhouse may have existed at this location.
The barn, constructed circa 1830, was a classic example of a Pennsylvania Mennonite bank barn and the remains of the granite and limestone foundations can be seen just west of the farmhouse.<sup>1a

1a</sup>381 Pioneer Tower Road, Heritage Property Report, City of Kitchener, December 7, 2004.

Joseph — Elizabeth Betzner. Elizabeth (daughter of Samuel Betzner and Maria Detweiler) was born Abt 1773, Of, Pennsylvania; died Yes, date unknown; was buried , Doon Pioneer Tower Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Schoerg
• Name: Elizabeth Schoerg
• Eby ID Number: 00006-0915

Notes:

Elizabeth Betzner "was born about 1773, and was first married to John Schörg who was born in 1761, and resided in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, in 1792. After his death she was married to Joseph Schörg who was born February 3rd, 1769. They came to Canada in 1800 and settled near Doon where he died February 17th, 1853. She died many years ago. To her were born eleven 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:

• Name: Joseph Schörg
• Eby ID Number: 00101-5595

Notes:

Joseph Schrg, "son of the old progenitor, was born in Switzerland and was probably four years of age when his father emigrated to America. On March 24th, 1761, he was married to Barbara Kaufmann. To them was born a numerous family of which the descendants of John, Joseph and Casper are to be found in Canada while the descendants of others are scattered over the whole of the United States and even Mexico and Alaska."


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.].

Joseph married Barbara Kaufman 24 Mar 1761. Barbara was born Abt 1735, Of, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Barbara Schoerg
• Eby ID Number: 00101-5595.2

Other Events:

• Birth: Nottenburg, , Germany
• Eby ID Number: 00006-0910
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 11, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 12, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Samuel Betzner, "the old progenitor of this highly respectable family, was born near the little village of Merspurg, situated on Lake Constance, about eight miles north-east of the city of Constance in the kingdom of Wurtenburg, Germany, in 1738. His parental residence was a humble cottage situated about a mile from Merspurg, and his parents were plain, honest wage-earners, and members of the German Reformed Church. When Samuel was about three years of age he had the misfortune of losing his father, and in less than a year hereafter his mother died, thus leaving him an orphan at the age of four years. * A kind and tender-hearted neighbour in whose service the lad's parents had been for many years, being animated to sympathy for the poor orphan, adopted him as his own son. Being naturally of a bright mind, young Samuel availed himself of the opportunity thus afforded him and he soon became a favourite among his friends and neighbours. He had so well gained the love and esteem of his foster-parents that they had him appointed sole heir to all their large estate worth thousands of dollars. All went well until Samuel was about sixteen years of age, when an heir was born unto his foster-parents. After this young heir had made his appearance in the family, it became evident to Samuel that sooner or later his lot would prove to be something like young Ismael's, however he did not wait until the pitcher of water was handed to him, he left for America when seventeen years of age. He arrived at Philadelphia in 1755 and settled in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. It is said that he made the journey from Philadelphia to Franklin County on foot and that he slept in barns or on straw in the fields whenever night overtook him.

Mr. Betzner was subjected to many severe trials, partly arising from the military operations then harassing the country and partly from his former co-religionists in forsaking the German Reformed Church and joining that of the River Brethren (Dunkards), but all these trials were endured with patience. He was of a cheerful disposition and engaging manners. In social conversation he was pleasingly instructive. His only aim in this life seems to have been to prepare to meet his God in the world to come. This good old man was married to Maria Detweiler who was born in 1744, and died near Blair, Ontario in 1806. In 1800 he and his wife, in company with John Christian Reichart, moved to Canada. Old Mr. Betzner settled on the Grand River, opposite Doon, his farm adjoining that of old Joseph Schörg. Here he resided until his death which took place in 1813. They had quite a family. We know 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.].

* Handed to us as traditional by the older members of the family. The report is no doubt true as all members of the family have the same story

Samuel — Maria Detweiler. Maria was born 1744, Of, Franklin Co., Pennsylvania; died 1806, Near Blair, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Doon Pioneer Tower Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Betzner
• Eby ID Number: 00006-0910.1

Other Events:

• Interesting: story
• Eby ID Number: 00101-5595.1

Notes:

Joseph Schrg, "The motive that impelled old Joseph Schrg, the ancestor of this numerous and widely scattered family, to seek the shores of the American continent, was undoubtedly caused by the fearful persecutions raised against all non-conformists in central and northern Europe. This caused the emigration of so many of the pioneer fathers to the "Land of the Free" where no cruel persecution was waged against any whose forms of worship differed from that of the "State Party". Pennsylvania proved to be a place of refuge for these people who came hither in great numbers during the early colonial days. Here they might worship God according to their views of the teaching of the Bible. As to nationality the old progenitor was a native of Switzerland where he was born at an early date. On September 27th, 1727, the old progenitor with his son, Joseph, and others, came to America and settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania."


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.].