Parkway Project: Lot 7, Concession 1, Willoughby Township
Col. John Butler Branch
This page is one example of the content being developed by the Col. John Butler Branch in their project: Crown Grants of Loyalists and the Early Settlers Along the Niagara River Parkway.
The New Brunswick Loyalist Muster Rolls for the War of American Independence show that Jonas Carol (Carl) U.E. (c. 1761-1829) served with Col. Delancy’s Troops in 1777.1 Land records of 1789 of Nassau show he was a Lieutenant2 He also served in the Dutchess Co. Militia. Other records show that he was the son of James Carl, Loyalist, who received Crown Land in New Brunswick. Jonas settled in St. John New Brunswick. Jonas received Crown Land as a Loyalist from Fishkill Mountains, New York. Jonas received land grants at Parrtown, St. John Co., New Brunswick and on the Kennebecasis River, Kings Co., New Brunswick.
After staying there for over a year he went back to New York where he was put in jail. When released, he went to the Niagara area about 1792 and lived at the 20 Mile Creek and had a saw mill. From the Diaries of Francis Goring quoted in Niagara Historical Society Publication No. 28, we find an excerpt about this mill: “James Clendenning agrees with Jonas Carl to build a saw mill on the Twenty mile Creek, 42 ft. by 26 ft. with two saws, 2 water wheels, 2 carriages and log way 25 feet long for 80 Pounds New York Currency, 1 barrel of 208 lbs pork and 3 cwt. Flour, Carl to haul all lumber, furnish all boards, planks, blacksmith’s work and do all the digging. The mill to be completed by 7th November, 1793.” This was later known as the Josiah Nelson Farm. By 1794 he had settled in Willoughby Township, Niagara District, Upper Canada.3
Jonas presented at least two petitions. The first, dated at Newark 18 October 1794, stating that “he was desirous of settling the lands allowed him.”4
In the second, undated and unsigned, he said “that he had joined the Royal Standard in the year 1777 at Morrisania, near New York, was an officer in the corps commanded by Colonel James Delancey. From there he went to Nova Scotia, and remained there two years, at which place his papers now are, owing to his intention to have returned there but having been taken up by the people of New York, put into a Dungeon and there close confined in circumstances your Petitioner has been obliged to remain here, otherwise should have returned and brought my Papers, some of which would shew that your Petitioner is not an imposter.
Your Petitioner has had Two Hundred Acres of Land granted him by the late Land Board.
Your Petitioner has a wife and Five children. Your Petitioner’s wife is the daughter of a Loyalist. (His wife was Rachel Johnson [c. 1767 – Jan. 1842], daughter of Jeremiah Johnson and Phoebe Brown.)5
He prayed that “such grant of land may be allowed him as is usual to people of his description.”
His petition was read on July 21, 1796 when an endorsement was made that “Petitioner being married to the Daughter of a Loyalist wants proof.’6
The Heir and Devisee Commission Reports, Series RG1, L5 gives us that information. “This is to certify that the bearer Jonas Carle has lived in this Province since the year 1789 and has a wife and five children and that his wife is the daughter of a Loyalist. Signed at Newark October 10, 1796. NB: The wife of Jonas Carle is the Daughter of Jeremiah Johnson killed by the Americans in the late War. Robert Kerr”
A second endorsement on October 15 recommended him for 200 acres in right of his wife, the Daughter of a Loyalist, as pr. Certified adduced, signed by Peter Russell. The Mini Atlas of Early Settlers’ by Taylor and Parnall, p.26 Grimsby Township dated September 20, 1811 shows Jonas Carl’s wife as owner-Lot 6, Concession 7.
Jonas received a Crown Grant of 100 acres for Lot 7, Concession 1, Willoughby Township, with the Broken Front on March 16, 1797. (Deed # C101, Welland Land Registry Office).
Jonas is shown receiving Lot 2, Bertie Township, opposite the south end of Grand Island on the Niagara River as a Crown Grant in 1798. (Welland Land Registry Office)
Jonas Carl and Rachael had 7 known children: Elizabeth Ann (1793-1858); Peoebe, (1796-1871); Eunice, (c. 1802-1879); Sarah; Henry; John; Judith.
After some years, in 1799, Jonas and Rachel with five children, moved by flat boats down the Ohio to the Mississippi river to Natches, then to New Madrid, Missouri for a couple of years. They then went to Baton Rouge, then Springfield, Louisianna, where both died, leaving many descendants.
One of the homes owned by Jonas Carle in Louisianna
Photo courtesy of Becky Venable
A memorial of bargain and sale from Francis Ellsworth (Butler’s Rangers) to James Smith; Lot 7 in first Concession below Black Creek is dated 15 Feb. 1796.
By 1801 the Broken Front property was sold by James Smith to Ulrich Strickler. (instrument # 272)
Ulrich Strickler (1765-1838) was born in York County, Pennsylvania, son of Ulrich Strickler Sr.of Switzerland who had arrived in America in 1737. Ulrich Jr. and his wife, Magdalena Miller, had traveled by Conestoga wagon in the spring of 1801 from Pennsylvania to Upper Canada; having sold his land for $1700, Ulrich had sufficient funds to relocate to Canada (Robertson, 1996). He and his fellow German Mennonites were attracted to life under the Crown, which promised exemption from military service and an abundance of potential farmland. He purchased the 210 acre river front Willoughby property in June 1801. After 15 years, Ulrich was able to sell the property for the sum of 1000 pounds. It is assumed that he had built the stone house and had cleared and developed his lands. It is estimated that the date of the construction of the house would be between 1805 and 1810.
Claims documents dated 1815 for Reimbursement of Losses suffered by Ulrich Strickler, in 1814, during the War of 1812 reveal that Ulrich had a very successful farm. There was a large list of produce and goods taken by the American troops in the summer of 1814, and those taken by the British troops later that year after the Americans had retreated. The list of losses caused by British troops also has two items in it that indicate a substantial establishment, that is the claim for “Rent for 4 weeks for the House” which was used for a commissary, and also “Rent for the Barn” which the British used for barracks for their troops. The request for rent for two buildings was listed at 110 York pounds. (Robertson)
In May 1816 Ulrich Strickler sold his property to Joseph Danner (instrument # 5156) and moved with his family to Clarence, New York.
Joseph Danner (1774-1870) was a member of the Quakers or Society of Friends and had emigrated to Canada from Pennsylvania in 1807 as part of a westward Quaker movement between 1790 and 1820, which resulted in the establishment of Quaker settlements at Black Creek. He likely made a few renovations and additions to the house, including the narrow wing across the rear which housed a “loom room”. In 1824 he also contributed towards the construction of a “school house and meeting house” on the River between Black Creek and Chippawa” (Sherk, 1905) which was built on the Gonder property.
Danner house sign
Photo courtesy of Gail Woodruff, UE
Photo courtesy of Gail Woodruff, UE
In April 1847 Joseph Danner sold his 210 acres for 1250 pounds to Jacob Wenzenried and George Wulz, trustees for The Community of True Inspiration, commonly known as the Ebenezers. ( instrument # 1784)
In 1855 Chas. Moyer’s name was entered on the deed as one of the Trustees of the Lands of Community of True Inspiration. By 1856 Joseph House had purchased ½ of the broken front and Elias Sherk (1825-1893) had purchased the other ½. Elias Sherk also purchased the southern half of Lot 7, first and second concession (105 acres) for 1125 pounds. ( instrument # 3514)
(Joseph House was probably the grandson of George House U.E. on Lot 15 and 16, Cross Concession, Willoughby Township)
Elias Sherk (1825-1893) was the son of Benjamin Sherk (1796-1873) and Esther Hershey (1801-1879). He married Mary Zavitz (1826-1881), daughter of John Zavitz (1798-1872) and Nancy Harris (1803-1882) on March 23, 1847.
The Sherks, originally spelled “Schoerg” or “Scherck”, emigrated to Canada from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Michael, grandfather to Elias, settled near Point Abino around 1790, founding the village of Sherkston. Elias, and his wife Mary Zavitz, raised 13 children in the large stone house. Shortly after they moved in, Elias’s father in law, John Zavitz built a bake oven at the rear of the house under a willow tree. In 1858 Elias requested that the Township council open the side road between his and Michael Gonder’s properties. Sherk Road, as it became known, was built on a 66 foot strip of land from the north edge of the Gonder property. In return, Elias donated land in the southeast corner of his property to relocate the old Riverside Church. Elias was involved in dairy farming, using the milk produced in the successful cheese factory that he ran at the front of his farm from 1872-1886.
The Sherk family c.1880
Photo courtesy of Gail Woodruff, UE
Elias Sherk died in 1893. His son Franklin purchased the south half of Lot 7, Concession 1 and 2 for $3200. (#2199) It was here that he and his wife, Alice Danner, raised four daughters. Franklin died in 1912 and his widow later sold the property to a Realty company in Niagara Falls. The Township of Willoughby eventually took over the southern half of Lot 7, Concession 1 and a number of the lots were sold by public auction. John MacTagart and his wife Mae (instrument # 80971A) purchased the house and attached lots in October 1961. MacTagagart obtained a franchise to operate Louis Tussaud’s Wax Museum in Ye Old Foxhead Hotel on Clifton Hill. He died in 1969 and Mae, his widow, continued to live in the house until her own passing in 1993. Their daughter Jane sold the property to Rolland Gregoire and Pierre Paquette in 1996. In 2000 the house received designation as an Historic House under Part 1V of the Ontario Heritage Act. It has become known as the Danner/Sherk House after two of the early families with long ties to the building.