Fort Klock Historic Restoration
& Indian Castle Church
Thanks to Herman Witthoft for allowing portions of his book to be used.

Modified Register for Maria SCHAEFFER, Loyalist "Book B"

First Generation

1. Maria SCHAEFFER was born on 21 Jan 1750 in Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY and was christened on 28 Jan 1750 in Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY. She died on 10 Sep 1833 in Williamsburg, Dundas Co., Ontario, Canada and was buried on 13 Sep 1833 in Williamsburg, Dundas Co., Ontario, Canada.

BAPTISM: Recorded: St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY. Parents: "Adam Schafer, Magdalena". Sponsors: "Johannes Schafer & wife".

MARRIAGE: Recorded: St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY. "Jacob Merckle, Maria Schefer". Witnesses: None listed.

NOTE: Her burial record states: "Mother of 14 children of whom only 3 are alive". Between the birth of child # 3 and # 4, is 4 years; and between child # 4 and her last child, John Adam born in 1791, is 10 years. The family moved from New York State to Ontario and it is assumed that the missing children were born during this time and before Lutheran Church Records were kept in Williamsburg Twp., Dundas Co., Ontario Canada. These missing children probably died as infants. (HWW)

DEATH: Williamsburg Twp., Dundas Co., Ontario Canada. (This information from Mary Ellen Swanson, Greenwich, CT, via Karen Elmasry, 8 May 1992, Pal-Am Conference, Fonda, NY.) "Maria's death and burial is recorded in St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Williamsburg, Dundas Co., Ontario Canada." Maria married Jacob Henry MERKLE on 9 Jul 1771 in Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY. Jacob was born in 1746 in Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY and was christened on 25 Oct 1746 in Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY. He died on 2 May 1818 in Williamsburg, Dundas Co., Ontario, Canada.

BAPTISM: Recorded: Reformed Church, Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY. Parents: "Jacob Merkel, Anna Maria". Sponsors: "Jacob Snyder & wife, Elizabeth".

DOCUMENTATION: From: MORE PALATINE FAMILIES, 1991, Henry Z. Jones, page 183: "1? Jacob, nat. as 'Jacob Merkley' 8 March 1773 (Scott & Stryker-Rodda, p. 45). He was a Tory and d. in Canada."

DEATH: Williamsburg Lutheran Church Parish Register, (1790-), a copy in possession of Ejvor Merkley, Mesa, Ariz; Land petition, filed in Canada, by Jacob after the close of the Revolutionary War. "His death was recorded in the "Registers of the parishes of Williamsburg, Matilda, Osnabruck and Edwardsburg" started in 1790 by the Rev. Samuel Swardtfeger and hereafter, in this work, referred to as "Williamsburg Parish Register".

DOCUMENTATION: Jacob's land petition is found in Claims of United Empire Loyalist #325, Second Report of the Bureau of Archives for Ontario, 1904; was dated Montreal, 28th Jan. 1788. He states he was "late of Tryon County, New York Province. That he was in Sir Johnson's 1st. Batallion in 1783. He is a native of Germany. He came to America about 30 years since. He lived in Tryon County on his own lands at a place called Duscta, or Cobus Kite, (Cobleskill). He joined the British at Fort Stanwix in 1777. Before that he had taken no part with the Rebels. He served the whole war in Sir Johnson's Regt. and now lives on Lot 30, 4th Township, New Johnstown". He had a tract of 400 acres, Lot 24 in "Darin".

(In America) he had from his father, 200 acres. He had a house, barn and 60 acres cleared on it...It was sold for public Vendue...he left 9 horses, 4 cows, 3 calves, 3 heifer, and 20 hogs, large and small. A large quantity of grain, a Potash Kettle, Farming Utensils and Furniture. Henry Markly, brother to Claimt...Sworn:...Recollects his father's land...his Mother was left in possession but was drove from the farm. Witness, Michl. Markly, brother to claimt..., " says he himself a soldier in Sr. Johnson's Regt. & is entitled to a share of the property claimed, but he is satisfied that his brother Jacob shall receive the whole".

Says his father's farm was sold on account of their loyalty and the Stock taken and sold. Their Mother will be well satisfied that her son, Jacob, do receive the whole. (page 395-396)

REVOLUTIONARY WAR: "The outbreak of the Revolutionary War tore asunder many of the Tryon County (later Schoharie County, NY) families. The sympathies of some of the family of Christoper Merckel, father of Jacob Merckel, were with the British during this war. This brought them into disfavor with the revolutionists who seized their lands and belongings. As United Empire Loyalists they were conveyed, by the British, by boat to Canadian soil. Each was given a narrow strip of land of virgin forest along the St. Lawrence River in what is now Dundas County, Ontario. Others were settled elsewhere. They were given a small supply of food. The heads of families each drew a number, corresponding to a tract of land, from a hat, and when the boat reached that tract the family disembarked and began to establish a home in the forest." (Dr. Stanley A. Merkley, MERKLEY FAMILY TREE
DESCENDANTS OF HENRY MERKLEY, private publication, Ontario, Canada.)
U.E.L. - United Empire Loyalist

Jacob and Maria had the following children:

Second Generation

4. Henrich MERKLE (Maria) was born on 30 Jan 1777 in Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY and was
christened in 1777 in Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY. He died on 21 Jul 1856 in Williamsburg,
Dundas Co., Ontario, Canada.

BAPTISM: Recorded: St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY. Parents: "Jacob Merckel,
Maria". Sponsors: "Heinrich Merckel, Eva Merckel".

NOTE: In Canadian records, he is called, "Capt. Henrich Merckel".

DEATH: Age 79 yrs. 5 mo. 9 days, according to Lutheran Church records, St. John's, V-Morrisburg,
Williamsburgh, Dundas Co., Ontario Canada.

Henrich married Margaretha BERCKLAY on 12 Dec 1797 in Williamsburg, Dundas, Ontario,
Canada. Margaretha was born in 1782 in Williamsburg, Dundas Co., Ontario, Canada. She died in
1852.

5. Jacob MERKLEY (Maria) was born on 20 Aug 1781 in Isle of Carlton, Jefferson Co., NY. He died
on 21 Jun 1864 in Williamsburg, Dundas Co., Ontario, Canada and was buried on 24 Jun 1864 in
Williamsburg, Dundas Co., Ontario, Canada.

BIRTH: Jacob was born during his parents' trek to join the Loyalists in Canada. The Isle of Carlton or Garden
Island, now Carleton Island, Jefferson Co., NY USA, opposite Kingston, Canada, is one of the Thousand Islands in
the St. Lawnerce River. It is two and a quarter miles long and one-half to one and a quarter miles wide. At the time
of the Revolutionary War the British had soldiers stationed on this island. It was also the site of Fort Haldimand.

MARRIAGE: Recorded: Lutheran Parish Register, Williamsburg, Dundas Co., Ontario Canada.
A source says that he was married twice, the second to Maria Stats Stata, who was born 13 May 1785, Center
Brunswick, Brunswick, Rensselaer Co., NY USA. I have no confirmation of this.

NARRATIVE: Jacob Merkley is buried in the Mariatown Cemetery, Williamsburg, Dundas Co., Ontario Canada.
He and his wife, Elizabeth share the same headstone. Her date of death, as recorded on the headstone is 10 June
1868, but family records give her death date as June 1856. According to the 1861 census of Dundas County,
Ontario, Canada, Jacob was living with his son George and he was a widower.

Jacob married Elizabeth STATA on 19 Feb 1804 in Williamsburg, Dundas, Ontario, Canada.
Elizabeth was born on 13 May 1785 in Rensselaerville, Albany Co., NY, USA and was christened on
3 Jul 1785 in Brunswick, Rensselaer Co., NY, USA. She died on 10 Jun 1868 in Williamsburg,
Dundas, Ontario, Canada and was buried on 13 Jun 1868 in Williamsburg, Dundas Co., Ontario,
Canada.

BAPTISM: Recorded: Gilead Lutheran Church, Brunswick, Rensselaer Co., NY USA. "It is thought that the
baptism was performed by a minister who recorded it in his home parish."

BURIAL: Mariatown, Williamsburg, Dundas Co., Ontario Canada.
Jacob and Elizabeth had the following children:

Third Generation

9. Jacob MERKLEY (Jacob MERKLEY, Maria) was born on 8 Feb 1805 in Williamsburg, Dundas,
Ontario, Canada. He died on 18 Jan 1897 in Williamsburg, Dundas, Ontario.
Jacob married Elizabeth CASSELMAN on 16 Jan 1825 in Williamsburg, Dundas, Ontario, Canada.
Elizabeth was born on 1 Mar 1804. She died in 1892.
They had the following children:

10. Henry J. MERKLEY (Jacob MERKLEY, Maria) was born on 1 Jan 1807 in Williamsburg, Dundas,
Ontario, Canada. He died on 31 Oct 1867 in Matilda, Dundas, Ontario, Canada and was buried on 2
Nov 1867 in Williamsburg, Dundas, Ontario, Canada.
Henry married Sarah Jane THOM on 2 Dec 1827 in Williamsburg, Dundas, Ontario, Canada.
Sarah was born on 27 Feb 1806 in County Antrim, Ulster, Ireland. She died on 29 Nov 1889 in
Matilda, Dundas Co., Ontario, Canada.
They had the following children:

11. Christopher MERKLEY (Jacob MERKLEY, Maria) was born on 18 Dec 1808 in Williamsburg,
Dundas, Ontario, Canada and was christened on 27 Jul 1837. He died on 2 May 1893 in Salt Lake
City, Salt Lake Co., UT, USA and was buried on 6 May 1893 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT,
USA.
MARRIAGE: #1 - Recorded: St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Williamsburg, Dundas, Ontario, Canada. "Christopher
Merckle, son to Jacob Merckle Sen., married Sarah Davis, both of Wiliamsburgh, 19 February 1828".
BIOGRAPHICAL: (From Ejvor and Leo Merkley)
"At the age of 78 Christopher wrote a short sketch of his life and published it for his descendants. He called his
book, BIOGRAPHY OF CHRISTOPHER MERKLEY, SON OF JACOB MARKLE, OR MERKLEY. The first
page reads: "I was born in Williamsburg, Dundas County, Upper Canada on December 18th, 1808. Worked on my
father's farm until I was fourteen after which I was apprenticed to shoemaking for three years. Served my full time
and for some time afterwards worked at my trade. At nineteen I married Sarah Davis, who was born on May 19th,
1810, at La Shute, Lower Canada. She bore me one son, now known as Nelson Merkley. In 1831, I became a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and continued a member and class leader in this church until 1837. In
that year the sound of everlasting gospel was brought to my hearing by Phineas and Benjamin Wright. It did not
take me long to determine what I should do. I soon after embraced the opportunity and was baptized into the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elder John E. Page, on July 27th, 1837...." In the book he relates his
experiences in going from Canada to Missouri and then to Illinois. While living near Nauvoo, Illinois he went on
several missions for the Church and then, when the Mormons were driven from Illinois, he and his family went west
to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. In chapter 10 he relates an experience that happened at Quincy, Illinois before
the people went west. He states he was standing near the Prophet (Joseph Smith) when a man asked him for money
to pay back a debt owed....the debt was not the Prophet's but another brother's...The Prophet paid the man four
dollars which left him with one dollar. As they walked around, he, (Joseph Smith) found a sister in need of help and
so gave her his remaining dollar....Christopher then goes on with his history to say, "I met him...asked if he would
like a little money. He said, "Yes, Brother Merkley, I am now on a journey of fifty miles, and I have not a dime in
my pocket." I gave him a sovereign. He took me by the hand and blessed me, and he said, "Brother Merkley, may
you never want." "I never have."
Christopher married (1) Sarah DAVIS on 18 Feb 1828 in Williamsburg, Dundas, Ontario, Canada.
Sarah was born on 19 May 1810 in La Shute, Lower Canada, , Canada. She died on 4 May 1893 in
Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, USA and was buried in May 1893 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co.
UT, USA.
They had the following children:

16. George Michael MERKLEY (Jacob MERKLEY, Maria) was born on 30 Jul 1824 in Williamsburg,
Dundas Co., Ontario, Canada. He died on 21 Feb 1907 in Williamsburg, Dundas Co., Ontario,
Canada and was buried on 21 Feb 1907 in Mariatown, Dundas Co., Ontario, Canada.
George married Catherine Elizabeth CASSELMAN on 24 Dec 1847 in Williamsburg, Dundas,
Ontario, Canada. Catherine was born in Jan 1827/1828. She died on 18 Aug 1901..13

George and Catherine had the following children:

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