52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #33 - John Stiver

This is my thirty-third  posting for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge

This week, I am writing about John Stiver (Johann Niclaus Stober) my fourth great grandfather.

John's last name at birth was Stöber or as it is also spelled Stoeber but at some point, after his arrival in Canada, the name was changed and the name became Stiver. From church records mentioned in The Stiver Family in Canada, 1794-1994, the year of Johan Niclaus Stöber's birth is given as 1743. There is no tombstone marking his place of burial at Bethesda Lutheran Cemetery in Markham.

In the transcription of the St. Philip's/Bethesda Lutheran register of burials, his name is given as John Nicol Stover. It states that he was in his 87th year and he is buried in the graveyard at the church on the 6th concession. The date of the burial was 21 August 1831.

According to a document, written by his son, John Stiver, his parents were natives of the Duchy of Hanover.

John Nicholas Stiver and his family came to the United States in 1792, with a group of German families to settle the Genessee Valley, New York through the arrangements made by Johann Albricht Ulrich Moll (Berczy). Who was Berczy? Johann Albrecht Ulrich Moll, alias William Berczy or William Moll Berczy, was born in Wallerstein, Ries, Bavaria, Germany in 1744. Berczy was a man of many talents. An artist by trade, Berczy, while in London in 1791, heard that a group led by Sir William Pulteney had purchased land in the Genesee area of New York. Settlers were wanted. Berczy must have seen that an opportunity existed and he put together a group of German people. How he put together this group we do not know. Contracts were signed that establish the terms of settlement. Three vessels, the Catharina and the Heinrich and Georg and a decoy ship left Altona, Germany in May and June of 1792 for Philadelphia with Berczy, his wife and family and some 220 settlers. Thirteen weeks were spent at sea. Supplies ran low.

Short Stay in the United States
From a diary written by John Sommerfeldt, and documents from the Genesee area and writings of Berczy some details can be pieced together of their experiences while in the United States. From Philadelphia, the settlers made their way to the Genesee lands where they hoped to get their own property. While there, they were put to work opening the first inland north-south road between Williamsport and Painted Post .

However, the arrangement was not satisfactory to Berczy and his settlers. At one point, they rebelled and rioted. Amongst the list of those who came before the Court of General Sessions of the Peace at Canandaigua on November 6, 1793 was Johan Neilas Staver. [Most likely this was Johann Niclaus Stöber]

Move to Ontario, Canada
Berczy made a deal with Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe for land so the families followed him to Upper Canada in 1794. Because the land in Markham Township was not yet surveyed, some time was spent in York (Toronto). The men helped clear Yonge Street northward as part payment for the land.

By November of 1794, the people were on their land living in make shift homes. The land needed to be cleared. The first few years were very harsh. Some families left. Our Stöber / Stiver ancestors remained and there are still descendants living in the area. 

In the Berczy census of 1798 for Markham Township, John Nicholas is listed as being over 50. The 200 acre parcel that Berczy allotted to Johan Niclaus Stöber was at Lot 19, Concession 2, although it is shown as concession 1 lot 19 in the 1798 Berczy census. This is located south of Major Mackenzie Drive, between Bayview Avenue and Leslie Street, near the town of Richmond Hill. He received the patent for this land in 1808 but he immediately sold it to Henry C. Philips. They moved from Markham Township for a while and resided in Niagara until the War of 1812 broke out. There is also a lease of land at lot 20 concession 6 dated 5 January 1804.

A Story of the Markham Berczy Settlers : 210 year in Markham 1794-2004 : a Story of Bravery and Perseverance. Markham, ON : Markham Berczy Settlers Association, 2004.  This was an update of the 1994 publication. 

Berczy Settlers Gazette. Markham, ON : Markham Berczy Settlers Association various issues
Information from the Markham Berczy Settler Association publications has been used with permission.
© 2014 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #32 Anna Stiver nee Unknown surname

This is my thirty-second  posting for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge

This week, I will focus on my fourth great-grandmother on my mother's side. We know her as Anna, wife of John Stiver [Stoeber]. 

Anna was likely born around 1749 in what would become Germany, possibly in the Duchy of Hanover. 

Anna and John had six known children. There are some gaps of more than two years, as determined by the estimate of the year each child was born, so some children might not have survived or they remained in Europe when the family left to go to the new world. There is also the possibility that Anna might not have been the mother of the oldest children. Two also were born after they came to North America.

The eldest child we know about is Mary Ann who was born about 30 September 1775 according to a calculation using the information on her tombstone at Bethesda Lutheran Cemetery in Unionville, Ontario. While they were in the United States, she married John Helmke, a widower, with one child. 

Next came Peter who was born about 1778. He would marry Nancy Spring in 1803.

There is a jump of about six years to when Anna, who I wrote about last week, was born in about 1784. She married Josiah Hemingway.

Henry came next in about 1786 and he would marry first Nancy Wagoner and then Margaret Galbraith. 

It is with these four children that John and Anna would leave their birth country with other travellers under the leadership of William Berczy. They were headed to northern New York near Corning. Next week's post about John Stiver would talk more about their time in the United States. 

While they were in the United States (1792-1794), Anna gave birth to Francis. He would marry Elizabeth Lindsay.

After they came to Markham, Anna gave birth to John Henry. He is said to have been the first white child born in Markham Township. 

Anna died about 3 October about 1825. Although, there is no tombstone marking her final resting place at Bethesda Lutheran Cemetery. Her death date is taken from the St. Phillip's Lutheran Church records, listed as Stover, first name not given. aged 76 years buried here at the church wife of Stover, Joh. Sr. The Stover surname was a Mennonite surname in the community, so I expect this is an error. The Stober surname evolved into Stiver. Quite a few of the Stiver family are buried in this cemetery. 
© 2014 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #31: Anna Stiver

This is my thirty-first  posting for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge.

Anna Stiver is my great-great-great grandmother. I only have approximate dates for her birth, marriage and death.

In the Stiver Family file at the Markham and District Historical Museum, I found a piece of paper that looked like it might have been a copy of listings from a family Bible. None of this information has been confirmed by finding other sources.

Anna was born in what became Germany, possibly in the Duchy of Hanover about 11 June 1784. If that date is correct or close then Anna would have been about eight years old when she travelled across the Atlantic Ocean with her parents and siblings. Anna is listed as 68 years old in the 1852 census so the date is likely close.

What might have started out as an exciting adventure for her, her siblings and the other children who were part of the families headed to the United States under the leadership of William Berczy von Moll likely became boring. Did they get to go out on the deck to play games? Did they ask their parents "Sind wir schon da?" Are we there yet?

Once they reached land, their trip was not over. The family spent almost two years in the United States. When the people became discontent with the conditions, the families were on the move. Berczy had made a deal with the Lieutenant Governor General for free land in Upper Canada. Women and children went in canoes while the men walked beside the bank of the river as they headed north towards Rochester, New York.

By November 1794, the family were living in Markham. Very few people were living there but Anna would have had lots of playmates amongst the children who she had been with during the voyage and time in the States.

Slowly other people came to Markham Township. Anna met Josiah Hemingway who had come from the United States and the two were married around 1800. In Berczy's Census of Markham Settlers, 1803, Anna is listed as 26 with her husband, Josiah aged 40, written as Esiah Hemmenway, and one daughter, [Pilis?] aged 2. This would likely have been Eleanor but Nancy should have appeared as well.

Josiah and Anna had eleven children: Eleanor in 1801, Nancy in 1802, John in 1806, Moses in 1809, Mary in 1811, Elizabeth "Betsy" in 1814, Anna in 1817, Hannah in 1819 (my ancestor), and Benjamin in 1821 and Caroline in 1824.

Josiah died the 21 September 1851. Their daughter, Eleanor had died in 1845 and only a few months after the death of her husband, her son, Benjamin died leaving behind a wife and seven young children. The young mother, Harriet, applied for guardianship as she was only the birth mother of one and in those years, males were appointed as co-guardians. In the detailed accounts,  we learn of a lawsuit and that twice a year Mrs. Hemingway (or the Old Mrs. Hemingway) was paid five shillings.

shows payments in 1855 and in 1856 to Old Mrs. Hemingway the dower

It looks like payments continued until at least 1857, when Harriet re-marries.

Anna most likely went down to Michigan to visit or to live with her daughter, Nancy, who had married Jonathon Worthing. The Bible listing gave her date of death as the 17 February 1859 in Detroit, Michigan.

© 2014 Janet Iles

Civic Holiday in Ontario today

The first Monday in August in Ontario is a Civic holiday. It goes by different names and depending where you are whether businesses and offices are open or closed. Some municipalities may have special events planned. Many head to a beach or a park if they live close to one and the weather is favourable.

In Toronto, it is called Simcoe Day to recognize John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada [later Canada West and then Ontario]. In other municipalities it may have another name to honour one of the founders or it may just be called the Civic holiday.

As a Markham Berczy settler descendant, that is, a descendant of one of the families that came with William Berczy to Upper Canada in 1794, it is important to know something about Simcoe. It is because of the land offered free by the Lt. Gov. John Graves Simcoe that the group with William Berczy von Moll came to live in Upper Canada. My ancestor, Johan Niclaus Stoeber  [Stiver] came to Markham Township with this group that had travelled from what was to become Germany to the United States and then Canada. The land arrangements in Upper Canada is another story - a post for another day.

Happy holiday!

© 2014 Janet Iles

German Pioneers Day, 2011 in Ontario - on October 11

The Tuesday following Thanksgiving is German Pioneers Day in Ontario. This day was established by legislation that took effect in 2000.

In Toronto and Kitchener, there will be a special flag raising. Markham, Ontario has also proclaimed it as well but the Town has no special events planned.

On my mother's side, I have Germanic ancestors. In 1993, I made this discovery. Since 1994, I have been a member of the Markham Berczy Settlers Association. In 2009, I became President. Our membership is widespread and consists mostly of descendants of the German pioneers who came with William Berczy to the Markham area of Ontario in the late fall of 1794.

Johann Niclaus Stoeber (Stiver) and his family came to Canada as part of this group. I have written some blog articles on the family.

This year on October 11, the association will meet. At 3 p.m. we will have a tour of the new collections building and see some of the exhibits. Enter by the new glass doors. In the evening, we will meet at 7 p.m. at the Bethesda Lutheran Church, Unionville. Note: This is different to the original plans outlined in the August newsletter.


View Markham District Historical Museum in a larger map
The Association's website can be viewed to learn more about the group. The website includes an index of the newsletter. The Association is now also on Facebook.
© 2011 Janet Iles

German Pioneers' Day - the Tuesday after the Canadian Thanksgiving

 To mark German Pioneers' Day, the Markham Berczy Settlers Association will meet for its annual meeting at Bethesda Lutheran Church, in Unionville.

First, a small delegation will go to the Markham Civic Centre at 7 p.m (101 Town Centre Blvd.- Warden Avenue and Highway #7, Council Chambers) to celebrate German Pioneers Day at the Town of Markham Council Meeting

Lorne Smith will make a short presentation to Council recognizing the immense contribution the German pioneers made to the start of Markham and to the economic, cultural and social life of the community since their arrival. Lorne will introduce representatives of local German heritage organizations.

This will also be an excellent opportunity to visit the Bicentennial Plaque at the Civic Centre.

The meeting will follow at the Bethesda Lutheran Church. (8 p.m. start)

Annual meeting
Presentation by Bob Stiver about the restoration work of the Stiver Mill

Refreshments will be served.

You are welcome to attend if you are in the area and want to learn more about the Markham Berczy Settlers Association and the restoration plans for the Stiver Mill.
© 2009 Janet Iles

Black Sheep Canadian Ancestors

Do you call a person a black sheep if they took part in a riot? My fourth great grandfather, Johan Niclaus Stoeber (Stiver) took part in "a riot" before coming to Canada.

In 1792, the Stoeber family left what is now Germany, as part of a group that left Europe under the leadership of William Berczy to come to America. They were to get about 23 acres of land (20 acres of woodland and 3 of pasture) in the land of the Genesee "for six years as tenants bound to deliver half the crop, with the right of preemption, at a 10 percent discount after the expiraton of the agreement. Funds for the passage as well as for supplies were forwarded to them by the [Genesee] Association and were to be repaid during the following six years."

The men worked at cutting the Williamson Road (named for Charles Williamson who built the Benjamin Patterson Inn at Painted Post, New York). The settlers endured many hardships.

Berczy and Williamson did not get along. On 28 July 1793, Williamson, it is reported, made three demands that Berczy would not accept
1. the settlers should accept Williamson as the leader
2. the contracts should be changed
3. the settlers should draw two or three months supply of beef, or pork, and flour.

Reluctantly, Berczy let Williamson speak to the settlers. The settlers refused to accept Williamson as their leader.

"Williamson then threatened to cut off their support. At this, they became angry and started hurling questions at Williamson: where were the promised mills and our church?" Berczy was able to quieten the settlers and Williamson promised them oxen.

29 July 1793 - Day of the Riot
A doctor, who had been hired by Williamson to spread rumours about Berczy, amongst the German settlers, told the settlers that Williamson was willing to forgive all their debts if they left the country. When the settlers asked Williamson about this, he said it was untrue. The doctor took back what he said, but the settlers "gave the doctor a few good blows." Williamson withdrew his offer of oxen, but this angered the settlers so they took oxen out of his barns in Williamsburg.

In August while Berczy and four of the men were in New York, Ontario County officials arrested "the most 'unruly' of the settlers . . . and put them in the Canandaigua jail to await trial. With the aid of the German Society, Berczy was able to get an injunction that "forbade Williamson from further troubling Berczy or his settlers."

The Trial - 30 October 1793

Fifteen of the settlers were tried.

The indictment:

with force and arms to wit with clubs and guns, with an intention to disturb the peace of the said people at the Town of Genesee, unlawfully riotously and routously assembled and met together and being so assembled together in and upon one Charles Williamson, then and there being in the peace of God and the people of the State of New York, made an assault on him the said Charles Williamson and him then and there did evilly treat and other wrongs then and there did to the said Charles Williamson to the great damage of the said Charles Williamson and against the peace of God and the people of the State of New York and their dignity.

The men named as "perpetrators of this 'evil deed' included Johan Nielas Staver" who would be my fourth great grandfather. They were found guilty and given a light fine, which, it is said they were able to pay off by working for the people of Canandaigua.

The "Berczy Settlers" left the area the following spring and headed to Upper Canada after working out a deal with Lord Graves Simcoe.

As far as I know, this was John Stiver's only confrontation with the law.

Information about the above is from the booklet, The Land of the Genesee : retracing the route of the Berczy Settler Ancestors by way of the Williamson Road, 1792-1794, Williamsport, Penn to Markham, Ont., October 23-26, 1996 : Background Booklet prepared by Bob Shank and Lorne Smith.

To learn more about the Markham Berczy Settlers, visit the website

My most famous Canadian relative

The 2nd edition of the Canadian Carnival of Genealogy hosted by Kathryn at looking4ancestors asks

The topic for the next edition of the CGC is "My Famous Canadian Ancestor". Was your ancestor a famous Canadian hockey player, actor or politician? Tell us about famous Canadians in your family. Don't have a famous Canadian ancestor in your family tree? Not to worry; choose a famous Canadian you admire and share why you would like to have this person as your ancestor.

If, all my information is correct, my most famous relative would be Billy Bishop, World War I flying ace. Before I say anything about him, I will first relate what information I have that is pointing to him as being a relative. Our common ancestor would be John Nicholas Stiver [Stoeber] and it is believed that we are both descendants of two of the daughters of John and his wife Anna.


I would be a descendant of their daughter Anna Stiver who married Josiah Hemingway. Unfortunately, I have not found a marriage record of this marriage which took place about 1800 but several sources connect the Hemingway and Stiver families.


Billy Bishop is considered a descendant of Mary Ann Stiver who married Johann Englehardt Helmke. It is believed that they married in the United States in 1793 while the group of Germanic folk travelling with William Berczy were living there. Johann Englehardt Helmke is listed with only a son on the passenger list of the Brigantine Catherine that left Hamburg and arrived 3 August 1792 in the United States.


When Johan E. Helmke died on 8 November 1835, he was buried in the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Buttonville, Ontario. Whereas when Mary Ann died on the 26 February 1855, she was buried in the Bethesda Lutheran Cemetery in Markham, Ontario amongst the other Stiver tombstones. Some of the early research on the family said that Mary Ann had been a Quantz but it is now felt that Johann's first wife may have been a Quantz

[If anyone reading this has documented evidence to support or disprove these statements, I would love to receive the information.]



Johan Englehardt Helmke and Mary Ann Stiver had a daughter Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Helmke married Avery Bishop

Their son Eleazer Wilson Bishop married Sara Sophia Kilbourn

Their son William Avery "Will" Bishop married Margaret Louise Green

Their son William Avery Bishop became famous for his accomplishments during World War I.

During the First World War, he was the most decorated Canadian.

Billy Bishop's childhood home is a national historic site and can be visited to learn about him and others who fought in the First and Second World War.

William Avery Bishop was born 8 February 1894 in Owen Sound to William Avery and Margaret Louise Greene. [1] He received his education in the Owen Sound schools. In 1911, he went to Kingston to attend the Royal Military College [2]

On the 30th of March 1915, William signed up with the Canadian Over-seas Expeditionary force as an officer. He is described on his attestation papers as 5 foot 6 inches of fair complexion with blue eyes and light brown hair. Because he contracted pneumonia, he did not leave Canada with the other members of the Mississauga Horse of Toronto. He went overseas with the 7th Canadian Mounted Rifles. The muddy English training camp was not to his liking and he was able to get transferred to the Royal Flying Corps first as an observer and then later as a pilot. In March 1917, Billy Bishop went to France. [3]

During a leave in Canada, William Avery Bishop married Margaret Eaton Burden on 17 October 1917 in Toronto. [4] He returned overseas where he is said to have shot down 72 enemy planes. He was awarded many medals but the highest honour was the Victoria Cross.

He died at his home in Palm Beach Florida at the age of 62 on 11 September 1956. His funeral service was in Montreal. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Owen Sound. [5]

If further research proves that I am not related to him, I will be still proud of what he accomplished for he was an Owen Sound lad and he was a Markham Berczy Settler descendant.

To see a companion article at Graveyard Rabbit of Grey County Ontario read William Avery Bishop.
Some of the sources for the above.


[1] William Avery Bishop Ontario birth registration #009363 (5 March [?] 1894); digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 1 December 2008), citing microfilm MS 929 reel 120, Archives of Ontario, Toronto

[2] William Arthur Bishop. The Courage of the Early Morning : a son's biography of a famous father. Toronto : McClelland & Stewart p. 15-16

[3] "Air Marshall Bishop native of Owen Sound dies in sleep at home" The Owen Sound Sun Times September 12, 1956.

[4]William Avery Bishop – Margaret Eaton Burden Ontario marriage registration #904316 (23 [?] October 1917); digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 1 December 2008), citing microfilm MS 932 reel 411, Archives of Ontario, Toronto

[5] "Air Marshall Bishop native of Owen Sound dies in sleep at home" The Owen Sound Sun Times September 12, 1956.; "Funeral of War I Ace W. A. (Billy) Bishop in Toronto on Friday" The Owen Sound Sun Times 12 September 1956; "Air Marshall Bishop's Ashes Interred in Family Plot" Owen Sound Sun Times September 18 1956; previous all from the Bruce Grey Branch Ontario Genealogical Surname Collection on microfiche; "Canada's Air Ace Billy Bishop, 62 dies in Florida" Toronto Star September 14, 1956 p. 1 & 2 digital image

Robert J. Shank. Descendants of Johan Engelhard Helmke, Ottawa : R. J. Shank, 1994

Politics and my ancestors

Politics was never a big topic of discussion in our household. I have always voted since I became eligible and as far as I know so did my parents.

To find out the political leanings of some of my early ancestors in Canada, I turned to Markham, 1793-1900 and the chapter "Tories, Reformers and Rebels".

By the time of the Rebellion of 1837, two parties had formed -- the Tories and the Reformers. Voting took several days and up to a week as long as there was at "least one vote per hour".

To quote from the book

The organization of gangs to intimidate voters, the provision of free liquor in the taverns during election week, wholesale impersonation, bribery, the issuing of false land deeds to create voters, all made a mockery of the voting process.

The secret ballot did not exist at that time. In the 1832, election James E. Small (Tory) and William Lyon Mackenzie (Reformer) and one independent ran for the legislature to represent York County. In the list from Markham Township (p.188) none of my ancestors voted for the Tory candidate. On the list of supporters for Mackenzie, I find Josiah Hemingway, Peter Hemingway, and Henry Stiver. Also on the list were some of the other Berczy settlers and descendants.

Isabel Champion, Markham, 1793-1900. Markham, ON : Markham Historical Society, 1979.

Happy Simcoe Day

Today is a Civic Holiday in most of Ontario. It is a beautiful day here in my part of Ontario. After this quick posting, I am headed out doors.

It is only in recent years that this holiday has become to be known as Simcoe Day. Having a holiday on the first Monday in August is not a new scheme to have a summer holiday. According to the Ontario Archives web site article, Toronto city council declared the first Monday of August as a holiday back in 1875. In 1969, they renamed it Simcoe Day. This naming seems to have been picked up by other communities.

John Graves Simcoe was Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1792 to 1796. My Germanic ancestors Johan Niclaus Stőber [later Stiver] and his family arrived in Canada during this time in 1794. Under the leadership of William Berczy, my ancestors along with about 60 other families received free land promised by Simcoe in Markham Township.

So as I celebrate Simcoe Day, I remember my ancestors who came to Canada when this province was just being settled north east of Toronto in Markham Township. I think of the hardships they endured during those early years. How that area has changed!

A Place Called Home

A Place Called Home. Carnival of Genealogy #47. It's time for a geography lesson. Pick out a city/town/village where one of your ancestors once lived and tell us all about it. When was it founded? What is it known for? Has is prospered or declined over the years? Have you ever visited it or lived there? To a certain extent, we are all influenced by the environment we live in. How was your ancestor influenced by the area where they lived? Take us on a trip to the place your ancestor called home.

Three of my ancestral lines called Markham Township, Ontario, Canada home for various lengths of time.

STIVER / STOBER / STOEBER The Stiver / Stöber line came to Markham Township in late 1794, having left Germany in 1792 and spending over a year in New York State. The family was part of the Markham Berczy Settlers.

The 200 acre parcel of land that William Berczy allotted to Johann Niclaus Stöber was at Lot 19, Concession 2 of Markham Township. This is south of the present day Major Mackenzie Drive, between Bayview Avenue and Leslie Street [Headford], near the Town of Richmond Hill. On the Ontario Archives Land Record Index, Johann is called Nicholas Stöber. He received the land by free grant and it was issued July 3, 1797. He received the patent for this land in 1808 but Johann immediately sold it to Henry C. Philips. There is also a lease of land at lot 20, concession 6 [east of what was to become Unionville] dated January 5, 1804.


When the family arrived in the recently, partially-surveyed area of Markham Township, few European people would have lived there. The arrival of the Berczy Settlers of about 200 people is considered the first "systematic attempt at settlement" of the area. By November of 1794, the people were on their land living in make-shift homes. The land needed to be cleared. The first few years were very harsh. Some families left. Our Stöber / Stiver ancestors remained and there are still descendants living in the area. There is some indication that some of the family may have returned to the Niagara Region for a short time but returned when the War of 1812 broke out.

When the family arrived, the area was heavily forested with pine, oak, maple and butternut trees. The main rivers of the area were the Don and Rouge and were most likely were the main transportation routes as there were only trails between homes and settlements. Many of the Berczy settler men helped with clearing parts of Yonge Street going north from York, which became Toronto, the capital of the province. "The first saw and grist mills in York County were built by William Berczy in early days of settlement. They were situated on the River Rouge, on lot no. 4, in the 3rd concession, and were known as the German Mills." [History of Toronto and York County, 1885 v1. p. 115]

HEMINGWAY The exact date of the arrival of Josiah Hemingway in Markham Township is not known but would most likely have been by 1800. The area would still be very much in the development stages as noted in the quote below. Josiah settled Lot 4 & 5, Concession 4 of Markham Township.

In The History of Toronto and York County (1885 v.2 p.290): Josiah was described as follows:

After his marriage, he settled on lot 4, concession 4 of that township, his land then being in its primaeval state; but through succeeding years he and his faithful helpmate after the first of the hardships -- the labourious work of clearing -- was accomplished, got together a very comfortable home. Josiah died in the year 1854, at the advanced age of eighty years, leaving a family of three sons and six daughters. Relative to the early history of York County, it may be mentioned that Josiah Hemingway with his seven and a half pound axe cleared the first part of Yonge Street leading north from Toronto.

His date of death is incorrect in the book. [More on that in a future posting.]













JOHNSTON David Johnston came from Annan, Scotland with his parents and siblings in 1833 and lived in Richmond Hill for about a year and a half. In 1834, the family moved to Uxbridge Township, Lot 35, Concession 5. At what point, David left home is not known. The 1846-7 Brown's Directory shows him at Lot 5, Concession 4, which was the same property that was listed for Josiah Hemingway, his father-in-law. The Roswell's Toronto & York directory, 1850-1 shows him living at Lot 1, Concession 6, Markham Township.

In Lovell's Canadian Dominion Directory of 1870-1 David Johnson, shoemaker is listed as living and working in Unionville, which had a population of about 250 at that time.

Markham Township grew as more settlers joined the original German families that settled the area. By 1842, the township had 5,695 people living there. By 1871, the population had grown to 8,152. By the 1881 census, the population of 6,375 is reported with incorporated municipalities of the villages of Markham, Stouffville and Richmond Hill taken out of the count.

Today, Markham Township, no longer exists on the map of Ontario as a municipality. In 1952, part of the township was annexed by Richmond Hill Village. In 1971, part was annexed by Markham Town, part by Richmond Hill Town, rest by the new Whitchurch-Stouffville Town". Markham is part of the Regional Municipality of York.

Within the Town of Markham now can be found the former municipalities of Milliken, Thornhill, Village of Markham and Village of Unionville. The once mainly agricultural area is a fast growing urban area. From the early days with the German Lutherans being joined by the German speaking Mennonites to the arrival of the English speaking people, Markham has become home to 285,000 of many cultures. Thanks to Heritage Markham, the Town is trying to preserve and remember its heritage. The Town's motto is "Leading While Remembering." Unionville is a beautiful area with the early main street buildings maintained. It is a great place to spend the day.

I have never lived in Markham Township. Fortunately, it is only a three-hour drive. Since 1993, I usually visit once a year for the Markham Berczy Settlers meeting. I have seen the growth of the area. New sub-divisions are being added. The agricultural land is disappearing. In 2004, I spent a week there while attending the Markham Berczy Settlers' Research Days.

To help you locate the area, I have now added a map.



View Larger Map


Sources
All photos are from Unionville, Ontario taken in 1992.

Dunford, Fraser. Municipal Records in Ontario : History and Guide. Toronto : Ontario Genealogical Society, 2005
The 1846-7 Brown's DirectoryHistory of Toronto and York County, Ontario is now available for reading and searching at http://www.ourroots.ca/ Volume 1 contains the history of Toronto and York up to 1885. The Township of Markham in the book format is from p 114 to 124. Volume 2 contains the biographical sketches.
Lovell's Canadian Dominion Directory of 1870-1Markham, 1793-1900. Markham, Ontario :Markham District Historical Society, 1989. 2nd ed. Isabel Champion Editor.The Roswell's Toronto & York directory, 1850-1
A Story of the Markham Berczy Settlers : 210 years in Markham 1794-2004 : a Story of Bravery and Perseverance. Markham, ON : Markham Berczy Settlers Association, 2004

Guess who's coming for dinner?

I couldn't resist this title for the 41st Carnival of Genealogy submission
The challenge

If you could have dinner with four of your ancestors who would they be and why? Here's a chance to exercise your imagination... Would you have dinner in the present day or in one of their eras? Would you dine out or opt for a home cooked meal? What would you discuss at the dinner table? What would you most like to share with them about your life?

Who would be there?

1. My 4th great grandfather -- John Nicholas Stiver (born Johan Niclaus Stőber [Stoeber]) in what is now Germany around 1745. He came to Canada in 1794.
   
2. My great-great grandfather Thomas Love. Thomas came to Canada with his wife in the 1840s
   
3. My great grandmother - Emily Iles nee Pugh. She came to Canada with her family in 1905
   
4. My great grandfather - Josiah Dudley. Josiah lived all his life in England.

Although it would be interesting to visit them in the past, I think I will invite them all to join me in the present time. They would come dressed in their clothing of their era.
I would invite my sister and brother and their children to come to the meal. I would invite everyone for a home cooked meal, but I would not be the one who prepared the whole meal. I would ask my brother (who is a great barbecuer), my nephew (who is a chef) and my sister to prepare one of her delicious recipes. In addition to a barbecue with a great assortment of food, I would make my mother's recipe for macaroni and cheese and also the casserole that I made most Saturday afternoons in my teens.
Discussion - lots of questions for each of these folks. Perhaps, they would share some of their adventures with each other.
1. John Stiver - How did your name evolve? Who were your parents? Where were you born? What did you do in Germany? What was your wife's maiden name? Did you leave any family behind in Europe and what were their names? Why did you join up with William Berczy and the other travellers? Were you the "Stubbe with wife and five children" referred to in the Pennsylvania German Pioneers listing of those on board the brigantine vessel, Catharina that sailed from Hamburg in 1792 and arrived in Philadelphia 3 August 1792? We know of only four children. Was there another child or is that an error? What were your feelings as you left your homeland? What was the voyage like? Did you help with clearing roads in the United States and Canada? Did you learn to speak English? Did you have any regrets about coming to Canada?
2. Thomas Love - We don't know much about you. Where were you born in Scotland? How did you meet your wife Agnes Hamilton? Tell me more about life in Scotland. Why did you come to Canada? How did you hear about this country? What was the voyage like? Where were the children born? What did you do in Canada? Where were you living when you died?
3. Emily Iles nee Pugh. Did you ever know your father and do you know what happened to him? What did your mother tell you about life in the workhouse (poor house)? Did your mother re-marry? How did you meet George? What was it like moving from place to place? Were you happy with the decision to come to Canada? Did George come the year before? What brought you to Owen Sound? What was your voyage like?
4. Josiah Dudley - Were you born in the workhouse? Did you have any siblings? What happened to them? Did your mother ever talk about your father? The story that has been passed down to us that you had Spanish ancestry. I was told that you were born in Spain but that is not what is said on the census. Was there a Spanish connection with your mother's father? Her father was Thomas according to her marriage later in life. I found a Thomas Dudley living in the area that was British Subject born in Spain. Was that her father? Who did you learn your brick laying trade from? Were you a lay preacher? What was it like to be part of the Salvation Army in the early days?
What would I like to share with them about my life? - an interesting question. To help all my guests understand how we are all interconnected, I would show a family chart. Perhaps, I would prepare a DVD to give them an idea about their descendants and the areas that some of them lived. - with lots of photos. I would take them for a ride around my region. Emily would be interested in seeing the changes in the places where she lived here. It would be interesting to hear their reactions to all these changes. Would they like to live in these times?

Berczy Bunch

Back on the 14th of August, I talked about the Markham Berczy Settlers Association web page and the search Rollyo I had created, but I didn't explain the purpose of this group.

It is an association comprised primarily of descendants & spouses of the original settlers to Markham Township, Ontario who came from Germany to Markham in 1794 via the USA. The group promotes research about the group as a whole and the individual families. In 1993, I made the discovery that I was a descendant of one of these early settlers. Johan Stoeber (changed to Stiver)- his daughter Anna married Josiah Hemingway. Then his daughter Hannah married David Johnston and goes on from there.

http://www.bmts.com/~jiles

I knew from a handwritten chart (my mother's handwriting with information from her mother) that Hannah Hemingway and David Johnston were my ancestors and they lived in the Markham Township area. It was through reading the history of Markham that I had purchased at an Ontario Genealogical Society seminar in Toronto that I made the discovery. See my LibraryThing holdings to see books about Markham Township. http://www.librarything.com/catalog/researchergal

In 1994, the newly formed Markham Berczy Settlers Association had a large reunion of descendants of the early families. What a day! Since then, I have been an active member of the organization serving on the Board of Directors. I act as webmaster of the web site and this week updated the newsletter index. It is now on 10 pages. The annoucement of the upcoming meeting is also posted. Robert M. MacIntosh, author of Earliest Toronto will speak.

It is always fun to get together with other members of the group, especially the 5th cousins! This group is a combination genealogy and historical association. It is through this orgnization, I became really interested in combining the study of history and genealogy.
http://www.markhamberczysettlers.ca/