Jacob H. Shunk

Brothersvalley Township incorporated in 1771, was originally in Bedford County. Somerset County, was later formed out of Bedford county in 1795. In 1758, when General Forbes sent out some of his scouts to survey a route between Fort Bedford and Fort Duquesne, they came upon and area being called "Bruedersthal" or Brothers Valley. This was named after inhabitants who belonged to the German Baptist faith, who addressed each other as "brueder" the German word for brother. The township when formed was larger than any of the counties of Pennsylvania today. It stretched from the Allegheny Mountains on the east, Laurel Mountains on the west, Mason Dixon line to the south and divided between the Susquehanna & Allegheny rivers to the north. It is a beautiful bowl in a valley, nestled between the mountains.

Came to Canada 1798

Jacob walked to Canada with 2$ and a logging chain and bought lot 8 con 4 -200 acres from John Dexter registered on Jan 10 1804 (registrations were done later than sale). From page 279 in History of Vaughan Township "personally appeared,Ida Dexter, wife of Gency Dexter and released to Jacob Shunk, her dower in the lot numbered 8 in the Fourth Concession of Vaughan .

Placed farmhouse near road on Jane street

Walked back to Brothersvalley, PA, USA and got married

620 km = 5 1/3 days solid walking (or say 2 weeks) = 7 hours solid driving today

Google maps:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=49+wheeler+ave+toronto&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf...

He was taken to court for not lending his sleighs to the 1812 War effort.

On March 19th, 1814 in York, Christian Troyer was taken to court and it is listed in the minutes of the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, Home District with Thomas Ridout Esg., Chairman, assisted by William Allan and Duncan Cameron as follows: "The following persons had been summoned to attend Court this day and shew cause why they have not sent forward their Teams with Sleighs as regularly impressed and directed so to do, for Government Service," The names of the persons in court were: Christian Troyer; John Oister (Oster); Michael Kiffer (Keffer); John Shank (Shunk); John Snider: and Joseph Michler. The Constable, Samuel Arnold, who impressed the sleighs with teams belonging to the above named persons did not attend, so they consequently were dismissed by the Court.

In the Mennonite Family History magazine July 1987 volume VI number 3 Page 103 is a copy of a document signed by Jacob Shunk and John Shunk. The 1809 document can be found in the Canadian Archives. These two men came with their families from Somerset PA along with several other families including David Holley who settled in the Weston area of Etobicoke, Berky, Troyer, Fisher, Shantz Christner and Mishler are among the names who signed the document. David Holley had recruited these families to return with him to Canada.

1837 Concession 4 Lot 8 Vaughan (1852 son Simon and Susannah family working farm with Jacob and Christena)

Keffer Concession3 Lot 12 Vaughan (Johnathan)

Early settlers in Vaughan Township faced tremendous hardships and challenges. Much of Vaughan was wilderness. Land had to be cleared for farming, and roads, schools, and churches built. There were no hospitals, and stores to provide even basic amenities were few and far between. The early pioneers of Vaughan were therefore extremely tough and self-reliant, producing much of their own clothing, food, and building materials. By 1840, one-third of Vaughan Township had been cleared for agriculture, with the remaining two-thirds of available land comprising bush.

Edgeley is a small hamlet community located in Vaughan, in York Region, Ontario. The first inhabitants of the Edgeley area came from Somerset County, Pennsylvania, circa 1800. Early family names were Smith, Stong, Shunk, Hoover, Burkholder, Snider, Brown and Dalziel. A Mennonite church, built of logs in 1824 on the northern portion of Lot #7, Concession #4, was one of the first churches built in Vaughan Township. A steam-powered shingle mill stood on the northwest corner of Highway 7 and Jane Street. A hotel was located on the northeast corner, with a general store on the southeast corner. The store contained the Edgeley post-office from 1872-1960. Just south of the store, Samuel Snider operated a horse-powered cider mill. His son-in-law, Abraham Winger, and Abraham's brother Henry later took over the business, putting up a new steam-powered mill and producing apple cider, butter and jelly until the early 1900's.

The area was also served by a blacksmith, a shoemaker, a casket maker, a dressmaking establishment, a chopping mill, a woodworking shop, which supplied wagons and buggies, two slaughterhouses and a community hall. The Edgeley farmers club was organized in 1917, and for years the farmers in the area obtained their supplies of coal, binder twine, salt and other necessities through the club. The club's annual oyster supper was one of the community's social highlights.

Edgeley was famous for fruits, mainly apples, thereby supporting many of the settlers who worked its fertile lands. Almost the entire landscape of Edgeley was covered in fruit trees, most notably around what is now known as Edgeley Boulevard. Because of the fertile lands, great success came to the town's settlers, and today, many streets in and around Edgeley have been named after them and their products.

Today, Edgeley has been subsumed into the City of Vaughan. Vaughan is an important industrial and commercial hub for Ontario, second only to Mississauga in size and capacity.

Black Creek Pioneer Village

Mennonite Meeting House 1824

Original location: Edgely, Ontario (Jane Steet & Hwy. 7)

This 1824 log structure, built in Edgeley by skilled craftsmen of the Mennonite community, is the oldest existing meeting house in Ontario. The exterior is covered with clapboard and the inside is sheeted with hand-hewn pine boards. The building contains all its original furnishings and was transported intact to Black Creek Pioneer Village on October 15, 1976. Very little restoration was required to return the meeting house to its original state

Edgely Slaughter House c. 1860

Original Location: Edgely, Ontario (Jane Street and Hwy #7)

Built with a timber frame and board and batten finish the slaughter house was used by several farmers in the community to butcher livestock. Because storing large quantities of meat was difficult in a time before refrigeration, farmers often worked together sharing the meat from one animal at a time. The Slaughter House was moved to the Village in 1970 and opened to the public in 1971

Apple Storage Cellar c. 1850

Original Location: Edgeley, Ontario (Jane Street and Hwy #7)

Built using field stone and brick. Only 8 feet by 7 feet on the inside it took 65 man days to dismantle and rebuild this tiny structure on site at Black Creek. It has two sets of doors to better insulate the space for fruit and root vegetable storage. A small vent at the opposite end from the doors was opened and closed according to the weather to regulate the temperature inside. Wooden bins along the walls held the apples in layers of straw to insulate the fruit and increase their storage life. The Apple Cellar was dismantled and re-erected at the Village in 1976.

Mennonite Meeting House 1824

Original location: Edgely, Ontario (Jane Steet & Hwy. 7)

This 1824 log structure, built in Edgeley by skilled craftsmen of the Mennonite community, is the oldest existing meeting house in Ontario. The exterior is covered with clapboard and the inside is sheeted with hand-hewn pine boards. The building contains all its original furnishings and was transported intact to Black Creek Pioneer Village on October 15, 1976. Very little restoration was required to return the meeting house to its original state.

Plaque-Location: Jane Street, just north of Highway #7-states:

The first inhabitants of the Edgeley area came from Somerset County, Pennsylvania, circa 1800. Early family names were Smith, Stong, Shunk, Hoover, Burkholder, Snider, Brown and Dalziel. A Mennonite church built by logs in 1824 on the north half of lot #7, concession #4, was one of the first churches built in Vaughan Township.

A steam powered shingle mill stood on the northwest corner of highway #7 and Jane Street. a hotel was located on the northeast corner and a general store on the southeast corner. The store contained the Edgeley post-office from 1872-1960.

Just south of the store, Samuel Snider operated a horse powered cider mill. Later his son-in-law, Abraham Winger and his brother Henry took over and put up a new steam powered mill and produced cider, apple butter and apple jelly until the early 1900's.

The area was also served by a blacksmith, a shoemaker, a casket maker, a dressmaking establishment, a chopping mill, a woodworking shop, which supplied wagons and buggies, two slaughter houses and a community hall.

The Edgeley farmers club was organized in 1917 and for years the farmers in the area obtained their supplies of coal, binder twine, salt and other necessities through the club. The club's annual oyster supper was one of the community's social highlights.

Regarding Adam, my informant tells the story that during the lifetime of John, Jacob and Adam, Adam came to Toronto and went to the local market and made enquiries among the farmers there from Vaughan township regarding his brothers. One of these farmers drove him to Vaughan, and to the farm of Jacob. Adam arrived there after dark and knocked at the door which was answered by Jacob. Jacob said he did not know the person, and Adam told him he was his brother from Pennsylvania. Adam had to return the next day, so the story says they talked all night.

The notes I have are from the Family Bible of Simon Shunk and is now in the possession of Mr. John Quincy Shunk, born Aug 5, 1866, son of Adam Shunk, son of Simon. This Mr. John Quincy Shunk lives at Bucyrus, Ohio. 

Record as taken from German Bible, of Adam Shunk. (Should also be Simon). This Bible is considerably more than 100 years old. Following is the birth certificate of Adam Shunk.
Adam was born to Christian and honorable parents, adhering to the Reformed Faith, in Pennsylvania, Brudersvalley Township, Somerset County, in the year of our Lord, 1797, the 23rd March and was baptised by the Rev. Heinrich Kiesze. The parents were Simon Schunck, and Susanna Schunck.
CHILDREN OF SIMON SCHUNCK.

1776 March 23rd, Isaac Schunck,

1777 March 2nd, Johannes (John) (this is our John)

1778 Dec. 27th, Simon,

1780 Sept. 30th, Jacob (this is our Jacob)

1782 Sept. 13th, Cadrina (Katherine)

1784 Oct. 24th, Wilhelm, (William)

1787 Feb. 2nd, Elizabeth,

1789 May 18th, Susana,

1791 May 4th, Goerg (George) (this is our George)

1793 Feb 5th, Peter,

1795 May 15th, Christina,

1797 March 23rd, Adam,

1799 May 4th, (the writing here, so they say is a bit illegible but is thought to be BENJAMIN.)

Children of Adam Shunk and wife…….Bensart married Jan 1, 1816,

1816 June 15th, Metilda Shunk

1817 Dec. 14th, Deleile,

1819 Nov 7th, Johannes (John)

1822 Aug. 13th, Ellen,

1824 June 1st, Abraham,

1826 Dec 1st, Evangelene,

1829 Apr 1st, Adam,

1831 Sept. 30th, Polly (Pauline)

1833 July 21st, Elizabeth,

1834 Sept. 3rd, Wilhelm.

Adam married again, second wife, Marie Catharine Bach, married Aug 12, 1845,

Their children;-

1847 May 21st, Francis R.,

1849 Nov. 7th, Nelson F.,

1852 Jan. 25th, Mary Louisa,

1854 April 25th, Wilhelm Titor,

1856 Dec. 6th, Joseph Bertem,

1859 June 20th, Tomson Warren,

1862 June 24th, Nete (Reta)

1866 Aug. 5th, Johannes (John Quincy)

1869 July 2nd, Catherine.

GEDCOM Note

went to Vaughan Twp. York Co. Ontario 1798
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History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania; Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1884, p. 506

CHAPTER LXI. JENNER [Township]

Jacob Shunk lived in this county at an early day. Afterward he moved to Canada, where a son named George was born, who came to this county in 1820.
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From Marion Keffer's "History of Jacob Shunk, Vaughan Twp, York County, son of Simon Schunck 1749-1828" she wrote in regard to Jacob, "The legend is that after being here for two years (some branches say after 10 acres were cleared) he walked back to BVT [Brothers Valley Township] and while there got married.

Sincerely, Evelyn Buck [e.mail address on file]
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From: Lorne Shunk [e.mail address on file]
To: "Michael S. Caldwell"
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999
Subject: Jacob Shunk & Christina dates

Marion Keffer's data recorded Jacob Shunk & Christina (Koch) Shunk's vital stats incorrectly. or the carving on the tombstone is incorrect. The tombstone for them is one combined stone and it reads for Jacob, "Jacob Shunk died June 27, 1877 aged 97 yrs, 3 mos, 27 days". Making his birth date 29 Feb 1780. For Christina the tombstone reads "Christina, wife of Jacob Shunk died, June 25, 1876, aged 84 yrs, 5 mos". Making her birth date as 25 Jan 1792. I have a photo of the tombstone.
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Mennonite Cem. Vaughan Twp. York Co. Ontario

JACOB SHUNK | DIED | JUNE 27, 1877 | AGED | 97 YRS. 3 M'S | & 27 DYS.

CHRISTINA | WIFE OF | JACOB SHUNK | DIED | JUNE 26, 1875 | AGED 84 YRS. | 5 M.
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