52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2024: Week 16 (STEP)
Taking a different approach to this week's STEP prompt I will write about Chris' 6th great grandfather, Johan STEPhen (Stephen) Claus (born Abt. 1695 in Waltersdorf, Germany, and died Abt. 1780 likely in Germany). His son was the immigrant ancestor for this family line.
5th great grandfather
Johan Georg (John) Claus
BIRTH 10 APR 1750 • Backnang, Württemberg, Germany
DEATH 18 JUN 1824 • Vineland, Niagara, Ontario, Canada
He was 56 years old when his daughter, 4th great grandmother Mary, was born via his 3rd wife.
John Claus was a Loyalist who settled in Ontario. He received land grants in what later became known as Ontario.
He was married 3 times.
He's buried with his 2nd wife at the Vineland Mennonite Cemetery.
"Another interesting feature of the site is that not all of the people buried there were Mennonites. In fact, just a row over from Mennonite pacifists lie John Claus and his wife Mary, United Empire Loyalists who came over as part of a group that included Mohawk Chief Joseph Brant. Unlike the Mennonites, who came from Pennsylvania, Claus and Brant came from Tryon County, New York, after fighting with Butler's Rangers (in Brant's case commanding his own warriors as a British ally), a fierce unit that fought guerrilla-style warfare and terrorized the New York countryside in support of the British Crown. The Claus stones are some of the earliest that have survived, a fact that is easily discernible by the amateur carving of the inscriptions, which have uneven lettering, and in the case of Mary's stone, is slightly slanted." 1
Chris descends from the only child, Mary, with his 3rd wife, Margaret. I haven't yet found where Margaret is buried. Their daughter Mary was born, raised and died in this area that became home. This was also the area their descendants remain in.
Mary Claus (X4 great grandma)
BIRTH 1806 • Bayham, Elgin, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 19 MAY 1879 • Bayham, Elgin County, Ontario, Canada
married
Isaac Williams (X4 great grandpa)
BIRTH 19 MAY 1802 • New York, USA
DEATH 19 MAR 1868 • Bayham, Elgin Co, Ontario, Canada
X3 great grandparents:
Robert Henry Williams
BIRTH 31 MAR 1831 • Ontario
DEATH 12 FEB 1896 • Bayham, Ontario, Canada
and
Katherine E Rittenour
BIRTH 11 OCT 1836 • Niagara, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 18 SEP 1920 • Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
This Williams line also connects to Chris' mother's maternal line.
While Chris grew up primarily in Western Canada he was born in Southern Ontario where these first settlers arrived. The majority of his relatives continue to reside in the nearby vicinity.
When adding new folks to our Bramble Bush to this area it's a must to check if they are already there because there is a good chance they are since all of Chris' lines wrap back around to each other.
This is why I search -
Cause ...
You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***
Footnotes:
1 Doors Open, Lincoln, Niagara, Ontario - The Vineland Mennonite Burial Ground. Canadian Heritage Matters. Originally published October 12th 2019. Retrieved April 12th 2024 from
https://canadianheritagematters.weebly.com/in-the-field/doors-open-lincoln-niagara-ontario-the-vineland-mennonite-burial-ground
Sources:
Claus, John. Undated Upper Canada Land Petition of John Claus Received at the Executive Council Office on 8 Aug 1795. Retrieved April 12th 2024 from
https://sites.google.com/site/niagarasettlers/upper-canada-land-petitions/petitions-c/petitions-chewett-to-claus#h.p_ID_450
John Claus. FindAGrave. Retrieved April 12th 2024 from
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/111715736/john-claus
Links:
Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/
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