Stepping Outside the Prompts ~ X6 great grandfather STEPhen Claus

 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

This is Chris' father's maternal line. It is their son who merged his father's maternal & paternal lines when he got married.

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. 

How the Bramble Bush visual was first created!!! 

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/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Nature VS Nurture ~ My 2 Dads (part 1 of 2)

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 19 (Nurture)

This is part one of a two part series looking at NATURE VS NURTURE.  I worked in the field of social services, and studied Psychology. The topic of genetics vs learned has always fascinated me. Through no fault of my own I grew up with two fathers. I was very blessed that both of my fathers loved me, and were there for me throughout my growing up. In today's world of co-parenting this isn't unusual. In the 70s we were unique. 

This week I will focus on my stepfather, and his family. When I was 8 years old my parents separated. By the time I was 10 I had two dads. My primary home was a blended family - His (2), Hers (2), Ours (1). My brother and I (hers) visited our father while 'his' visited theirs. My youngest brother had 2 older siblings every day of the year,  but it wasn't always the same brother and sister down the hall. This worked great for the practicality of a smaller home for extended visits, but didn't work great in creating attached relationship between all 5 of us. We were sibling groups of 3 -- my youngest brother belonged to both.

My earliest memory of my step-dad was when they were first dating. He was supposed to drop my brother and I off at the theater for a matinee, and return to pick my mom up. They planned to pick us up from the theater after the movie. He ended up calling my mom from the desk in the theater to tell her that he was going to see the movie with us. He went on the explain the movie playing was the Towering Inferno, and he thought it would be too scary for us to see alone. It wasn't long after that day that he moved in with us, and not too long after that they were married. This was a man that made us feel safe right up until the day he died in 2010. My brother and I called him dad, and he referred to us as his children. When I talk about my dads it is very confusing for folks because I reference them both as dad. Only when I need to clarify do I add their names. 

Our wedding day with my parents

When I was 10 my younger brother was born. He was my personal baby doll. I took him everywhere. The few photos we have of all 5 of us we do look alike with him being the tie that binds the 5. This is where Nurture and Nature appear to blend. I often wondered if it was because my parents looked quite a bit alike.

Around the time they first became a couple

When I was about 12 we were at my dad's work Christmas party when a coworker said to my dad that his daughter had short legs like him. My dad never clarified that I wasn't related to him genetically. He just smiled. Not too long after my brother was very sick in hospital, and the doctor asked about family history. Dad started answering questions when my mom gently reminded him the doctor likely wanted the biological family history. Dad often forgot we weren't his by birth.

Father & Daughter, on my wedding day

At age 13 I became a downhill skier. Without my dad this would never have happened. I am not a risk taker. The idea of strapping some sticks on my feet, and sliding down a mountain terrified me. My dad took me by the hand, and kept me safe while I figured out what to do. Not long before he died in January 2010 I stood on the top of a mountain in the beautiful sunshine looking at the beauty of the mountains, and gave thanks that I could enjoy this moment with my husband & two sons because of the dad who chose me when I was 8 years old.

Dad skiing

When we were first introduced to my new grandparents they accepted my brother and I as if we had been born to them. My new grandmother sat me at her table to see if I could be taught to knit pictures just like she did with all her grandchildren. My brother and I were accepted as grandchildren from the very first day we arrived. We were not of their blood, but that didn't matter. We grew under their hearts.

My brother and I with our dad and grandparents sometime in the 80s

Remembering the man who made the decision to be my dad even though he didn't need to be. 

Julien Joseph Boogemans

1947–2010

BIRTH 29 OCT 1947 • Heist Op Den Berg, Antwerpen, Belgium

DEATH 20 JAN 2010 • Balfour, British Columbia, Canada

First time Grandfather (with my oldest son on the day he was born)

In looking at who I am as an adult there is no doubt that NURTURE played a large roll. 

Next week I will share the NATURE side of my story. 

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***

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

.