J. Harold Sherk, Jr. collection

Title: J. Harold Sherk Jr. collection of Sherk family documents

Dates of creation: 1775, 1805, 1813, 1822, 1864, 1903

Physical description: 2 cm of textual records

Custodial history: These documents were given to J. Harold Sherk Jr. by land developer Dan McCleary in 1969, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. McCleary was developing land for building lots on the site of the Sherk farm. The documents were donated to the Mennonite Archives of Ontario by J. Harold Sherk Jr. in 2015.

Scope and content: Contains 10 documents consisting of releases, deeds, surveys, a receipt and a patent related to the farm property purchased in 1775 by Joseph Schorg [Shirk] from the estate of John Mitchell. The farm was located in Letterkenny Township, Cumberland County, now known as Greene Township, Franklin County, just sounth of Greene Village.

Notes:
Located in map case.
The spelling of "Mitchell" is inconsistent in the documents.
Original archival description created 2015 by Laureen Harder-Gissing.
 

File list:

1. Surveyor's map, 11 Nov 1813
   Note: A copy from the Surveyor General's office, Harrisburg, of the survey of 1 Nov 1774, in pursuance of a warrant granted to John Mitchell on 10 Jul 1752.
2. Release by Agnes Mitchell, 6 Jun 1775
   Note: Release by Agnes Mitchell, widow of John Mitchell, to their sons and executors Ebenezer and John Mitchell.
3. Release by Matthew and Mary Mitchel and James and Isabel Wilson, 25 Mar 1775
   Note: Release to executors Ebenezer and John Mitchell from their siblings Matthew and Isabel.
4. Deed to Joseph Shirk, 1775
   Note: Deed to 288 acres from the Mitchell estate to Joseph Sherk. Recorded in Carlisle, Cumberland County, 24 April 1778.
5. Deed to Abraham Shirk, 1805
   Note: Deed to Abraham Shirk from Joseph Shirk of southern portion of 288 acres, signed "Joseph Schorg," 9 Dec 1805
6. Surveyor's map accompanying 9 Dec 1805 deed, 8 Apr 1805
7. Receipt to Abraham Shirk, 1822
   Note: Receipt to Abraham Shirk from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania issued on 6 Feb 1822 for the purchase and interest on the original 288 acres for which a warrant was originally issued to John Mitchell.
8. Patent to Abraham Shirk, 6 Feb 1822
9. Survey map, 1864
   Note: For Jacob Shirk and Abraham Stouffer, executors for Abraham Shirk, 119 acres, 22 Sept 1864
10. Survey map, 1903
    Note: Survey map for executors for Peter Wadel, 30 Jul 1903. Wadel bought the land from Abraham Shirk following Shirk's death.
11. Notes
    Note: Includes Deed of Gift for these materials, historical notes from J. Harold Sherk Jr., obituaries for J. Harold Sherk, Jr. and Ruth (Thaler) Sherk, and a copy of "Revelations from code H4 Joseph Schurch documents" / by Justin Krik Houser