Re: Christopher Merkley, Dundas, Ontario

Hi Grant!
Christopher Merkley was the son of Jacob Merkley and Elizabeth Stata who settled in Mariatown, Dundas County, Ontario.Christopher was born 18 Dec. 1808.He married first Sarah Davis in Dundas County and then travelled west circa 1850 to join the Mormons in Salt Lake City Utah.His sister Eve went also. He had two other wives, Xarissa Fairbanks and Minerva Stowell whom, I believe, he married in the U.S.Nelson is the son of Sarah Davis I believe and was born in Dundas County.

Christopher's brother, Henry, is my gr.gr.grandfather and farmed in Williamsburg Twp. Dundas County.He married Sarah Jane Thom in 1827.

Apparently, in the mid-1800s, the Mormons were travelling throughout Ontario and up state NY, searching for converts to the Mormon religion and Christopher travelled west with his children to join the church.The rest of the family, except Eve, remained in Ontario, and another sister went to up-state NY to live.

Christopher was the grandson of Jacob Merckel and Maria Shaeffer, both of whom were born in the Schoharie Valley of New York State circa 1750.During the Revolution, Jacob joined the King's Royal Regiment of New York in 1777, and fought as a Loyalist soldier for the rest of Revolution.He and his wife were granted land near Mariatown, Dundas Co. and that is where he and his brothers, his wife, his mother and his children started all over again.

If you are looking for more information, please feel free to contact me.

Sue