Research Notes:
1732 Casper Sherk was married in December to Magdalena Foulk, sister of Peter Foulk and Margaret (Foulk) Rink, wife of Johannes Rink. [1]
1738 On 5 October, Caspar Sherk warranted 200 acres on Swetawora Creek adjoining Charles Stout and Jacob Milree. Returned 28 Nov 1725. [2] [3] [4]
1754 On May 29, Casper Sherk [Sherrock] warranted 250 acres in Bethel Twp, Lancaster County. [5] The survey was returned the same day. [6] [7]
1754 On May 13, Casper Sherk [Sherrock] patented 250 acres in Lancaster County that he had warranted 29 May 1754. [8]
1750 Casper Sherk was taxed at Bethel until his death. [9]
1751 Casper Sherk and Peter Sherk, perhaps sons of this Casper, were taxed in Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County. [10]
1754 On May 30, Casper Sherk patented land in Bethel Twp, Lancaster (now Lebanon) county, recorded in Philadelphia Patent Book A16-524. [11]
1756 Casper Sherick, Ulrick Sherick, and John Sherick were taxed in Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County. [12]
1760 Casper Sherk of Lancaster County received ½ moiety of 143 acres in Bethel Township, Lancaster County on 28 Aug 1760 from Johannes Rink. The land belonged to Peter Foulk who died intestate in Bethel Township. [13]
1764 On February 21, Casper Sherk and wife Magdalena sold land to their son Casper Sherk, by deed recorded in Lancaster Patent book B-141. [14]
1770 On April 5, John Sherrick, son of Casper Sherrick, deceased, late of Bethel Twp, petitioned the Orphans Court to partition the land of Casper's estate. [15] [16] [17]
1770 Casper Sherk, Sr died in 1770. There is a memorial for him at Wolfs Union Meeting House Cemetery, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. [18]
Casper was a Mennonite and immigrated from Switzerland. Sailed from Rotterdam in May 1731 aboard "Love and Unity". The ship landed first in Falmouth, England and stayed there three weeks. The ship landed in "Holes Bay", Martha's Vineyard, Mass, in Dec. (this seems like an unlikely duration, but apparently the passengers overthrew the captain and sailed themselves) 1731 after a horrific journey. Only 48 of the original 156 passengers completed the trip. Casper's wife and child died on the trip. Came to Philadelphia aboard the ship "Norris" signing the B and C oaths on May 15, 1732. See details in Sherk Book. Settled in Hempfield Twp. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Lived next to his brother for 6-7 years. Married Magdalena Barbara Foulck, 1710~ 1796 in Dec. 1732. Bought land next to Swatara Creek, Bethel Twp. Bought 275 acres in Bethel Twp. in about 1739. This land became the homestead and Sherksville was established thereon. Neighbors in 1825 were Jacob Groff, John Meyer, John Groh, Michael Hunsicker, Abraham Joseph Light, Henry Meily, Martin Meily. Sold land on Swatara Creek to Johannes (Hans) Wenger, 1705 1772.6.1-, G1, (i1748.9.16) on March 1, 1749. This land became the Wenger homestead in what is now Lebanon Co. Caster was naturalized on June 1, 1749. Casper was taxed in Bethal from 1750 until his death. In the Bethel Twp tax list for 1771/2 he is shown to have 250 acres of land. Died intestate in 1770 leaving a 143 acre farm and £1102 to his wife, nine children, and one grand-child. Buried at Wolfs-Union Cem. about 1 mile east of the Shirksville farm.
1771 Casper's children were listed in the Orphan Court records of Lancaster County. [19]
1796 His widow married, secondly, Michael Gingrich. Margaret died in 1796. [20]
Notes about this family are on file at the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Library. [21]
[1] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Sherk A836, [Website].
[2] Pennsylvania Land Warrant, Lancaster County, S250, [PALandWarrantLinks].
[3] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, A77-189, [PASurveyBookLinks].
[4] Pennsylvania Land Patent, A12-279, [PAPatentBookLinks].
[5] Pennsylvania Land Warrant, Lancaster County, S813, [PALandWarrantLinks].
[6] Pennsylvania Land Patent, A16-524, [PAPatentBookLinks].
[7] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, C185-170, [PASurveyBookLinks].
[8] Pennsylvania Land Patent, A16-524, [PAPatentBookLinks].
[9] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Sherk A836, [Website].
[10] Pennsylvania, Lancaster County, Tax List, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[11] Lebanon County, Pennsylvania deed C, 568-572, records this transaction, [568], [569], [570], [571], [572].
[12] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[13] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Sherk A836, [Website].
[14] Lebanon County, Pennsylvania deed C, 568-572, records this transaction, [568], [569], [570], [571], [572].
[15] [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[16] [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[17] [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[18] Find A Grave Memorial 52939377, [FindAGrave].
[19] [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[20] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Sherk A836, [Website].
[21] Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Genealogical Card File (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].