Peter Shook
ID # 2805, (1793-1861)
| Birth | Peter Shook was born in 1793 at Pennsylvania. |
| Marriage | He married Lydia Marlatt. |
| Death | He died on 24 July 1861 at Charlotteville Twp., Norfolk Co.. |
| Burial | He was buried at Woodhouse United Church Cemetery. |
| Note | Information for the date of Peter Shook's death is shown in the affidavit of Purvis D. Lawrason of St. George, Brant County, son-in-law of Peter Shook and an executor of his will. This appears as an entry in Norfolk County, Ledger C, pages 190-193 (see microfilm GS2 reel 111.) This shows the date and place of death, Charlotteville Township. A photo at Find-a-Grave shows Peter's stone in Woodhouse United Church Cemetery. It identifies him as the husband of Lydia. Lydia is buried in Innisfil Township. This tree dates the year of Peter's birth to 1793. This is based on his petition for land (see C-2812 Peter Shook, 1815, Trafalgar, Volume 457A, Bundle: S 11, Petition 179.) The petition is dated 12th April, 1815, at York. In it, he states that he is 22 years of age. He goes on to say that he was brought into the province by his father 'about 15 years ago'. He states that he has a wife and one child and that he was a sergeant in the late Flank Company of the 2nd Reg't., York Militia, and that he was at the battle of Queenston. A note here. At the time of the marriage bond, 15 March, 1837, between Purvis Douglas Lawrason and Charlotte Shook, Charlotte is resident in Beverly Township and so will have been her parents. At first glance, this might seem difficult to document. The matter fell out this way. See Township Papers file MS658 reel 36, Beverly Township, regarding lot 2 on the 2nd Concession. This was a clergy reserve and William Coleman, brother of John Coleman, petitioned for its lease in 1817. See petition 99, C1740, C Bundle, Vol. 145. The Township Papers file for this property begins by offering William Coleman the right to purchase. This is datelined York, 30 March, 1825. With the file is a letter from Peter Shook dated 9 April, 1828, at York, stating that 'William Coleman, a relation of mine' from want of means has given up his claim to the property in Peter Shook's favour. A brief note to this effect signed by William Coleman is attached to this document. Also attached to this document is what appears to be for all intents and purposes a document of 'Bargain & Sale' of this property by Peter Shook to John Clemons of Dumfries and Henry Shuart of Beverly. This is dated 19 January, 1841, and gives Peter's residence as Beverly, but he is apparently quit of the property as of this date. Where the situation becomes confused has to do with the Abstract Index for this lot (see GSU 161100, Beverly, C2-L2.) On 24 April, 1841, the Crown grants Letters Patent to John Clemons for 150 acres and to Henry Shuert for 50 acres. This wipes out any previous history of the ownership of the lot - almost. There is probably more going on here, but no explanation has been thus far found. What we may say is that from approximately 1825 to 1841, Peter Shook and his family were resident in Beverly and it takes a careful look at the available documentation to find a record. The manner of handling of this documentation would not be unusual if the Second Heirs & Devisees Commission had handled the matter, but there is no record to be found that this was the case. Abstract Indexes did not come into existence until 1867. They cast back to earlier transactions, but, typically (not always), they only record transactions from the latest dated Crown Grant/Letters Patent on the property. In the case of the abstract index for lot 2 on the 2nd concession, there is one previous transaction recorded for which we have no explanation, though it is presented out of order. Lines 1 and 2 shows the Latters Patent from the Crown to John Clements for 150 acres dated 24 April 1841 and Henry Shuert for 50 acres, same date. Line 3 shows a 50 acre transaction - apparently the Shuert portion, but it is a sale by a William W. Baldwin et ux (and wife) to Joseph Beemer and it is dated 8 May, 1838. There are later transactions between Baldwins, Beemers and Shuerts which have no clarity whatsoever. There is no explanation in the Township Papers file. A closer examination of the registers might tell the tale, but Peter Shook is apparently away from Beverly by 1841. Just when Peter took property in Norfolk County has not been researched. The point to this is that Abstract Indexes can often be a great assistance in researching a family's history at a given location, but mileage varies. |
Children of Peter Shook and Lydia Marlatt |
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| Last Edited | 19 Apr 2018 |