Mary (Ross) Shirk (abt. 1797 - aft. 1850)

Born about 1797 in Ohio, United States [uncertain]

Wife of Joseph Shirk — married 26 Jun 1817 in Butler, Ohio, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Audrey Hancock [send private message] and Teresa Fortenberry [send private message]

Biography

MARY ROSS, said daughter of Elijah Ross and Phebe Miller, was born 1801according to references was born in MD. ^[1]

1817 June 26 ^[2]
Joseph Shirk and Mary Ross were married 26 June 1817 in Butler County, Ohio.
"Married on the 26th June 1817 by John Burk, Esquire, one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County aforesaid: Joseph Shirk to Mary Rofs (Ross)."

1820
1820 U. S. Federal Census
Franklin County, IN
Springfield
Line 24
Joseph Shirk
Males:
1 (26 thru 44)
1 (under 10)
Females:
1 (16-25)
Engaged in Manufactures (1)

1825
Tax Assessment ^[3]
Shirk, Joseph, 2; 80; 432

1827
Tax Assessment ^[4]
Shirk, Joseph, __; __; 1; 8

1828
Tax Assessment ^[5]
Shirk, Joseph, Oxford, 104, E 1/2, $350

1829
Tax Assessment ^[6]
Shirk, Joseph, Oxford, 104, E 1/2, $350

1830
1830 U. S. Federal Census ^[7]
Butler County, Ohio
Oxford Township
Joseph Shirk
8 in family
Males
1 (30 thru 39y)
1 (10-14y)
1 (5-under 9y)
2 (under 5y)
Females
1 (30 thru 39y)
1 (20-29y)
1 (under 5)

1830, 1832, 1834, 1835, 1836, 1838
Tax Assessments
Joseph Shirk of Oxford Township, Butler Co., OH
"104, E 1/2, $350"
for B. House, B. Shop

1840
1840 U. S. Federal Census ^[8]
Butler County, Ohio
Oxford Township
Joseph Shurk (sic)
Males
1 (40 thru 50y)
1 (10-15y)
2 (5-10y)
1 (under 5y)
Females
1 (30-40y)
1 (15-20y)

1850
1850 U. S. Federal Census ^[9]
Vermillion County, Indiana
Hilt Township
3 November 1850
393-398
Joseph Shirk, 56, male, farmer, Real Estate $1000, b GA
Mary M. Shirk, 49, female, b MD
David Shirk, 18, male, farmer, b OH
Joseph B. Shirk, 11, male, farmer, b OH
Granville Shirk, 8, male, b OH
Harriet O. Shirk, 6 or 8, female, b OH

It appears that Joseph died sometime between the 1850 & 1860 U. S. Federal Censuses. Did he died in Indiana or Illinois?

One researcher indicates he died 19 September 1858 in Edgar County, Illinois, USA, but there is no record at this time to validate.

1860 ^[10]
1860 U. S. Federal Census
Edgar County, Illinois
Young America Township
Bloomfield
5 October 1860
528-545
Mary M. Shirk, 58y, female, Real Estate $3000; Personal Property $150, b MA (perhaps MD)
Joseph B., Shirk, 20, male, single, farm laborer, b OH
Granville C. Shirk, 18, male, single, farm laborer, b OH

Possible Children: In this time period children were born approximately every 2-3 years apart, so perhaps there were other unknown children born to this couple who may have died as infants or young. ash

1. Milton S. Shirk was born 27 November 1818 near Oxford, Butler County, Ohio,

2. James Shirk was born 29/30 Oct 1820; died 5 May 1829 at age 8; is buried in the Woodside Cemetery in Oxford Township, Butler County, Ohio.
Son of Joseph and Mary Shirk. Age 8 years, 6 months and 6 days. (Born about Oct 29 or 30, 1820) ^[11]

3. Martha Shirk ^[12] born unknown and died unknown, is said to have been buried in the Indian Creek Pioneer Cemetery in Reily Township in Butler County, Ohio. However, FindAGrave.com shows no record. :No known birthdate at this time.

[Martha Shirk died July 1823 (no age given) Daughter of Joseph and Mary Shirk. Teresa Fortenberry]

4. David Shirk b 1828 OH ^[13]

It would be likely that there were other children born in this 10y lapse between 1828 & 1838. ash

5. Granville C. Shirk b 1838 OH ^{[14] [15]}

Granville C. Shirk served in the Civil War from Indiana. ^[16]

Union Army, Private, 149th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Co. E, ^[17]

6. Joseph B. Shirk b 1840 OH ^{[18] [19]}

1861-1865; Private in Union army, 25th Regiment, Co. D; Illinois Infantry

Advanced to Corporal ^[20]

29 July 1890: File Name: 34976

Joseph B. Shirk received a Pension for his service in the Civil War in the 25th Illinois Regiment, Infantry. ^[21]

7. Harriet O. Shirk b 1842 OH ^[22]

One Harriet O. Shirk married 4 Aug 1859 Edgar Co., IL by G. W. Roberts J.P. to Joseph Ross. ^{[23] [24]}

Notes

At this writing, I have little information to add to this profile. I DO KNOW that Joseph and Mary Shirk lived (for a time? or longer?) in Butler County, Ohio. I have discovered at least two other children besides the man I was researching, Milton Shirk who married first one sister of my direct ancestor and then when she passed away, Milton married another sister of my ancestor. I have NOT discovered other husbands for Mary who may have had early deaths, but that is not out of the question. It seems Mary may have passed away after 1850, but I have discovered neither dates of her death nor her husband (Joseph Shirk), nor have I discovered a location for their burial. Please feel free to edit this biography if you have that information WITH source information! Teresa Fortenberry

Sources

1. ↑ Ross, Robert L., The Ross Family of New Jersey, A Record of the Descendants of George and Costance (Little) Ross and Other New Jersey Ross Families, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, 1990, p. 79
2. ↑ "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q21W-HNL7 : Wed Oct 18 17:34:50 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Shirk and Mary Ross, 26 Jun 1817.
3. ↑ "Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7D1C-7MZM : Sun Dec 17 04:20:45 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Shirk, 1825.
4. ↑ "Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7D1F-BMN2 : Sun Dec 17 04:13:12 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Shirk, 1827.
5. ↑ "Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7W7B-TW6Z : Sun Dec 17 18:39:51 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Shirk, 1828.
6. ↑ "Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7W7B-TW6Z : Sun Dec 17 18:39:51 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Shirk, 1828.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1830", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGJ-JCD : Wed Oct 04 16:58:45 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Shirk, 1830.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1840", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRX-R4W : Fri Oct 06 02:23:49 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Shurk, 1840.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHVC-V3M : Wed Oct 04 09:45:48 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Shirk and Mary M Shirk, 1850.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXH7-G49 : Fri Oct 06 01:22:19 UTC 2023), Entry for Mary M Shirk and Joseph B Shirk, 1860.
11. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #552260585
12. ↑ Ross, Robert L., The Ross Family of New Jersey, A Record of the Descendants of George and Costance (Little) Ross and Other New Jersey Ross Families, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, 1990, p. 79
13. ↑ 1850 U. S. Federal Census
14. ↑ 1850 U. S. Federal Census
15. ↑ 1860 U. S. Federal Census
16. ↑ Civil War 1861-1865: Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Indiana
17. ↑ Film No. 69; Publication No. M540
18. ↑ 1850 U. S. Federal Census
19. ↑ 1860 U. S. Federal Census
20. ↑ Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Illinois, Film No. 82; Publication No. M539
21. ↑ "United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NHC4-Q3R : 24 March 2016), Joseph B. Shirk, 1890.
22. ↑ 1850 U. S. Federal Census
23. ↑ "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFKX-838 : Thu Nov 30 11:05:32 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Ross and Harriet O. Shirk, 04 Aug 1859.
24. ↑ "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFKX-R9F : Thu Nov 30 11:03:39 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Ross and Harrett O. Shirk, 04 Aug 1859. Book B, page 30