The Shang/Lydia Shunk Graveyard: March 2012

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Shang Graveyard entrance, then and now

Gate at the Shang Graveyard, circa 1971.

Entrance on March 17, 2012.

Mary Netz stone

From the transcription:
NETZ, Mary w/o John NETZ b. 20 Nov 1812 d. 31 Dec 1843

Martin L. Haynes stone

From the transcription:
HAYNES, Martin L. s/o John & Sarah HAYNES, age 1y 4m 26d, d. 26 Apr 1847

Uries Bomberger stone

From the Piper transcription:
BOMBERGER, Uries b. 30 Mar 11827 d. 28 Aug 1828

SHANG, Peter b. Junius 41726 d. 4 Dec 1801.
On stone : 'Hatim estand gelebet 43 jahr 7 monst 4 tag im derzeit im 12 kinder Gaboren. Wroen woven nocht 9 A.M. Leben Meinesgotes Handhatin ich sebstgesegt in Diesenatand.'

Rahel Hofman stone

"Rachel Hofman b. Apr 1771, age 34y 9m 10d. d.11 lenner 1806"

Friday, March 23, 2012

Transcribed notes from a “Maryland Historical Trust Sheet”

WA-II-078

These are some transcribed notes from a “Maryland Historical Trust Sheet”.

Form prepared by Paula Stoner Dickey, Consultant March 1974

Item 7

Description:

Lydia Shunk’s Graveyard is situated on a level are at the summit of a hill.

The plot is enclosed with a wire fence and has been restored by the Boons-

boro Historical Society. A number of large trees shade the cemetery,

setting it apart from the surrounding farm land.

The graves date from the mid 18^th through the mid 19^th century. Many of

the markers are deteriorated and not readable. Some appear to be roughly

squared fieldstone while other finished stones show decorative carving and

detail work. Several grave markers are inscribed in German. Among the

family names that could be read easily were Peter Shang, Nicodemus and

New Kerch.

According to most sources, the cemetery was laid out about 1750. A log

church known as “Shank’s Church” or “Shunks’s Church” was located adjacent

to the graveyard.

Lydia Shunk’s graveyard is in good condition and is not at present in

danger of destruction.

Item 8 WA-II-078

Significance:

Religion/Philiosophy and Social/Humanitarian

Lydia Shunk’s Graveyard is important as weall as preserved and restored

record of Washington County’s 18^th and early 19^th century residents in

the vicinity of Boonsboro. The cemetery is also recognized as signifi-

cant for religious and humanitarian reasons.

In Washington County’s 18^th century deed records for the property on

which the cemetery is located, references are made to “Shank’s Church”

and graveyard which were situated on an acre of land, part of a tract

called “Lenafield.” Lenafield, which contained 1,020 acres, was patented

to Doctor P. Johns on April 24, 1767. In 1789, Peter John granted to

Conrad Nichodemus and Michael Thomas, “church wardens of the Calvinist

Congregation,” one acre of Lenafield “ where in there is a church erected

and a graveyard.” One peppercorn was to be paid to Peter John and his

Heirs each May 1.

In his will which was probated December 19, 1801 Peter John left part

of Lenafield to his son John John, excepting one acre which was laid off

For the use of the church. The grave of Heirhegt Peter Shang. 1726-1801,

probably that of Peter John is in the cemetery.

It cannot be determined from the records available in Washington County

exactly when Shank’s Church was built, but historians agree that it was

erected around 1750. Shank’s or Shunk’s church is described as having

been built of logs.

In 1802 the Calvinists or German Reformed congregation with the

Lutherans built astone church in Boonsboro. It replaced Shank’s Church.

The Trinity United Church of Christ in Boonsboro and the Mt. Nebo United

Methodist Church of Boonsboro trace their history to Shank’s Church.

No evidence of the log church remains.

In addition toits historical and religious significance, the site

of the church and cemetery on a high hill overlooking the Cumberland

Valley has great scenic value.

Lydia Shunk’s Graveyard - -WA –II- 078

Deed Records:

Liber 256, Folio 218 April 1, 1950

Grantors: George R Kefauver & Ardella M. Kefauver

Grantees: Herschel C. Dean and Rachel E. Dean

Part of “Lenafield” 70 acres

Liber 143, Folio 637 March 14, 1914

Grantor: Albert Wilhide

Grantees: George R Kefauver & Ardella M. Kefauver

$9,000. 70 acres

Liber 141, Folio 235 March 29, 10913

Grantor: George W. Heinlein, executor for the will of John W. Adam

Grantee: Albert Wilhide

$8,033, the deed is for part of a tract called “Lenafield,” part of the “Minifield”

and Beall’s Choice; 71 acres 2 roads, 5 perches

Liber 97, Folio 355 August 7, 1889

Grantor: William Adam and Annie M. Adam

Grantees: John W. Adam

$6,000, 71 acres, 2 roads 5 perches

Liber 83, Folio 508 December 18, 1882

Grantors: John Murdock and William E. Itnyre, executors for the will of

William Itnyre

Grantees: William Adam

$7,532, 71 acres 2 roads, 5 perches

Liber IN16, Folio 144 March 27, 1862

Grantor: Jonas Itnyre and Sarah Ann Itnyre

Grantees: William Itnyre

1,414.42, 41 acres, 23 perches. The property included 1 acre laid off for a

Church in compliance with the will of Peter John.

Liber IN 15, Folio 477 February 20, 1861

Grantor: William Itnyre, trustee in the case of Wm. Itnyre et al vs. Ruanna Itnyre

Grantees: Jonas Itnyre

43-3/4 acres

Liber IN 4, Folio 35 May 28, 1848

Grantor: Judith John

Grantees: George Itnyre

$300. The property was supposed to contain 55 acres.

Will of John John

Will book D, Folio 384, probated December 14, 1840

Will of Peter John

Will book A, Folio 453, probated December 19, 1801

Liber F, Folio 83 January 5, 1789

Grantor: Peter John

Grantees: Conrad Nichodemus and Michael Thomas, church wardens of the Calvinists

Congregation

The deed is for 1 acre of Lenafield “where on there is a church erected and a

Graveyard.”

Patent Records

Patent book 1, Folio 169

Lenafield surveyed for Doctor P. John, April 24, 1767, 1020 acres

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Grave Stones as Read by Samuel Piper Before 1935-1936

Shang Graveyard near Boonsboro, MD.
First Church located here.
Called Adam or George KEALHOFER Farm

SCHUPP, Dorothea age 65 y 8m, d. 17 Nov 1805
One grave, plain stone
HOFMAN, Joseph b. 25 Aug 1801 d. 24 Sep 1801
SHANG, Peter b. Junius 41726 d. 4 Dec 1801.
On stone : 'Hatim estand gelebet 43 jahr 7 monst
4 tag im derzeit im 12 kinder Gaboren. Wroen
woven nocht 9 A.M. Leben Meinesgotes
Handhatin ich sebstgesegt in Diesenatand.'
SHANG, Sophia b. 17 Aug 1736 d. 26 Dec. 1797
SHANG, Daniel b. 10 Apr 1769 d. 23 Nov 1804
Six graves, plain stone
THOMAS, Gabriel b. 28 Mar 1785 d. 10 Oct 1823
Two graves, plain stones
BEELER Sarah w/o David BEELER age 31 y 5 m 13 d,
d. 8 Feb 1834
One grave, plain stone
WEAST, Leonard, stone broken off (n.o.i.)
WEAST, Elizabeth w/o Leonard WEAST b. 20 Feb 1770
d. 22 Apr 1838
WEAST, Susan w/o Henry WEAST age 30y 3m 5d,
d. 2 Dec 1832
Four graves, plain stones
Two graves, no markers
PETRE, Ludwick b. 13 Jan 1765 d. 15 Apr 1811
PETRE, Elizabeth b. 22 Nov 1775 d. 16 Dec 1812
(p.n. These two graves (above) moved to Dunkard
Church, Beaver Creek)
One grave, plain stone
HOFMAN, Rahel b. Apr 1771, age 34y 9m 10d.
d. 11 ienner(?) 1806
EVEY, Elizabeth b. 3 Feb 1798 d. 1 Feb 1818
SHOUPE, John b 2 Jan 1773 d 18 Jan 1818
SHUPE, Adam b. 24 Jan 1744 d. 2 Jun 1820
One grave, plain stone
One stone, marked D.S.
One grave, plain stone
SCHECHTER, Daniel b. 12 Nov 1798 d. 14 Sep 1824
SCHECHTER, Judith b. 22 Jul 1756 d. 15 Feb 1823
SCHECHTER, Infant s/o Jacob & Lydia SCHECHTER,
age 24d d. 11 Dec 1816
SCHECHTER, John Wendel s/o Jacob & Lydia SCHECHTER
SCHECHTER b. 25 Aug 1828 d. 3 Aug 1832
SCHECHTER, Saryan d/o Jacob & Lydia SCHECHTER
b. 17 Apr 1822 d. 12 May 1829
Two graves, plain stones
Twelve graves, plain stones
SPILMENIN, Eva 93 y, d. (n.o.i.)
Nine graves, plain stones
One stone marked P.B.
BOMBERGER, Uries b. 30 Mar 11827 d. 28 Aug 1828
KNOCHELSINGIBO, Fredrick b. 1722 d. 12 Sep 1788
KNOCHELSINGIBO, Evalisabeth b. 1762 d 27 Oct 1779
SCHAL, Cathereine, _p_a(?) b. 1762 d. 1787
______, Maria Elisabetakun b. 1779 d. 1783, dinbor
WEET,(?) (e.n. not sure if there is a surname
here)
ABEL, Margret b. 1760 d. 22 May 1795
NICODEMUS, Henry W. b 29, Sep1827 d. 29 Dec 1829
NICODEMUS, David Franklin s/o Jacob Rowena
NICODEMUS b. 29 Mar 1829 d. 17 Aug 1836
NICODEMUS, Sophrona b. 24 Dec 1836 d. 8 Dec 1837
NICODEMUS, Joseph Sherrick s/o Jacob & Rowena
NICODEMUS b. 16 Oct 1833 d. 14 Aug 1839
THOMSON, Mary b. 12 Dec 1769 d. 24 May 1832
Twelve graves, plain stones
STINGER, Sarah age 21 y 9m 14d, d. 15 May 1836
BLECHER, Tracy w/o Jacob BLECHER b. 28 Sep 1811
d. 14 Oct 1840
WOLF, Magdalene w/o Frederick Wolf b. 6 Jun 1784
d. 9 Feb 1844 was married 43y 8 d.
NIKIRK, George, age 63 2 d d. 5 Jul 1844
NEU KERCH, Margaret w/o George NEU KERCH
age 33y 7m 2d, d. 9 Dec 1816
NEU KERCH, Catherine d/o George & Margaret
NEU KERCH age 3y 5m 12d, d. 30 Jul 1817
One grave, plain stone
NIKIRK, Henry s/o George & Mary NIKIRK age 2m 20d,
d. 23 Apr 1820
NIKIRK, Daniel s/o George & Mary NIKIRK b. 6 Sep 1827
d. 12 Dec 1829
NIKIRK, Samuel s/o George & Margaret NIKIRK
b. 5 Sep 1806 d. 2 Apr 1837
SCHINDEL, George s/o John & Margaret SCHINDEL
b. 24 Jan 1838 d. 1 Sep 1839
HAYNES, Martin L. s/o John & Sarah HAYNES
age 1y 4m 26d, d. 26 Apr 1847
Nine graves, plain stones
NETZ, Mary w/o John NETZ b. 20 Nov 1812
d. 31 Dec 1843
BEARD, Michael age 53y 1m, d. 16 Dec 1810
BEARD, Elizabeth age 62y 7m 5d, d. 23 Oct 1826
EASTERDAY, Michael age 93y, d. 23 Aug 1837
DAGENHART, Ann Mary age 59y d. 1825
DAGENHART, Rebecca b. 1822 d. (n.d.)
Lot of other graves, no markers

There are a little over one hundred graves in this cemetery. Only fifty of them could be identified in any way by Samuel Piper. Ludwick and Elizabeth Petre have been moved to Dunkard Church in Beaver Creek.

I would imagine a good part of the unmarked graves or unreadable stones that followed certain names were of the same family. I am also inclined to believe that some in the lot of other graves, no markers were Dagenharts.
Some of the family names such as NIKIRK and NEU KERCH are the same family with different spellings. I have done a bit of research and it would appear that George NIKIRK's first wife was Margaret NEU KERCH/NIKIRK' and his second wife was Mary NIKIRK.