A search is underway… looking for anyone who might have information about the Schock/Shock family. Are you able to help? If so, continue to read more information, view a page from a family Bible with names listed, and a map of relevant family history. (Note: It is unclear if this family name is in any way connected to the Schrock surname.)

“The hope is to locate my ancestral 1618 Jacob Schock/Schuck/Schouk (1720/25) family Bible. Information concerning it is almost nil. The Bible was seen sometime in the 1950s by the mother of Bernard Rottchaefer from NY. However, Bernard did not know where the Bible was located, and he thereafter passed away. Then in 1968 the flyleaf of the Bible was copied and certified as seen in the illustration below.

“My desire is to obtain pictures of the original flyleaf without any additions or handwritten notes, and any other relevant information that can be obtained from it. A professional believes the translation on the flyleaf may not be accurate due to the translator not understanding early German script. Additionally, discovered government records almost certainly prove the additive information on the flyleaf is incorrect.”

If you have any information, contact Earl Hess directly at earl.lois.hess@gmail.com.

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Herbert Holly writes about his Stähly ancestor in a recent article. I have not yet connected my Stähly ancestors to his: My Stähly ancestry begins with Magdalena Stähly (Sutor), b. 1765, 4th Great Grandmother; Johannes Jorg Stähly, b. 1723, 5th Great Grandfather; Kasper Stähly, b. 1692, 6th Great Grandfather; Casper Stähly, b. ?, 7th Great Grandfather.

This new article contains a fascinating story of several European Hirschy and Wagler families who left their homes, traveling to America to better their lives and be near relatives.

Jean-Paul Pelsy, the author who lives in France, tells the story of how members of his family, after their trials and failures in France, left for America to join those who had earlier decided to leave their home country.

Another article by researcher Herbert Holly: the story of two families, a church community, and their years of struggle before relocating to America.

I have attached a PDF file of the 1977 Summer issue of the Pennsylvania Folklife magazine with an article titled Swiss Mennonite Family Names: An Annotated Checklist, including illustrations, by Leo Schelbert and Sandra Luebking.

It contains a ” list of names, their variants, and if known, their Swiss origin as well as the names of successive first migrating family members… ”This information is helpful in identifying ancestors with similar names, but a variety of spellings, such as:

SCHRAG (Schraag, Schrack, Schragg, Schrock, Shrock)
After 1664 in the Palatinate.
1763 Christen and Benedicht Schrag…

and

BERGEY (Berge, Berke, Berkey, Berki, Rerky, Birkey, Birki, Birky, Borcki, Borcky, Buerckey, Buercki, Buerge, Buergey, Buergi, Buerki, Burckey, Burcky, Burgey, Burkey, Burki, Burky, Burky, etc.).
1670’s Anabaptist Burki family at Gibel, Emmental, Ct. Bern (BA 48)
1710 Hans Burki…

Citation

Schelbert, Leo; Luebking, Sandra; Hulan, Richard H.; Von Zemenszky, Edith; and Rausch, David A., “Pennsylvania Folklife Vol. 26, No. 5” (1977). Pennsylvania Folklife Magazine. 74.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/pafolklifemag/74
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A new article on Daniel Schrock (1828-1890) has been added to this website. It features information about his home being added to the Illinois Amish Heritage site near Arthur, Illinois.

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A new article has been posted in the Shirttail Families section of the website titled: The Unique and Productive Life of Arthur Slagel (1891-1943)