Hendrik Takel Ouderkirk

Photo is from A Dutch Cooper’s Legacy, page 22, with original attributed to Mary (Scott) Robinson of Bracebridge, Ontario

Hendrik “Henry” Takel Ouderkirk, my 3X great grandfather, was born June 3, 1798, to Takel Ouderkerk and Maria “Polly” Ramsay/Ramsey. Henry was the great great grandson of our original ancestor in North America, Jan Janse Ouderkerk.

There are two baptismal/christening records for Henry. The first record I found was a transcription by the late Betty Fink of Baptisms at the Helderbergh Reformed Church, Guilderland, New York. 

The second record was found at Family Search and is also a transcription:

New York, Births and Christenings, 1640-1962

Name: Hendrik Ouderkerk 

Gender: Male 

Christening Date: 08 Jul 1798 

Christening Place: PRINCETOWN, SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK 

Father's Name: Takel Ouderkerk 

Mother's Name: Polly Remsy 

Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C59455-1 , System Origin: New York-ODM , GS Film number: 17678

While Guilderland and Princetown are only about 16 km (10 mi.) apart, that would be a long walk and so it is unlikely that two baptisms took place in one day! As two of Henry’s elder siblings, Annatje and Frederick, were also recorded as being baptized in Princetown, it seems reasonable to assume that Henry was baptized in Princetown and that his information was sent to the church in Guilderland.

Henry’s father, Takel Ouderkerk, moved his family from upstate New York to near Morrisburg in Williamsburg Township, Dundas County (Upper Canada) about 1800.

Henry married Magdalena “Lena(h)” Froats on August 29, 1815, and they had three children:

Jacob Henry (2 May 1816), Mary “Maria” Elisa (25 Apr 1818) and Catherine “Caty” Diana (2 May 1820).

Lena Ouderkirk petitioned for and was granted 200 acres of land (Lot 10, Concession VI in Caledon Township) on May 20, 1817, based on the fact that her father, Henry Froats/Fratz, was a United Empire Loyalist. However, the land was never settled by the Ouderkirks and on April 27, 1827, the patent was declared null and void as it was recorded that the grantee had died in April of 1821. 

Following is a transcription from Upper Canada Land Books C-104 from Library and Archives Canada:

Laid also before the Board a Patent completed in the Name of Lenah Outerkirk, for Lot W. 10 in the 6^th Concession, West of Hurontario Street, in the Township of Caledon, dated 27^th April 1827, with the following Minute thereon, “When hearing the Claim of William Frank (?), Senior, of the Township of Caledon, in the Home District, Yeoman, to the Land described in the Said Letters Patent, as Assignee of the Grantee, Lenah Outerkirk, It was in Evidence before the Commission this day present, that the Grantee died in the Month of April in the Year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and twenty one. It is therefore recommended that these Letters Patent be deposited in the Executive Council Office as Null and Void.

According to online sources and the book A Dutch Cooper's Legacy: An Ouderkirk Story From 1660 by Shirley Forth, Henry next married a widow named Eve (Dengur) Bowden who brought into the marriage her two young sons, Henry and Thomas. I have never been able to find an Eve Dengur or Eve Bowden or references to the two children in any sources whatsoever.

Eve and Henry supposedly had three children, Laney (24 Dec 1822), David (born abt. 1825 and died young), and James (25 Jan 1828). I have been unable to find any primary source evidence to confirm that Hendrik Takel Ouderkirk married Eve Bowden, and have found no baptismal records for these children, but it makes sense that Henry would have had to marry someone quickly after Lena died as he had three small children to raise, the youngest being just a year old. I am attempting to find DNA matches between descendants of Laney and James Ouderkirk and other known Henry Ouderkirk descendants. So far, I have had no luck. I have several theories about Eve Bowden as a second wife of Hendrik Takel Ouderkirk. 

This transcription was found on an old Rootsweb site that no longer exists. It was published by the St. Lawrence Valley Genealogical Society in their quarterly newsletter (active from 1986-2019) and was Copyrighted by Norm Young and Russ Sprague 2001-2005. Norm has provided permission for use.

As Henry and Sarah Eliza did not marry until 1849, the elder two children listed on the census were presumably not theirs. After many years of wondering who Matthew and Roseanah really were, I have discovered the answer to one mystery – Matthew Ouderkirk was actually Matthew Urias Markell, illegitimate son of Sarah Eliza Casselman and Matthew Urias Markel Senior. The spelling of Markell changes with family line. I have not yet figured out who Roseanah was, but she may be the same person on the 1861 Census who was recorded as Catherine. Neither Roseanah nor Catherine appear after 1861. John B. and Jerusiah were Henry and Sarah Eliza’s first two children together - I think!

In Shirley Forth’s book, she recorded Henry and Sarah Eliza’s eldest son as Alonzo Ouderkirk, born in New York. I have found no evidence of that whatsoever. John B. was recorded on the 1861 Census as Benjamin and on the 1871 Census as John. He was recorded on the birth record for his daughter, Constance Blanche, as John Benjamin Ouderkirk/Outerkirk. 

Jerusiah was recorded on the 1861 Census as Jerusha. As the birth date of June 4, 1851 was documented for Lucy Ellen Ouderkirk (my great grandmother), and Jerusiah was recorded as being born in 1851 on both the 1851 Census and 1861 Census, I have made the connection that Lucy Ellen and Jerusiah were one and the same child. Lucy’s place of birth was recorded as Morrisburg on the Detroit Border Crossing card of 1911.

Henry and Sarah Eliza had four more children together – Mary Mabel, Sarah, Frederick Charles and George.

The next two census periods, 1861 and 1871, show the same family living in Matilda Township with Henry Ouderkirk/Onderkirk recorded as a shoemaker on both.

After 1871, Henry followed his eldest son, Jacob Henry Ouderkirk, and the family of his eldest daughter, Maria Pickering, and relocated his family to the District of Muskoka, Ontario - quite adventurous for a man in his mid seventies! 

Getting to Muskoka from Dundas County was no easy feat! I located the following notice inThe Northern Advocate, Tuesday January 15, 1870, and I have no reason to believe our family arrived here any differently.

The Route to Muskoka

IN SUMMER

Is by Northern Rail, every morning, (Sundays excepted) to Bell Ewart, thence per steamer

“Emily May” to Orillia, thence per “Carriella” to Washago, thence per stage to Gravenhurst,

thence per steamer “Wenonah” to Bracebridge. Fare from Toronto to Bracebridge, $3.75.

Distance 124 miles.

Or, via Barrie, proceed by afternoon train by Northern Rail to Barrie, thence early next morning

by steamer “Ida Burton” to Washago, thence by stage to Gravenhurst, thence by steamer “Wenonah” to Bracebridge. Fare $3.75

IN WINTER

The Route to Muskoka District is via Northern Rail to Barrie, thence per stage to Orillia and Bracebridge.

It is important to note that the “road” from Washago to Gravenhurst and Bracebridge was a corduroy road – made of a LOT of logs in the boggiest places especially. All accounts from settlers have noted that the journey was not a comfortable one. Shirley Forth provides the following about this journey inA Dutch Cooper’s Legacy, An Ouderkirk Story From 1660, p. 40:

My great grandmother, Lucy (Ouderkirk) Scott, often regaled her grandchildren with the story of her own bone-shaking stage journey over this same route a few years later (in early 1870’s). Her horror at the sight of the cliffs of solid rock that rose, as they still do in the area, made her want to turn back to gentler more familiar country, but… she had no choice but to go forward hoping that the land beyond would be green and fertile.

Once our family had arrived in Bracebridge, the new settlers would have met with the Commissioner of Crown Lands to find where their particular land grant was located. As soon as necessary supplies had been procured in Bracebridge, the settlers would have ventured forth to Stephenson Township by foot or ox team.

I truly cannot imagine what it was like to live in this area at that time. The mosquitoes and black flies would have been unendurable in the late spring and summer months and winter, which arrives most unpredictably, can dump huge amounts of snow in a very short time! Henry received a free land grant of 100 acres in Stephenson Twp., Lot 3 Con VII, on April 22, 1879. Henry was first found on this land on November 24, 1873, so the family must have left Matilda Township soon after the 1871 Census. 

The Free Grants and Homesteads Act of 1868 gave 100 acres of land to anyone over 18 who would “...clear and have under cultivation at least 15 acres, two acres of which were to be cleared annually during the 5 years following the date of location; to build a house at least 16'x20' and to have actually and continually resided upon the land for 5 years after date of location.”

The local newspaper, The Northern Advocate, was filled every issue with notices imploring settlers to come to the area for free land. And the settlers came. While there certainly are some farms today in Muskoka that do well, much of the land here is rocky, heavily treed and not really suitable for farming. The newspaper ads had neglected to share THIS information! Many of these early settlers had to work in lumber camps, sawmills, or shingle mills in order to make ends meet. By the end of the 19^th century many settlers had left to go to Western Canada and tourism became the predominant industry in this area.

As Henry was 75 years old when he was first located on his land in Stephenson Township, it seems difficult to believe that he did the work of clearing and building himself. It seems more likely he had a lot of family help. While researching at the (now closed) Bracebridge Land Registry Office, I discovered that Henry sold his land October 11,1881 to his daughter, Lucy, and her husband Lemuel Scott. 

To say this area was isolated at this time would not be an exaggeration. Here is an excerpt from the obituary for (Simon) Eli Pickering, Henry’s grandson, that was published in the Bracebridge Gazette, June 15, 1939.

Mr. Pickering was born at Winchester, Dundas County, Ontario, ninety years ago. Seventy-four years ago, when he was sixteen years of age, he came to Watt Township with his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Pickering. That was a year before steamboats began to run on Lake Muskoka and no railroad ran north of Barrie. Bracebridge was then an isolated little hamlet in the back woods and Watt Township was still farther in the hinterland. Mr. Pickering did his full share in helping to make Watt Township the splendid agricultural area it now is. In his later years, as he came by automobile regularly to Bracebridge he often used to speak of the old pioneer days when many a time he walked the entire distance and returned on foot with heavy bundles of supplies.

(This would have been a distance of about 21 km or 13 mi.)

Of interest, I found in the Huntsville Forrester of Thursday October 16, 1913, a listing for the Fall Fair prizes. In Stephenson and Watt Townships, Eli Pickering won for best cow adapted for beef in the cattle category. Also, my great grandfather, H. Forth (married to Henry’s granddaughter, Lucy Ellen Scott), won in the best cow for dairying category.

By the 1881 Census, Henry, Sarah Eliza and children Sarah, Frederick and George were living in Bracebridge. The census was found under the name Henry Adurkirk. I have never discovered where in town they actually lived. Henry was recorded as a farmer, Frederick as a labourer, George as a blacksmith and Sarah as a dressmaker. The origins of Henry and Eliza are backwards on this census as he was actually of Dutch descent and she was of German descent.

No story of the life of Hendrik Takel Ouderkirk would be complete without a discussion of his time in the militia!

Henry, his father, Takel, and at least one brother, Frederick, fought on the side of the British in the War of 1812. According to A Dutch Cooper's Legacy: An Ouderkirk Story From 1660 by Shirley Forth, Henry served in the Leeds Militia during the War of 1812. Family legend stated that he was at the Battle of Lundy's Lane when only 14 years of age. As the Battle of Lundy's Lane was July 25, 1814, and Henry was born in June of 1798, he was actually 16 when he fought in this battle.

Shirley Forth addressed this issue as follows:

While it was true that a number of young men were drawn from various militia units, including the Leeds Militia, to form the Battalion of Incorporated Militia which received some special training at York, there is no proof that Henry was among them.

However, I have found proof that Henry DID fight in the War of 1812 and was indeed in the Incorporated Militia. Located in the book Soldiers of the King: the Upper Canadian Militia 1812-1815 by William Gray was the following reference:

Ouderkark, Henry. Joined before June 25 1813, Captain John McDonell’s Co., Private. Captain John McDonell’s No. 9 Company. Discharged March 24, 1815, and entered on Incorporated Roll

Further evidence that Henry was a veteran of the War of 1812 is found in the Land Record Index in the Ontario Archives which lists for Henry Ouderkirk of Williamsburg a free grant (military or militia) of 100 acres in Madoc Township, Hastings County on June 10, 1820. It does not appear that Henry ever occupied this land, HOWEVER, his daughter, Caty Diana, and her husband, Hugh McLeod, were homesteaders in Madoc in 1861 according to the census for that year. Is it possible the family was living on Henry’s land? 

Fellow researcher Cindy Frizell located the following information on page 173 of the book The Journal of Education for Ontario, Volumes 27-28 (Veterans of 1812-1813), Volume 28 - November 1875, Pages 171-174. The article appears to have been written for the St. Catharines Journal. It was in the section entitled Surviving Veterans of 1812-13 and referred to a group of men who had been paid $20 each for their service in the War of 1812. They gathered in Toronto and were addressed by His Honor the Lieut.- Governor, D. A. Macdonald. Mention was made that it was hoped an annual amount of double or treble the $20 would be received yearly in the future. 

Henry was mentioned thus in this book:

Henry Ouderkirk, Raymond, aged seventy-eight: served in the Incorporated Militia as a private, under Col. Sherman and Col. Robinson, from February, 1813 to 1815; was at the taking of Ogdensburg, at Lundy's Lane, and at Fort Erie; lost his right eye.

This offers more proof that Henry was indeed a veteran of the War of 1812 and also that he was living on the farm in Raymond, District of Muskoka, by 1875. It is also interesting in that it says he lost his right eye. He certainly did not let that hold him back from having a full and busy life!

Cindy also found the following on page 401 of Redcoated Ploughboys: The Volunteer Battalion of Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada, British Colonial America, 1813-1815 by Richard Feltoe, which is of interest and proves that Henry was indeed in the Incorporated Militia:

May 21, 1814, Fort York

Private Henry Ouderkirk

AWOL from a working party from May 15 to May 21.

Guilty.

Found Guilty: To do 4 months of fatigues (without extra pay)

with a 24 pound roundshot chained to his leg. To be confined

in the reginmental (sic) cells each night.

DID Henry actually serve this sentence? I received the following in an email in 2024 from descendant Larry Ouderkirk,

I remember my grandfather telling me a bit about Hendrik Takel and his experience taking part in the Battle of Lundy’s Lane in the War of 1812, fighting on the side of the British, I believe. He deserted the Army during the war at age 14 and when the Army came to find him at home his parents explained that he was only 14, so he escaped punishment.

Henry was buried in the Bracebridge United Church Cemetery. His headstone says he died at 88 years, 5 months, and 25 days which calculates to a death date of November 29, 1886 and that matches the death date engraved on the headstone. But it is incorrect!

Henry’s obituary was published on page 8 of the Northern Advance on December 10, 1885:

"Henry Ouderkirk, an old soldier, died at Bracebridge the other day at the age of 88 years..."

While I believe the date of November 29 to be accurate, given that the newspaper account says he died "the other day", clearly the year should be 1885 as the newspaper date is a more accurate source than the headstone. The rest of the death notice records his military service as stated earlier.

Hendrik Takel Ouderkirk lived through some very pivotal moments in Canadian history. His life was full of adventure, intrigue, and lots of family. His descendants have spread all over North America. I am pleased to live in the little town of Henry’s final days and resting place.