David Shirk, b. Mar-15-1790 was born at GA. One of his sons, Joseph Shirk, had at one time discharge papers for his grandfather's sevice in the Revolutionary War. The problem is that I cannot now figure out what this man's name was. I know that he was born in the Alps in Switzerland, and that he immigrated near the beginning of the war (c. 1776). I also know that he settled at PA for a time. If anyone knows anything about this man, please do tell.

His wife is also unknown. And, David most likely had siblings, but I don't know any of them by name, either.

As for David, his wife is unknown. He was a baptist minister at Liberty Township, Parke County, IN. He also served in the War of 1812. He fathered seven sons and seven daughters. I know only 3 sons by name... Joseph, Lazerus, and Isaac; the first born at PA and other two born at IN. So, any information available about David would also be appreciated.

David Shirk 1790-1861 of Parke County IN was the son of Andrew Shirk 1753-1829 and Martha Hamilton. Andrew Shirk was one the earliest settlers in Franklin County IN and has a very informative bio from the area (I'll send a copy if you provide fax or address). In a nut shell Andrew Shirk was the son of a Caspar Shirk who immigrated to PA from Switzerland. Andrew joined the army and served in the Carolina Campaigns under Washington. After the war he resided for a time in Atlanta where he married. Reportedly he lost all touch with his family in PA, and eventually moved to IN. Andrew & Martha had children: John, Andrew, Nancy, Martha, David, Samuel, Joseph & Isaac. All of the children were born in GA except the last two. David Shirk reportedly married a Sarah Wood (daughter of Isaac Wood?). David & Sarah have children: Malinda (Whitlock my line), Martha (Rich), Isaac, Joseph, Mary (Burton), Lazarus, David, Elmirah (Dicken), Sarah Ann (Michell), Nancy (Hixon), John, & Rosalin (Marks). I have alot on the line and would be happy to share and learn of your connection to the Shirk line!

I am not sure if I can be of any help, but I came across your posting for David Shirk. I don't believe the David I have is the one you are refering to but the Pedigree for my David may help you establish a name for the grandfather....the Shirk family is a great believer in honoring their fathers etc...by using the given name time and time again. The information I have is:
David b. 1774 Paradise Township, York Co., PA, d. 1850 Howard Township, Centre Co., PA, wife Elizabeth Schenck.
Father; John Shirk (Schürch) b. 1738 Hempfield Township, Lancaster Co., PA, d. 1783 Paradise Township, York Co., PA, wife Barbara Huber (Hoover). Grandfather; Joseph Shirk (Schürch) b. 1700 Basle, Switzerland, d. 1770 Hempfield Township, Lancaster Co., PA, wife Catharine Forry.
David, Joseph, John, Jacob are all names repeated in their decendants. I have full names of siblings for most family's dating to what might have been his 4th Great Grandfather, Hans Schürch, b 1566 Sumiswald, Bern, Switzerland. Let me know if I can be of more help.
Dave Ernst: Rocknrol3@aol.com

Please advise if you have any clues for researching the ancestors of Andrew Shirk b. Jun 1850 & married 1872 to Margaret (unk). At least one of their twelve children, viz. John Addison Shirk, was born 1880 in Reedsville, Mifflin Co. Since virtually all of the settlers in Mifflin/Juniata Co. PA came from counties to the east such as York, Dauphin, Lancaster and Berks, it is in that direction that I am looking for progenitors of my Andrew Shirk.

I'm affraid I can't be of much help with Mifflin Co. Shirk's. My ancestors are mostly Lancaster and York Co. I have most of the names of the Ancestors who emmigrated to PA, but I have still been concentrating on my direct family line. I haven't run down some of the uncles.....My Ancestor Ulrich Shirk ( 1663-1739) came to Pennsylvania with his wife, 6 sons and 2 Daughters. I have read accounts that two of his brothers and their family's also came. Two other brothers and two sisters remained in Amsterdam, Holland (they had been deported Sept 29, 1711 from Switzerland). One of the brothers that remained in Holland had a son, Caspar (b abt. 1706). He emmigrated later, 1732, and his decendants migrated to Indiana. It is most likely that your Mifflin Co ancestors are related to one of the two brothers that may have came at the same time as my ancestor Ulrich....arriving Port of Philadelphia Aug 24, 1728. As I said I have not dug into the other brothers yet but I am fairly certain it was Joseph Shirk (Schürch) b. Oct 1669 Sumiswald, Bern, Switzerland, and Peter b. Aug 1676...same location.

I've just begun a family history to join Daughters of the Am. Revolution. My g-grandfather was David Crockett Shirk, son of Samuel Shirk and Elizabeth Stout Shirk b 1834 in IN and died 1919 in Columbus, IN. Family legend has the line PA Dutch, possibly from Switzerland. I'd love to hear more ane would be interested in buying the Shirk book Linda Davis

Much of my information is from two books; Biographical & Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, IN (1899) and The History of Franklin County Indiana by August J. Reifel (1915). Several years ago the Franklin County Genealogical Society sent me copies of many pages regarding the Shirk’s. Here are some excerpts: Caspar Shirk was born about 1715 in Switzerland. ...emigrated with his wife, and son (Andrew) to American and located in PA... (they) were compelled to eat rats, due to the fact that there ship was thrown off course...the wife of Caspar Shirk died on the voyage to this country. (Andrew Shirk) He was born in Switzerland (some say PA) 7 Sep 1753, and died at the home of his son Samuel, at the age of 75, 4m, 7d. In his early manhood he was fired with patriotic zeal to aid his adopted country in her struggle for independence, and enlisted in PA as a member of the Colonial Army. He participated in the Carolinas Campaign under the distinguished General Greene, and there received the wound which cost him years of suffering and eventually terminated his life. After the surrender of Cornwallis...he took up residence near Augusta GA where he married Martha Hamilton, by whom he had eight children...: John, David (my ancestor), Andrew, Joseph, Samuel, Isaac, Nancy & Martha. Being no mail across the mountains in those days he was unable to communicate with his parents and soon lost all trace of them. After some years he emigrated to KY ...two of the children, David & Samuel were carried in baskets hanging over a pack-saddle...Samuel said he never forgot the terror with which his childish heart was filled as he gazed from his position on his horse down into the gulches, hundreds of feet below...on account of his opposition to slavery Andrew Shirk remained only a short time in KY...he journeyed north to the Big Miami River (OH), where he remained for a time near the old Colerain Fort. He rode to Cincinnati then a small trading post of twenty inhabitants. In 1808 Andrew Shirk became one of the first settlers in Franklin County, IN.

There is also quite a bit on your Samuel Shirk, his wife Elizabeth Stout, and the Stout family including her father Job Stout reportedly an aide-de-camp to General Washington and original immigrant Richard Stout who reportedly came to New Amsterdam (NYC) in 1618 (seems a little early). There are also accounts of Troubles with Indians, including the account of Andrew Shirk killing an aggressive Indian and a very strange tale of a woman whose husband was killed and was left for dead by Indians, who was saved by an Indian and later married a Stout.

I am desc. of the brother to your Samuel, David Shirk 1790-1861who married Sarah Wood and resided in Parke County, IN. If you provide me an address or a fax I’ll send copies...a little too much to scan. Whit103@aol.com

I hope you can help me... What proof do you have that Malinda was his daughter?

Thanks very much for the message, and I have to admit you really got me thinking. The first I came across Malinda's maiden name Shirk in a biography of Douglas Whitlock (not me) who was involved in political affairs and lived in Washington DC. He was involved in foreign affairs with Haiti. His bio listed his paternal grandparents as Thomas and Malinda (Shirk) Whitlock. The book of biographies was in a local college library and I failed to make a copy. From there I located Thomas Whitlock and Malinda Shirk's marriage in Parke County, IN in 1833.

From there it gets a little foggy but I think I determined that David was the only Shirk in Parke County of an age that could have been Malinda's father. Most of the Shirk's remained in Franklin County. I have a letter dated 1995 from Loretta Cohen a researcher that worked for me for a time in area. She seemed elderly at the time so I doubt she is still researching. Her letter mentions a Parke County Will Book entry for David which lists Malinda Whitlock as one of his children. Right off I could not find that information but I'll keep looking. I must admit that it has been some time since I pondered David Shirk's connection to Malinda Whitlock, so it might take until next weekend to go through my papers. It might be easier to email me at whit103@aol.com. Are you related to the Shirks?

Best Wishes
Douglas Whitlock
San Juan Capistrano, CA