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| Captain John Meyers John W Meyers was a wealthy man and it would appear had loaned John Maschesky, a Berczy settler and of Markham Township, a considerable sum of money. In 1803, John W Meyers finds Maschesky in New York City and has an indenture written up (below) to settle this and other debts. It is an interesting story. Guylaine Petrin, a researcher interested in the early history of Etobicoke Township, York County, came across this informative record and was happy to have it shared with Meyers researchers. Subsequently Guylaine authored a very informative article about John Matchefsky and his wife Hannah Hecht and their children that is published in the newsletter of the Markham Berczy Settlers Association, [V19, no. 2, Aug 2011]. It turns out that President Herbert Hoover is a descendant of the brother of a son in law of John Matchesfky. |
| Maschesky spelling The spelling of this surname varies in the records: Matchefsky, Machessky, Maschesky, Matchoessky. Source: Guylaine Petrin |
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Background Guylaine writes that "starting about 1802, Henry Ausman leased lot 10, concession 3 from Captain Meyers in "The lot was actually first assigned to John Maschesky, one of the Berczy settlers of "John W. Meyers was entrusted to resolve the many debts and he finally patented the lot in 1816, and he sold it to David Lick (who was the second husband of Sarah Chapman, widow of Nicholas Miller of "During that whole period, John Waldern Meyers was renting the lot in Source: email from Guylaine Petrin, Apr 2011 This record shows to what lengths John Meyers would go to get a debt owing to him repaid. There is no mention of John Maschesky in the lengthy inventory of John Meyers will. Presumably the debts had been settled by 1822. Also, John W Meyers was instructed by the indenture to pay any residue to others creditors. He did not immediately sell the land so he must have settled the other debts in some manner. It appears he kept the farm and either leased or extended the lease to Henry Ausman and then sold the leased farm in 1820 to David Lick [Leek]. John Maschesky A John Matchefsky is mentioned in the book William Berczy, Co-Founder of Toronto, John Andre, 1967, 50, 51. Andre states that Matchefsky was one of a number of tradesmen, "a sugar baker", to accompany Berczy to Upper Canada before 1795. In 1799 Matchefsky was living in York and in 1802 the Berczy settlers had a combined debt of $30 000. [Andre, 154] Matchefesky is also in the book The Town of Census: Town of York Jno Matchefosky, 1 male 2 females, Town of York, 1799 Jno Machefoisky, 1 male 2 females, Yonge St, 1800 Source: |
| 1803 John Maschesky debts to John W Meyers # 392, [12 Feb 1803] This Indenture made the twelfth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three, at the City of New York in the United States of America. Between John Maschesky, late of the Town of York in the Home District and province of Upper Canada, Baker, now of the said City of New York, of the one part, and John Walden Meyers of Thurlow, in the Midland District and Province of Upper Canada, Esquire, of the other part. Whereas the said John Maschesky is and stands justly indebted unto the said John W Meyers in a considerable sum of money and also to several other persons in Canada, in divers sums of money and the said John W Meyers hath at considerable expense and trouble made a journey to New York, for the purpose of obtaining payment of his debt from said John Maschesky or such part thereof as he can pay or secure: and whereas the said John Maschesky, hath in and by a certain letter of attorney by him and duly executed and bearing even date herewith, constituted and appointed the said John W Meyers his true and lawful attorney, for him the said John Maschesky and in his name, to demand receive of and from the Secretary of said Province, for other person or persons, whom it doth or may concern of? all and every or any such Patent or Title Deed or Deeds which shall or may issue or have been issued in the name of him the said John Maschesky. For lot or lots of land situate lying and being in the Town or Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of J McKeye?, of Signed John W Meyers Signed John his x mark Maschesky Source: Archives of 1820 Sale to David Lick #3560, 18 January 1820, John W Meyers, Thurlow, County of Hastings, Esquire sells to David Lick [Leek], Township of Markham, County of York, yeoman, for £100 hath bargained and sold Lot 10, Concession 3 in the Township of Markham, 200 acres, …. Witnessed by John Hook Campbell, Source: Archives of 1824 George W Meyers, eldest son and heir at law #4791, 12 March 1824, George Walden Meyers, Township of Sydney, Hastings, yeoman, eldest son and Heir at Law of John Walden Meyers, late of the County, deceased, of one part and David Lick, County of York, yeoman, of the other part. Whereby the said John W Meyers, now deceased had in his lifetime agreed for the sale of the premises herein after mentioned and particularly described? to the said David Lick in fee simple and did receive the full consideration money therefore and had by a certain instrument purporting to be a deed of bargain and sale from the said John W Meyers to the said David Lick intended to convey the same in fee as aforesaid to the said David Lick and showed? the said John W Meyers is since dead and since his death the conveyance has been found defunct and of no avail from informality and whereas the sad George W Meyers … is desirous as far as in him lies of confirming the said David Lick his title to the said premises … for the consideration aforesaid and for the further consideration of five shillings of lawful money Upper Canada paid to him in hand by the said David Lick … parcel of land in the Township of Markham, lot 10, third Concession …. Witnessed by George Westfall, Source: Archives of See also: Archives of |