In 1779, Christian Troyer was listed as owning land in Brothers Valley, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania. In 1783 he owns 150 acres, 1 horse, 1 cow and in 1784 owns 1 dwelling house with 3 whites (Christian, Barbara & child Magdalena). In 1788 he arrived in Canada at Sugar Loaf west of Port Eve, Ontario, and in 1789 at Long Point, Conc. 1, Lot 21, Walsingham Twp., Norfolk Co., Ontario. His lot was adjacent to his brother John's and was surveyed January 14, 1808 at the request of John and on behalf of Christian. The petition for land in Vaughan dated March 25, 1809 was not successful. This petition is in the possession of the Canadian Troyer Archives in Brechin, Ontario. Christian Troyer is credited with bringing 35 pioneer families from Pennsylvania to settle in Upper Canada.

The Troyers are associated with the Mennonite Meeting House now located at Black Creek Pioneer Village with Christian Troyer Jr. being a preacher. At the time Christian Troyer Sr. was in Vaughan, there were not any organized Amish religious services, therefore Amish pioneers attended the Mennonite services. This could have been one of the reasons that Christian decided to return to the U.S., to Holmes Co., Ohio where quite a number of his siblings were already settled in the Troyer Valley and were Old Order Amish. Another reason was that his children were marrying out of the faith and into the Lutheran religion. The other reason was probably that he felt persecuted since he was taken to court for not lending his sleighs to the 1812 War effort.

On March 19th, 1814 in York, Christian Troyer was taken to court and it is listed in the minutes of the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, Home District with Thomas Ridout Esg., Chairman, assisted by William Allan and Duncan Cameron as follows: "The following persons had been summoned to attend Court this day and shew cause why they have not sent forward their Teams with Sleighs as regularly impressed and directed so to do, for Government Service," The names of the persons in court were: Christian Troyer; John Oister (Oster); Michael Kiffer (Keffer); John Shank (Shunk); John Snider: and Joseph Michler. The Constable, Samuel Arnold, who impressed the sleighs with teams belonging to the above named persons did not attend, so they consequently were dismissed by the Court.

The Ontario Archives Land Record Index lists the following on Christian Troyer's land holdings: (1) Charlotteville Township, Walsingham, Lot 21, Conc. Bay. I.D. date 8, Issue date 17960512, trans. type FG, Ref. 01C13, Vol. 014, page 396. (2) Walsingham Township, Vaughan, Lot front 21, Conc. front, date I.D. 8-1 underneath, top date 18080419, bottom date 18080514, trans. type FG. ref. O1C13, Vol. 018, page 041. He also owned in Vaughan Township, Lot 11, Conc. 2, west of Yonge St., bought from Nicholas Johnson Jan, 3, 1816 Reg. #2648 and registered Jan. 11, 1816 for 175 pounds. This land was sold to Jonathan Baker for 225 pounds on May 6, 1816 Reg. #2810, this land was probably sold just prior to Christian's move back to the U.S. with his oldest son David. A copy of the land transaction sheet is in the possession of the Canadian Troyer Archives.

Christian, with his son David moved to Ohio about 1816. Christian lived with David, who was known in Ohio as "Canada Dave", on the SE1/4, Sec. 3, Range 5, Twp. 8, Holmes Co., Ohio. The land was deeded to David and is the same location of Cemetery #0-26. *see note.

Christian & Elizabeth (Becker) Troyer's names do not appear in the 1830 census in Ohio, therefore, Christian's death date could be 1829 instead of 1839. There is no definite proof found for an earlier death date, however. Christian's name appears in the 1820 census following David's indicating that he was at that time living with his son probably because of advancing years, along with his wife Elizabeth Becker.

Christian and Elizabeth were buried in Cemetery #0-26, (Mervin Shetler farm in 1984) 1-3/4m E. & 1/4m N. of Farmerstown, Ohio, approx. center of SE1/4, R5, T8, S3. A memorial stone was erected in 1983 in Cemetery #0-26 to the memory of Christian Troyer (picture in Canadian Troyer Archives).

* Note: The designation of Cemetery # 0-26 comes from a cemetery directory published by Leroy Beachy who researched in the Holmes County area of Ohio. He not only transcribed the wording on the tombstones, but he also gives a history of the families settling in that area and also suggests who might be buried under the unmarked boulders on each site. The "O" in the designation is a coding given by Leroy to designate "Clark Twp."

(Thanks to Marlene J. Mattson, Brechin, Ontario, Canada. Submitted by Arigeni)
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