Notes:

UCLPetition 4, N Misc. 1797-1811, Bertie, film C2236, p1053:
To Lieut. Gov. Peter Hunter, In Council,
Petition of Mary Near, of Bertie,
That you petition is the daughter of Nicholas Huffman of the above named [Bertie] Township, a Loyalist U.E. and wife of Henry Near, and has lived about 16 years [1786] in this Province. That your petitioner having never received any lands, she humbly prays your Excellency would be please to grant her 100 Acres, Hist Majesty's benevolence to persons of her description shall ever pray,
Signed, York, 9 June 1802. Henry HISXMARK Near, for his wife Mary Near.
. Personally appeared before me, A Wood, Esquire, on of this Majesties Justice of the Peace for Home District. The above named Henry Near, who made oath that Mary Near, the petitioner is there person she described herself and has never received any order for lands fro the Crown. Signed, before Alexander Wood, JP, 9th day of June 1802. Henry HISXMARK Near.
. Envelope: The Clerk of the Council has not made the usual endorsement that the father of the petitioner is on the UE List & hath she has not reached any lands.
Mary Near of Bertie, Dau. of Nicholas Bertie. The above named Nicholas Huffman appears on the U.E. List.

UCLPetition 5, N Bundle 6, Bertie, C2481, p7:
. To Lieut. Gov. Peter Hunter, In Council
Petition of Mary Near, wife of Henry Near, Bertie Twp.
That your Petition is the daughter of Nicholas Huffman, of the Township aforesaid [Niagara], a Loyalist U.E. & is of the age of 50 years [b. 1753]; & having never received any lands in the Province, respectfully requests you Excellency would be please to grant her 200 acres.
Signed, before Thos. Cummings, J.P., Niagara District. Mary HERXMARK Near.

. I, Mary Near do make oath that I am fifty years of age & never received any grant or order for lands from the Crown in this Province.
Sworn before Thos. Cummings, J.P., Niagara District. Mary HERXMARK Near.

. I, Thomas Cummins one of his Majesties Justice of the Peace of the District of Niagara, do certify that the Petitioner Mary Near is the person she describes herself to be & never to my knowledge or belief received any lands or order for lands int this Province. Thos. Chummings, J.P.
Envelope, Received 1 Oct 1803. Husband Henry Near received an order for 350 Acres family grant.

Council Chambers, 17 Nov 1804, MARY NEAR'S CASE
The petitioner's father having come into the Province within the time listed by the King's instructions & studying on the Council Books as a U.E., & it not appearing that there is any doubt, but that he is properly placed on the UE List. The Board does not concur in opinion with the Inspector General, that the Petition is not privileged.
The opinion of the Inspector General seems found on this idea, the as the petition, when she came in here, had been married many years & was the mother of a family & as her husband petitioned for & obtained family lands (in which was included 50 Acres on account of his wife in the usual way), therefore, she is not now entitled to received Lands as the Daughter of an UE. But the Board conceived that as the King's Instructions contained a general command to grant 200 acres to each of the children of a U. E. Loyalist, in cases where the parent came in with the limited time (viz.) July 1798 & as it is not suggest that any doubt arises on that hand, the Executive Government is not authorized to make any exception in cases where the fact is established that the applicant is the child of a U.E. & that her being 50 years of age can make no differences whatever.
If the Government thought proper to give her husband 50 acres on account of the petitioner, his wife, that must be considered as a further bounty from the Crown & this observation seems to carry with it the great weight, when it is considered that the Executive Government it is not authorized to grant the Lands of the wife to the husband & that nothing can be a compliant with the Royal Instruction, but the granting the inhabitance of the lands to the wife in her own name - it being, it is conceived, intended as a provision for the child of a U.E. & that child happens to be married, it is necessary to grant the land to the married women herself & not to put it in the powers of her husband by his own act to dispose her of it by a sale.
Signed, J H Alcock, Chairman. Approved by P Hunter, Lt. Gov.
1804 Mar 20 sent a copy of Mary Near's Case as above written to the Inspector General of Public Provincial Accounts. J. Small.

. Eight children of Anna Maria Huffman and Henry Neher are:
Johann Nicholaus Neher, b: 13 Dec 1771 in Claverack, Columbia, New York,
Aplonia Neher, b: 29 Oct 1773,
Jacob Neher, b: 1776 in Claverack,
Henry Neher, Sr., b: 27 Jun 1778,
Elisabeth Neher, b: 26 Nov 1780, married Martin Kruhm;
Anna Maria Neher, b: 8 May 1782,
David Neher, b: 4 Mar 1783 in Claverack, NY,
Miss Neher, 1787, Bertie, Welland Co., Ontario, Canada.
XRef: Upper Canada Land Petition 1 for Henry Near, viz. 5 US children & 1 Cdn. child born 1787. - - -

Birth:
verify exact location. 1753 DOB is ref. UCLP 5.

Anna married Sargeant Henry Henrich NEAR (NEHER) in by 1771 in Claverack, Columbia Co., New York. Henry (son of Nicholas NEAR (NEHER) and Maria Barbara MICHEL) was born on 15 Dec 1745 in Rhinebeck, Duchess Co., New York; died in Oct 1816 in Ontario, Canada; was buried in Vansickle Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. UCLPetition 2, N Bundle 3, Newark, 1797, C2481, p1246.
To Peter Russell, Acting Administrating of Gov. of Province of Upper Canada, In Council,
The Petition of Jacob Near, Junior,
That your Honor's Petitioner came with his father into this Province 11 years ago, [1786] that he is of age [c.1776], has taken the oath of Alliance to His Majesty & that he has never received any land.
Here therefore humbly prays to your Honor would be pleased to give him a grant of such a portion of vacant land of the Crown, or to your Honor's wisdom may appear meet.
Signed, Witness, Alex. McDonell, Jacob HISXMARK Near. Newark, 28 April, 1797.
Envelope: Jacob Near, Rec. 28 April 1797, Read May 2nd, Ordered 200 Acres.
Granted W. 3rd May, 1797. - - -

Family/Spouse: Margaret TRAVER. Margaret was born in 1783. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. UCLPetition 6, N Bundle 3, Newark, 1797, C2236, p1246.
To Peter Russell, Acting Administration of Gov. of Province of Upper Canada, In Council,
The Petition of Henry Near, Jr. Humberstone
That your Honor's Petitioner came with his father into this Province 11 years ago, [1786] that he is of age [c. 1797], has taken the oath of Alliance to His Majesty & that he has never received any land.
Here therefore humbly prays to your Honor would be pleased to give him a grant of such a portion of vacant land of the Crown, or to your Honor's wisdom may appear meet.
Signed, Witness, Alex. McDonell, Henry HISXMARK Near. Newark, 28 April, 1797.
Envelope: Henry Near Junr. Rec. 28 April 1797, Read May 2nd, Ordered 200 Acres. Granted Wed. 3rd May, 1797.
Note: Henry's says he of of age, but is he older than 21 years? The petitioner below was born 1791.
VERIFY Identity.

. UCLPetition 6, N Bundle 14, Humberstone, 1824, C2481, p843.
To Lieut. Gov. Peregrine Maitland,
Petition of Henry Near, Junior, Humberstone Twp., Farmer
Your petition was born in the State of New York but has lived in this Province ever since he was 9 years of age [1787], & is now 33 years of age [b. 1791]. That he has a family of a wife & 5 children & has never been in any other employment that farming.That he has taken the Oath of Alliance & did his duty in the Militia during the late War as appears by Certificate here to annexed. That he never before applied for any land from the Crown & being of ability & delirious to settle upon & improve a lot of 200 acres of the waste lands. Your petition humbly prays your Excellency will be please to grant him 200 Acres of land.
Signed, York, 12 April 1824, Henry HISXMARK Near, Junior.
Envelope: Henry Near Jr. Entered into Land Book H, page 72. Petitioner has not received any land or Order for land, Thos. Ridout, Survey Generals Office.

Land Abstracts of Deeds Registered in Bertie Twp., Welland Co., Ontario:
. 1810 Dec 19, Henry Near, Senr. sold to Henry Near Jr.,
100 acres in the south half of Lots 22 & 23 Con 3 from Lake Erie, Bertie Twp. (A118 #1898);
. 1819 Aug18 & registered 20 Oct 1818), Henry Near Jr & Elizabeth his wife sold to Christian B. Hershey 100 acres in the south half of Lots 22 & 23 Con 3 from Lake Erie, Bertie Twp. for $1625 (A159 #3432).

. 1850 Dec 4, & Registered 14 Dec 1850, Alexander C Hamilton sold to Henry Near 50 acres north ½ of Lot 16 Concession 14 from the Niagara River, Bertie Twp. for ₤87.10 (A177 #2560)
. 1853 Feb 17, (Reg 8 Apr 1854), Henry Near et ux sold to Edward Summerfield 2 ¼ acres part of the north part of Lot 16 Con 14, Niagara River, Bertie Twp. for ₤10.10 (A411 #1788)
. 1853 May 31, (Reg 15 Nov 1853), Henry Near et ux sold to Martin Wilhelm 20 acres in the east part of the north ½ of Lot 16 Con 14 from the Niagara River, Bertie Twp. for ₤125 (A379 #1365)
. 1855 Feb 26, (Reg 26 Mar 1856), Henry Near et ux sold to John Adam Barnhart 1 rood 33 ½ perches in part of the north ½ of Lot 16 Con 14 from the Niagara River, Bertie Twp. for ₤3 (B142 #3697)
. 1856 Feb 27, (Reg 15 Apr 1857), Henry Near et ux sold to David Willson Near 18 acres 12 roods in part of the north ½ of Lot 16 Con 14 from the Niagara River, Bertie Twp. for ₤150 (B267 #4885)
. 1858 Nov 6, (Reg 22 Jun 1859), Henry Near et ux sold to Joseph Roetter 4150 square feet in Lot 7 Con 9 from the Niagara River Bertie Twp. for $250 (C39 #7463)
. 1860 Feb 11, (Reg 14 Feb 1860), Henry Near gave a mortgage to John Kirkpatrick on 87-½ acres in Lot 7 Con 9 from the Niagara River Bertie Twp. for $750 (C84 #8095)
. 1862 Feb 8, (Reg 11 Feb 1862), Matthew Spedding sold to Henry Near 23 acres in the east end of the north half of Lot 12 Con 7 from the Niagara River, Bertie Twp. for $600 (C257 #10116)
. 1862 Feb 7, (Reg 11 Feb 1862), Henry Near gave a mortgage to Mathew Spedding on 25 acres in the west part of the north half of Lot 12 Con 7 from the Niagara River, Bertie Twp. for $120
. 1863 Nov 12, (Reg 16 Nov 1863), Henry Near gave a mortgage to James Kirkpatrick, Executor on 87-½ acre in Lot 7 Con 9 from the Niagara River Bertie Twp. for $663 (C414 #11859)
. 1863 Nov 21, (Reg 25 Nov 1863), John C Kirkpatrick et al Executors gave a discharge to Henry Near on 87-½ acres in Lot 7 Con 9 from the Niagara River Bertie Twp. (C84 #11891).

Transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -

Birth:
VERIFY: Not apparent who is Henry Near Sr.

Henry married Mrs. Elizabeth BETSIE NEHER on 14 Jul 1805. Mrs. was born on 12 Jan 1787 in Ontario, Canada; died on 23 Dec 1839 in Ancaster, Wentworth Co., Ontario; was buried in Vansickle Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Nicholas is the son of Elizabeth Huffman, b 12 Jan 1787-23 Dec 1839 &
Henry Near, Sr., b 27 Jun 1778, Claverack. Columbia, NY d. 15 Aug 1839. Original spelling of their surname is Neher.
Both parents were buried at Vansickle Cemetery, Ancaster Twp., near Jerseyville Baptist Church. (Hamilton.)

. The Neher, Near family settled in Pennsylvania & the Mohawk Valley of NY, later fanning out in all directions.
Following the war of Independence 1776, many members of the family came to Canada as United Empire Loyalist. They travelled over land in covered wagons, bring cattle, horses, farm implements, & household furniture. Entrance to Canada was made from Black Rock by ferry to Ontario before 1832, when Catherine was born at Ancaster.

. Monument Bethel Church Cemetery
The pains of death are past
Labor & sorrow eased
And lifes long limits closed at last
His soul is found in peace. - - -

Birth:
Alt German Spelling: Neher

Died:
Aged 71y 3m 8d.

Buried:
Ancaster, Wentworth Co.

Nicholas married Christina Ann TAYLOR on 11 Jul 1837 in Dunfries, Wentworth County, Ontario. Christina was born on 1 Jun 1819 in Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Co., Ontario; died on 25 May 1893 in Brantford, Brant Co., Ontario; was buried in Bethel Methodist Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

William is the son of Christina Taylor & Nicholas Near.

1871 Early Members of Methodist Church: NEAR, Henry was born in 1839 in Ontario living West Garafraxa.

. 1871 Wellington County Directory, West Garafraxa: Near, Henry, Sr., Con 4 Lot 21, householder & Near, Henry, Jr. Con 4, Lot 19.

Jane's sister, Mary Felker married William Near but he was in the insane asylum at this time. (1911?)
. 1781 & 1901 Census Barton, Institution Asylum patient, married.

. 1881 Ancaster, Wentworth: Wm Near, Sr., 43, May 33, Henerietta, 9, Rachel E 6, Nancy E 2, Wm. Near, Jr. b Dec 1881.
1891 Cambridge (Galt) Hamilton Asylum by mid 1880's
1901 Cambridge (Galt)
1908 Barton, Wentworth, dies of infection at Hamilton Asylum at age 69.
Children John & Etta Near were also patients at the Hamilton Asylum. - - -

Birth:
Alt DOB 15 Jun 1838

Died:
Peritonitis; TB & pneumonia.

William married Mary Ann FELKER, .5 on 16 Sep 1870 in Garafraxa West Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario. Mary (daughter of John FELKER, .16 and Henrietta COUSE) was born on 13 Mar 1847 in Belwood, Garafraxa West Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario; died on 15 Oct 1907 in Cambridge (Galt), Waterloo Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Children of Sarah Jane Melroy & Jacob Near Jr. are:

Florence Priscilla Near
Mary Ellen near, 1786, Ancaster, ON.
Lucianda A Near 1879-1880
Lilly May Near. 1879
John Arthur Near, 1881-1882
Ira E Near, 1884-1887 Ancaster, ON.. - - -

Birth:


Died:
Aged 41y 8m 22d.

Buried:
Cement pilar monument, 2 pine trees motif on top, perhaps 2 ferns on bottom.