John Yerxa, the second son of Johannes (John) and Catherine (Gerow) Yerxa, was born in Tarrytown, New York, in 1777, and came with his parents as a Loyalist in August 1783 when he was six years of age. Died at age 82, 28 Aug. 1849 at Lower Woodstock, N. B. He was married to Johanna Sarah Merrithew, born 1786 or 1787 (census record). John was a farmer.
John obtained a grant of land at Union Corner in Richmond and in 1833 moved to the area. His son, Levi Yerxa, was about nine years of age at the time. On July 29, 1834, John Yerxa, Jr. purchased from Alexander Watson and Wife for 250 pounds lawful money, Lot No. 8, Granted to Samuel McKean in a grant to Nathan Smith on the western bank of the River St. John, 84 rods wide containing 530 acres more or less, bounded on the north by lands owned by Walter Hay, on southern side by lands granted to the late Honorable John Saunders, easterly by River St. John. (Record Office, Woodstock, N. B.)
In the year 1832, Carleton County was cut off from York County making Eel River the southern boundary line. The new county was named for Thomas Carleton (first governor of New Brunswick).
John Yerxa, Jr. died 28 Aug. 1849, aged 72 years. He was buried in Dow Cemetery, Dowville, York County. On his tombstone:
Erected by his children
Before the building of the Mactacquac Power Dam, the Power Commission moved graves and tombstones to Lower Meductic from Dowville Cemetery as the low lying lands along the St. John River would be flooded.
In the 1851 Census, Carleton County, N. B., John Yerxa, Jr.'s widow, Joanna (Merrithew) Yerxa, was listed as Sarah Yerxa, age 65. John Yerxa, Jr. had died two years previously. Living at home were Julie, Gideon, Levi and Barbara. It is assumed that Joanna Sarah Yerxa was buried in Dowville beside her husband, but her name and dates were not recorded on the stone.
The old house on the Lower Woodstock property stood for many years after the large new home was built, but is gone now (1985).
The Woodstock Sentinel Newspaper, 1865, records the death of Mrs. John Yerxa. Joanna died 31 March 1865, aged 78 years.
On 1 October 1847, John Yerxa had made his will.
The Last Will and Testament of John Yerxa in the County of Carleton and in the Parish of Woodstock, considering the uncertain of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory Blessed by God for the same. I do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say, first I do bequeeth unto my son Aaron Yerxa, the use of the East part of my Lot in Richmond to the publick Road that goes acrost the said lot as long as he and his wife lives and after their death i e bequeeth it to his son Elias Yerxa being Lot No. 4. And I do allso bequeeth unto my son Gideon Yerxa the use of the upper half of my lot of land in Woodstock being Lot No. 8 bounded on the River Saint John granted to Samuel Macken as long as he lives and half of the buildings and half of the movebel estate and after his death I bequeeth it to his lawful Heirs. And I do allso bequeeth unto my son Levi Yerxa the use of the Lower half of the aforesaid Lot as long as he lives, and half of the Buildings and half of the movebel estate and after his death I bequeeth it to his lawful Heirs, and the aforesaid Gideon Yerxa and the aforesaid Levi Yerxa shall pay or caws to be paid to my Daughters or there sistors to the amount of ten pound in movebel estate to each one of them after the death of me and my wife and sooner if they can to them that needs it most and likewise if my daughters any of them remain singal they shall have a home and support from the Property that I give to Gideon Yerxa and Levi Yerxa, and likewise the west part from the publick road of my Lot in Richmond No. 4 if I do not sell it before I die, I do bequeeth it to my daughters after my death. And I do hereby nominate and appoint my sons Gideon Yerxa and Levi Yerxa Executors in this behalf. And I do allso hereby revoke and annul all former wills and testaments heretofore made by me. In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand this first day of Oct. in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred & forty seven
John Yerxa, Woodstock
Signed and published in our presents by the above named John Yerxa and when we were present at the same time when such a signature and publication was made.
Witness: R. Clark, Sam'l Armstrong, Thomas Hay
17th day Sept. 1849 Lewis P. Fisher Esquire, surrogate for
Heirs of John Yerxa
Emma (Amy) McGibbon of Douglas, widow, and Barbara P. Yerxa, Woodstock and Julia Yerxa, Woodstock, spinster daughters of late John Yerxa.
Philip Davis of Richmond in consideration of payment of 22 Pounds to them for portion of Lot No. 4 in Richmond (west part).
P'd by Philip Davis, Richmond
Last Will & Testament
of
John Yerxa (No. 4561)
County of Carleton
Gideon Yerxa and Levi Yerxa, Executors, appeared before L. P. Fisher
Registered 22 Dec. 1849
G. A. Bedell, Registrar
15 July 1854
(From Registry Office in Carleton County Courthouse, Woodstock, N. B.)
In 1861 Census, Carleton County, Woodstock Parish, we find Johanna Yerxa, John Yerxa’s widow, living with son, Gideon Yerxa and wife Jean. Levi Yerxa had married previously. Unmarried sisters, Julia and Barbara P. Yerxa, were living with sister, Sarah (Mrs. John Woolverton) in Northampton across the St. John River from Lower Woodstock.