About Henrich Wilhelm Muenck
Military Service: BET 1777 AND 1784 Private in Butler's Rangers in Revolutionary War
Emigration: 1774 North America, Maryland
The surname Monk has evolved over three hundred years due to the change from the German spelling to the Anglican form. Henrich Wilhelm Monk and his ancestors have been found with different name spellings such as Muench, Muenck, Monck, Munck, Munk and Monk. Records are difficult to find since they were sometimes recorded phonetically or transcribed incorrectly due to the poor condition of the original writing. Also since the first name was often the "Saint" name such as Johannes, Heinrich, Christopher or Maria, it was common to list the middle name on the church and other records. In their marriage record, Henrich Wilhelm Monk's name was found recorded as Wilhelmus Mook and his wife, Maria Esther Friederich recorded as Hester Frederik.
Henrich Wilhelm Muenck emigrated from Germany to the Mohawk Valley region of New York about 1774. It appears that he may have fought in the Revolutionary War as a Private in Butler's Rangers sometime between 1777 and 1784.
Henrich Wilhelm Monk and his family are found living in Watervliet, Albany County, New York in the 1790 census. Living next door in the same town is Maria Esther's father, Stephen Friederich. Also living nearby in Watervliet are Maria's brother, Michael Friederich and her uncle Dewald Friederich. In the 1800 census report, Henrich Wilhelm Monk and family are found living in Cobleskill, Schoharie County, New York. Also living in Cobleskill is his cousin, Christopher Monk. In the 1810 census report, Henrich Wihelm Monk and family are found living in Carlisle, Schoharie County, New York. Living nearby in the same town is his son, Stephen.
Henrich and his wife Maria, being United Empire Loyalists, moved from Schoharie County, New York to Williamsburgh, Ontario, Canada about 1810 and were still living in Williamsburgh as of March 1819. It appears that Maria is living with her son Stephen and his family in Carlisle, New York in the 1830 census. It is unknown if Henrich Wilhelm Monk died in Canada or returned to New York with Maria.
The following information is from the "Extracts From the Early Lutheran Parish Records of Williamsburgh, Ontario" and is part of the collection of the Loyalist Resource Center in Morrisburg, Ontario, Canada. The information was contributed by the descendants of Matthias Monck & his wife Elizabeth Hanes, Ted and Lily (Monck) McNairn, circa December 1988. It reads as follows: "George Read and wife Catarina had a daughter Esther, born 15th March 1819, baptized 16th March 1819.
Sponsors: William Munk and wife Mary Esther". It is very possible that this George Reed is the same one living near Henrich Wilhelm and Maria Esther in Watervliet, Albany County, New York in the 1790 Census. It is suspected that Esther Reed was named after Maria Esther and that the Reeds and Monks were close friends in New York and moved to Canada at about the same time.