John Shirk was but following the example of his grandfather and his father, the former served in the Revolution (Pennsylvania Archives, Sixth Series, Vol. 2, Page 527) and the latter in the Post Revolutionary Militia in York County in 1789.

It is a matter of official record that John Shirk was one of the medalists of the War of 1812 famous "Battle of Lake Erie". He had proven of what stuff he was made by his resourcefulness in extinguishing a fire in the magazine of the flagship. That his commander recognized his courage is proven by the fact that he was one of the four seamen chosen by Perry to row him to the Niagara when he decided to abandon his original flagship, the Lawrence, and carry his flag aboard the Niagara, which up until this time had escaped the fury of attack which had so badly crippled the Lawrence. Benson J. Lossing, historian, tells us that the -Lawrence had 85 out of her 105 men either killed or wounded.

Of the two great paintings of this subject the passing of the Commodore from the Laurence, to the Niagara, the one painted by Jarvis, is probably authentic as to uniforms, since the portrait of Perry in it was painted from life and this brave young officer died 23 Aug 1819. The sailors' uniforms in this picture are the same as in the picture of the "Surrender aboard the crippled Lawrence", high hats and striped jackets.

The other great picture of the passage to the other ship was painted by Powell. The original of this hangs in the Ohio State Capitol and a large replica in the National Capitol at Washington DC. It was painted as late as 1875. The men in the boat are not portraits as Commorore Perry had died. A history of the painting gives the names of the models used. The portrait of Perry is after Jarvis' and highly idealized. The uniforms are not the type worn at the time.

It was the varnished bucket-shaped hat that John Shirk used to carry water at the time of the fire in the magazine, and it was his striped, jersey-like jacket that he used to wrap around his fist to plug a shot-hole in the small boat during the crossing.

John Shirk was rated as a landsman, having had, of course, no previous experience on board ship. As a member of the crew he shared in the distribution of the prize-money (value of the enemy's ships). We learn that his voucher for $214.89 was dated November 12, 1814.

Pennsylvania was so proud of the part that her militiamen had played in the victory on Lake Erie that the State Legislature conferred medals on a number of her sons who had shown conspicuous bravery in the engagement. We are happy to show a copy of the citation (or letter that accompanied the medal) as well as a picture of the medal granted to our honored forbear on that occasion. The citation is owned by Mr. Russell Bell of West Middlesex, great-grandson of John Shirk through his daughter Mary. The medal rightfully became the property of his son Oliver Perry on the death of his father, and it is now in the care of one of his descendants.

Much to be envied were those grandchildren of the old hero (eleven of whom are still living in 1931) who, sitting on grandfather's knee, with his much-prized medal in their hands, heard from his own lips the story of that eventful day and the part he had played in it, the whole story overflowing with devotion for his beloved Commander Oliver Perry and admiration for his young brother Matthew "who was a brave lad, he didn't cry", the latter intended as an example of courage to the young ears so intent on the story. This young ensign, Matthew Perry, then but sixteen, became the Commodore Perry who was in command of the fleet that negotiated the ports-treaty with Japan in 1852, and it is of interest to learn that on his staff was the young officer, James Shirk, then but recently graduated from Annapolis, and who later distinguished himself at the siege of Vicksburg and whose memory was honored by the naming of the U.S.S. Destroyer Shirk during World War I. This naval officer was a descendant of the same immigrant ancestor, Ulrich, as are the descendants of John Shirk.

Note: Our Centre County forbears changed the spelling of the name in the Bible records, from Schürch to Shirk with the birth record of their third child Morgan.

Record	Events	Title	Source Website	Type	Created
Shirk, John - Page 1	Discharge, Enlistment, Military Service, People	US, War of 1812 Service Record Index, 1812-1815	Forces War Records	Image	11 Oct 2013
John Shirk.jpg			Forces War Records	Image	10 Nov 2013
John Shirk 1812 War Memoral Marker.jpg			Forces War Records	Image	10 Nov 2013
036a.jpg			Forces War Records	Image	10 Nov 2013

John Shirk

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