Help Restore a Historic United Empire Loyalist Family Gravestone

Honouring Guy Edwin Sheek and Mary Grant Sheek

Pleasant Valley Cemetery — South Stormont, Ontario

Fundraising Goal: $6,215 Canadian

## Preserving a Piece of Canada's Loyalist Heritage

In the historic Pleasant Valley Cemetery near Ingleside, Ontario, lies the broken gravestone of "Guy Edwin Sheek (September 1, 1802 – April 20, 1865)" , grandson of United Empire Loyalist Lieutenant Jeremiah French.

Guy's mother, Mercy French, was the daughter of Lieutenant French, connecting the Sheek family directly to the Loyalists whose lives and sacrifices helped shape the early settlement of Upper Canada.

Guy and his wife, "Mary Grant Sheek (1811 – October 12, 1899)", were part of the generations of families who established their lives in the Hoople Creek and St. Lawrence River region.

Today, their historic memorial needs our help.

## A Historic Gravestone in Pieces

Over the years, Guy Edwin Sheek's original marble gravestone deteriorated and broke into numerous pieces. The fragments were left lying on the ground, exposed to the elements and at risk of further damage.

Recently, with the assistance of local volunteers, I recovered the surviving pieces, carefully cleaned them, and painstakingly fitted them back together to determine how the original monument once appeared.

Fortunately, enough of the original stone has survived to make preservation possible.

Rather than discard this historic gravestone and replace it with a modern replica, **our objective is to preserve the original marble fragments within a permanent new granite memorial.**

This approach will retain the original craftsmanship, inscriptions and historical character of the monument while protecting it for future generations.

## Remembering Mary Grant Sheek

Mary Grant Sheek survived her husband by more than 34 years.

Her death on October 12, 1899, was recorded in *The Freeholder* newspaper on October 20, 1899.

The obituary provides a touching glimpse into her final years. Mary had lived with her son-in-law, George Hodgins, for the preceding six years. Her funeral was conducted by Rev. Mr. Hunter of the Presbyterian Church, and her passing was mourned by a wide circle of relatives and friends.

More than 125 years later, Mary's life deserves to be remembered alongside that of her husband.

Our restoration project will incorporate a newly engraved memorial inscription honouring Mary as part of the completed monument.

## Our Restoration Plan

Working with Brunet Monuments of Cornwall, Ontario, we have developed a professional restoration proposal that will preserve the original gravestone fragments within a substantial slanted white granite monument.

The completed memorial will include:

- The surviving original marble fragments of Guy Edwin Sheek's gravestone.

- A new engraved white granite plaque commemorating Mary Grant Sheek.

- A durable slanted granite monument designed to protect and display the historic stone.

- A substantial granite foundation to support the memorial.

- Delivery to Pleasant Valley Cemetery.

Brunet Monuments has provided a detailed quotation dated October 8, 2026, with an estimated completion date of June 2027.

Restoration Cost

Description | Amount

| Granite monument, restoration and engraved memorial | $4,400 |

| Granite foundation | $1,100 |

| HST | $715 |

| **Total Fundraising Goal** | **$6,215** |

Our goal is to raise the exact amount quoted for the restoration. Donation-processing fees and any additional cemetery charges are not included in this estimate.

## Why This Project Matters

Our historic cemeteries are more than burial grounds. They are irreplaceable records of the people who helped build our communities.

Each surviving gravestone tells a story of settlement, family, hardship, perseverance and community life.

As the author of The Matriarchs of the Hoople Creek Loyalists, I have spent years researching the early families who settled along Hoople Creek and the St. Lawrence River.

Through that research, I have developed a deep appreciation for the importance of preserving the physical reminders of their lives.

The gravestone of Guy Edwin Sheek represents a tangible connection to the descendants of United Empire Loyalists who established themselves in this region.

Once an original gravestone is lost, an important piece of our history may disappear with it.

By restoring this memorial, we can preserve the original stone while ensuring that both Guy Edwin Sheek and Mary Grant Sheek are remembered with dignity.

## How You Can Help

We are appealing to descendants of Loyalist families, members of United Empire Loyalist associations, genealogists, historians, heritage organizations and everyone who values the preservation of Canadian history.

Whether you can contribute $25, $50, $100 or another amount, every donation will help us reach our goal of $6,215.

If you are unable to contribute financially, please consider sharing this campaign with family, friends and others interested in preserving our local heritage.

Together, we can save this historic memorial and ensure that the lives of Guy Edwin Sheek and Mary Grant Sheek are not forgotten.

Thank you for your generosity and support.

John Sliter

Author, 'The Matriarchs of the Hoople Creek Loyalists'

South Stormont, Ontario