John Adam Schaeffer - Revision history

Liz: source 11 Hazel Sheffer research

2015-07-16T16:52:32Z

source 11 Hazel Sheffer research

Liz: /* Children */ birth date 24 Feb 1788 for Adam Sheffer, from Rick Sheffer research; page link Adam Sheffer

2015-04-14T11:07:58Z

‎Children: birth date 24 Feb 1788 for Adam Sheffer, from Rick Sheffer research; page link Adam Sheffer

Brady: /* Ancestry chart segment */

2011-04-08T20:04:16Z

‎Ancestry chart segment

Brady: adding 1830 census

2009-07-19T18:07:46Z

adding 1830 census

Liz: source note re. double death date inscription for John A Sheffer "19 day of Nov 12, 1840"

2009-06-13T13:36:19Z

source note re. double death date inscription for John A Sheffer "19 day of Nov 12, 1840"

Liz: Source 10:inscriptions from 3 gravestones for John Adam Shaffer at Salem Lutheran, Clarion Co. PA

2009-06-13T13:21:10Z

Source 10:inscriptions from 3 gravestones for John Adam Shaffer at Salem Lutheran, Clarion Co. PA

Liz: 3 gravestone photos John Adam Sheffer at Salem Lutheran

2009-06-13T13:06:23Z

3 gravestone photos John Adam Sheffer at Salem Lutheran

Liz: 2nd marriage of Adam Schaeffer; dates & spouses for children from Hazel Sheffer Crawford source

2009-03-29T21:39:08Z

2nd marriage of Adam Schaeffer; dates & spouses for children from Hazel Sheffer Crawford source

Liz: Add page link from Source 9 HazelSheffer to John Adam Schaeffer biography

2009-03-29T20:47:07Z

Add page link from Source 9 HazelSheffer to John Adam Schaeffer biography

Liz: delete portion of biography, retained on page for biography of John Adam Schaeffer

2009-03-29T19:46:50Z

delete portion of biography, retained on page for biography of John Adam Schaeffer

@@ Line 134: / Line 134: @@
 :* John A. Scheffer, soldier in the Revolutionary War, 1751-1840
 :* Revolutionary War Soldier  John Adam Shaffer 1751-1840, Clarion County Chapter  NSDAR 2007
 |}

@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 | Mary Magdalena  Sheffer  || F || before 9 Feb 1781     || Westmoreland Co. PA  ||Christian Heinrich/Henry    ||   || <sup class="reference">[8][9]</sup>
 |-
-| Adam  Sheffer, Jr.  || M ||      ||Westmoreland Co. PA   ||Sarah Schaeffer, dau. of <br>Philip Schaeffer of Greensburg PA    || carpenter by trade;<br>resided Starr Co. OH  || <sup class="reference">[8][9]</sup>
+| [[Adam  Sheffer]]  || M ||24 Feb 1788      ||Westmoreland Co. PA   ||Sarah Schaeffer, dau. of <br>Philip Schaeffer of Greensburg PA    || carpenter by trade;<br>resided Starr Co. OH  || <sup class="reference">[8][9]</sup>
 |-
 | [[John Sheffer]]    || M ||7 Oct 1784     ||Westmoreland Co. PA    ||married 1810 to  Barbara Ann Bescht/Best, <br>dau. of Wm. Best of <br>Westmoreland Co. PA   ||died 17 Feb 1864   || <sup class="reference">[8][9]</sup>

@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
    |  (1880-1960)            |                                  (1824-1890)
    |                         +-- Sarah Myers
-   |                             (????-???? )
+   |                             (1853-1910)
+   |
    +-- [[Anna Catherine "Annie" Kline]]

@@ Line 110: / Line 110: @@
 |-
 ! '''5'''
-| '''1830 United States Federal Census''' There are no Adam Schaeffer families which can be clearly identified as matching.
+| '''1830 United States Federal Census''', Richland Twp, Venango Co, PA, page 7.  <br>Family headed by John Sheffer: 1 male <5, 2 males 10-15, 1 male 15-20, 1 male 40-50, 1 male 70-80, 1 female <5, 2 females 5-10, 1 female 15-20, 1 female 30-40, 1 female 50-60, 1 female 70-80.<br>Note: The ages appear to correspond with other sources as follows: The two older males are John Adam Sheffer (79) and John Sheffer (46).  The older females are Catherine Dorothea Trope and Barbara Bescht/Best(39) plus an unknown woman.  The male children are Samuel(4), William(11) and Adam(15).  John has died.  The female children are Elizabeth(1), Anna(7), Polly(9), and Susannah(18).
 |-
 ! '''6'''

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 | '''2nd Marriage''' ||    || ||To  unknown Schmahl (Schmidt), widow;<br>no children of 2nd marriage  || <sup class="reference"> [9]</sup>
 |-
-| '''Death'''    || 12/19 Nov.1840   ||     ||age 88 yr 11 mos 20 da || <sup class="reference">[9][10]</sup>
+| '''Death'''    || 12/19 Nov.1840 <br>See Source NOTes below  || expect Salem Twp., Clarion Co. PA    ||age 88 yr 11 mos 20 da || <sup class="reference">[9][10]</sup>
 |-
 | '''Burial''' ||Salem Twp., Clarion Co. PA ||Salem Lutheran Cemetery, Salem Twp., Clarion Co. PA   || || <sup class="reference">[9] </sup>
@@ Line 140: / Line 140: @@
 * The 1799 property near Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., had an "Indian Spring" on the property; this property is today a golf course, and the spring can be seen.<sup class="reference">[8]</sup>
 * William Best of Westmoreland Co. PA, father-in-law of John Shaffer, was born 1733 & died 1823 at age 90.  He married twice, 2nd to Catherine Dorn.  He resided later in Clarion Co. & donated land for St. Paul's cemetery, where his daughter Barbara Best Shaffer was buried.<sup class="reference">[9]</sup>
 =Conjecture=
 =Research Wishlist=

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 !  || Date || Location || Notes || Sources
 |-
-| '''Birth'''    ||~1751   || Germany  || || <sup class="reference">[8]</sup>
+| '''Birth'''    ||1751   || Germany  || || <sup class="reference">[8][10]</sup>
 |-
-| '''Military'''    ||1779   || enlisted at Hannah's Town PA,<br>in Capt. Mathey Jack's Rangers Company  || || <sup class="reference">[8]</sup>
+| '''Military'''    ||1779   || Revolutionary War Veteran<br> enlisted at Hannah's Town PA,<br>in Capt. Mathey Jack's Rangers Company  || || <sup class="reference">[8][12]</sup>
 |-
 | '''1st Marriage''' ||1780   || ||To Catherine Dorothea Trope (Sipe)<br>widow of Christopher Sipe<br> who was killed by Indians  || <sup class="reference">[8][9]</sup>
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 | '''2nd Marriage''' ||    || ||To  unknown Schmahl (Schmidt), widow;<br>no children of 2nd marriage  || <sup class="reference"> [9]</sup>
 |-
-| '''Death'''    || 19 Nov.1840   ||     ||age 88 yr 11 mos 20 da || <sup class="reference">[9]</sup>
+| '''Death'''    || 12/19 Nov.1840   ||     ||age 88 yr 11 mos 20 da || <sup class="reference">[9][10]</sup>
 |-
 | '''Burial''' ||Salem Twp., Clarion Co. PA ||Salem Lutheran Cemetery, Salem Twp., Clarion Co. PA   || || <sup class="reference">[9] </sup>
@@ Line 126: / Line 126: @@
 !'''9'''
 |'''The John Adam Scheffer Family History and Lineage 1751-1958''' compiled by Hazel Sheffer Crawford, Emlenton, PA 1958.  Submitted to us by Nancy Beals Walls Oct 2008. See  [[John Adam Schaeffer biography]].
 |}

@@ Line 90: / Line 90: @@
 |}
 = Photo Gallery =
+[[Image:John A Scheffer, Salem Luth.jpg|120px|left|thumb|Gravestones for John Adam Sheffer at Salem Lutheran Cemetery, Salem Twp., Clarion Co. PA]] [[Image:John Adam Sheffer, old stone, Salem Luth.jpg|120px|left|thumb|Original gravestone inscription, for John Adam Sheffer, Salem Lutheran Cemetery]][[Image:John Adam Sheffer DAR stone, Salem Luth.jpg|120px|left|thumb|Military gravestone for John Adam Sheffer, veteran of Rev. War, placed by DAR, Salem Lutheran Cemetery]]
 <br style="clear: left"/>

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 | '''Military'''    ||1779   || enlisted at Hannah's Town PA,<br>in Capt. Mathey Jack's Rangers Company  || || <sup class="reference">[8]</sup>
 |-
-| '''Marriage''' ||1780   || ||To Catherine Dorothea Trope (Sipe)<br>widow of Christopher Sipe<br> who was killed by Indians  || <sup class="reference">[8]</sup>
+| '''1st Marriage''' ||1780   || ||To Catherine Dorothea Trope (Sipe)<br>widow of Christopher Sipe<br> who was killed by Indians  || <sup class="reference">[8][9]</sup>
 |-
-| '''Death'''    || 1840   ||     ||age 89 || <sup class="reference"></sup>
+| '''2nd Marriage''' ||    || ||To  unknown Schmahl (Schmidt), widow;<br>no children of 2nd marriage  || <sup class="reference"> [9]</sup>
 |-
-| '''Burial''' || ||Salem Lutheran Cemetery, Salem Twp., Clarion Co. Pa    || || <sup class="reference"> </sup>
+| '''Death'''    || 19 Nov.1840   ||     ||age 88 yr 11 mos 20 da || <sup class="reference">[9]</sup>
 |}
@@ Line 45: / Line 47: @@
    +-- [[Anna Catherine "Annie" Kline]]
        (1885-1939)
-   Sources: <sup class="reference">[8]</sup>
+   Sources: <sup class="reference">[8][9]</sup>
 =Children=
@@ Line 53: / Line 55: @@
 |-
-| Mary Magdalena  Sheffer  || F || 1781     ||   ||    ||   || <sup class="reference">[8]</sup>
+| Mary Magdalena  Sheffer  || F || before 9 Feb 1781     || Westmoreland Co. PA  ||Christian Heinrich/Henry    ||   || <sup class="reference">[8][9]</sup>
 |-
-| Adam  Sheffer, Jr.  || M ||      ||   ||    ||   || <sup class="reference">[8]</sup>
+| Adam  Sheffer, Jr.  || M ||      ||Westmoreland Co. PA   ||Sarah Schaeffer, dau. of <br>Philip Schaeffer of Greensburg PA    || carpenter by trade;<br>resided Starr Co. OH  || <sup class="reference">[8][9]</sup>
 |-
-| [[John Sheffer]]    || M || 1784     ||   ||    ||   || <sup class="reference">[8]</sup>
+| [[John Sheffer]]    || M ||7 Oct 1784     ||Westmoreland Co. PA    ||married 1810 to  Barbara Ann Bescht/Best, <br>dau. of Wm. Best of <br>Westmoreland Co. PA   ||died 17 Feb 1864   || <sup class="reference">[8][9]</sup>
 |-
-|Hannah  Sheffer  || F ||      ||   ||    ||   || <sup class="reference">[8]</sup>
+|Hannah  Sheffer  || F ||      ||   ||John Mansfield; <br>they had 3 children    ||resided between Blairsville & Greensburg; later in Freeport PA   || <sup class="reference">[8][9]</sup>
 |-
-| Maria  Sheffer  || F ||      ||   ||    ||   || <sup class="reference">[8]</sup>
+| Maria  Sheffer  || F ||      ||   || John Berry   ||   || <sup class="reference">[8][9]</sup>
 |-
 | George  Sheffer  || M ||      ||   ||    ||   || <sup class="reference">[8]</sup>
 |-
-| Anna Dorothea  Sheffer  || F || 1790     ||   ||    ||   || <sup class="reference">[8]</sup>
+| Sarah A.  Sheffer  || M || 12 Oct 1793     ||Fayette Co. PA   || Michael Bescht/Best, b. 2 Apr 1783 Westmoreland Co., son of Wm. Bescht; d. 26 June 1867; bur. Best or Stone Church Cem.   ||died 28 Apr 1881   || <sup class="reference">[9]</sup>
@@ Line 126: / Line 130: @@
 ===Source notes===
-* Adam Schaeffer took out a warrant on 86 acres in Bullskin Twp., Fayette Co. PA on12 Dec 1788; surveyed 25 June 1789; received patent 25 Mar. 1878.
+* Adam Schaeffer took out a warrant on 86 acres in Bullskin Twp., Fayette Co. PA on 12 Dec 1788; surveyed 25 June 1789; received patent 25 Mar. 1878.<sup class="reference">[9]</sup>
-* The 1799 property near Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., and an "Indian Spring" on the property; this property is today a golf course, and the spring can be seen.
+* The 1799 property near Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., had an "Indian Spring" on the property; this property is today a golf course, and the spring can be seen.<sup class="reference">[8]</sup>
 =Conjecture=
 =Research Wishlist=

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 =====Immigrant ~1773=====
 In Germany, the name "Schaeffer" or "Schaffer" was spelled with a German umlaut "a", the pronunciation of which led to the later "Scheffer" spelling in America. This spelling later became Sheffer.<br><br>
-Johann Adam Scheffer was born 29 November, about 1751, twenty-four miles from Mannheim, Germany.  He was baptized in infancy and became a member of the German Reformed Church. At about age 16 he and older brother Johann Jacob Scheffer traveled down the Rhine to Rotterdam and from there sailed to America on the ship "Chance" , under captain Charles Smith.  They landed in Philadelphia on 8 August 1764. (The discrepancy in age & dates may indicate an earlier birth year.) He told his grandchildren that the crossing took three months, the bread became moldy, the water wormy, and many were sick. Ships records indicate 208 passengers on board including 90 men over age 16. All males took the oath of allegiance to King George of England.  Both the Scheffer brothers were able to sigh their own names  (as Schaffer). From Philadelphia the brothers traveled westward, Adam locating in Westmoreland Co. PA while Jacob disappears from the record, perhaps pushing farther west. He was rumored to have been near Zelienople, Butler Co. PA before pushing farther south; no records have been found.<br>Adam volunteered in Jan 1778 for military service, in the volunteer company commanded by Christopher Truby. This company mustered where Greensburg now stands, and marched to Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh), thirty-one miles distant.  Here they trained and were joined by other companies all under the command of General Edward Hand.  From Fort Pitt they marched to the mouth of the Beaver, thence down the Ohio River, then across the Beaver River not far from its mouth, and proceeded into "Indian territory", eastern Ohio. Their mission was apparently to destroy villages. <br>See lengthy additional biographical record, compiled by  Hazel Sheffer Crawford, at [[John Adam Schaeffer biography]]. Arriving at one village where one brave and several women were the only ones present, they killed the male and three women, and took one woman prisoner.  While some of the soldiers proceeded on to additional village raids, Adam and the remainder of the troops marched back to Fort Pitt and were dismissed. This concluded his 2 month length of volunteer service and he returned to his residence in Westmoreland County.  He re-enlisted in the spring of 1779 in the company of Rangers commanded by Captain Matthew Jack at Hannastown.  They were joined by Rangers commanded by Captain Stokely in marching to Fort Pitt where they joined several hundred soldiers under comand of Colonel Brodhead and Colonel Bayard.  After ten or twelve days at Fort Pitt they all marched up the Allegheny River to Kittanning where they built a fort.  Proceeding up the river and crossing French creek at its mouth, they marched to where Warren is today.  There were Indian fields in this area so it was decided to leave the baggage, pack horses and cattle.   Adam Shaffer and about thirty others were left to guard these materials while the main body marched on to destroy an Indian town, which had been abandoned at their approach.  They destroyed cabins and cornfields.   <br>The 1887 History of Clarion County gives account of the Brodhead Expedition, describing their return via the Old Venango Trail through Clarion County and crossing the Clarion River at Bullock's Ford near Callensburg.  One soldier reportedly died and was buried there on the river bank.  The soldiers reached Fort Pitt on 14 Sept. 1779, snow falling on their return march.  Along the route they killed three Indians and one white man painted and dressed like an Indian.  Adam Sshaffer served six months on this tour of duty, then again returned to Westmoreland County.  <br>After his discharge from the army Adam lived in Westmoreland County for some time.  In 1780 he married Catherine Dorothea Trope Sipe, the widow of Christopher Sipe who had been killed by Indians.   His papers state that he lived in Fayette county PA for eighteen years.  Of his children, mary Magdalene, Adam Jr. and John were born in Westmoreland County, and the rest, namely Hannah-Ann Dorothea, Mariah and Sarah A. were born in Fayette County.<br>The oldest child, Mary Magdalena (called "Aunt Mattelena"), was born 9 Feb 1781 and baptized 18 Mar 1781.  Adam's wife is listed on the baptismal record as Dorothea and the sponsors were Christian Mannerschmidt and wife Susannah.<br>Deeds registered in the recorders office in Greensburg show that on 23 May 1806 John Painter sold land to Adam Schaffer, and on 19 May 1823 Adam Schaffer and wife sold land to Adam Smith.  On 17 May 1823 Peter Schmahl sold land to Adam Schaffer which was recorded 19 May 1823.  No further records of wife (Catharine or Dorothea) are found and it is presumed that she died after they returned to Westmoreland County.   There Adam lived on what was known as the "Indian Springs" farm.  In June 1876 his grandson William with his wife and eldest son John Amos visited the old home.  William recognized the farm where he had been born.  Adam had again married, this time to a widow Schmidt (Smith) nee Schmahl.  When William and his family visited there, her son by her former marriage, Tobias Smith, was living there.  He had purchased the farm when Adam and his wife left Westmoreland County in 1828 to come to what was then Venango county.<br>His second wife died in Venango Co. and was buried in the Best or Stone Church Cemetery, although her grave has not been located. (Note by Ethel Sheffer Crawford:  Many old illegible broken markers are there. Her Christian name remains unknown.  I have a letter written to my grandmother by Nathaniel in 1909 saying she was buried there, and as hsi father William was living at the time, I am certain it was correct.)<br>Adam related some of his experiences to his children & grandchildren..  Once while he and other farmers were cutting wheat during the Revolutionary period, Indians attacked them.   The men had to run for the wooden fort or blockhouse where the women and children stayed while the harvesting was being done.  Adam was a small short man, and a big husky Indian very nearly overtook him but when they reached the fence the Indian jumped on it and fell, so Adam and the others were able to get into the fort unharmed.<br>Adam applied for a military pension in 1835, after the law was passed 7 June 1832 entitling veterans of the Revolution a pension.  In his application Adam declares he has no documentary evidence of his service.  Captain Matthey Jack under whom he served was still alive and swore to some of the facts in the application;  James Kean, another soldier in Captain Jack's company testified to his enlistment and six months service.  His papers were certified by Christian Kribbs and Johann Kuhns.  In the pension office in Washington and the Pennsylvania Archives, he is listed as Adam Shaffer, and some of the accounts about him are altered from this version.  (He is not to be confused with an Adam Sheffer who served at an earlier time.) Adam was granted twenty-six dollars and twenty-six cents per year, payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September.  <br>Adam died in Salem Twp., Clarion Co. PA on 19 Nov. 1840 at age 88 years, 11 months and 20 days. He was buried in Salem Lutheran Cemetery. <br>There were no children to the second marriage.  Of the children of Adam and Catherine, the following information is known.  Mary Magdalena was born before 9 Feb 1781, and baptized in Zion Herold Church, Westmoreland Co. PA.  She married Christian Heinrich (or Christ Henry) of Westmoreland Co. PA.  One account says they came to Beaver Twp., Clarion Co. in the early 1840's and had no children.  An account written by Rev. John Amos says they had children, and grandchildren named Adam Greenawalt and Hugh, Isabel and John Brady.
+Johann Adam Scheffer was born 29 November, about 1751, twenty-four miles from Mannheim, Germany.  He was baptized in infancy and became a member of the German Reformed Church. At about age 16 he and older brother Johann Jacob Scheffer traveled down the Rhine to Rotterdam and from there sailed to America on the ship "Chance" , under captain Charles Smith.  They landed in Philadelphia on 8 August 1764. (The discrepancy in age & dates may indicate an earlier birth year.) He told his grandchildren that the crossing took three months, the bread became moldy, the water wormy, and many were sick. Ships records indicate 208 passengers on board including 90 men over age 16. All males took the oath of allegiance to King George of England.  Both the Scheffer brothers were able to sigh their own names  (as Schaffer). From Philadelphia the brothers traveled westward, Adam locating in Westmoreland Co. PA while Jacob disappears from the record, perhaps pushing farther west. He was rumored to have been near Zelienople, Butler Co. PA before pushing farther south; no records have been found.<br>Adam volunteered in Jan 1778 for military service, in the volunteer company commanded by Christopher Truby. This company mustered where Greensburg now stands, and marched to Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh), thirty-one miles distant.  Here they trained and were joined by other companies all under the command of General Edward Hand.  From Fort Pitt they marched to the mouth of the Beaver, thence down the Ohio River, then across the Beaver River not far from its mouth, and proceeded into "Indian territory", eastern Ohio. Their mission was apparently to destroy villages. <br>''See lengthy additional biographical record, compiled by  Hazel Sheffer Crawford, at'' [[John Adam Schaeffer biography]].
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 ==NOT A DIRECT ANCESTOR==