Johann Casper Schäffer was born 8 Mar 1701, in Relsberg. His baptismal sponsors were Hans Caspar Gödel at Winnweiler, Hans Thebalt Born, and Anna Cathrina Born, wiffe of Veltern Born at Lohnsfeld[1][2]
Confirmation: 1720 at Tschoghari in "Weiserts-dorp" [sic].[3]
The history of the Grimm Family (1934) claims the name of his wife was Margaret.
The Palatine Families of New York says that Casper married Elisabetha Catharina Feg in1729 in Reeds Church, Berks, Pennsylvania and they (probably) had the following children:[5]
Nicolaus. The will of Nicholas Schaeffer of Heidelberg mentions his wife Juliana, brother Caspar, and his children[6].
Caspar is mentioned as a brother of Nicolaus (above) in Nicolaus's 1780 will. A Caspar Schaefer married Anna Margaret Erster on 9 Apr 1745 at Tulpehocken.[7]Papers in the estate of Casper Schaeffer were issued to Margaret Schaeffer, the widow in 1775[8]
Johannes, who died 1788 in Northumberland County[9]
According to the Shaffer-Rudy Family History,[10] Caspar Schaffer married Maria Catharina Riedt (dau. of Joh. Georg Riedt & Anna Catherina Bern) about 1721 in Weisersdorf, New York. Along with a group of Palatine families, they migrated to Tulpehocken, Pennsylvania in 1723, settling in the area of Heidelberg and Marion Townships in Berks County. Their children were:
Joh. George b. ca. 1722, Weisersdorf; NY, d. 1775. Berks Co., PA, m. ca. 1742/43 Berks Co., PA to Maria Margaretha Neu
Joh. Casper b. ca. 1724, Berks Co., PA, d. 1775 Berks Co., PA, m. 9 April 1745 pi. Berks Co., PA to Anna Margaret Erster [?Eyster]
Jacob b. ca. 1726, Berks Co., PA, d. July 1794 York Co., PA, m. (1) Maria Elisabetha Trorbach, (2) Maria Catharina Quickel Benedick
Nicholas b. ca. 1728, Berks Co., PA, d. November 1780, Berks Co.,
John b. ca. 1730 Berks Co., PA, d. 1788, Northumberland Co., PA, m. Maria Eva Sab (Saab), d/o ?Josef Saab
Andrew (Andreas) b. ca. 1732, Berks Co., PA, m. 8 April 1753 Berks Co., PA to Catharina Henning [?Henn]
Anna Barbara b. ca. 1734 Berks Co., PA, d ?NorthumberIand Co , PA, m. 19 April 1752 pL Berks Co., PA to Nicholas Brosius
Anna Margaretha b. ca 1736 Berks Co., PA, m. 12 August 1754 Berks Co., PA to Casper Rieth
Maria Catharine b. 24 March 1739 Berks Co., PA
Casper appears on the list of taxables for Heidleberg township, Berks County, PA in 1759.[11]
Research Notes
Some trees have Johan Casper Schaffer married to a Maria Magdalena Ulrich in 1722 - but Maria Magdalena Ulrich married Jan 1727 in Altalaha Township, Berks, Pennsylvania - to a Johann Nicolas Schaffer (1705 - 1780). So is the above Johan Casper Schaffer really married to Maria Ulrich???-- Well, he was not married to her when he died, because Caspar's will mentions his wife Margaret.
Looked for Will in Berks, PA but no luck nor with Estate Papers Note: according to Jones, his will can be found in Berks county administration book 3, p. 137
If he was indeed the father of John Nicholas (b. 1723) and Caspar (b. 1725)--which appears increasingly likely, based on accumulating sources--then a 1729 marriage at Reed's church suggests that John Nicholas had been previously married and that his first wife is the mother of his older children. Could it have been Maria Magdalens Ulrich? Something still not right.
↑ Jones, Henry Z.. The Palatine Families of New York: A Study of the German Immigrants who Arrived in Colonial New York in 1710. United States: H.Z. Jones, 1985. p. 834
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Casper by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line.
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Casper:
Schaeffer-777 and Schaffer-932 are not ready to be merged because: There are two wives to consider and different children. Schaeffer/Shaffer/Sheffer, Shaffer/Shäffer are common names; we need to find more documentation. I think the information is out there; we just have to find it.
Schaeffer-777 and Schaffer-932 are not ready to be merged because: It was quite unusual to divorce in that time; with one wife married in 1722 and one wife married in 1729, it seems that one of the wives isn't correct. Schaffer-932 is my profile and I would need to do further research to find out why Magdalena Ulrich was listed as his wife (my father did our original research and he's passed away). If anyone has definitive information that Magdalena is NOT his wife, I have no objection to the merge! I always feel a little scared at merging when there are discrepancies like different wives!
Schaeffer-777 and Schaffer-932 are not ready to be merged because: In looking at Rootsearch, it is clear that there are several Johan Schaffers and there are several different wives mentioned in several family trees for males named Johan Casper Schaffer. I am not convinced these are the same person, or that the research in my own records is correct. I don't think we should merge them yet, or maybe not at all.
If there is a reason for rejection please note that in comments on the profiles.. Thank You!
Did he have a 2nd spouse?