Johann Adam (Schäffer) Schaeffer (1752 - 1840)

Born 31 Oct 1752 in Berks County, Pennsylvania Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Kleinefelter) Schaffer — married 23 Mar 1779 in Shrewsbury, York, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 14 Jan 1840 at age 87 in Madisonburg, Centre, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

NOTE: Various spellings of the LNAB: Original German spelling is Schäffer - Anglicized it is Schaeffer (umlaut is replaced by ae). Alternative Anglicized spellings are also found: Schafer, Schaffer, Shaffer

^[1]"John Adam Shaffer, was born in Berks county, Penn., October 31, 1752, and did gallant service in the Revolutionary army. He was second lieutenant of a company of Associators, during the campaign of Trenton and Princeton in 1776-77, and was noted for his Herculean fame, being the strongest man in the company.

He came from York [Berks] county, Penn.. with a brother, Nicholas, and settled in Brush Valley about the beginning of the present [19th] century, purchasing the interest of Valentine Ertle's in a tract of land one-half mile east of Madisonburg, where he passed his remaining days, his death occurring January 14, 1840. He was married in York county to Elizabeth Klinefelder, a native of that county, born December 27, 1760. She died in November, 1835. and tbe remains of both were interred at Madisonburg.

They had eleven children, of whom the following record is given:

1. John died in Miles township, Centre county;
2. Michael in Walker township. Centre county;
3. George in Indiana;
4. Jacob in Ohio;
5. Adam and
6. Samuel in Pennsylvania;
7. Barbara in Ohio;
8. Catherine in York county, Penn.;
9. Lizzie in Indiana;
10. Eve in Venango county, Penn., and
11. Magdalena in Ohio."

An interesting family connection to note is that Peter Klinefelter married Elizabeth (Shaffer) Klinefelter the sister of Johann Adam Schaeffer who married Peter’s sister Elizabeth (Kleinefelter) Schaffer (i.e., the sibling’s spouse was the spouse of their sibling).

In 1778, Adam led the 7th Company of 82 men from Mahanoy Township, in the 3rd Battalion of Northumberland County Militia under Col. Peter Hosterman. ^[2][3]

Named in Father's 1788 Will^[4]

John Shaffer of Mahonoy Twp, Northumberland Co., PA

Wife: Maria Eva

Son: John Adam

Son: John Nicholas

Son: John Michael

Son: Andreas

Son: John George

Daughter: Catharine deceased - children all underage

Daughter: Elizabeth

Daughter: Madlena

Granddaughter: Eva, daughter of son John Nicholas

Executors: wife Maria Eve, sons John Nicholas and Andreas

Witn: Michael Enderlien, John Dumiller, Samuel Weiser

Will written: 2nd June 1788

Will proven: 18th August 1788

Adam is buried in the Madisonburg Lutheran And Reformed Cemetery, Madisonburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families. United States: Unigraphic, 1898. p. 230 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Commemorative_Biographical_Record_of_Cen/B8swAQAAMAAJ
2. ↑ Northumberland County in the American Revolution. United States: Northumberland County Historical Society, 1976. p. 249 https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/106661
3. ↑ Carter, John H.. History of the Himmel Church, Founded 1773. The Northumberland County Historical Society. 1999 pp.10-11 https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/673415
4. ↑ Northumberland, Pennsylvania Wills https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89SM-78B8?i=42&wc=9PMK-YWL%3A268495501%2C268509701&cc=1999196
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43949938/john-adam-sch%C3%A4fer: accessed 21 January 2024), memorial page for John Adam Schäfer Jr. (31 Oct 1752–14 Jan 1840), Find a Grave Memorial ID 43949938, citing Madisonburg Lutheran And Reformed Cemetery, Madisonburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Sue Mueller (contributor 47366697).