Jacob Shaffer (1709 - abt. 1789)

Born 2 Feb 1709 in Heiliges Römisches Reich

Ancestors

Husband of Maria Barbara (Kobel) Shaffer — married 10 Jun 1735 in Berks, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died about 1789 at about age 79 in Brunswick Twp, Berks, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Jacob Shaffer performed Patriotic Service in Pennsylvania in the American Revolution.

Jacob Shaffer is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A102611.

Jacob Shaffer was born 2 Feb 1709 in Germany [see research notes].

Land: 5 Dec 1739 Jacob Schaeffer purchased 250 and 1/2 acres of land in Plumpton Manor. On 5 Mar 1750, he sold this tract to Daniel Womelsdorf, of Amity Township [note: Daniel died in Amity Township in 1759, so why would he buy land in Tulpehocken in 1750?] . There is also a record of Jacob Schaeffer purchasing 254 and 1/2 acres, also in Plumpton Manor, on 5 Dec 1739. This may be a duplicate record that got recorded slightly differently. This land is shown on the map of Tulpehocken Vally Pioneer Homesteads

13 Dec 1762: a man named Jacob Schaeffer purchased from John Schaeffer of Robison township, a tract of land on the Schuylkill River, Brunswick Township, Berks, Pennsylvania. The Schuylkill was known then as Tamaughway or Raven Creek. This tract was known as the Indian purchase and consisted of about 200 acres. He later purchased additional land adjacent thereto amounting to 197 acres, 36 perches. [see research notes]

The Tulpehocken Confusion

30 May 1742: Jacob Schöffer is among the members of Reed's Church who call for a new preacher to replace Caspar Stoever (Stiever)--that is, he joined the Moravians (Brethren), under Count Zinzendorf. Other names on the letter include, Johannes Zerbe, Frederich Gerhart, Johannes Fischer, Michael Schöffer, Hermanus Wallborn, Lönhart Rit, Johannes Rit, Johannes Schöffer, Caspar Rit, Michael Rith, Frederich Schöffer, Christian Walborn, Hannes Lautermilch, Wenel Lautermilch, Jorg Lesh, Michael Emerich, Peter Teck (Feg), Peter Schöffer, Nicklas Schöffer, Niclas Schöffer, Jünger, Casper Schaffer^[1]

17 Mar 1747: Jacob Schäffer is among the signers of an agreement to allow both Lutheran and Moravians to share the use of Reed's Church in Tulpehocken. Otehr signers include: Joseph Spengenberg, Christian Rauch, Caspar Rieth, Michael Schaeffer, Michael Rieth, Georg Loesch, Peter Schäffer, & Johan Georg Schiffler.

10 Jun 1735: He married Barbara Kobel in Tulpehocken, Berks, Pennsylvania. The marriage record and births of their older children originate from Reed's Church in Tulpehocken, but during the Tulpehocken Confusion, they were stored with the Moravians in Bethlehem.

Baptismal sponsorships from the Moravian Archvives:

• 14 Aug 1743: Johann Jacob Schäffer & wife, and Johann Görg Harden sponsored the baptism of Johann Jacob Zerbe, son of Johann Zerbe
• 30 Aug 1743: Johann Jacob Schäffer & wife sponsored Johann Jacob Schäffer, the 5th son of Johannes Schäffer and Maria Elizabeth
• 18 Sep 1743: Johann Jacob Schäffer & wife sponsored the baptism of Johann Jacob Schäffer, son of Johannes Schäffer [same as above birth]

Military: Jacob served in the American Revolutionary War. Service: PENNSYLVANIA, Rank(s): PATRIOTIC SERVICE, Death: ANTE 5-11-1789, BRUNSWICK TWP BERKS CO PENNSYLVANIA, Service Description: 1) TOOK OATH OF ALLEGIANCE

The history of the Grim family says he died in Brunswick Township, Berks, Pennsylvania in 1789 and he will was dated 14 May 1782 and probated 11 May 1789.

Marriage and Family

From the baptismal registers of Reed's church in Tulpehocken:^[2]And/or listed in HZ Jones Jr^[3]

1. Johann Nickolaus b. 31 Jan 1736, sponsors were Nickolaus Schäffer and his wife
2. Maria Engel b. 22 Dec 1737, sponsor was Maria Engel Kobel
3. Maria Catharina b. 25 Aug 1739, sponsor was Maria Catharina Kobel
4. Johannes b. 30 Jul 1742, sponsors were Johannes Zerbe & wife, and Johannes Schäffer
5. Anna Elisabeth b. 8 Sep 1744, bpt. 7 Oct 1744, sponsors were Peter Feg and his wife
6. Johann Jacob b. 30 Sep 1746, bpt. 5 Oct 1746, sponsor was his own father, Jacob Schaeffer
7. Anna Maria b. 19 July (?) 1748, sponsors were Frederick Rith and wife Maria Engel
8. Anna Magdalena b. 8 July 1750, sponsor was Adam Diefenbach

Children (spouses and dates from online trees):

1. Nicholas Shafer 1736 - 1796
2. Mary Sara? Mnilik? 1737 -
3. Catharine Kissinger 25 Aug 1739 - - Abraham Kissinger
4. John Shafer 1742 -
5. Elisabeth Baldy 1744 - Jacob Baldy
6. Mary Catherine Weinman 1745 - - Frederick Weinman
7. Jacob Shafer c1746
8. Anna Mary Whetstone 19 July 1748- - Jacob Whetstone
9. Margreth Dornbach 1755 - Johannes Dornbach
10. Susannah Baldy 1756 - 1808 - wife of Christopher Baldy

Children (from the will of Jacob Shafer of Brunswick Township):

1. Nicholas
2. John
3. Jacob
4. Mary Sara
5. Catharine m Kissinger
6. Anna Mary m Whetstone
7. Elizabeth m Baldy
8. Mary Catharine m Weinman
9. Margreth m Dornbach
10. Susanna m Baldy

Research Notes

According to the records of Reed's Church stored at the Moravian Archive, Jacob Schäffer was born on 7 Feb 1709, not 2 Feb as the profile shows.^[4]

The "military service" seems unlikely for a guy who was age 67 in 1776. He probably took the Oath of Allegiance, but no evidence of actual military service.

How did he migrate from Tulpehocken Township to Brunswick Township? If we are to believe the Grim family book, Jacob sold his land in Tulpehocken in 1750, bought land in Brunswick in 1764--but didn't relocate there with his family until 1770. Where was he living between 1750 and 1770? Was he with the Moravians in Bethlehem? Something doesn't pass the smell test...

One source in particular, the History of the Grim family of Pennsylvania and its associated families, compiled and edited by William Gabriel Long (1934), has copious information about the Tulpehocken Schäffers, and much of this information is well sourced FullText at HaithiTrust.

However, a careful reading of its Schäffer research and sources shows occasional errors in its conclusions [now corrected by more and better sources], and it is interesting to speculate that this family book might be the origin of a conflation between Schäffers in Tulpehocken Township and those in Brunswick Township. The conclusion that Jacob Schäffer relocated from Tulpehocken to Brunswick in 1770 seems to be based on land records, i.e., Jacob sold his land in Tulpehocken in 1750 and bought land on the Schuylkill River, in Brunswick Township, in 1762 [but the source also says the family didn't move to Brunswick until 1770?]. The source also cites the Will of Jacob Schaeffer of Brunswick, probated 11 May 1789. But if the mix-up in the Berks County records existed already in 1934, he may have drawn the wrong conclusions from it.

Sources

1. ↑ See: The Confusion at Tulpehocken, by J. Taylor Hamilton, Transactions of the Moravian Historical Society (1895), vol 4, No 4, pp 237-273 Link to JSTOR full text
2. ↑ 1723-1973: Anniversary Magazine of the Tulpehocken, p. 64
3. ↑ The Palatine Families of New York (1985), pp. 835-836
4. ↑ 1723-1973: Anniversary Magazine of the Tulpehocken, p. 64

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 27 Apr 2019), "Record of Jacob Shaffer", Ancestor # A102611.

1789 Estate Papers

Jacob Shafer, late of Brunswick Twp

Wife: Mary Barbara

Son: Nicholas Shafer

Son: John Shafer

Son: Jacob Shafer

Daughter: Mary Sara? Mnilik?

Daughter: Catharine Kissinger

Daughter: Anna Mary Whetstone

Daughter: Elisabeth Baldy

Daughter: Mary Catherine Weinman

Daughter: Margreth Dornbach

Daughter: Susannah Baldy wife of Christopher Baldy

Executors: Sons: Nicholas, John and Jacob

Witn: Jaocb Konig; George Meyer; Jacob Kimberling

Will written: 14th May 1782

Will proven: 11th May 1789

Inventory: July 4th 1789

Account of Administration Report: 25th April 1799

Berks, Pennsylvania Estate Papers

Acknowledgments

• Todd Haggard,