Jacob Shaffer (abt. 1775 - 1825)

Born about 1775 in Hessen, Germany [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 19 Jul 1825 at about age 50 in Beaver, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Jacob Kennedy and wife Catherina resided in East Huntington, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania where six children were born, see baptismal records of the Zion Church. Some family histories contain children not proven in the records, namely a Martha and Andrew. Deed records of Beaver County prove the ten children of Jacob Shaffer to be William Shaffer married to Elizabeth Sadler; Mary Ann Shaffer married to George Heckathorn; James Paden Shaffer married to Mary Magadalene Clingensmith; Elizabeth Shaffer married to Jacob Heckathorn; John Shaffer married to 1) Hannah Johnston and 2) Catherine Riley; Violet Shaffer married to James McClure; Abraham Shaffer married to Martha Kildoo; Jacob Shaffer married to Eliza Jane KIldoo; Mathias Shaffer married to Nancy and Conrad Shaffer married to Mary Kennedy. ^{[1] [2]}

The farm owned by Abraham Shaffer was originally settled by Jacob Shaffer about 1809-1810. The tract originally contained two hundred acres and is number 98 of the First Donation District. It is about 1 1/2 miles south of the village of Princeton. Mr. Shaffer settled the east half of the tract and Miller Kennedy the west 100. Kennedy came about 1808. Jacob Shaffer was a native of Adams County, Pennsylvania, his old home being across the line from Emmettsburg, Frederick County, Maryland. When he came to Lawrence County (then Beaver County), he had a family of six children. Four were born after he settled, and of the 10, seven are now living...the son Abraham, on the old homestead, and Matthias, in Lackawannock Twp,, Mercer County, PA... ^[3]

Beaver County Pennsylvania Deed records appear to show the information in the above county history may not be totally accurate. 'see note below' In the year 1805, Miller Kenneda (alternate spelling of Kennedy) obtained 200 acres known as Lot 98 in the First Donation Lands of Beaver County from James Moore. In the year 1830, Miller Kennedy conveyed 112 acres of the aforementioned Lot 98 to Catherine Kennedy Shaffer, wife of Jacob Shaffer. Sometime later, 100 acres of that land was owned by ten heirs of Jacob Shaffer and wife Catherine Kennedy. Nine of those heirs, sons and daughters, of Jacob over a period of years transfer ownership to their brother Abraham Shaffer. Jacob Shaffer and family may have resided on the land, but ownership was not granted during Jacob's lifetime according to the deeds. This would suggest Catherine was closely related to Miller Kennedy (perhaps a sister). These deeds have been attached to the profiles of the respective heirs in familysearch.org. They are also briefly abstracted to the correct profiles on wikitree. These records, dated between 1836 and 1848 cause one to question when the mother Catherine died. ^[4]

See Jacob Shaffer (1776-1825) familysearch.org profile ID GQFB-V3G with 10 sources and 2 memories 12/13/2022. ^[5]

Ancestry Trees contain both accurate and false information. Most accurate information found in original records of Westmoreland, Beaver and Lawrence Counties Pennsylvania. I find no record connecting a Martha Shaffer or Andrew Shaffer to Jacob Shaffer and wife Catherine^[6]

'"Deed records of Beaver County, Pennsylvania appear to show that Lot 98 of the First District of Donation Land Claim was first settled by Miller Kennedy, and not Jacob Shaffer. Book A page 314 dated 23 November 1805. An 1830 deed, executed after the death of Jacob Shaffer, shows Miller Kennedy selling to Catherine (Kennedy) Shaffer, widow of Jacob Shaffer, 112 acres. Book I page 404. Shenango County, Beaver County, Pennsylvania Tax List 1815 show Jacob Shaffer with 100 acres Lot 108 and Miller Kennedy 100 acres Lot 98 and 100 acres Lot 108. It is believed by not yet proven that Jacob's wife Catherine was the sister of Miller Kennedy." (Miller-60447)-19 Jan 23

Military Records of Beaver County, Pennsylvania state Jacob Shafer served in Captain William Morton's company which went to Erie, Black Rock &c. during the War of 1812.

Event

Jacob Shaffer listed with Father Frederick Schaffer Arrival Year 1785 Arrival Place Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Primary Immigrant Schaffer, Frederick Family Members Daughter Elizabeth; Daughter Rosina; Wife Sabina; Daughter Catrina; Son Jacob; Son Charles; Son Frederick; Son Frederick Source Publication Code 9042 ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Zion Church, East Huntington Baptisms, pages 159, 160, 88
2. ↑ Beaver County Pennsylvania Deed Records 1800-1887
3. ↑ History of Lawrence County Pennsylvania, 1877, Appendix XXIX, page 567
4. ↑ Beaver County Pennsylvania Book A page 314 and Book I page 404
5. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GQFB-V3G
6. ↑ Ancestry.com Profiles Jacob Shaffer deceased 1825 Pennsylvania
7. ↑ Ancestry.com U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s

• German Church Records of Westmoreland County Pennsylvania, Paul Miller Ruff

• Beaver County, Pennsylvania Deeds 1800-1887, Books A, I, U, S, X, Z and 1.

• familysearch.org Jacob Shaffer (1776-1825) profile ID GQFB-V3G

• History of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, 1877, Appendix XXIX, page 567

• WikiTree profile Shaffer-446 created through the import of wikiweeks1_2012-01-01.ged on Jan 1, 2012 by Robert Weeks. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Robert and others.