The Shaffer Family Web Site
Welcome to look around and see if your family is related

* THE SHAFFER’S OF PENNSYLVANIA *

A Genealogy Web Site tracing the roots of the SHAFFER surname from Relsberg Bayern Pfalz (now known as Rhineland Pfalz) Germany to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the early 1700’s.

Purpose and Objective

I have created this website to obtain information into the origins of my families’ roots. As far as what is known, it all started in Relsberg, Germany in the middle of the 17^th century. This website is designed to inform other family researchers; and to obtain pertinent genealogy data from this website. Everyone interested will benefit from the time and effort. I have been tracing my family tree for the past five years. I do not see an end too soon. There is much more out there to search for. In the course of those five years, the last three have been spent on the computer collecting facts and recording information relevant of my family throughout the Internet. Most of the information I have gathered is directly credited to this source.

* Shaffer Family History *

* The First Known Generation *
JOHANN PETER SCHAEFFER 1647-1703

Peter Schaeffer was born in Relsberg, Bayern Pfalz, Germany in 1647. His wife Margaretha, born 1643, was also from Relsberg. They had six children together. Their three sons were named, Johann Nicolaus, born 1674; Johann Michael, born 1676; and Johann Friederich, born 1684. Their three daughters were named, Anna Catharina, born 1672; Anna Barbara, born 1681; and Anna Margaretha, born 1686.

* * The Second Generation * *
JOHANN NICOLAUS SCHAEFFER 1674-1758

Nicolaus, Friederich, and Michael all arrived in America in 1709. The three sons were all married, and only Nicolaus and his wife Maria Catherine (Suder) had children with them. Michael, born 1696, was 13 years old; Anna Barbara, born 1699, was 10; Casper, born 1701 was 8; Peter, born 1703 was 6; Nicolaus Jr, 3, was born in 1706, and Jacob the youngest was only 8 months old. When the three families arrived in New Amsterdam, (New York City) they met the harshest of conditions. They became confused, distraught, and ignorant of the language and the customs. They did their best to survive and raise their families. In just two years, the new immigrants moved north with their families to better settlements away from New Amsterdam. Finally they decided to organize and create a social religious order to help provide both spiritual and character guidance in their future endeavors. One hundred and fifty families departed the lower New Amsterdam area and migrated to the Schoharie settlements west of Albany. The immigrants settled in this area until 1722, when thirty-three families decided to leave the local persecution by jealous Dutch, and settle in southeastern Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1723, Nicolaus and his family settled in “Tulpehocken”, a German settlement formed by earlier immigrants at the turn of the century.

* * * The Third Generation * * *
JOHANN NICOLAUS SCHAEFFER II 1706-1774

In 1727, when he was 21 years old Nicolaus Jr. married Maria Magdalena Juliana Ulrich at the Altalaha Church in January. The following year they had a son named Johannes, who was born in February 1728. In 1731 Adam was born, followed by Anna Barbara the next year, and then Andreas in 1733. 1735 came Michael, George in 1737, Magdalena in 1740, Nicholas in 1742, John Phillip in 1743, Abraham in 1744, and finally Christian in 1746.

The Fourth Generation
JOHANNES SCHAEFFER 1728-1788

Johannes was baptized in Altalaha Lutheran and Reformed Church in Rehersburg, Berks County, Pa. Johannes later married Maria Eva Saab, who’s father Joseph also immigrated here back in 1709. Johannes and his wife had eight children; five sons, and three daughters. Their sons were, Nicholas, born 1750; Adam, born 1752; Michael, born 1755; George, born 1763; and Andrew, born 1765. Their daughters were, Catharina, born 1754; Magdalena born 1759; and Elisabeth, born 1761. After his father Nicolaus passed away in 1774, Johannes left the Rehersburg area and moved to the Northumberland frontier. The family settled in the Mahanoy Creek region in early 1775. Just prior to January 1777, Johannes’ two eldest sons, Nicholas and Adam left home to fight in the Revolutionary War. Adam and Nicholas both fought side by side in the same militia company called “The Associator’s.” They both saw action at Trenton and at the battle of Princeton. Both later mustered out in early 1779. Adam married a native of York County named, Elizabeth Klinefelder, and had 11 children together. Nicholas on the other hand, went back to his wife Juliana (Brosius) in Mahanoy Township in Northumberland County, where they raised a family of 14 children!

* The Fifth Generation *

Go to NICHOLAS SCHAEFFER FAMILY PAGE
Go to ADAM SCHAEFER FAMILY PAGE

The Sixth Generation

Go to JACOB SHAFFER FAMILY PAGE

“Check out my Data Tree”

Listed in my website is over 901 family names that you can go to; and there is over 250 different families listed by Surname.

Both are listed alphabetically so you can reach each family or individual by clicking on the underlined name.

Go to Family Names

Go to Surnames

Any Questions or Comments concerning this Web Site are asked to Email the author at:

rws@aurumdragon.com

Page created by: R. Shaffer
Last edited on 25 December 2005.