John Adam Schaeffer biography

This biography is compiled from the manuscript of Hazel Sheffer Crawford, born 1909, daughter of Anna Catherine "Annie" Kline and James Austin Sheffer . Click here to return to John Adam Schaeffer

Johann Adam Scheffer was born 29 November, about 1751, twenty-four miles from Mannheim, Germany. He was baptized in infancy and became a member of the German Reformed Church. At about age 16 he and older brother Johann Jacob Scheffer traveled down the Rhine to Rotterdam and from there sailed to America on the ship "Chance" , under captain Charles Smith. They landed in Philadelphia on 8 August 1764. (The discrepancy in age & dates may indicate an earlier birth year.) He told his grandchildren that the crossing took three months, the bread became moldy, the water wormy, and many were sick. Ships records indicate 208 passengers on board including 90 men over age 16. All males took the oath of allegiance to King George of England. Both the Scheffer brothers were able to sigh their own names (as Schaffer). From Philadelphia the brothers traveled westward, Adam locating in Westmoreland Co. PA while Jacob disappears from the record, perhaps pushing farther west. He was rumored to have been near Zelienople, Butler Co. PA before pushing farther south; no records have been found.

Military Record
Adam volunteered in Jan 1778 for military service, in the volunteer company commanded by Christopher Truby. This company mustered where Greensburg now stands, and marched to Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh), thirty-one miles distant. Here they trained and were joined by other companies all under the command of General Edward Hand. From Fort Pitt they marched to the mouth of the Beaver, thence down the Ohio River, then across the Beaver River not far from its mouth, and proceeded into "Indian territory", eastern Ohio. Their mission was apparently to destroy villages. Arriving at one village where one brave and several women were the only ones present, they killed the male and three women, and took one woman prisoner. While some of the soldiers proceeded on to additional village raids, Adam and the remainder of the troops marched back to Fort Pitt and were dismissed. This concluded his 2 month length of volunteer service and he returned to his residence in Westmoreland County. He re-enlisted in the spring of 1779 in the company of Rangers commanded by Captain Matthew Jack at Hannastown. They were joined by Rangers commanded by Captain Stokely in marching to Fort Pitt where they joined several hundred soldiers under command of Colonel Brodhead and Colonel Bayard. After ten or twelve days at Fort Pitt they all marched up the Allegheny River to Kittanning where they built a fort. Proceeding up the river and crossing French creek at its mouth, they marched to where Warren is today. There were Indian fields in this area so it was decided to leave the baggage, pack horses and cattle. Adam Shaffer and about thirty others were left to guard these materials while the main body marched on to destroy an Indian town, which had been abandoned at their approach. They destroyed cabins and cornfields.
The 1887 History of Clarion County gives account of the Brodhead Expedition, describing their return via the Old Venango Trail through Clarion County and crossing the Clarion River at Bullock's Ford near Callensburg. One soldier reportedly died and was buried there on the river bank. The soldiers reached Fort Pitt on 14 Sept. 1779, snow falling on their return march. Along the route they killed three Indians and one white man painted and dressed like an Indian. Adam Sshaffer served six months on this tour of duty, then again returned to Westmoreland County.
Adam applied for a military pension in 1835, after the law was passed 7 June 1832 entitling veterans of the Revolution a pension. In his application Adam declares he has no documentary evidence of his service. Captain Matthey Jack under whom he served was still alive and swore to some of the facts in the application; James Kean, another soldier in Captain Jack's company testified to his enlistment and six months service. His papers were certified by Christian Kribbs and Johann Kuhns. In the pension office in Washington and the Pennsylvania Archives, he is listed as Adam Shaffer, and some of the accounts about him are altered from this version. (He is not to be confused with an Adam Sheffer who served at an earlier time.) Adam was granted twenty-six dollars and twenty-six cents per year, payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September.

Married Life
After his discharge from the army Adam lived in Westmoreland County for some time. In 1780 he married Catherine Dorothea Trope Sipe, the widow of Christopher Sipe who had been killed by Indians. His papers state that he lived in Fayette county PA for eighteen years. Of his children, Mary Magdalene, Adam Jr. and John were born in Westmoreland County, and the rest, namely Hannah-Ann Dorothea, Mariah and Sarah A. were born in Fayette County.

The oldest child, Mary Magdalena Shaffer (called "Aunt Mattelena"), was born 9 Feb 1781 and baptized 18 Mar 1781. Adam's wife is listed on the baptismal record as Dorothea and the sponsors were Christian Mannerschmidt and wife Susannah.
Deeds registered in the recorders office in Greensburg show that on 23 May 1806 John Painter sold land to Adam Schaffer, and on 19 May 1823 Adam Schaffer and wife sold land to Adam Smith. On 17 May 1823 Peter Schmahl sold land to Adam Schaffer which was recorded 19 May 1823. No further records of wife (Catharine /Dorothea) are found and it is presumed that she died after they returned to Westmoreland County. There Adam lived on what was known as the "Indian Springs" farm. In June 1876 his grandson William with his wife and eldest son John Amos visited the old home. William recognized the farm where he had been born.
Adam had again married, this time to a widow Schmidt (Smith) nee Schmahl. When William and his family visited there, her son by her former marriage, Tobias Smith, was living there. He had purchased the farm when Adam and his wife left Westmoreland County in 1828 to come to what was then Venango county.
Adam's second wife died in Venango Co. and was buried in the Best or Stone Church Cemetery, although her grave has not been located. (Note by Ethel Sheffer Crawford: Many old illegible broken markers are there. Her Christian name remains unknown. I have a letter written to my grandmother by Nathaniel in 1909 saying she was buried there, and as his father William was living at the time, I am certain it was correct.)
Adam related some of his experiences to his children & grandchildren.. Once while he and other farmers were cutting wheat during the Revolutionary period, Indians attacked them. The men had to run for the wooden fort or blockhouse where the women and children stayed while the harvesting was being done. Adam was a small short man, and a big husky Indian very nearly overtook him but when they reached the fence the Indian jumped on it and fell, so Adam and the others were able to get into the fort unharmed.

Children of John Adam Schaeffer & Catharine:

• Mary Magdalena Shaffer was born before 9 Feb 1781, and baptized in Zion Herold Church, Westmoreland Co. PA. She married Christian Heinrich (or Christ Henry) of Westmoreland Co. PA. One account says they came to Beaver Twp., Clarion Co. in the early 1840's and had no children. An account written by Rev. John Amos says they had children, and grandchildren named Adam Greenawalt and Hugh, Isabel and John Brady.
• Adam Shaffer was the oldest son of John Adam Schaeffer. He was a carpenter by trade and lived in Starr Co. OH near Canton. He married Sarah Schaeffer, a daughter of Philip Schaeffer of Greensburg PA. They moved to Starr co. OH, near Canton. They had children: John, Samuel, Solomon, Lemuel, and Burr. No records found; family tradition has it that John Scheffer, our ancestor, rode horseback to see them on one or two occasions.
• John Shaffer was the third child of John Adam Schaeffer. He was born 7 Oct 1784; died 17 Feb 1864. In 1810 he married Barbara Ann Bescht (Best), daughter of William Best of Westmoreland Co. PA. William Best was born in 1733 & died in 1823 at age 90 years. He was twice married, and Barbara was a daughter of the second marriage, her mother being Catherine Dorn. Catherine is buried beside William Best, but no dates are given. William Best donated land for the cemetery to St. Paul's Church. Barbara Best was born in Westmoreland Co. PA 6 Aug 1791.
  John and Barbara had lived in Westmoreland Co. after their marriage until 1822 when they moved to what was then Richland Twp., Venango Co. PA.
• Hannah Sheffer married John Mansfield. Lived between Blarisville & Greensburg, later lived in Freeport PA. Had 3 children; no further information.
• Ann Dorothea Sheffer b. 8 Nov 1790, died 29 Nov 1860. Married 1) Adam Berry from Pittsburgh PA
• Sarah Anna Sheffer b. 12 Oct 1793 in Fayette Co. PA; died 28 Apr 1881. Married Michael Best born Westmoreland Co. PA 2 Apr 1783; died 26 June 1867. Buried Best or Stone Church Cemetery.

Death & Burial
Adam Schaeffer died in Salem Twp., Clarion Co. PA on 19 Nov. 1840 at age 88 years, 11 months and 20 days. He was buried in Salem Lutheran Cemetery.
There were no children to the second marriage.

Children of John Shaffer & Barbara Best<br. Six of their children were born near Greensburg. They were:

• Susannah Shaffer, born 30 June 1812, married George Kribbs;
• Jacob Best Shaffer born 20 Jan 1814, married Sarah Linn;
• Adam Shaffer born 6 Aug 1815, married Elizabeth Kribbs;
• John Shaffer born 1817 & died 1826;
• William Shaffer born 26 Mar 1819, married 1st Priscilla Kribbs, & married 2nd Sebra Baker;
• Mary Ann "Polly" Shaffer born 31 Jan 1821, married George W. Long.
  
  John Shaffer and wife Barbara arrived in Richland Twp 22 May 1822, and purchased 200 acres of land, all forest except for 10 cleared acres, with a log cabin. Here additional children were born:
• Anna Catherine "Cassie" Shaffer born 2 Mar. 1823, married William Kratzer;
• Samuel Shaffer born 11 April 1826 married 1st Mary Ann Heasley, & married 2nd Susannah Kuhns;
• Elizabeth Shaffer born 21 May 1829& died 1833;
• George F. Shaffer born 24 Jan 1832 & died 1840;
• Elias Bescht Shaffer born 18 Mar 1834, married Sarah Weeter.
  
  John Sheffer died 17 Feb 1864 at age 75 years, 4 months & 10 days. Barbara his wife died 5 Mar. 1874 at age 82 yrs, 6 mos & 29 days. They are buried at Salem Lutheran Cemetery.
  
  For additional biographical notes of Hazel Sheffer Crawford, see the direct line of Sheffer descendants. Click here to return to John Adam Schaeffer page.