This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: KarenSemencar Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.pennsylvania.counties.clarion/3013.532.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am not currently using ancestry as I am doing another project. A quick synopsis..Wilhelm Bast and wife Anna Susanna Best came to America from Germany ( probably the Rhineland and the Winter Galley but I need to pull my records to check on the spelling of the ship without checking). I have a file on them but am changing computers and have not put it in this one. Johann Adam Schaeffer and Anna Weiland ( need to pull file but this seems correct from my memory) You will find she had a brother named after her father. The Schaeffer came to America first and Wm gave them money to buy land and they did in Bucks County, PA..Many people spell the Schaeffer name different ways but it is as stated and can be found as such..Eventually family moved to Westmoreland County and from there they moved on..I have spoken with Bests that still live in Eastern Pa...Descendant Wilhelm Best was known as the church builder and on his way north they stopped in Armstrong where he built a church. Sin! ce winter was coming the family stayed there is a log cabin or what stood for one..His wife was Mary Schmidt Best(she was known to be a very good horse rider) and there were many family left there when they moved. The people of the church did what they could to help but it is said it was harsh and she fought off wild animals..He built a cabin for them and they ended in Jefferson Co., Pa...My gg grandmothers obituary # 011769 states Barbara Anna Shaffer ( spelling of my gg grandfathers) b. June 25, 1825 and d. Feb 24, 1923 and parents as Wm. and Mary Smith..informant was her son-in-law with whom she resided with his wife, her daughter..She is buried in Syphrit, also known as Paradise Cemetery..I have been there and have a photo of her stone..the paper stated she was the eldest woman in Reynoldsville. Jeff. Co., PA SHE WAS OVER 97...Her parents are stated as Mr and Mrs Wm. Best and she was born in Elenora.. her first marriage was to John Culp who drownded and second to Jacob ! Shaffer. ( THE SPELLING OF SHAFFER )..In the paper they said Henry but all records I have state Jacob..Many refer to the first Shaeffer as Shiffer or Sheffer but as you will find in the record of the ship and will the name was spelled Schaeffer..When I have a chance I will provide documentation citations..My Wm. came to Clarion and went back to Westmoreland and his two brothers settled in the Knox, Clarion County area and I have early church records on them and familes they married into..My aunt is deceased but many years ago she said she remembered her funeral when she was very young...This is just some later information but I will check info when I can and get into the other computer to copy it onto a cd Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.