Related Familes: Peter Shaffer/Shaeffer of Carroll tp., York County, PA David Sheffer/Shaeffer of Dillsburg, York County, PA I have been reworking and updating my file of the Shaffer families of the Dover Township area. I will be posting a series of compiled data for Shaffer families in the 1760-1820 time frame. My own Shaffer lineage goes through George Ludwig Scheffer (1755-1829), son of John Scheffer, of Dover tp. However, I am in need of much assistance to flesh details out. This post focuses on Abraham Shaffer/Schafer/Schaffer of Dover tp. He is NOT related to the George Ludwig Scheffer or John Scheffer families; however, as he appears in the vicinity, I always find it of great value to research other families in order to better exclude them from my own. Abraham's parentage is uncertain; however, he had a child named Carolus (or Carl, or Charles) baptized in 1817. There was a Charles Schaeffer in adjoining Warrington tp. enumerated in the 1800 through 1840 federal censuses. He appears to have been the Charles Schaeffer of Cocalico tp., son of Abraham Schaeffer, who migrated circa 1793 to York County. The nearby location and naming patterns fit; however, I have no evidence to link the two. Census records also show Charles Schaeffer with a child in 1800 and 1810 who fits the expected age of Abraham Shaffer of Dover tp. I have not looked at Abraham's estate records--there probably were Orphans Court records for his minor children. Also, I have not had opportunity to fully investigate Charles Schaeffer of Warrington tp. in either church or court records. There may be something further of value. I will send a separate post on the little I have gathered on Charles Schaeffer. Here follows compiled data on Abraham Schaeffer/Shaffer/Schafer: Abraham Schafer (c1793-1825) Family of Dover tp. ESTATE SEARCH: York County Administration Bond Index: SHAFFER, ABRAHAM 1825 DOVER TWP HH-545 CHURCH SEARCH: York Reformed KB: Abraham Schafer m. 23 Mar 1813 Hannah Gross Strayer’s Lutheran KB, Dover tp., York County, PA (to 1850 only): Abraham Schafer & his wife Anna had baptized: 1. Carolus, b. 27 Nov 1817, sp. Peter & Catharine Gross Strayer’s Reformed KB: Abraham Schafer & his wife Hanna had baptized: 1. Anna Maria, b. 19 June 1819, sp. ------- 2. David, b. 11 Aug 1821, sp. Joh. Gross & Sophia 3. Peter, b. 16 Sep 1824, sp. Peter Gross & Catharina Abraham Schafer & his wife Hanna sp ch/o James Patton & his wife Elisabeth on 17 June 1816 Abraham Schafer & his wife Hannah sp ch/o Jacob Mitman & wife Magdalena on 23 Feb 1817 MISCELLANEOUS SEARCH: (Newspaper not compiled): Died 14 Sep 1825, Abraham Schafer of Dover tp., in his 32nd year. York County List of Poor Children: 1827-28 Dover Twp: no parents listed: David Sheffer-6y. 1829-30 Dover Twp: Hanah Sheffer: David Sheffer-6y., Anamery Sheffer-9y. 1831-32 Dover Twp: Hanah Sheffer: Mary Sheffer-11y., David Sheffer-9y. 1833-34 Dover Twp: no parents listed: David Shaffer-___ Carroll Township County Charles W. Sheffer son of David and Sarah Sheffer, of Dillsburg, was born June 15, 1846. In 1860 he began learning coach-making of his father, and in 1872 went to Dover, where for about six years he worked for Brown & Strayer. On his return to Dillsburg he erected a fine dwelling house and a large coach-maker's shop, and has succeeded in establishing a large and lucrative trade in the borough and surrounding country in buggies, spring wagons, hacks, phaetons, etc. He was married in 1868 to Mary Baish, daughter of Joseph and Mary Baish; of the two children born to this union--a boy and a girl--the girl only is living. Mrs. Sheffer is a member of the Lutheran Church. (York County, Pennsylvania, Biographical History) CENSUS SEARCH: 1820 Federal Census: Dover, York, Pennsylvania, Roll: 160, page Abraham Sheffer, wagonmaker, 100010/20100/001 --Projected family: 1. Abraham Schafer, age 26-45 2. Wife Hannah, age 16-26 3. Unknown daughter, under 10 4. Son Charles, under 10 5. Daughter Anna Maria, under 10 1830 Federal Census: Dover, York, Pennsylvania; Roll: 160; Page: 302. Hannah Shafer, --------------/001001---- --Projected family: 1. Hannah Schafer, age 30-40 2. Daughter Catharine or Anna Maria, age 10-15 --NOTE: Where are her sons and other daughter? 1840 Federal Census: Not yet discernible. 1850 Federal Census: Dover, York, Pennsylvania; Roll: M432_839; Page: 297; Image: 319. Catharine Sheaffer, age 38, born PA, residing with family of William Williams, age 34, and presumed wife Catharine, age 29, both born PA. --------------(next door) Peter Shaeffer, age 26, blacksmith, all born PA Barbara Shaeffer, age 22 Catharine Shaeffer, age 3 Abraham Shaeffer, age 1 Jacob Frederick, age 24 ---------------(next door) Augustus Basthof, age 65, born Germany Catharine Basthof, age 67, born PA David Shaeffer, age 29, wagonmaker, owns real estate, rest born PA Sarah Shaeffer, age 21 Charles Shaeffer, age 4 Jacob H. Shaeffer, age 2 George W. Shaeffer, age 4/12 Catharine Brown, age 16 1860 Federal Census: Dover, York, Pennsylvania; Roll: M653_1198; Page: 477; Image: 145. William Spahr, age 61, retired farmer, owns real estate, all born PA Sarah Spahr, age 59 Catharine Sheffer, age 45, domestic 1870 Federal Census: Dover, York, Pennsylvania; Roll: M593_1468; Page: 234; Image: 182. William Spahr, age 71, farmer, owns real estate, all born PA Sarah Spahr, age 68, keeping house Catharine Shaffer, age 56 1870 Federal Census: Dillsburg, York, Pennsylvania; Roll: M593_1468; Page: 210; Image: 32. David Sheffer [errantly indexed as Shepper], age 49. coach maker, all born PA Sarah Sheffer, age 40, keeping house Jacob H. Sheffer, age 22, works in coach shop George W. Sheffer, age 20, carriage smith James B. Sheffer, age 13 David O. Sheffer, age 10 Annie M. Sheffer, age 18 Leah J. Sheffer, age 15 Sallie E. Sheffer, age 8 Lavine H. (?) Sheffer, age 5 Minnie G. Sheffer, age 3 1880 Federal Census: Carroll, York, Pennsylvania; Roll: T9_1205; Family History Film: 1255205; Page: 218.4000; Enumeration District: 3; . Peter Shaffer, age 55, farmer, all PA-PA-PA Barbara Shaffer, wife, age 51 Katie Shaffer, daughter, age 31 Abram Shaffer, son, age 30 Catharine Shaffer, sister, age 66 Levi Heiges, boarder, age 38 1880 Federal Census: Dillsburg, York, Pennsylvania; Roll: T9_1205; Family History Film: 1255205; Page: 224.3000; Enumeration District: 3; . David Sheffer, age 58, coach maker, all PA-PA-PA Sarah Sheffer, wife, age 51 Jacob H. Sheffer, son, age 31, coach painter Julia A. Sheffer, daughter-in-law, age 30 Leah J. C. Sheffer, daughter, age 25 Sallie E. Sheffer, daughter, age 18 Lovie C. Sheffer, daughter, age 15 Philip T. Sheffer, son, age 8 Fannie M. Sheffer, daughter, age 5 Minnie G. Sheffer, daughter, age 12 1900 Federal Census: Carroll, York, Pennsylvania; Roll: T623 1500; Page: 14B; . Peter Sheaffer, born Sep 1824, married 53 years, PA-PA-PA, chain maker Barbara Sheaffer, wife, born Apr 1829; 12 children—five yet living; PA-PA-PA Catharine Sheaffer, daughter, born Feb 1848, single -------------(next door) Catharine Sheaffer, born Sep 1815, widowed [sic], PA-PA-PA