This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: CAIN, POTTS, McDONALD, DOUGHERTY, PRESTON, TEES, MARTIN Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/3hGBAEB/1002.1.2 Message Board Post: I've just come upon papers with the name Cain in connection with Shaffer and wanted to give you the information in hopes that it might be of some value to your research: Catherine Cain, a resident of 1234 Struthers Street, Philadelphia, PA signed an affidavit in Philadelphia on April 12, 1865. The affidavit was an acknowledgment of Catherine Cain and Joseph E. Preston, a resident of Hamilton Street below 19th Street, Phila that they witnessed the signature of Amanda C. (SHAFFER) Potts on a Widow's Application for Civil War Pension. Additionally. Joseph E. Preston, formerly a soldier in Co A. 95th Regiment of the Pennsylvania states for the record that he was a prisoner of war with Edward M. Potts at Andersonville Prison in Georgia. Mr. Preston says they were both in the same ward and that he "nursed and took care of him while he was sick and was with him and saw him die". Amanda C. Shaffer Potts' husband, Edward M. Potts, who served in Co. H, 183rd Reg't. Penna Volunteers during the Civil War had been captured at the battle of Spottsylvania on May 6,1864 and placed in Andersonville Prison as a POW. Edward M. Potts died on or about August 27, 1864 while at Andersonville Prison and Amanda was filing for a Widow's Pension. The pension papers just sent me by the NARA contain quite a bit of information including the fact that Amanda C. Shaffer married Edward M. Potts on Febuary 1, 1858 in Philadelphia, PA. Those records come from St. George's M. E. Church. Amanda C. Shaffer Potts is shown in the 1850 Census of North Mulberry Ward in the household of George W. Shaeffer, 49, Shoe Maker, born PA. Also listed in same household are Catherine Schaeffer, 51; Elisabeth Schaeffer, 25; Sarah Schaeffer, 17; Susanna Schaeffer, 14; Henry Schaeffer, 7; George Schaeffer 10/12 and Thomas McDonald, 5 - all born in Pennsylvania. By 1870 Amanda Shaffer Potts, widow, with her two children, Pauline and Charles and George Martin, 15, and John Dougherty, 14 along with Susanna (Shaffer / Schaeffer) Tees... a sister to Amanda and Susanna's husband, Charles Tees are living at 1277 Struthers St, Phila with Catherine Shaffer, widow of George Schaeffer / Shaffer. McElroy's Philadelphia Directory for 1860, 1861, 1863, 1864 lists a SHAFFER, George W., shoemaker at 1241 Struthers St then by 1870 and 1875 only Catherine Shaffer, widow of George W. Shaffer appears on the listings. By 1890 Directory a John ORR, cutter, is living at 1241 Struthers Street. So, at the very least the Cain and Shaffer families have both been identified with Struthers Street in Philadelphia, PA about 1864-1870. Incidentally the 1860 and 1861 directories also show that Edward POTTS, harnessmaker, lives at the same address of 1241 Struthers Street. Though Edward Potts is shown as harnessmaker in the 1860 directory, the 1860 census calls his occupation saddler. Anybody recognize any of these family members?