05/22/08

Click Here for more Family Photo's and General Information. I have recently added photo's, please be sure to check it out. Do you have any you would like to add? Email them to me and I will add them.

Plus information on the 2008 Shaff Family Reunion in Lansing, NY

Bob & Helen Riker have done a tremendous amount of work on the family tree and Bob still work's on it now. Theses pages are taken from the copy of the Shaff Family Tree.

This family record is dedicated to a person who has given us the inspiration and purpose to continue the pursuit of the Shaff family line. From the memories of his early life and his delightful stories, to the many excursions in the family cemeteries, we have enjoyed every moment we have been privileged to spend with him.

This book is presented as a lasting tribute to:

AUGUSTUS R. SHAFF (b.ll Feb. 1914 d. 25 Sept. 2006)

Thank you "Uncle Gus" We love you.

To the scattered family members who gave so much of their time and helped in many ways, especially:

BEATRICE SHAFF-DENNIS (Aunt Bea)

LORRAINE REEVES-HOUSTON and all the REEVES family

JIMMY SHAFF

BESSIE SMITH-SHAFF

MARILYNNE BESEMER-DUMERS

and so many others. We could not have done it without you. Many, many thanks.

Bob & Helen Riker

THE PALATINATES WERE LOCATED IN THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF GERMANY, NEAR BAVARIA ON THE EAST AND SWITZERLAND ON THE SOUTH. OCCUPYING BOTH SIDES OF THE RHINE RIVER, THEY INCLUDED THE DISTRICTS OF DARMSTADT, HANAU, FRANCONIA, AS WELL AS THE CITIES OF NUREMBURG AND HEIDELBURG. THE FOLLOWING AREAS ARE USUALLY INCLUDED ALSO: BAJREUTH, WURZBURG, MAYENCE(MAINZ), TREVES, SPIRES, WORMS, HESSE, ZWE1BRUCKEN, NASSAU, ALSACE, BADEN, AND WURTENBURG. THESE WERE FEUDAL LANDS. GOVERNED BY AN INDIVIDUAL, WHO EXACTED TAXES FOR HIS OWN USE AND GAVE NO PROTECTION IN RETURN.

DURING THE SPANISH INQUISITION, THE SPANISH, UNDER GENERAL TILLEY (1559-1632) OF BAVARIA RAZED HEIDELBERG AND SENT THE CONTENTS OF ITS GREAT LIBRARY TO POPE GREGORY XV (1621-1623).THIS OCCURRED DURING "THE THIRTY YEARS WAR"(1618-1648).THE FRENCH, UNDER LOUIS XIV(1638-1715) COMPLETELY DEVASTATED THE AREA IN SEPTEMBER, 1707 DURING "THE WAR OF THE SPANISH SUCCESSION' (1701-1713). THE PALATINES WHO WERE FARMERS AND MERCHANTS, WERE GIVEN THREE DAYS TO LEAVE THEIR COUNTRY. THEY WERE FORCED TO LEAVE WITHOUT PERSONAL ITEMS, TOOLS, LIVESTOCK, OR MONEY. ABOUT 32,000 OF THESE VERY DESTITUTE PEOPLE MADE THEIR WAY TO HOLLAND. FROM THERE, MOST WENT TO ENGLAND. THEY WERE SPONSORED BY "GOOD" QUEEN ANNE, WHO PAID FOR THEIR PASSAGE AND PROVISIONS SHE WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO SEND SOME OF THEM TO AMERICA.

EARLY IN 1708, THEY BEGAN TO IMMIGRATE TO AMERICA. THEY SETTLED IN NEWBURGH,NY AND WERE GIVEN 50 ACRE LAND GRANTS BY GOV. LOVELACE IN 1709, NEAR THE MOUTH OF QUASSICK CREEK. THEY HAD NO MONEY AND NO TOOLS TO WORK THE LAND. THEY HAD TO MAKE DEALS WITH PROSPEROUS LOCALS TO GET THE BARE NECESSITIES. THEY WERE NOT MUCH MORE THAN INDENTURED SERVANTS ON THEIR OWN LAND, WHICH HAD BEEN PUT UP FOR COLLATERALS SEPTEMBER 1712, SOME 150 FAMILIES MOVED TO THE SCHOHARIE AREA. IN 1713.IT WAS REPORTED THERE WERE 500 FAMILIES THERE WITH ANOTHER 500 IN NEWBURGH. OTHERS SETTLED IN A SWISS COLONY, WITH JOHN CONRAD WEISER, IN NEW BERN,NC.

WHEN THEY LEFT NEWBURGH FOR SCHOHARIE, THEY TOOK ONLY THOSE THINGS OF A PERSONAL NATURE, FOR FEAR OF BEING ACCUSED OF THIEVERY THIS MEANT FASHIONING NEW TOOLS FROM WOOD. THEY MADE WOODEN SHOVELS, PITCHFORKS, UTENSILS, ETC FROM TREE LIMBS AND SUCH. THEIR LOT WAS NOT A HAPPY ONE. AT ONE POINT, SOME WERE CAPTURED BY INDIANS DURING THE FRENCH & INDIAN WARS (1754-1763). THEY WERE LATER RELEASED WHEN THE GOVERNOR MADE A LAND DEAL WITH THE INDIANS. THIS DEAL IS KNOWN AS "THE CANAJOHARIE PATENT" AND INVOLVED SOME 8,000 ACRES OF LAND IN MINDEN, CANAJOHARIE AND HERKIMER. THIS LAND WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PALATINES. OTHER SETTLEMENTS INCLUDE "THE BURNETSFIELD PATENT", WHICH BECAME GERMAN FLATS, PALATINE VILLAGE, AND LATER HERKIMER". "THE STONE ARABIA PATENT" BECAME PALATINE BRIDGE AND THE TOWN OF PALATINE

FROM EARLY EMIGRANT LISTS, WE FIND THE FOLLOWING:

SCHAFF: BARTEL WITH WIFE AND 1 CHILD SAILING FROM HOLLAND TO AMERICA ON 21 JUNE 1709.

SCHAFF; BARTHOLEMUS WITH WIFE AND 1 CHILD SAILING BACK TO HOLLAND IN 1709. SCHAFT.JOHAN WITH WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN SAILING FROM HOLLAND TO AMERICA

ON 15 JULY 1709.

REFERENCE: EARLY 18th CENTURY PALATINE EMIGRATION
AUTHOR: KNITTLE                    NC929.3 K

THIS WOULD INDICATE THE NAME SHAFF MAY BE SPELLED IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS SCHAFF, SCHAAFT, SCHAFF, SCHAFT.SHAFF, AND SHAFT, ARE AMONG THOSE LISTED IN VARIOUS RECORDS. THE PALATINES WERE PROTESTANTS WHO WERE PERSECUTED BY THE SPANISH AND THE FRENCH. WITH THE HELP OF THE DUTCH AND ENGLISH, THEY IMMIGRATED TO AMERICA IN THE EARLY 1700'S. THEY ARE KNOWN TO HAVE SETTLED IN NEWBURGH, SCHOHARIE, HERKIMER AND ELSEWHERE IN THE MOHAWK VALLEY OF NEW YORK. THEY ALSO SETTLED IN NEW BERN, NC.

REFERENCE: EARLY 18th CENTURY PALATINE EMIGRATION AUTHOR: KNITTLE         NC 929.3 K

This page is now completely updated with all of the information I have. If you have any additions, please email me by clicking here.   1/4/07

Descendants of William Warren Shaff, Sr.

Generation No. 1

1.  WILLIAM WARREN¹ SHAFF, SR. was born January 10, 1754 in Germany, and died June 21, 1829 in Middlesex, NY.  He married MARGARET (MARGRITA) BROUWER.

Notes for WILLIAM WARREN SHAFF, SR.:

Was a farmer. Early settler in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Was a Private in the Revolutionary War and was pensioned. He severed in the 16h Reg. Albany Co. NY Militia Service #-S 42288.

He moved to Junius, NY in 1815. He was overseer of Highways in Junius, NY in 1816 (Dist. 30) & 1822 ( Dist. 24)

Buried in Pine Corners Cemetery, Middlesex, Yates Co., NY. Possible brother John & Herny

Information came from David Schaff, will of Margaret Brouwer, Dutch Reformed Church of Schaghticoke, NY, 1750-1868.

William's service record Obituary for William from the Waterloo Republican Newspaper and the History of Saratoga Co. NY pg. 217.

Some childrens names came from church records and some from the obituary, and last will and testament. As well as the U.S. Census

Lived:

1775 Town of Cambridge, Washington Co., NY

1776 Town of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga Co. NY

1800 Town of Canajoharie, Montgomery Co., NY

1810 Town of Saratoga, Saratoga Co., NY

1820 Town of Janius, Seneca Co., NY

1829 Town of Middlesex, Yates Co. NY

Children of WILLIAM SHAFF and MARGARET BROUWER are:

2.                i.    ELEANOR² SHAFF, d. October 13, 1821, Shawnee, PA.

3.               ii.    SOPHIA SHAFF, d. Bef. 1850.

4.              iii.    WILLIAM SHAFF, JR., b. Bet. 1778 - 1794, Saratoga Springs, NY; d. April 12, 1837, Junius Twsp. Seneca Co., NY.

5.              iv.    JOHN SHAFF, b. August 20, 1779, Saratoga Springs, NY; d. November 13, 1871, Wellsboro, PA in the County House.

6.               v.    ABRAHAM SHAFF, b. Abt. 1780, Saratoga Springs, NY.

                 vi.    LENA SHAFF, b. June 08, 1781, Saratoga Springs, NY.

7.             vii.    CATHERINE (CATHY) SHAFF, b. June 03, 1783, Schaghicoke, NY; d. 1794.

               viii.    LYDIA SHAFF, b. August 17, 1785, Schaghicoke, NY; d. August 17, 1879, Ypsilanti City, MI; m. SAMUAL VAN TASSEL.

8.               ix.    POLLY SHAFF, b. April 20, 1787, Schaghicoke, NY.

9.                x.    HENRY B. SHAFF, b. 1794, NY; d. July 15, 1878, Wolcott, NY.

10.             xi.    NANCY COOPER SHAFF, b. February 08, 1802, Saratoga Springs, NY; d. June 18, 1880, Blackman Twsp. Jackson Co., MI.

11.            xii.    JACOB SHAFF, b. March 23, 1803, Saratoga Springs, NY; d. September 17, 1856, Gorham, NY.

12.           xiii.    MARGARET SHAFF.

Generation No. 2

2.  ELEANOR² SHAFF (WILLIAM WARREN¹) died October 13, 1821 in Shawnee, PA.  She married OLIVER A. DRAKE.

Notes for ELEANOR SHAFF:

She is listed as a member of the Saratoga Co. Methodist Church, Greenfield, NY in 1810 in the church records.

Notes for OLIVER A. DRAKE:

Information came from David Schaff - Oliver A. Drake is listed in "Rooted in the Green Mountains" <roots@together.net> July 12, 1817 to September 1855 in Castleton, Rutland Co., VT

Children of ELEANOR SHAFF and OLIVER DRAKE are:

                   i.    ELI³ DRAKE.

                  ii.    JOEL DRAKE.

                 iii.    JUTUS DRAKE.

                 iv.    LYMAN DRAKE.

3.  SOPHIA² SHAFF (WILLIAM WARREN¹) died Bef. 1850.  She married JOHN DUNN.

Notes for SOPHIA SHAFF:

In 1850 Census, Saratoga Springs, NY 5 children listed

Children of SOPHIA SHAFF and JOHN DUNN are:

                   i.    WILLIAM³ DUNN.

                  ii.    ALEXANDER DUNN, b. Abt. 1824.

                 iii.    SALLY ANN DUNN, b. Abt. 1826.

                 iv.    ALONZO DUNN, b. Abt. 1842.

                  v.    JOHN H. DUNN, b. Abt. 1846.

                 vi.    MARIA DUNN, b. Abt. 1848.

4.  WILLIAM² SHAFF, JR. (WILLIAM WARREN¹) was born Bet. 1778 - 1794 in Saratoga Springs, NY, and died April 12, 1837 in Junius Twsp. Seneca Co., NY.  He married ELIZABETH (BETSEY) LUM May 24, 1824 in Seneca, Ontario Co., NY.

Notes for WILLIAM SHAFF, JR.:

Served in War of 1812, in 23rd Regiment, U. S. Infantry. Received a pension

U.S. Census - 1820

Lived in Town of Junius, Seneca Co., NY

Notes for ELIZABETH (BETSEY) LUM:

Moved to Van Buren Co., MI after death of husband William

Member of Second Junius Presbyterian Church as of January 1, 1835

Children of WILLIAM SHAFF and ELIZABETH LUM are:

13.              i.    WILLIAM³ SHAFF III, b. Bet. 1810 - 1820.

                  ii.    ELIZABETH SHAFF, b. 1829; m. JOHN BUCKLEY, July 04, 1846, Monroe Co., MI.

Notes for ELIZABETH SHAFF:

Marriage information came from Michigan marriages to 1850

5.  JOHN² SHAFF (WILLIAM WARREN¹) was born August 20, 1779 in Saratoga Springs, NY, and died November 13, 1871 in Wellsboro, PA in the County House.  He married ANNIS MCCARTHY.

Notes for JOHN SHAFF:

Farmer. Moved to Middlebury, Tioga Co. PA in 1839.

Buried in Broadacres Farm (County Farm) Cemetery Rte. 58014 Shumway Hill Road County Farm Wellsboro, PA. Exact spot unknown (no stone). Information came from Tioga PA. Newspaper Abs.(1829-1873) & Tioga Co. Records. Vital records and Bible Records (1978) See pg. 802 History of Tioga Co. Author - Brown

Lived:

1810 In Schohaire Co. NY

1820 In Town of Sharon, NY

1840 In Tioga Co. Town of Middlebury, PA

1870 In Tioga Co. Town of Middlebury, PA with Porter D. Shaff

additional information came from David Schaff & Sharon Elliott

Children of JOHN SHAFF and ANNIS MCCARTHY are:

                   i.    LUCINDA³ SHAFF, b. Saratoga Springs, NY.

14.             ii.    NANCY SHAFF, b. October 06, 1807, Saratoga Springs, NY; d. January 11, 1898.

15.            iii.    STEPHEN C. SHAFF, b. April 04, 1809, Madison, NY; d. July 24, 1901, Keeneyville, PA.

                 iv.    ANNA SHAFF, b. 1813, Schoharie, Schoharie Co. NY.

Notes for ANNA SHAFF:

From LDS records, Anna bapitzied June 20, 1813 in St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Church

                  v.    BETSY SHAFF, b. 1813, Saratoga Springs, NY.

Notes for BETSY SHAFF:

Betsey Shaff is listed in 1850 & 1860 US Census for Tioga Co., PA. She is listed as being idiotic in both.

                 vi.    MARGARET SHAFF, b. Abt. 1815, Saratoga Springs, NY; m. NEHEMIAH FRENCH.

Notes for MARGARET SHAFF:

Residence 1869, Clara Twsp. Porter Co., PA

Notes for NEHEMIAH FRENCH:

Lived in Clara Twsp. Pooter Co., PA

16.           vii.    WILLIAM A SHAFF, b. Abt. 1815, Saratoga Springs, NY; d. February 01, 1886, Tioga Co., PA.

               viii.    JANE SHAFF, b. Bet. 1815 - 1820, Saratoga Springs, NY.

17.             ix.    CATHERINE MARIA SHAFF, b. September 28, 1818, Scoharie Co., NY; d. November 07, 1895, Tioga Co., PA.

                   x.    ANGELINE SHAFF, b. 1821, Saratoga Springs, NY; d. November 28, 1894, County House in Wellsboro, PA.

Notes for ANGELINE SHAFF:

Considered idiotic. Never married. Lived with her father for most of her life.

Buried in Broadacres (County Farm) Farm Cemetery. Rte. 58014 Shumway Hill Road, Wellsboro, Tioga Co., PA (No stone)

18.             xi.    ROSANNA SHAFF, b. 1823, Saratoga Springs, NY; d. 1902.

                 xii.    JAMES WELLINGTON SHAFF, b. 1826, Saratoga Springs, NY; d. October 15, 1898; m. ELIZABETH PRESTON, March 04, 1860, Ekland, Tioga Co. PA.

Notes for JAMES WELLINGTON SHAFF:

The History of Tioga Co., PA, indicates James w. was a farmer in Lawrence Twsp. Tioga Co., PA

1850 U.S. Census for Charleston Twsp. Tioga Co., PA gives Shaft, Wellington as age 24 born in NY

Residence: 1860 Res: Lawrence Twsp. Tioga Co., PA

19.           xiii.    JOHN H. SHAFF, b. 1828, Saratoga Springs, NY; d. 1917, Tioga Co., PA.

6.  ABRAHAM² SHAFF (WILLIAM WARREN¹) was born Abt. 1780 in Saratoga Springs, NY.  He married ELIZABETH TUCKER.

Child of ABRAHAM SHAFF and ELIZABETH TUCKER is:

20.              i.    PHILO M.³ SHAFF, b. December 1827, NY; d. October 02, 1902, Bedford, MI.

7.  CATHERINE (CATHY)² SHAFF (WILLIAM WARREN¹) was born June 03, 1783 in Schaghicoke, NY, and died 1794.  She married JONATHAN CARR.

Notes for CATHERINE (CATHY) SHAFF:

In Dutch Reforned Church Records, Schaghticoke, rensselaer Co., NY, she islisted as Catherine Shaaf. In LDS records, she is listed as born June 5 and christened September 24, 1790, parents were William Schaff and Margaret Brouwer.

Child of CATHERINE SHAFF and JONATHAN CARR is:

                   i.    JACOB³ CARR.

8.  POLLY² SHAFF (WILLIAM WARREN¹) was born April 20, 1787 in Schaghicoke, NY.  She married ANSEL HALL.

Notes for POLLY SHAFF:

Christened on September 24, 1790 in Saratoga, Schuylerville.

Lived in Vermont in 1829 with Ansel Hall

Notes for ANSEL HALL:

In 1830 US Census pg. 307 notes Ansel was in Pittsfield, Otsego Co., NY

Children of POLLY SHAFF and ANSEL HALL are:

                   i.    LORENE³ HALL.

                  ii.    EDMESTON HALL.

                 iii.    WILLIAM G. HALL.

9.  HENRY B.² SHAFF (WILLIAM WARREN¹) was born 1794 in NY, and died July 15, 1878 in Wolcott, NY.  He married SARA UNKNOWN.

Notes for HENRY B. SHAFF:

Served in War of 1812, 13th Infantry.

Lived in Cincinnatus, Cortland Co., NY, Junius, Seneca Co., NY, since 1825.

1850 Census listed Henry as a laborer.

Buried in North Wolcott Cemetery,  North Wolcott, NY. Known as "Deacon"  and  "Thorne".

Lived in Wolcott, Waynw Co., NY in 1879

Henry's name Shaff was corrupted to Shaft in the census records.

Notes for SARA UNKNOWN:

Buried in North Wolcott Cemetery, North Wolcott, NY

Children of HENRY SHAFF and SARA UNKNOWN are:

21.              i.    MILTON³ SHAFF, b. July 06, 1829; d. July 19, 1914, Sterling, NY.

                  ii.    HARRIET SHAFF, b. Abt. 1833.

22.            iii.    MARGARET SHAFF, b. Abt. 1836.

10.  NANCY COOPER² SHAFF (WILLIAM WARREN¹) was born February 08, 1802 in Saratoga Springs, NY, and died June 18, 1880 in Blackman Twsp. Jackson Co., MI.  She married ALEXANDER WAGER September 15, 1826, son of PHILIP WAGER and SARAH FRANCISCO.

Notes for NANCY COOPER SHAFF:

Buried in McNaughton Cemetery in Blackman Twsp. Jackson Co., MI

Notes for ALEXANDER WAGER:

Was a farmer near Schenectady, NY. Wager information provided by Denise Lindfield.

Children of NANCY SHAFF and ALEXANDER WAGER are:

23.              i.    WILLIAM WARREN³ WAGER, b. December 16, 1827, Middlesex, Yates Co., NY; d. December 27, 1905, Carlton, NE.

                  ii.    PHILIP WILLIAM WAGER, b. November 05, 1828, Middlesex, Yates Co., NY; d. May 26, 1889, Leoni Twsp. Jackson Co., MI; m. LUCINDA PERRYMAN.

Notes for PHILIP WILLIAM WAGER:

Buried in McNaughton Cemetery, Jackson Co., MI

                 iii.    MARGUARITE DELIGHT WAGER, b. June 17, 1830; m. UNKNOWN MORRISON.

Notes for UNKNOWN MORRISON:

In Michael Francisco's will, the Morrison family were living in Geneva, Ontario Co., Ny in 1865

                 iv.    ELECTA WAGER, b. June 24, 1832.

Notes for ELECTA WAGER:

Buried in McNaughton Cemetery, Jackson Co., MI

                  v.    SARAH WAGER, b. April 29, 1834.

Notes for SARAH WAGER:

Lived in Gorham, NY in 1865 per Michael Franisco's will.

                 vi.    PHOEBE ANN WAGER, b. June 01, 1836; m. (1) UNKNOWN STEARNS; m. (2) UNKNOWN DEGRAFF.

                vii.    HENRIETTA WAGER, b. October 05, 1839, Pittstown, Rensselaer Co., NY; m. (1) UNKNOWN ANGELL; m. (2) UNKNOWN TELLER.

Notes for HENRIETTA WAGER:

Lived in Gorham Ontario Co., NY per Michael Francisco's will. Lived in Jackson Co., MI. Buried in McNaughton Cemetery, Jackson Co., MI

11.  JACOB² SHAFF (WILLIAM WARREN¹) was born March 23, 1803 in Saratoga Springs, NY, and died September 17, 1856 in Gorham, NY.  He married (1) SARAH UNKNOWN.  He married (2) ESTHER UNKNOWN.

Notes for JACOB SHAFF:

Was a mason

Served in the War of 1812, NY Militia, 27th Regiment

1850 US Census lists Jacob, Eliza, Esther & Margaret in Gorham, NY

Buried in Pine Corners Cemetery, Middlesex, Yates Co., NY

Surrgate Court Records, 1789 - 1926 has Jacob Shaffin Gorham, NY. Will dated September 7, 1856

Residence 1820 - Junius Twsp., Seneca Co., NY

Notes for ESTHER UNKNOWN:

2nd Spouse to Jacob Shaff

Children of JACOB SHAFF and SARAH UNKNOWN are:

                   i.    WILLIAM³ SHAFF.

Notes for WILLIAM SHAFF:

Lived in Pulaski, NY September 17, 1856 per Jacobs Will

                  ii.    MARGARET SHAFF, b. 1821, NY; m. DAVID WILSON, Bet. 1850 - 1855.

Notes for MARGARET SHAFF:

Lived in the Town of Hector, Tompkins Co., NY as of September 17, 1856 per Jacobs will.

                 iii.    ELIZABETH SHAFF, b. August 12, 1827, NY; d. December 20, 1828, Middlesex, Yates Co., NY.

Notes for ELIZABETH SHAFF:

Buried in Pine Corners Cemetery, Middlesex, NY, along side Sarah, Elizabeth H., Warren and Jacob

24.            iv.    ANDREW J. SHAFF, b. February 03, 1833, Junius, NY; d. January 04, 1918, Lawton, Van Buren Co., MI.

Children of JACOB S