JOHANN MICHAEL SCHEIFFLE, THE IMMIGRANT 1738

JOHN MICHAEL SHIVELY

The combined family research the past four years of Mary Ann Fokken, a Bashore cousin; Ruth Wandel and Sue Rulfs, descendants of Christian Shively; Alice Freed, Editor of the Shively Newsletter; and myself has uncovered new data on our Shively ancestry. Until recently, Shively descendants had only the information that the brothers Christian, Jacob, and Henry, and another brother killed by Indians in Henry County, Kentucky, came to the Louisville area of Kentucky from Brownsville, Pennsylvania. (SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF JOHN M> SHIVELY ca 1884, p. 4) Based upon a land entry, year of arrival is assumed by Lottie McDowell in her history, DESCNDANTS OF HENRY AND MARY BANTA SHIVELY 1972, to be about 1780.

MICHAEL SCHEIFFLE, who arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the Palatine Ship, the St. Andrew, October 27, 1738, is considered our immigrant ancestor. The St. Andrew was one of sixteen ships that arrived that year with 119 men passengers. Although the commanders had been ordered to list also the women and children, and to give the place of domicile plus the adults’ occupations, very few did. Commander John Stedman of the St. Andrew was one who didn’t follow the order, unfortunately. Therefore, we do not know whether or not Michael had a wife and /or children.

Michael was not one of the thirty men listed as sick. I quote the following paragraph on p. 127 of THIRTY THOUSAND NAMES OF IMMIGRANTS IN PENNSYLVANIA 1727-1776 by Prof. I. Daniel Rupp: Lloyd Zachary and T. Bond, physicians, stated in a certificate, under date of October 27, 1738: “We have carefully examined the state of health of the marines and passengers on board of the ship St. Andrew, Captain Stedman, from Rotterdam, and found a great number laboring under a malignant eruptive fever, and are of the opinion, they cannot, for some time, be landed in town without the danger of  infecting the inhabitants.”

According to Strassburger and Hinke in PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN PIONEERS, Vol I, pp 238, 239, Michael signed October 27, 1738, at the Courthouse in Philadelphia, the Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown, and the Oath of Abjuration and Fidelity to the Proprietor and the Laws of the Province. In VOL. III of GERMAN PIONEERS, pp 244, 246, Michael’s signature written in German Script is Michael Scheiffle. No other Scheiffles were listed on the St. Andrew.

The immigrants soon moved out into other areas, particularly the York County area of then Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. York County was settled chiefly by those Germans of the Lutheran and Lutheran Reformed faiths. Michael probably traveled to Lancaster Co., then about 75 miles west to Wrights Ferry, taking the Monocacy Trail through York County, Adams County, and southward to Monocacy in Frederick County, Maryland. From my readings, Monocacy was located several miles west of the Monocacy River and about ten miles north of the town of Frederick. In 1740, Michael Schauffle was listed as a member of the Monocacy Lutheran Church Congregation. (PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS IN MARYLAND, 93 by Nead) Here, Michael’s daughter, EVA DOROTHEA, was born March 9, 1740 and was baptized August 10, 1740. Sponsors were George and Margaretta Spengle, and Sebastian Winterbauer. (EARLY LUTHERAN BAPTISMS AND MARRIAGES IN SE PENN, Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever, 1730-1779, p 14) Both Spengel and Winterbauer had arrived at Philadelphia in Oct 1737.

By spring, 1741, the Winterbauers, Spengles, and Michael Schaeufle were in the eastern end of Conewago located in Penn Township, York County, Pennsylvania. On May 18, 1741, Michael Scheufele was a sponsor with Maria Magdalene Winterbauer for a daughter of John Meier. (Conewago Lutheran Parish Records) The same baptism was given in the records of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church established in 1743 by Conewago area inhabitants. However, the surname Scheufele was spelled here Schrufel. In 1743 Michael Schrufel and wife, Christina, were witnesses for the baptism of a child of Samuel Rabbers born 20 20 April 1743. Michael Schaufele and wife, Maria Christina, were sponsors at the baptism of Jacob Kessler, born June 1746, son of Jacob Kessler. On June 23, 1747, Jacob Kessler and wife, Ester, were sponsors for Michael’s son, JOHN CHRISTIAN SCHAUFFLE, born October 25, 1746. Another son of Michael, JOHN SCHAUFELE, was born April 14, 1749 and baptized May 26, 1749. Witness: Lorenz Stambach. (Although the name of the wife, who with her husband was a sponsor for a baptism, often was given, the name of the mother of the infant being baptized was rarely given.)

According to his 1760 Grantor Indenture, MICHAEL SHIVELY (name Americanized) on June 2, 1748, had a Warrant and Survey for 180 acres near Codorus Creek in West Mannheim Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, this later in York County. The family would have moved to this new area some time after John’s baptism in May 1749 in Penn Township. Since there was no established church in West Mannheim until 1753, this could account for the birth, July 9, 1751, and baptism, May 17, 1752, of JOHN JACOB SCHEIFFLE, son of Michael and Christiana, being in the records of Christ’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, City of York. Possibly, the pastor there performed some early baptisms in the new area of West Mannheim.

The new church in West Mannheim Township was called Sherman’s (St. David’s) Union Church. (See map) It housed both the Lutheran and Lutheran Reformed congregations which met on alternate Sundays. It was here that JOH. HEINRICH SCHEIFELE, son of Michel Scheifele, was baptized March 14, 1759. He was born January 27, 1759. Sponsors: Joh. Heinrich ?Meng and Anna Maria Battenfeldin. Although no other children of Michael were recorded here, between November 30, 1755 and April 8, 1760, Michael and Maria Christina were sponsors for six baptisms. For one of these baptisms, Michael, sponsor, was listed as Joh. Michael Scheifele so JOHANN MICHAEL SCHEIFFLE would have been his full name. Many variations in spelling of the surname SCHEIFFLE have been found in the baptismal records published by Bates and Wright in YORK COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA CHURCH RECORDS OF THE 18TH CENTURY C 1991. All were recorded originally by the German and Swiss ministers in the German language, then translated.

On November 3, 1760, MICHAEL SHIVELY sold his 180 acres in West Mannheim Township, York County, to John Huntzachre. (YORK COUNTY, PA, DEED BOOK “B”, pp 144, 145) Although no other Deeds were found for Michael in Lancaster County or York County, a Survey to Michael Shively for 93 acres in Mannheim Township was made May 25, 1763; a Patent for same was given to Leonard Yenewine August 16, 1764.

Now, on March 22, 1762, Michael was assigned 400 acres by John and Daniel Kennedy located at Falling Waters, Frederick County, Virginia, this later in Berkeley County. John, the elder Kennedy brother, gave Bond to make Michael a Title, however, he absconded leaving the Bond in the hands of his mother Mary Kennedy. John’s brother, Daniel Kennedy, was under age and could not make Michael a legal title. Meanwhile Michael learned that the 1761 survey to the Kennedy brothers for this parcel was for only 245 acres. Michael had an Advertisement written April 20, 1763, giving the above information.

Still, nothing was progressing so on September 29, 1766, Michael, who said he couldn’t speak English, had a letter written for him to the Hon. Bryan Martin, Esq. regarding the matter. His Lordship directed that a Deed to the Land be given to Michael Shively. Finally, Michael received his grant of 245 acres October 11, 1766.  (VIRGINIA GRANTS FREDERICK COUNTY BOOK 2 p 14) (Photocopies of above correspondence gotten from the Virginia State Library at Richmond).

March 20, 21, 1778, Michael Shively and Hannah, his wife, of Berkeley County, Virginia, sold 100 acres of the 245 acres to Christian Shively of Berkeley County. (Berkeley County Deed Book 4, pp 453-455).

May 2, 1778, Michael Shively and Christinia, his wife, both of Berkeley County, sold the remaining 145 acres of this tract to Joseph Mitchell. (Berkeley County Deed Book 5, pp 23-25).

Were Hannah and Christina two wives or one and the same? Could Maria Christina of York County have been Hannah Maria Christina? We can be assured that Maria Christina of York County was the mother of Michael’s four sons. We have not been able to learn what happened to Michael and Christina of Berkeley County, Virginia after the selling of their land in Berkeley County, 2 May 1778. No Will, Inventory, or Estate Record has been found for Michael who in 1778 would have been at least 60 years of age.

October 15, 16, 1778, Christian Shively and Mary, his wife, both of Berkeley County, Virginia, sold to Joseph Mitchel the 100 acres that Christian had bought from Michael and Hannah. (Berkeley County Deed Book 5, p 583) Joseph Mitchel now owned all the 245 acres of Michael’s grant received in 1766.

March 16, 17, 1779, Christian Shively of Berkeley County, Virginia, bought 100 acres from George Myer and Jane, his wife. (Berkeley County Deed Book 5, pp 230-231).

May 27, 1780, Christian (sp. Christopher) Shively purchased two Treasury Warrants for 1,000 acres on Man’s Lick in Jefferson County, Kentucky. (OLD KENTUCKY ENTRIED AND DEEDS by Jillson gives Jefferson County Book “A”, p 102) June 16, 1780, Jacob Shively purchased 361 acres on Rolling Fork. (OLD KENTUCKY ENTRIES AND DEEDS by Jillson gives Jefferson County Book “A”, p 133. An article from the “Louisville Times” dated October 8, 1965, stated that Christian Shively came to Jefferson County with a brother, Jacob about 1780, and that Christian built a home on a creek on which he built a mill about 1810. This creek was called Mill Creek. The town of Shively just south of Louisville was named for Christian’s family.

John M. Shively, son of Henry, wrote in his account that Christian, Jacob, Henry, and one other brother, name unknown, came down the Ohio River from Brownsville (Redstone) Pennsylvania to the Louisville area of Kentucky in a rowboat. No mention was made of any wives and children, yet all along we’d assumed that all came on this trip—about a 750-mile journey. However, further research has proven that Christian, at least, made the journey more than once bringing his family the second time.

August 14,15, 1780, Christian Shively and Mary, his wife, both of Berkeley County, Virginia, sold the 100 acres that Christian had bought from George and Jane Myer to James Russell. Mary did not sign. (Berkeley County Deed Book 5, pp 694-696).

October 12, 1780, Christian and Mary Shively’s daughter, Sarah J. “Sally”, was born at Redstone, Pennsylvania, according to her tombstone near Shively, Kentucky. At that time, this area in Pennsylvania was in dispute and was claimed by Virginia as Monongalia County. Later, Redstone was in Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

March 13, 1781, Berkeley County, Virginia, Court wrote to Monongalia County, Virginia Court requesting that Christian Shively’s wife, Mary, be privily examined (as was required) regarding the Indenture of August 15, 1780, to James Russell. (During the years 1776-1782, the Monongalia courthouse was near Geneva in what became Fayette Co., PA, 1783). The Monongalia Court sent a certificate dated May 14, 1781, stating that Mary had been examined. This was recorded in Berkeley Co., Virginia, February 19, 1782. (Berkeley Co. VA Deed Book 5, p 696). Christina may have been the Christopher Shively living in Springhill Twp, Westmoreland Co. PA, 1783 census. Also listed were Philip Shively and Jn’o Shively who owned 35 acres.

According to John M. Shively’s account, Boone influenced some of the Louisville, Kentucky, settlers to migrate to Danville to strengthen a contemplated settlement there. Enroute, the party with Henry Shively and a brother was surrounded by Indians at Benson Creek in Henry County. Here, the Shively brother and many others were killed. In the late 1930’s, Emma (Cato) Drash, a great niece of John M. Shively, wrote that the Shively brother killed in an Indian raid was JOHN. (Pauline Bowman Papers, p. 18, DAR Library, Washington, D. C.)

Apparently, after the Indian raid, Henry Shively continued on to Fort Harrod where nearby the second Low-Dutch Colony was temporarily located. Here, Henry met MARY BANTA, daughter of HENDRICK, and they were married at Harrod’s Station. The marriage bond, dated March 15, 1783, was signed by Henry and James Harrod, Suretor.

From JEFFERSON COUNTY KENTUCKY MARRIAGES by the Filson Club 1781-1828 is this record that mentions Jacob Shively: Linn (sig Lin) William; g’dn. Wil’m Pope (consent in writing) wts. Jacob Shively and George Slaughter ; bd. Peter Letherman b.12-25-1786 Leatherman, Catharine; f Jacob (kn bond) but Christian Letherman (consent in writing) 12-25-1786 for dau wedding st Wm Pope. Jacob Shively married Mary “Polly” Swindler in Jefferson County, Kentucky, December 20, 1800, Bd.

It is not known when Christian brought his family to Kentucky, but the first evidence of his return was found in ABSTRACTS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY, RECORD SERIES, VOL. I, p 3, by Michael Cook. It reads; On March 3, 1786 – ordered that Christian Shively, George Slaughter, John Tuel, and James Blackwell, or any three appraise the personal estate of Jacob Barkman, dec’d, and make return.

On August 19, 1786, Berkeley County, Virginia, sent a request to Jefferson County, Kentucky, asking that Christian Shively’s wife, Mary, be privily examined in regard to the 1778 Indenture to Joseph Mitchell. A certificate stating that Mary had signed that she agreed to the sale was dated January 10, 1787, and recorded in Berkeley County, Virginia, June 19, 1787. (Berkeley County Deed Book 7, pp 281, 282).

Only because, for reasons unknown to us, Mary had not been privily examined after the 1778 and 1780 land sales in Berkeley County were we able to trace Christian and his wife, Mary, to Monongalia County, Virginia, and on to Jefferson County, Kentucky.

The Berkeley County, Virginia, Deeds and Wills revealed additional information for Christian Shively’s wife, Mary. Learned was that Mary was Anna Maria BASHORE/BASORE, daughter of Barnard BASHORE/BASORE. Barnard had bought a farm at Falling Waters in 1768 that adjoined the Michael Shively farm. Barnard and his son-in-law, Peter Swingley, witnessed one of the Shively Deeds. Anna Maria/Mary, baptized 10 February 1755 in Pennsylvania, and Christian probably were married early 1770’s.

Most of the books mentioned in this account may be gotten through Library Inter-loan. I highly recommend reading them for a better understanding of and appreciation for our German (Palatine) ancestors.

By

Margaret E. Shively Smith

420 Brown Avenue

Osawatomie, Kansas 66064-1320