PLEASE READ BEFORE SUGGESTING EDITS:

THE QUEST: I am sharing my research acquired over the past 4 decades in the hope that by working together we will be successful at proving the facts and dispelling the myths around John Shaver, my 4th great grandfather. There is a great deal of speculation (and blatantly incorrect information) that has made its way onto family trees and into various publications that some people accept as fact because they see it so often. The source for some of it has long been lost but some can be attributed to flawed conclusions and inadequate research.

A story of the Shaver famiy was included in the book "The History of Ancaster". Since its publication in 1973 a number of documents have been discovered that suggest it should not be considered a reliable source of Shaver information.

KNOWN FACTS AND STRONG IMPLICATIONS (supported by proper documentation):

John Shaver was a United Empire Loyalist who served with Butler's Rangers during the Revolutionary War. His status was verified in a document I discovered in 1986 buried among the "Township Papers" from the Ontario Archives. It concerns the sale of his property to Oliver Tiffany in 1818:

"John Shaver original nominee under OC 9 July 1894 privileged as MC (Military Claimant) a Soldier in Butlers Rangers – a patent completed after the demise of the ON (original nominee) and paid for. "

Three baptisms are recorded in Knowlton Twp., Warren Co., New Jersey (formerly Oxford Twp., Sussex Co.)

Maria Schaeffer Bap 5 Nov 1780 to Johannes Schaeffer and Lehena

Henrich Schaefer Bap 30 August 1789 to Johannes Schaefer and Magdalena

Anna Schaefer Bap 13 June 1791 to Johannes Schaefer and Magdalena

John, his wife and 8 of his younger children came to Ancaster Twp, Wentworth Co, Ontario about 1793 (as per his wife's petition 1797). His request for a land grant (200 acres Lot 50, Conc 2) was approved 9 July 1794 and the patent was sealed 10 February 1798. The original application has not been located. John died 9 September 1796 which was verified in his estate administration. It is said he was originally buried on his property and the body was later moved and reburied with wife Magdalene (possibly in 1880). A new stone was erected, and the death date and year inscribed was incorrect. He was born in Germany (High Germany according to his MI)

John's will written 24 May 1796 requests that his land be held for his 5 sons Frederick, Philip, Peter, Henry and Daniel. His daughters Mary, Susanna, Ann and Catherine were also to share in the estate. The living children of his first marriage (John, William and Margaret) were each given £5 New York currency. Wife Magdalene was to have support from the property. An inventory of the estate was a modest £377 NYC, which included the land value of £150. The property was sold in 1818 to Oliver Tiffany, who had been renting the land since about 1798. After his death in 1843 it was purchased by Samuel Hammill for £1250.

OTHER INFORMATION circulating about John to be proved or rejected:

Recollections of John Shaver's grandson: "My grandfather Shaver was a German by birth; he came from New Jersey to Canada about the same time that Grandfather Lee came; settled in Ancaster Township and part of the village now stands on this property; and he moved from New Jersey to Canada with an ox team and one horse; he had a daughter that ran in the fire and burnt her feet so that she was a cripple afterwards; and so she rode the horse and carried two or three of the children. The rest all came on foot; there were two girls came with them a foot; one of them wore a hole in her apron carrying cooking pans. Grandfather Shaver did not live long after he came to Canada. He had four sons and four daughters; and the family had to do for themselves."

John and wife Magdalene have often been confused with the John Shaver and wife Mary (Hone) who resided in Matilda, Ontario. See Magdalene's memorial for more information.

Some state he immigrated to the USA on the ship Betsey which landed in Philadelphia on 19 September 1765, although only the names Wilhelm Schafer and Jacob Friederich Shaffer appear on the passenger list available to me. Shaver/Shafer is a common German name and there are many passenger lists missing from that time period. Before 1820 passenger lists were not required for ships arriving in the US. It is to be noted that a Johannes Wilhelm Schäffer appears on the passenger list for the Ship Chance, Rotterdam landing in Philadelphia 9 September 1765.

It's generally believed John settled in New Jersey, married shortly after his arrival and had 4 children. Name of his first wife is unknown. Some say Charity or Katerinka (but no proof has been submitted that I am aware of.)

There has also been speculation about his place of birth, parentage and siblings but to date no proof has been offered.

Some of the information about John was based on a book "Frederick Shaver, 1747 Germany-Sussex County, New Jersey" written by Frederick Howell Shaver. The author suggested that John was the brother of Frederick b 1747 and William b 1753 and offers a good argument, but was unable to find proof. He was influenced by the proximity of their residences in New Jersey. It should be considered that there were other seemingly unrelated Shaver families in that area. The 3 men were close in ages (1739, 1747 and 1753). He noted that the 2 families both used the anglicized "Shaver" instead of Shafer. (Although our family was known as Shaver, both John and Magdalene signed their names "Shafer".) The fourth item was the similiarity in their children's names. (Unfortunately they were all common names found in most German families at that time.) The author also believed that John and Magdalene moved to Pennsylvania before emigrating to Canada.

Frederick and William were confirmed as brothers in Frederick's will. William made a note in the family bible of his mother's death 5 May 1776.

In support of the 3 brothers theory: John, Frederick and William all baptized children at the same location.

Frederick Howell Shaver's book is available at:

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89066308313&view=1up&seq=43&skin=2021

Please note: there are some inaccuracies about John and his family when compared to the known facts.

We, of course, all want to know who John's first wife was, and the surname of his second wife Magdalene (she is not likely a Hone – see her memorial). New Jersey records currently available to me (marriage, probate, death, land) have not be revealing, but maybe someone has access to further records that would solve the mystery.

As for his parentage…… considering the common name and general area of birth, we may never know.

If you have DOCUMENTED proof of any further events or pertinent data regarding John or Magdalene, please share!