West Virginia Pioneers

John Shafer

Male 1797 - 1871  (74 years)


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  • Name John Shafer 
    Born 1797  Bourbon County KY Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Died 1871  Roane County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Notes 
    • According to Harvey E. Shaffer in his book, THE SHAVER/SHAFER AND DOUGHERTY/DAUGHERTY FAMILIES ALSO KISER, SNIDER AND COTTRELL, FERRELL, HIVELY AND LOWE FAMILIES. Gateway Press, Inc. Baltimore, MD 1997 P. 160 & 161: "There can be no doubt that John did indeed marry Nancy soon after Mary's death and remained her legal husband for almost 20 years. During at least part, and probably nearly all, of that time he was living with Lydia Horner in Walton. When I first realized that, and recalled my parents' reluctance to talk about that part of my family history, I had very serious doubts about who my G-grandmother Shaver was. After all, my Grandpa Shaver was born in 1848, while his father was still married to Nancy. I also realized that the same question would be faced by several hundred other descendents of John's last 8 children. However, after reading Nancy's complaint many times and thinking about it for many hours, I am convinced that Nancy was not the mother of any of John's children. First, If we believe Nancy's claim that she never lieved with John except in Jackson County, it certainly rules her out as the mother of any of the 8 children who were raised in his household. Second, and perhaps more important, she didn't mention anything about children or alimonry in her complaint. Even though Nancy accused John of "cohabiting with various other women", she singled Lydia out as the one that he took into his house..."
    Person ID I4689  WVPioneers
    Last Modified 12 Jul 2017 

    Father Paul Shaver,   b. 1759, South Branch of the Potomac, Pendleton Co, VA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Pocahontas County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother Catherine Riffle,   b. 1769,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Married 24 May 1796  Bourbon County KY Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Notes 

    • From Fran:
      Paul served in the militia in Randolph County VA (WV) in 1776. He served in Greenbrier County in 1777 and was discharged in 1778. In the spring of 1778, he moved to Kentucky and was drafted for a 90 day tour to Illinois. In 1779, he volunteered again and returned home with a disabling wound. Paul was pensioned for service during the American Revolution in Lewis County VA in 1833. The family settled in present day Roane County WV in 1814.

      Paul married Catharine Riffle in Borbon County KY in 1794. Eleanor Riffle, believed to be the widow of Francis Riffle, signed permission for her daughter "Caty" to marry Paul Shaver in Bourbon County May 23, 1794.







      Don Norman:
      Paul Shaver, a son of Paul and Elisabeth Shaver, was born on the South Branch of the Potomac in 1759.

      Roane County History
      WALTON
      "The village of Walton came into being along the banks of the Pocatalico River where in a short stretch of the river, Silcott Fork, Johnson Creek, and McKowns Creek change the river from a seasonal stream to an ever flowing one....
      "Most authorities recognize Paul Shafer or Shaver as being the first resident who came to the area about 1814, erected a cabin and raised his family. In 1820 Travis Wine, Reuben Reynolds, and Presley Vineyard settled in the district. During the next few years William Hammack, St. Clair Summers, John Shafer, John Law, Uriah Gandee, William Brad, Allen Lowe, and Charles Droddly settled in the district.
      In 1826, Dr. P. Conley opened a subscription school, served as the first teacher, and also was a preacher and performed marriages. In 1826 came Reuben Reynolds and a Methodist Preacher P. Hall to preach in the community. By 1883, there were three congregations of Methodists, six Advent Churches, one Presbyterian, and one Baptist congregation in the
      area. Later Charles Droddy erected a school house at the mouth of Johnson Creek."
    Family ID F1575  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Mary Parsons,   b. 17 Jun 1788, Randolph County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Aug 1835, Roane County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 47 years) 
    Married 28 Feb 1817  Harrison County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Children 
     1. Paul Shafer,   b. Abt 1815, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Mary Catherine Shafer,   b. 18 Feb 1822, Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. John D Shafer,   b. 2 Jul 1822, Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Aug 1868, Roane County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 46 years)
     4. Elizabeth Shafer,   b. Abt 1826, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Sarah Jane Shafer,   b. Abt 1830,   d. Bef Oct 1870  (Age ~ 40 years)
     6. Henderson Shafer,   b. Dec 1831, Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 31 Mar 1902, Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 70 years)
    Family ID F1574  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Nancy Tanner,   b. 1820, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 1856  (Age < 35 years) 
    Married 5 May 1836  Jackson County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 5
    Notes 

    • Divorced: JUL 1852 - Never finalized because Nancy had died
      Event: Fact 9 MAY 1856 in Decree dismissed

      1850 Kanawha, VA #1307-1328 Presely Vinyard at # 1310
      John Shaver 53 all born VA
      Lidia 42
      Sarah 19 or 16
      Henderson 17
      Melinda 13
      Edward 10
      Martha 7
      Perry 6
      Frank 5
      Samuel 2
    Children 
     1. Melinda Shafer,   b. Jun 1837, Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Dec 1890  (Age ~ 53 years)
     2. Edward Shafer,   b. Abt 1840, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Martha Shafer,   b. Abt 1843, Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Family ID F1983  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 3 Lydia Cottrell,   b. Abt 1805, Harrison County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Married 15 Jan 1856  Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 6
    Notes 

    • KCMR
      Shaver, John, and Lydia Horner, Jan. 15, 1856.

      1850 Kanawha, VA #1307-1328 Presely Vinyard at # 1310
      John Shaver 53 all born VA
      Lidia 42
      Sarah 19 or 16
      Henderson 17
      Melinda 13
      Edward 10
      Martha 7
      Perry 6
      Frank 5
      Samuel 2

      1308-1329
      John D Shaver 25
      Rachel 19

      1860 Roane, VA
      John Shaver, snr 62 Ky
      Lydia 54 Va
      Perry 16 Va
      Francis 14 Va
      Samuel 12 Va
      Lydia M 9 Va

      1880 Census Place: Walton, Roane, West Virginia
      Samuel O. SHAVER Self M M W 31 WV
      Occ: Farmer Fa: MD Mo: WV
      Sarah J. SHAVER Wife F M W 28 WV VA VA
      Lydia SHAVER Mother F W W 74 WV WV WV
      Esaias SHAVER Son M S W 7 WV
      Uliscus S. SHAVER Son M S W 5 WV
      Ezekiel SHAVER Son M S W 2 WV
      Sarah C. SHAVER Dau F S W 1 WV
    Children 
     1. Perry Shafer,   b. Abt 1844, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Frank Shafer,   b. Abt 1845, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Samuel Shafer,   b. Abt 1848, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Family ID F1573  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S384] Don Norman.

    2. [S89] Fran Green Daniels.

    3. [S212] Mike Shaffer.

    4. [S79] Bob Tanner.

    5. [S15] Marriage Records, Roane Co, WV.

    6. [S2] Marriage Records, Kanawha Co, WV.