George Schaeffer Personal Page!

Georg, a son of John Schaeffer, a native of the Palatinate, was born in Reichelsheim Hesse Darmstadt, Rhine River Valley, Germany. He was the progenitor of this old and honorable family, crossing the ocean on the ship Edinburgh and landed in Philadelphia, August 13, P.M. 1750. James Russel was master of this ship, which sailed from Rotterdam, and last from Portsmouth, England, with 314 passengers on board. It is said that Georg was accompanied by several other members of his family who settled in the vicinity of Coopersburg, Lehigh County, and another who settled somewhere in the State of Virginia. A diary verifies definitely that they were brothers. Records also show that they arrived in Philadelphia at the same time.

Georg is said to have settled in the Oley Valley, Berks County, near the Oley Furnace, before he came to the East Penn Valley. Shortly afterwards, he crossed the hills and noticed a level piece of land in what is now Richmond Township. Upon his return he is said to have remarked, "I have seen a very fine piece of land, but with not sufficient running water on it." Regardless of this fact, he acquired the right and title to this tract of land September 25, 1759. In order to comply with the transaction he had to be naturalized, and abide by the religious obligations set forth in that day. He was naturalized April 10th, 1761, and had complied with the religious tests by partaking of the Lord's Supper on March 6th, 1761. He took possession of the Richmond Township tract, cleared and cultivated the land, and erected buildings. Later he built a school house, in order that his children, and those of his neighbors, might enjoy the advantages of an early education.

Georg Schaeffer was married September 17, 1751, to Maria Katharina Ruhlin, a daughter of John Ruhlin, a native of Germany. Tradition has it that Georg was supposed to be a redemptioner to John Ruhlin for two years. After he had served for one year, one month, and two days, he was married to the daughter of the man to whom he was bound. There is a record of that marriage in the Mertz Lutheran Church at Dryville, Rockland Township, Berks County, PA. The record reads as follows: September 17, 1751 Georg Schaefer Master joiner unmarried son of Johan Schaefer to Maria Katharina Ruhlin unmarried daughter of Johanes Ruhlin. Another record, possibly a sister of Georg reads: November 27, 1749 Jacob Sterner unmarried son of Casper Sterner to Anna Catherine Schaefer unmarried daughter of Johan Georg Schaefer.

Georg died in December, 1792. Records show that his will was probated at that time. He is buried on the family plot of the Schaeffer Homestead, in a poorly marked grave, where his wife and some of his descendants also are buried.

This ancestral family had five children: Elizabeth, Margaret, Maria Ann, Peter, and Philip. Philip, the youngest son, is our common ancestor. Therefore this book deals primarily with his descendants.

Philip was born June 7th, 1770. He also became a farmer and took over his father's farm in due time. Philip took a keen interest in his work, as a tiller of the soil, which brought out his natural abilities that later led him to become an inventor. The backbreaking methods of harvesting crops in those early days, induced him to invent the first threshing machine in Berks County. This invention proved to be so successful that he continued to make these machines throughout the rest of his life. His descendants continued to manufacture these machines under the trade name of Schaeffer Merkel and Company.

Philip was married to Elizabeth Feterolf. She was born March 29, 1776, in Longswamp Township, Berks County, a granddaughter of Peter and Anna Marie (Rothermel) Feterolf of Waelsbach, Germany. Philip had thirteen children. One son David died in infancy. His youngest son was again named David. This family was one of many devout and religious families in that early day. The church was fundamental in building character which paved the way to living a good, moral, and upright life. The fellowship and worship not only served as a means to gain religious instruction, but also brought about social relations.

Philip made provision as his sons grew up to purchase farms for them. The purchase price was about fifteen dollars an acre at that time. Many of these farms had to be cleared, sub-divided and surveyed in order to bring them into production. The farms were gradually paid for by his sons.

Philip and his wife Elizabeth are buried on the Schaeffer family homestead. Elizabeth died October 28th, 1849, and Philip died December 30th 1853. Philip's son Isaac also rests there.

(Above text from the Austin Schaeffer (1949) Book)

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