John Shaver

Major John Shaver
Born	1762 Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Died	1829 Shirley, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Resting place	Mt. Union Cemetery, Pennsylvania
Spouse	Mary Glass
Parents	Nicholas Shaver, Jr. Elizabeth _____

Excerpt from Nicholas Shaver Family by John Koning

Unlike for his siblings, there is a considerable amount of written material about "Major" John Shaver. John Shaver was an exceptionally successful man. At the time of his death in 1829, the Shirley Twp. tax list shows that he owned or controlled over 900 acres of land, 4 horses, 8 head of cattle, a sawmill, and a distillery. It is quite possible that his title was earned as a result of his prominent success rather than having performed any military service (as indicated in many biographies). Although it may be that John served towards the end of the Revolutionary War, it is very unlikely he was the Major John Shaver who commanded troops out of Bedford Co. Our John was born in 1762 (date supported by early books and tombstone, and not disproven by census records) which would have made him about 15 years old when Major John Shaver was serving as a Captain in the militia in 1777. Furthermore, records seem to indicate that our Shaver family wouldn't arrive in Bedford County until the mid 1780's. Of course, with the lack of substantial and reliable records from this time period, it is possible that John was born before 1762, and was indeed the Major John Shaver who served in the 1770's and 1780's.

Most of the information published about the children of John and his wife, Mary, is supported by the census records and early tax lists. It would appear from the census records and at least one biography that George was born about 1814 and after his brother Peter, but George first shows up on the 1832 Single Freeman list indicating that the 1810 date provided by "Baer" is more likely correct.

Excerpt from Genealogy of Johannes Baer, 1749-1910

Major John Shaver was born in Shenandoah Valley, Va., September nth, 1762, and died October i6th, 1829. He came to Pennsylvania from Virginia at an early day and settled near Aughwick Mills, Shirley Township. He moved to what is now Mount Union in 1802. He was a prominent farmer and owner of much land. He built the large stone house near where Mount Union now stands and is buried in the cemetery near the house. He raised a large family, who married and made new homes of their own, most all of them adjoining his home or within a radius of three miles. His children:

• Samuel, 1795-1870. Married Catherine Vandevander, lived adjoining his father.
• Jacob, 1796-1878, Married Jane Morrison. Lived about 3 miles away; near Newton Hamilton. Second wife, Julia Morrison (sisters).
• Henry, 1797- 1870. Married Hannah Morrison. Lived at mill adjoining his father.
• John, 1798- 1863. Married Jane Hanawalt. Lived near Aughwick Mills (Sheriff, Huntingdon County). Married second, Sarah King.
• Nicholas, 1801-1884. Married Keziah Etnier. Lived at mill adjoining his father.
• Ann, 1803-1878. Married John Morrison (1803-1859). Lived along Shirley Road about 3 miles away,
• William, 1804-1855. Married Catherine Wallace. Lived adjoining his father.
• Catherine, 1808-1863. Married Joseph Lankton. Lived and died on a farm near Lewistown.
• George, 181 0-1880. Married Margaret Mcllhenny. Lived near Ipavia, Fulton County, 111.
• Peter, 1813-1894. Married Margaret Morrow, 1816-1890. Lived adjoining his father.

[...]

At one time the Shavers (about 70 in number, counting children), and their relatives, through marriage with the families of Casper Booher, Peter Snyder and Hezekiah Ricketts, Sr., owned one continuous line of adjoining farms about five miles long, extending from the Juniata River at the bend where the Creosoting plant is located, up through Hill Valley, almost to where the Brewster Tannery stood.

Excerpts from HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY

(Ill) John, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Shaver, was born September II, 1762, in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, and died October 16, 1829, in Shirley township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and is buried in the family cemetery at Mt. Union. He was reared on his father's tobacco plantation, in the chivalrous atmosphere of his native colony, and was there educated. It is said of him that he was a most perfect type of a southern gentleman. He moved to Pennsylvania about 1784 and located at Oughwick Mills, Shirley township, Huntingdon county. In 1802 he changed his place of abode to what is now known as Mt. Union, the same county. He was one of the largest land owners in the county and one of its most progressive men. He erected a large store house on the present site of Mt. Union. At one time the Shavers and their relatives, about seventy in number, counting the children, and their connections through marriages with IMessrs. Booher, Snyder and Ricketts, owned one continuous line of farms about five miles in length, extending from the Juniata river at the bend, where the creosoting plant is now located, up through Hill Valley, very near where the Brewster tannery stood. He married Mary Glass, also of Virginia. Children: i. Samuel, born 1795, died 1870; married Catherine Vandewater, and lived on farm adjoining his father's. 2. Jacob, born 1796, died 1878: married (first) Jane Morrison; (second) Julia Morrison, sister of first wife; lived near Newton Hamilton, Pennsylvania. 3. Henry, born 1797, died 1870; married Hannah Morrison; lived at mill near father. 4. John, born 1798, died 1863; married (first) Jane Hanawalt; (second) Sarah King; he was once sherifif of Huntingdon county. 5. Nicholas, born 1801, died 1884; married Keziah Etnier; lived in what is now Mt. L'nion. 6. Ann, born 1803, died 1878: married John Morrison; lived on Shirley Road. 7. AVilliam, of whom further. 8. Catherine, born 1808, died 1863; married Joseph Lankton; lived and died on farm near Lewistown, Pennsylvania. 9. George, born 18 10, died 1880; married Margaret Mcllhenney, lived near Ipavia, Fulton county, Illinois. 10. Peter, born 1813, died 1894; married Margaret Morrow; lived on farm adjoining his father.