JAKOB, GEORGE, ELIZABETH, AND CATHERINE- OUR 2nd AMERICAN GENERATION

      Let me begin by reminding readers that the spelling of "Shedenhelm" varied widely from the beginning. In our time, we're prone to think that someone is not related to us if he or she spells their surname in a different way than we do. For instance, there was a time when I would not have thought that I was related to the "Shetenhelms" in Michigan, or the "Sheetenhelms" in Maryland, or the "Schiedenhelms" in Illinois...but I am! Of greater concern to researchers is the fact that spellings differed considerably for the same person, depending on the census taker's interpretation of the name. In preparing for this blog, I had trouble verifying the marriage of Frederick Shittenhelm's daughter, Catharine, to Anthony Eckhart... until I discovered that her last name was entered as "Sheetinghelm." Likewise, I had trouble finding Jabob (Jakob) Shittenhelm in the 1830 Federal census until I discovered that he was listed as "Seatenhelm." Be careful not to draw a circle that excludes relatives you may have... or even varying spellings of the ones you know you have.
      Having noted that, I will turn my attention to our 2nd generation in America. First, the record shows that they were all farmers and that three of them- George and his two sisters- relocated to Ohio when Ohio's land deals became too good to refuse. Indeed, this is exactly what many of their ancestors did when they left Ohio for Iowa and Michigan. Farmers, especially those who were not in line to inherit the family farm, moved west to claim the American dream for themselves. Thus, the record shows that George Shedenhelm purchased land in Seneca County, Ohio in 1832 and that Catherine Sheatenhelm was settled with her husband, Anthony Eckart, in Falls, Ohio by 1830.  We also know, although the details are sketchy, that Elizabeth and her husband, Anthony Brashear(s) Jr., we're settled in Ohio at an early date, but Frederick's first-born son stayed in Maryland.
      According to the 1800 Federal Census, Jacob Shettenhelm was living in Liberty, MD. at that time, and according to the 1830 census, Jacob Sheatenhelm/Seatenhelm, was living in District #9 of Frederick, MD. with his wife and three "children," one of whom was a teenage boy and two of whom were young women over 20. We know that 1) Jacob lived from June 28, 1777 to New Year's Day of 1836, and 2) he married a woman named Mary Walter. 3) with whom he had 5 children. 4) We also know that on May 11, 1807 Jacob purchased 130 acres of "Middle Plantation" from Thomas Walter for 700 English pounds ($1000 at the time), and that Jacob Sheetenhelm was our family's first miltary veteran, serving in the Maryland Militia during the War of 1812 under Captain Samuel Duvall (a 3rd cousin of mine from the Simmons' side) from August 3-Oct. 3, 1814.
      Jacob's younger brother, George Shedenhelm (my 3x great-grandfather) lived from January 10, 1782, when he was born in Frederick County, MD. to October 26, 1852, when he died in Seneca County, Ohio. We know that, 1) in May of 1832, George purchased 160 acres of land "near Wolf Creek, 3 miles north of Tiffin, Ohio," and that 2) he married Catherine Lease (1785-1875) on March 11, 1805. (Please note that some researchers believe that George married Catherine Slaymaker instead of Catherine Lease and a few others suggest that he married Ms. Slaymaker first and then Ms. Lease. These are minority opinions, however, and they are without documented proof that I have found.) George Shedenhelm was an early settler in Seneca County, Ohio and he seems to have enjoyed a successful life there. George's last Will carried his final words, and with these words, George made these things clear: 1) all funeral expenses and just debts must be paid first, 2) all of his real estate and personal property would go to his "beloved wife, Catherine;" 3) his son-in-law, Aaron Ruse, was not to receive any more of his property; 4) the grandchild who was living with him (1852) would receive $150; 4) all other assets and money should be divided equally among his heirs, except for the aforementioned Aaron Ruse; 5) after his wife, Catherine, died, all property should be equally divided among his living heirs (except Ruse), and 6) that his sons, Levi Adam, and Grafton McClellen would be co-executors of his Will. George and Catherine Shedenhelm are buried in Fravell Shaull Cemetery.

                                                                                   

Catherine, wife of George Shedenhelm

     Elizabeth Schidenhelm was born in Frederick County, MD.  on June 30, 1779. She was baptized in the German Reformed Church on August 22, and she married Nathan Brashear, Jr. in 1796. We know that they were living in Frederick when the 1800 Federal Census was taken, but it is difficult to trace their steps after that, probably because the name Brashear is listed in many different ways. However, we do know that they had 10 children and that most of them lived and farmed in Fairfield County, Ohio. There is one record suggesting that Nathan and Elizabeth relocated to Ohio as early as 1817, That seemed a bit too early to me initially, but there is no doubt that they left Maryland early on.
      Catharina/Catherine Sheatenhelm was Frederick and Maria Barbara's youngest child. She was born on September 27, 1788 in Frederick, MD, and she married (listed as Sheetinghelm) Anthony Eckhart on September 13, 1806... six miles from Frederick Town, MD. Interestingly, the record shows that Anthony also served in the War of 1812 and that he served as a Corporal under Captain Samuel Duvall (who was the same officer whom Jakob Sheetenhelm served under). Like George Shedenhelm and Nathan Brashears, Anthony Eckhart was enticed by the land deals in Ohio,... and by 1830, we know that he was living with Catherine and his children in Falls, Ohio.

      Jacob and Mary had 5 children; George and Catherine had 6 children; Elizabeth and Nathan had 10 children; and Catherine and Anthony had 10 more. Their kids are my first cousins, several times removed.  There are 31 of them... and they constitute the 3rd generation of our family in America, many of whom had moved west to Ohio.

   

FREDERICK SHITTENHELM- OUR 1st AMERICAN GENERATION

      In the fall of 1766... Frederick Schittenhelm (aka. Shittenhelm/Schittenhelm) boarded the ship "Betsey" with 153 other Palatines... and set sail for Philadelphia through Rottenberg. The Palatines hailed from SW Germany and they emigrated in large numbers for a number of reasons. Some of them were seeking peace following all the wars that had affected their lives. Some of them were seeking a more comfortable place to practice their religion, especially if they lived in places where there was a lot of Catholic-Lutheran-Calvinist tensions. Some of them were attracted by the stories they heard from relatives who had already emigrated. Some of them were simply adventurous, but most of the Palatines who immigrated to America were seeking economic opportunity. Thus, even in the face of ordinances that threatened punishments for those who left Wuerttemberg, they made the trip to Rottenberg and set sail on a long and harsh trip to America.
      Some of the passengers (1/3-1/2) were able to pay for their passage to America and, after they took an Oath of Allegiance, they were free to go about their lives in their new land. But the many immigrants who could not pay for their passage were not allowed to pursue their dreams until they had paid their debt by working for an "employer" as an indentured servant. Would-be employers met ships as they docked, hired those who could not pay for their passage, paid for their trip themselves, and then "hired" their new employees as "indentured" servants until their debt was paid. On average, those who were indentured worked for their "employers" for 4 years before they were "redeemed," but the time period varied from case to case. It was a difficult and sacrificial journey to America, and I haven't even mentioned the crowded conditions and spoiled food that the passengers endured, or the sickness and death that often occurred. For most of the immigrants it was a one-way trip because they would never see their homeland again... but even so, the men of the Palatinate came to America in great numbers. Indeed it is estimated that there were between 70,000 and 100,000 Palatines in Pennsylvania by the time of the American Revolution and, while they were respected for their work ethic and commitment to their families, a number of influential Americans became concerned about their willingness to assimilate and their loyalty to the King of England. With this in mind, a law was passed in 1727 that required all adult male immigrants from the Palatinate, whether they could pay for their passage or not, to take an oath of allegiance before they settled in America. When he arrived in Philadelphia on October 13, 1766, Frederick Shittenhelm signed an oath of allegiance and joined others in reciting this verbal oath: "We subscribers, natives and late inhabitants of the Palatinate on the Rhine... do solemnly promise... that we will be faithful and bear true allegiance to King George II and his successors."

Depiction of Meeting House in Philadelphia
Arriving immigrants pledged their allegiance to the King in buildings like this

      With these words Frederick Schittenhelm was free to get about his life in America, or if he didn't have the money to pay for his fare, he would have begun his work as an indentured servant. I have not been able to determine which course he was obliged to follow, nor have I been able to determine if he traveled with, or met up with, relatives or friends from his native land. There were many Germans from the Palatinate already in Pennsylvania. Some of the lived in and around Philadelphia and it is known that they would often meet and welcome new arrivals. Whether Frederick was welcomed by someone who provided a community and a temporary home for him, or whether he had to work as an indentured servant for years, I don't know... but I do know that he "appears" on the historical/genealogical record when his eldest son, Jakob, was baptized in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Middletown, MD. on July 11, 1777. Based on other church records, we also know that Frederick and his wife were living in Frederick County, MD. when their remaining children were baptized: Elizabeth (1779); George, possibly named in response to the oath which Frederick had taken upon arrival in America, (1782); and Catharina (1789). It looks as if Frederick was settled in Frederick county, MD. when the Revolutionary War started... and he himself "showed up" on the 1790 census as a resident of that area.

Evangelical Reformed Church
Frederick, MD
1848

Evangelical Lutheran Church
Frederick, MD
1851

By 1790 Frederick, MD. had become home to many Palatine Germans, and it was also home to the Amelung Glass Co., which was founded by John Frederick Amelung in 1784.  Amelung crossed the Atlantic with enough material to build three glass factories and with 50-60 skilled tradesmen whom he had recruited for the task. Today, the only building that remains is an Old Tavern on Mt. Ephraim Road, but at it's peak, Amelung's factory and self-sufficient community covered 3000 acres along Bennet's Creek and employed nearly 500 people. Since the census of 1790 was taken by men who gathered information as they walked from neighborhood to neighborhood, we can discern people who lived next to one another... and since Frederick Shittenhelm is included among men who were known to work for Amelung, it is reasonable to assume that he worked for Amelung Glass Company at that time, especially when we remember that Frederick already lived in the area when the glass factory was hiring hundreds of men.
      We don't know much about Frederick Shittenhelm, but we know these things: 1) his father was a farmer and a flosser (rafter) back in Germany; 2) instead of following in his dad's footsteps or joining his brother in a law practice in Germany, Frederick immigrated to America in 1766, at the age of 33; 3) by 1777, Frederick had settled in Frederick county, Maryland where is children were baptized; and 4) in 1790, Frederick is listed among men who were known to be employees of the Amelung Glass Company (see Wilson's book). In addition to this, land records show that 5) under the name of Schutenhelm, Frederick purchased 103 acres of land in 1792 and 6) according to the 1800 Federal Census, Frederick and his wife were living with a female, age 10-16, in Liberty Town District, #7. Although it's not mentioned in the Census, it is almost certain that this female was their daughter, Catharina, who was born in 1788.

Depiction of Amelung Glass Factory

      Frederick (1733-1808) and Anna Barbara (1756-1820) had four children: my 4th great-uncle, Jakob (b. 1777), my 4th great-aunts, Elizabeth (1779) and Catharina (1788), and my 3x great- grandfather, George, who was born in 1778. These four people- Jakob, George, Elizabeth, and Catharina- comprise the 2nd generation of our family in America.

Gen. 10- MORE FLOSSERS UND EIN SACKWALTER

           Anna Ehinger and Johann Michael Schittenhelm were married in Erzegrube, Germany on June 20, 1702. As noted earlier, Michael was a flosser who transported lumber on the river, just as his father had before him. Their first son, Johannes, was born in 1703 and buried in Gruntal on July 26, 1788. Their 3rd son, David, was born in 1708. He married (first) Anna Oesterlin and (second) Christine. He had three children with Anna and four more with Christine and he worked as a bauer (farmer), flosser (rafter), sackwalter (lawyer), and zimmerman (carpenter). Johann Michael and Anna had at least two children who died in childhood, but it is their son, Friedrich, who is of most interest here... because his son, Frederick, was the "Shedenhelm" who immigrated to America in 1766.
      Friedrich Schittenhelm was born on June 2, 1704, in Aach, Germany and he died in Kalberbronn on November 18, 1772. Like many of our ancestors, Friedrich farmed and also worked as a raftsman. On May 27, 1726, Friedrich married Anna Schumacher and they had 5 children- Dorothea (b. 1729), Eva Magdalena (1731-81), Frederick (1733-1808), Johann Jacob (1736), and Johann Michael (1736).   They all had families whom I would like to follow. Dorothea, Eva Magdalena, and both Jacob and Michael are my 5x great aunts/uncles. They are most likely related to you also.
      However, Frederick Schittenhelm is my 4x great-grandfather. He is a direct ancestor and he is the Shedenhelm who brought our branch of the family to America. Thus, he will be presented next as the 1st generation of our family in America.