Mary's Story from Family Lore
In Springfield Township, Bucks County in eastern Pennsylvania, as the rustlings and rumblings of the eventual
Revolutionary War were abundantly evident, there was a young girl, Mary Bachman, who had a crush on a rather bashful
boy, Christian Schick who lived in the same community area as she did.
But Christian was too bashful to ever think of asking for her hand! As time went on her parents encouraged her to
see another good looking fellow, Solomon Shaffer, who lived nearby, in the Hellertown area of Northampton
Co. As time went on her parents encouraged this "romance" even further and insisted on her marrying this
new boy friend, as the Shaffer's were prominent folks having a beautiful cut limestone house, and even their
own private burial ground which later became the New Jerusalem Cemetery near present day Leithsville &
Hellertown PA.
They apparently did marry as a son, Samuel Shaffer, was born [ 21 June 1779], but the marriage was not a completely happy one for Mary. Perhaps it is simply the fact she was forced to marry for money, rather than love.
When the war broke out, Solomon Shaffer was one of the first who went off to serve his country. His military records indicate he was from Lower Saucon Twp., Northampton Co. per the Co. return of Capt. John
Wagner's 8th Co. 4thBn. Northampton Co. Militia dated 19 Apr 1782.
Christian Schick was also a Revolutionary War veteran. Christian was a Pvt. 6th Class, Capt. George
Shriver's 3rd Co. 4th Bn. Northampton Co. Militia according to report dated 23 Apr 1782. A review of the
"enlistment dates" would reveal who was the first off to war.
But, the oral history of both Shick and Shaffer descendants tells us she got up enough nerve to tell her folks that she simply no longer loved Solomon Shaffer and was really in love with another man ....Christian
Schick and therefore she was leaving Solomon. No divorce papers have ever been located in files from
Northampton, Bucks, or now Lehigh County thus far.
Perhaps the war experience cured Christian's shyness because when he returned, he began courting Mary
in earnest. They married, apparently shortly thereafter, since their first child, Christian III, was born 17 April
1782. And the progression of births began over a period of years until the family numbered eleven children.
There is no doubt about Solomon Shaffer being the father of Samuel Shaffer, but Samuel was apparently raised in the household of Christian and Mary. In Christian's will is mentioned, "...my stepson, Samuel Shaffer...". Documents of the Evangelical Lutheran & Reformed Congregations in Upper Mt.
Bethel Township, Northampton Co., PA record the confirmation of Samuel and list Solomon Schaffer as his
father. This event occurred on exactly the same date (April 24, 1802) that 9 of Christian's children were
Baptized, namely: Tobias; Barbara; Maria; Joseph; Jacob; John; Sarah; Elizabeth; Catharine.
Also the eldest Shick Boy, Christian, III, was confirmed the same day, along with the future wife
of Samuel Shaffer, Rosina (Fuchs/Fox) d/o Joseph Fuchs.
While to the casual reader, this may seem to be a digression from a record of the Shick families of
Pennsylvania and North Carolina, it is anything but a digression! The Shick and Shaffer families would
throughout future generations intermarry frequently causing many of us in Pennsylvania to be related
multiple times to these individuals. We owe much to this family in many ways.
Source: Clarence R. Shirey, "Our Shaffer, Schick, Fuchs(Fox) Reimel, Farringer Forefathers and
Foremothers", 1984. Published Privately.
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