Martin and Feronica Haldeman Shaffner

The following article was submitted by Shela Norton Greenlaw to the Halterman family website, known as Halterman Hollow at www.scioto.org. However, that website no longer exists, and neither does the email address for Ms. Greenlaw. I have been unable to determine if the content from that website has reappeared on a different domain. This particular article is relevant to my own research, as it describes the family of my great-great-great-great-grandparents. For that reason I am reproducing my reference copy of Greenlaw's article here. The link and photo were added by me. I have no further information about the Halterman family or the Halterman Hollow website, so please do not contact me in that regard.

Jacob Haldeman and his wife Maria Miller were the parents of my ancestor: Feronica "Feronied" Haldeman, born November 30, 1762 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Feronica married Martin Schaffner on August 05, 1782 Lykens Valley Reformed Church (Davids). She died April 25, 1855 and is buried alongside her son, Frederick, in Ebenezer United Brethren Cemetery, some two miles north of Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

Martin Schaffner's Will

Martin Schaffner wrote a will on 24 August 1825. He left to his beloved wife Feronica "the plantation where I live as long as she remains my widow... my life stock, horses, cows, swine and all the household and kitchen furniture... all the farming utensils and if she should not wish to keep all the goods and chattels executors are to sell the remaining and distribute the proceedings among the following children equally, Martin, Henry, Frederick, John, and Christian, daughter Ann intermarried with John Fleisher, Feronica intermarried with Jacob Litner and Elizabeth intermarried with... Keobpenheber."

He specified, "that what is left at my death of cash, bonds &c are to pay my debts and funeral expenses and the remainder is to be divided into nine equal parts and given to my children above named and the ninth share to the children of my son Jacob Shaffner begotten by his first wife Magdalena (alias Magdalena Shank) but nothing to his other heirs which he has begotten by his other wife..."

The plantation was to be "kept in repair to support my wife and at the death of my wife the executors are to sell my plantation and the money is to be divided among my first named eight children or their heirs."

The personal estate was also to be sold and divided among the eight children. However, "if my wife marries again she is to leave the plantation and keep her personal estate she had at the time she marries and the plantation shall be sold and she entitled to one-third according to law."

Martin's son Henry was named executor, and the will was probated 13 March 1826. Veronica did not marry, and she outlived her husband by 27 years. Judging by tax records, Martin's widow stayed on the estate and managed the plantation until about 1840.

From then until 1845, her son Henry was living on the 100 acres of Martin's estate. Henry died in 1849. The next occupant was Henry Shaffner, Jr. or J. Henry Shaffner. In the 1849 triennial assessment, the Martin Shaffner estate occupied by Henry Shaffner contained 106 acres, valued at $2,700, a two story log house and bank barn, and 50 acres of unseated land. John Hay was residing there in 1852. The 1855 tax valuation was for $2,794.

Veronica Haldeman Schaffner died intestate on 22 March 1855 at the age of 92. She had outlived at least five of her ten children. Frederick Shaffner, Administrator de bonis, arranged for the estate to be sold on 10 October 1855. The mansion land with 114 acres was sold to Samuel Fetteroff for $5,454.48, and five tracts of mountain land were sold to others. Frederick Schaffner obtained a release from further responsibilities concerning his father's estate from the heirs on 1 April 1856.

In her old age, Veronica had been cared for by her son Frederick. She was buried in his family plot (just behind the church) at the Ebenezer Cemetery, Rt 72, north of Lebanon.

Her tombstone inscription reads: IN Memory of FRANICKA Consort of Martin Shoffner Died March 22, 1855 Aged 92 Years 4 Months & 22 days

Martin Schaffner had been buried at the David's Congregation of the Reformed Church in Lykens Valley, Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania German Marriages (compiled by Donna R. Irish, page 199) "Martin Schaffner, son of Heinrich and Anna Catharine, born 27 September 1759, New Holland, Lancaster County, married Fronica Haltman 5 August 1782; died 28 February 1826, buried Davids Congregation. 10 Children."

— Shela Norton Greenlaw

» Read about my research of the Schaffner Family.

» Read about their grandson who fought at Gettysburg, Martin Shaffner.