Simon Schell (1772 - aft. 1830)

Born 17 Feb 1772 in Lancaster, Berks County, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Husband of Susanna Catherine (Mueller) Shell — married 23 Sep 1794 in Heidelberg, Berks, Pennsylvania, United States

Husband of Susanna Catherine (Miller) Schell — married about 1796 in Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died after 1830 after age 57 in Pennsylvania or Ohio [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Michael Schell [send private message]

Biography

Baptism: April 1772, Christ Little Tulpehocken Church. Sponsors: Simon Borrao and wife. Possibly, Simon Borrao is the same as Simon Boruff (1740-1780).^[1]

23 Sep 1794: Simon Schell married Susanna Mueller at the Reformed Lutheran church in Heidelberg township, Berks, PA.^[2]

1 Apr 1797: Appraisal of Simon's father Peter's wealth. The widow Maria (Mary Ann) Schell is administrator of the estate (signed with an X). Assessment made by George Lauks and Abraham Beyer. Largest asset is the bond of Simon Schell, the oldest son ( £50), who is apprenticed to Simon Sharff. [note: later mention of this bond refers to George Scharff--to whom Simon Schell later gives his portion of the family plantation in to pay-off his bond, Smaller debts for weaving services were collected from: George Mountz, Jacob Mayer, William Anderson, George Lauks, and George Zerbe.

13 Nov 1797: Catherine, daughter of Simon Schell and wife, was baptized Dauphin County, Pennsylvania-- in what is today North Londonberry Township, Lebanon, Pennsylvania

• Sponsors John Reinhert and wife ^[3]

4 Jan 1800: birth of Johannes Schell, son of Simon Schell and Susanna.

1800 US census shows Simon Shel as head of household located in Heidelberg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania.^[4]

Name: Simon Shel of Heidelberg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania [previously Berks later Lebanon County]

• 1 male under 10
• 1 males (26 thru 44). .
• 3 females under 10
• 1 female (26 thru 44)

28 Nov 1800: ^[5] Petition of John Shell, third son of Peter Shell, late of Heidelberg Township. It has been 2 years and 3 months since Peter died, leaving a widow Maria Ann and 5 children, to wit: Simon (who has released his right unto George Sharff), Christian, your petitioner (John), Peter, and Catharine--all minors. Much of this is difficult to read, but it appears that the Peter Schell lands were seized as payment for his remaining debts. John Schell asks that the land not be partitioned/divided but kept intact. The 116 acres of land (which I assume is the land originally owned by Peter's father Martin) is adjoined by the lands of: Joseph Hofs, Henry Hofs, Henry Knop, George Hawke, and others. A group of 12 men assessed the value of this land to be £400.

2 Feb 1802: Christening of Johannes Schell, son of Simon Schell and Susanna at at Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania.^[6]

QUESTION: DOES SIMON SCHELL SHOW UP IN ROCKINHGAM VIRGINIA? The 1810 US census shows a the household of Simon Shell living in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia.^[7]

• 1 male (0-10)
• 1 male (26-45)
• 2 females (1-10)
• 1 female (10-16)--this age would be consistent with it being Catherine
• 1 female (16-26)
• 1 female (26-45)

The family sizes listed on the 1800 and 1810 censuses are difficult to reconcile, but who knows?

How is it that the older children are said to have been born in Rockingham, VA--while the the younger child Johannes was born in Pennsylvania?

Marriage & Family

1. Sarah A (b. Sep 1795, d. 26 Mar 1871 in Franklin Co, IN) m Thompson Bull in Rockingham, VA about 1818; 8 children
2. Catherine (b. 15 Dec 1797 d. 18 Dec 1834 in Jefferson City, Cole, Missouri) m Alexander James Gordon in 1818, in Missouri?; 7 children
3. Johannes (b. 4 Jan 1800) m Elizabeth Minnich (1805-1882); went to Miami, Ohio.

Research Notes

Although Simon was the oldest son and typically would inherit his father's farm, Simon's father died in debt, and the farm had to be sold. Berks County records shows that Simon Shell paid off his bond by selling his portion of the farm, which ended up in the hands of his younger brother Johannes. Perhaps Simon and his wife got land from her father, Matthias Tice Miller in Rockingham Virginia and moved there?

23 Sep 1794: A Simon Shell married Susanne Miller/Muller in Exeter Township, Berks County. The Simon Schell represented by this profile was from Heidelberg Township, and he was still apprenticed to Simon Sharf at this time, so it is unclear whether it is the same person^[8]Presumably, Simon Scharff is a descendant of Conrad Scharff (1697-1776), of Heidelberg Township, Berks County (who is buried in the oldest grave at Christ Little Tulpehocken Church in what is today Jefferson Township). Scharff was a neighbor of Peter Schell and Peter Klopp of Heidelberg Township.

Marriage & Family

23 Sep 1794: Simon Schell (1772-1820) married Susanna Catharine Müller (1774-1849), in Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. The following list of children is shown at FamilySearch:

NOTE: the 3 older daughters are said to have been born in Rockingham, VA--but Johannes the younger son has a baptism record in Berks County. This info is inconsistent with the idea that the family moved to Virginia sometime after the 1800 and 1810. Are there Virginia birth records for the older daughters?

1. Sarah A (1795-1860) m Thompson Bull (1797-1860) in Rockingham, VA
2. Catherine (1797-1834) m Alexander Gordon Jr (1796-1896). NOTE: a baptism record exists for a Catherine Schell at the Bindnagel Evangelical Ltheran Church in North Londonbury Twp., Lebanon, PA [near Shellsville, PA]. It says her birth was 13 Nov 1797
3. Susanna (1798- ) m Mathias Phifer in 1817 in Rockingham
4. Johannes/John (1800-1858) m Elizabeth Minnich (1805-1882)

Sources

1. ↑ "Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2VV-3QK : 15 February 2020), Simon Schell, 1772.
2. ↑ Records of Rev. William Boos/Boas
3. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/7190119?mark=7b22746f6b656e223a223150355a554d69797873672b435044473168774d6b6342696f324c515036632f3243684a6e6b683539746b3d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d
4. ↑ Year: 1800; Census Place: Heidelberg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania; Series: M32; Roll: 40; Page: 236; Image: 43; Family History Library Film: 363343
5. ↑ Berks County Orphans Court.
6. ↑ "Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Births and Baptisms, 1520-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6CT5-KCZD : Fri Oct 06 21:28:58 UTC 2023), Entry for Johannes Schell and Simon Schell, 2 Feb 1802.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1810", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2Q-DG6 : Fri Oct 06 02:51:09 UTC 2023), Entry for Simon Shell, 1810.
8. ↑ "Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1512-1989", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6CYF-JM7R : 13 January 2021), Simon Schell, 1794.

• "Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2VV-3QK : 15 February 2020), Simon Schell, 1772.
• "Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1512-1989", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6CYF-G8X8 : 13 January 2021), Simon Schell in entry for Susanna Muller, 1794.
• "Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Births and Baptisms, 1520-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6CT5-KCZD : Fri Oct 06 21:28:58 UTC 2023), Entry for Johannes Schell and Simon Schell, 2 Feb 1802.
• "Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2VV-3QK : 11 February 2018), Simon Schell, Apr 1772; Christening, citing LITTLE TULPEHOCKEN OR CHRISTS CHURCH EVENGELICAL LJEFFERS,JEFFERSON TWP,BERKS,PENNSYLVANIA; FHL microfilm 20,528. Index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City.
• FamilySearch Person: MRLD-P1V
• Strausstown Roots