Martin Shell Jr (1763 - 1817)

Born 16 Sep 1763 in Heidelberg Township, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine (Parthemore) Shell — married about 1788 in Tulpehocken Township, Berks County PA

Descendants

Died 19 Aug 1817 at age 53 in Paxton, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, United States

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

Biography

Martin was born in 1763. He was the son of Martin Shell and Anna Catherine Dieffenbach. He died in 1817.

Martin Shell Jr was a famous gunsmith in Paxton Township, Dauphin County PA. He crafted fine Pennsylvania long rifles during the Revolutionary War (with his father) and after.

7 Dec 1783. Martin Shell and Catharine Parthemore, both single [they later married], sponsored the birth of Elizabeth Shupp, daughter of Christopher and Rosina Shupp. The baptism occurred at Shoop's church.

24 July 1785. John Martin Shell and his wife Catharine sponsored the baptism of John Frederiek Shupp, son of Christopher and Rosina Shupp.

11 Nov 1785. Martin Shell appears on a list of subscribers who agree to pay towards the cost of putting fence around the Shoop's church yard and graveyard. Young Martin [newly married] pays 5 shillings.

10 Oct 1786. Baptism of Anna Cathaine Shell (b. 28 July 1786), daughter of John Martin Shell and Catharine. Sponsors were John Parthemore and wife Catharine.

1790 Census shows Martin Shell as head of household located in Dauphin, PA. Household included Martin, and two females (one presumed to be his wife, the other, a daughter).

1800 Census shows Martin Shell (age 26-45y) as head of household consisting of 8 people located in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County PA. Household includied his presumed wife (age 26-45), two sons (under 10y), two daughters (under 10y), a male (10-16y), and another male (16-26y).

29 May 1802: baptism of Susan, daughter of Martin and Catharine Schell, born 29 Mar 1802.

• witnesses: Henry Sherk and wife Elizabeth

13 May 1804. Martin Shell and wife Catharine sponsored the baptism of Maria Catharine Schultz (b. 24 Feb 1804), daughter of George Schultz and Maria (Poorman) Schultz

10 Jun 1804: Marin Schell and wife Catharine witness the baptism of Catharine Garverich, daughter of John Garverich and Barbara (Schaeffer) Garverich, born 27 Apr 1804

1810 Census shows Martin Shell as head of household consisting of 10 people. Both Martin and presumed wife are over 45y old. Two sons (<10y), daughter (<10y), 2 males (16-26), 1 male (26-45y), 2 females (16-26y).

Martin Schell Jr. (1763-1817) and Catharine Parthemore (1761-1804) had the following children:

1. Anna Catharine (Alma) m William Poorman
2. Maria (1788- ) probably died in infancy
3. John (1790-1875) m1 Jan Backenstow, m2 Mary Landis, m3 Catharine Zehring.
4. Daniel (1793- ) m1 Catharine Meffert, m2 Mary Horst
5. Mary-Esther (1796- ) m John P. Shoop
6. John-Jacob (1799- ) m Catharine Backenstow.
7. Susanna (Susan) (1802- ) m George Buck; 13 children, moved to Monroe, Michigan.

Buried: Shoops Cemetery, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, USA^[1]

Research Notes

All 3 sons--John, Jacob, and Daniel--continued the family trade of gunsmith.^[2]

Geographical note about the changing place names of what is today Jackson township, Lebanon, Pennsylvania:

If a person who was born before 1729 in Tulpehocken Town (later to be known as Myerstown) it was located in Chester County.

• 1729-1752: The same location would be in Tulpehocken Township, Lancaster County
• In 1752-1784, when Berks County was created, the townships of Caneravon, Brecknock, Cumru, Heidelberg, Bethel, and Tulpehocken were split in parts--one part to Berks County, another to remain in Lancaster; thus, geographic locations in Tulpehocken might be either in Berks or Lancaster.
• 1785-1812: That same location would be in Tulpehocken Township, Dauphin County
• 1813-1819: That same location would be in Tulpehocken Township, Lebanon County
• 1820-present: That same location would be Jackson Township, Lebanon County^[3]

Geographical note #2. It is important to distinguish Heidelberg Township(s) in Berks County from Heidelberg Township in what is today Lebanon County. The former is an area near Reading, Pennsylvania, while the latter is largely synonymous with Schafferstown, Pennsylvania--which was formerly named the town of Heidelberg.

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #41834025
2. ↑ https://kentuckyriflefoundation.org/pennsylvania/martin-shell-jr/
3. ↑ http://www.myerstownpa.org/our_community/history_of_myerstown/vignettes_of_myerstown.php

• "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKJ-6KD : accessed 5 February 2018), Martin Shell, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 179, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 8; FHL microfilm 568,148.
• "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHR4-GCM : accessed 5 February 2018), Martin Shell, Lower Paxton, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 194, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 40; FHL microfilm 363,343.
• "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH27-79P : accessed 5 February 2018), Martin Shell, Lower Paxton, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 592, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 54; FHL microfilm 193,680.
• Genealogy of the Parthemore Family (17444-1885) by E. Winfield Scott (1885) Link to Archive