Michael Shofner

(1721-1810)

 

Michael Shofner does not appear among the passenger lists of German immigrants compiled by Strasburger and Hinke, Rupp, and others, though several other men of similar surnames do.[1]   We do know, however, that one person named Michael Schaffner had immigrated to Philadelphia by 1758.[2]  We also know that at least two persons of that name were living in Pennsylvania circa 1760. 

 

Our Michael Shofner probably immigrated to North Carolina about 1760.  His first four children are thought to have been born in Germany through about 1758, but his last two children were probably born in North Carolina in 1761 and 1768.  Note that his father-in-law, George Fogleman, evidently settled in Orange County about the same time, being one of several Orange County men naturalized in a Rowan County court in 1763.[3]

 

Most of the records of Orange County prior to 1779 were destroyed during the Revolution, with mainly court records surviving.  Neither Michael Shofner nor his father-in-law appear on the 1755 tax list of Orange County, but both appear on the next available list in 1779.  Michael Shofner, and his sons Frederick, Martin, Michael Jr., and George, all appear on that 1779 tax list. 

 

Due to the loss of early deeds, I found no record of his buying land before 1780.  He did, however, receive two North Carolina grants in 1780.[4]  By 1779, if not long before, he was living along Stinking Quarter Creek in the part of Orange County which is now Alamance County. 

 

The graveyard of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, established in 1777, has stones for him and some of his children.  The old gravestones are mostly indecipherable, but more modern stones have apparently been placed by descendants.  One of these, reads “Michael Shoffner 1721 – June 25,1810.”   The date of death on this stone is peculiar, as he was still alive a few months later to write his will.  Some researchers have taken the “June 25” to be his birth record, rather than his death record.  His wife’s modern inscription reads “Margaretha Fogleman, wife of Michael Shoffner, Aug 3,1724 – Aug. 17, 1796.”

 

The 1790 census of Orange County is missing, but Michael Shofner does appear on the tax list for 1790.  In 1800, all of his sons are in the censuses of either Orange or Guilford County, but there is no sign of Michael Shofner himself.

 

His will, dated 27 September 1810 and probated the following month, left his house and plantation to his youngest son Peter with the provision that Peter pay $5 to each of his four brothers and to his sister Magdalena at the rate of one $5 payment annually to be paid in order of seniority.  He left $20 to his son Michael, and directed that his personal property be sold and the proceeds divided equally among “my five sons and daughter Magdalane.”  He appointed “my well beloved son in law Jacob Antony and Mallica Fogeleman” as executors.[5]

 

The six children are readily identified:

 

1.      Michael Shofner (26 Jan 1752 - 24 Jun 1820)    He remained in North Carolina, evidently marrying Philibina Dirr, daughter of Peter Dirr, about 1775.  His modern gravestone at St. Paul’s reads “Michael Shoffner,  born in Germany Jan. 26, 1752, died 24 of June 1820.”  His wife’s stone, in German, gives her birth and death dates (1758-1795) and her father’s name.

2.      George Shofner (c1754? - ?)  He was in the Orange County 1790 tax list, but was in Guilford County by 1800.[6]

3.      Martin Shofner  (3 December 1758 – 30 September 1838)  He married Catherine Cooke by bond dated 7 July 1780 in Duplin County.  They moved to Bedford County, Tennessee about 1806 where he founded the Shofner Lutheran Church.  A modern monument there gives his birth and death dates as above.  His will and estate records in Bedford County identify nine children: Margaret, Turley Dorothea, Christopher, John Frederick, Eve, Polly, Sally, Elizabeth, and Austin.  Much of Mrs. DeMoss’s book is devoted to Martin Shofner and his descendants.

4.      Frederick Shofner (c1761 – 11 April 1846)  His gravestone at St. Paul’s gives his death date as 11 April 1846, aged 85 years.  He married Christina Cooke, perhaps a sister of his brother’s wife.  The first wife’s gravestone at St. Paul’s gives her death date as 7 November 1825, after which he married a widow named Susan Troxler Pike.  The 1790 census for Orange County is lost, but Frederick appears in the censuses beginning in 1800.[7]  His will, dated 23 October 1845, leaves his home plantation to his wife Susan until “my son Aneas Shoffner shall arrive to the age of 21…provided she remains my widow.”[8]  At that time, the plantation was to be divided between “my two youngest sons Aneas & Tamen Shoffner.”  Other property was left to Margaret Christina Clapp (and her children), Eve Garrett (and her children), the heirs of his deceased daughter Sally, Aneas, and Tamen.

5.      Peter Shofner   He may have been the only child born in America.  He is in the 1800 and 1810 censuses of Orange County.[9]

6.      Magdalena Shofner  She was the wife of Jacob Anthony.