On 4 Feb 1821 when Sarah was 14, she married
Peter S. Shaffer, son of
Charles Shaffer (ca 1760-11 Feb 1843) &
Maria Scharlotte Bastress (12 Dec 1770-1830), in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
675 Born on 11 Apr 1799 in Pennsylvania.675 Peter S. died in Green Township, Ashland County, Ohio, on 6 Sep 1879; he was 80.675 Buried in Bethesda Cemetery, Green Township.
From Our illustrious Shaffer, Shafer family, compiled and written by Mrs. Robert N. Ungerer (née Thelma Shafer), Wooster, Ohio, 1980, p. 22:675
Peter S., the second son of Charles and Maria Scharlotte Basress Shaffer, was born April 11, 1799 in Pennsylvania, married Sarah Black of near Pittsburgh, Pa., September 4, 1821 at Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pa. Sarah was born June 16, 1806, the daughter of George and Elizaeth Black of Hempfield Twp., (now Allegheny County) Pa.
After their marriage, Sarah and Peter lived in Augusta Twp., Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, where Peter worked in mining coal and raising vegetables. What prompted them to move to Ohio I do not know. In the spring of 1832, Peter with his wife Sarah and children, Sarah's parents, the George Black family, came west & settled in what is now Green Twp., Ashland County, Ohio.
Peter began buying a few acres at a time from different landowners until he had a farm about a quarter of a mile west of McKay, Sec 11, Tp 20, R16, Ashland County, Ohio. He later sold this property and bought 110 acres in sec 2, Tp 20, R 16 just north of his former farm. Peter lived here the rest of his life.
An old log church stood across the road from the SW corner of his land, on the S. M. Black farm. The old fire and brimstone evangelistic meetings were being held nightly for of a couple of weeks. One of Peter's sons, Wesley, attended. As the mettings wore on Wesley really became enthused, going home and telling his parents all about them. Peter and family started attending them and became faithful church members. Services were held often in their home until a new church could be built. The Evangelical Association wanted ground for a new church and graveyard. Peter sold an acre to them, September 29, 1863, (Deed, Vol. 28, page 72.) the SW corner of his farm, across from the old log church. A nice frame church was built. In later years the Bethesda Chapel was sold and dismanteled.
Way back in 1840 a small parcel of land was bought from Joe Hill and the Union Church and graveyard at McKay were laid out. The first grave was dug December 2, 1840, it was for Peter's wife, Sarah, who had died that day at age 36 years. Sarah was the Mother of 10 children plus a 14 day old baby. Her stone stands today in the top row up on the hillside, standing vigil of the graves below an to the farm she left just a few hundred feet across the way.
This may be this Peter’s census record:
1830 Federal Census. Pitt, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Roll 144, page 99
Family of Peter Shaffer
1 male under 5 [Charles, 2]
2 males 5-9 [John, 8; Samuel, 6]
1 male 30-39 [Peter, 31]
2 females under 5 [Eliza, 4; ?]
1 female 5-9 [?]
1 female 20-29 [Sarah, 24]
1840 Federal Census. Green Township, Richland County, Ohio
Roll 423, page 51
Family of Peter Shafer
1 male under 5 [Peter Jr., 2]
2 males 5-9 [Daniel, 7; George ?]
1 male 15-19 [Charles, 12]
1 male 40-49 [Peter, 41]
1 female under 5 [Charlotte, 3]
2 females 5-9 [Susanna, 6; ?]
2 female 10-14 [Sarah Jr., 11; Eliza, 14]
1 female 30-39 [Sarah, 34]
Neighbors on the census: Samuel Bowton, Ann Andrews, Saml Black [Sarah’s brother], Peter Shafer, George Black [Sarah’s father], Isaac Hall.
1850 Federal Census. Green Township, Ashland County, Ohio
Roll 658, page 103A
Peter Shaeffer, 50
S.A. Shaeffer, 35 [Susan]
S. Shaeffer, 21 [Sarah]
S. A. Shaeffer, 16 [Susanna]
C. Shaeffer, 13 [Charlotte]
P. Shaeffer, 12 [Peter]
W. Shaeffer, 10 [William]
W.M. Shaeffer, 6 [Wesley]
M.E. Shaeffer, 4 [Mary Ellen]
All were born in Ohio. The family of Samuel Shaeffer resides next door.
1860 Federal Census. Green Township, Ashland County, Ohio
Roll 930, page 291
Post Office Perrysville
Peter Shaffer, 62, farmer, $4120 real estate, $800 personal estate, b. PA
Susan Shaffer, 39, b. PA
Wesley Shaffer, 16, b. OH
Mary E. Shaffer, 12, b. OH
Samantha Shaffer, 8, b. OH
Seneth A. Shaffer, 7, b. OH
Alice Shaffer, 5, b. OH
Robert Shaffer, 3, b. OH
Orvil Shaffer, 1, b. OH
1870 Federal Census. Green Township, Ashland County, Ohio
Roll 1169, page 599B
Post Office Perrysville
Peter Shaffer, 70, farmer, $5000 real estate, $2000 personal estate, b. PA
Susan Shaffer, 50, keeping house, b. PA
Allice Shaffer, 14, at home, b. OH
Roberrt Shaffer, 12, at home, b. OH
Orville Shaffer, 10, at home, b. OH
Emma J. Shaffer, 6, at home, b. OH
Melinda Shaffer, 2, at home, b. OH
The last name should have been Melvin, not Melinda.
Ohio County Marriages
21 Dec 1874, Ashland County
Peter Shaffer & Susan Allen
Bethesda Cemetery, Green Twp., Ashland County
Peter Shaffer, 1799-1879
Susan Shaffer, d. 1901 æ. 79y