John Shaffer was born about 1745 & came from Hessen-Kassel, Germany. He was in Orange Co. NY for a while where he served in the Revolutionary War. He came to what is now Varden, Wayne Co. Pennsylvania with Hans Ulrich Swingle, Henry Curtis and their families in June 1786. From a letter by George A. Starkweather to The Wayne Independent it is said that they spent their first night in Middle Creek Valley sleeping under a large spreading tree. It remained a landmark until the 1940s when it was cut down by the highway department. This area was known as Shaffertown or Shaffer's Hollow & later named Varden.

It is believed John Shaffer married more than once, but little is known of his wives -- a Miss FORBES is one of them.

I am directly descended from both of these children of John Shaffer:

Eva 'Effie SHAFFER b 1787; d 22 June 1862 m Jacob SWINGLE
Samuel SHAFFER b 19 Mar 1791; d 28 July 1864; m Rachel WAGNER

     Rev. War Record from National Archives, Washington DC

Approximately 1906-1916

Chimney still standing from original homestead   [9/1998 photo]

      Gravesite of John Shaffer in Varden Cemetery

Updated March 31, 2005