Johannes Casper Shell, Sr.

A Patriot of the American Revolution for NORTH CAROLINA.

DAR Ancestor # A100651

Came to US 24 Sept. 1742, ship "Robert Alice" landed in Philadelphia

1. Johannes SCHELL, b. 8 Jan 1749, Hempfild Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania

2. Anna Marie SCHELL, b. 3 Apr 1753, Lancaster Co., Pa

3. Henry SHELL, b. 1755, Lancaster Co., Pa

4. Michael SHELL, b. 1759, Lancaster Co., Pa

5. Elizabeth SHELL, b. 1759, Lancaster Co., Pa

6. Anna Sarah SCHELL, b. 1761, Lancaster, Lancaster, PA

7. Mary Catherine SHELL, b. Abt 1763, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA

8. Henry SCHELL, b. 1763

9. Soloman SCHELL, b. 1765

10. Gertrude SCHELL, b. 14 Nov 1766, Washington Co. or Lancaster PA

11. Anna Magdalena SCHELL, b. 29 Jun 1770, York Co., PA

12. Casper (Jr) SHELL, b. 27 May 1772, Hagerstown, Washington Co., Maryland

13. Charles Frederick SCHELL, b. 15 Nov 1774, Hagerstown, Washington Co., MD

14. Benjamin SCHELL, b. 25 Dec 1780, Lincoln Co., NC

GRAVE IS MARKED BY ONLY A FIELDSTONE, PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST A PHOTO.

Bio written by Gayle Foster - 2009

Johannes Casper SCHELL was born about 1722 in Germany. He lived in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in Jan 1749. He lived in York County, Pennsylvania in 1770. Johannes lived in Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland in 1776. He lived current day Catawba County in Lincoln, North Carolina in 1786. He died in 1805 at the age of 83 in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Johannes Casper came from the Palatinate area of Germany. Many people left this area, because of war, severe winter, and religious persecution. William Penn offered an invitation to these Germans asking them to come to Pennsylvania. Some current day researchers believe that they have located the father of Johannes Casper in Germany. This may prove to be an interesting area of research over the next few years.

Johannes Casper Schell arrived in Philadelphia on board the ship Robert and Alice, September 24, 1742. The ship sailed from Rotterdam. Johannes Casper Schell took oath of allegiance to King George of England, at the Courthouse in Philadelphia, on September 24, 1742. All German immigrants were required to take this oath. Copies of this handwritten oath are available through many sources.

It is not fully known what Casper Schell did during the first few years, although, according to an oral tradition passed down through one branch of the family, he worked as an indentured servant for several years to pay off his ships passage.

On January 9, 1749 Casper Schell received a warrant for 100 acres of land in Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Family researchers have concluded that this is the same Casper that immigrated in 1742.

About 1748, Casper married Anna Catherina Gertrude Bott (Pott), who was the daughter of Wilhelm and Gertrude (Catrone) Pott of Berks County Pennsylvania. The identity of Catherine's parents was revealed when the will of William Pott of Rockland, Berks County, Pennsylvania dated 1781 was discovered. It lists children, John, William, and Catherine, wife of Casper Shell. It was not uncommon for Germans of that time to interchange the letter B for the letter P, and this may explain the name variations of Bott and Pott. Johannes Casper SCHELL and Anna Catherina Gertrude BOTT had the following children: Johannes SCHELL, born 6 Jan 1749; Anna Maria SCHELL, born 3 Apr 1753, Henry SCHELL was born in 1755, Michael SCHELL, born 1759, Elizabeth SCHELL was born about 1759, Sarah SCHELL, born 1761, Gertrude SCHELL was born on 14 Nov 1766 Some speculate that Gertrude and Catherine could be same person; Benjamin SCHELL, born 1768, Catherine SCHELL, born abt 1769, Anna Magdalene SCHELL, born 29 Jun 1770, Casper S. SCHELL, born 27 May 1772, Charles Frederick SCHELL, born 15 Nov 1774.

Two of their children were baptized in Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania on August 7, 1753. In 1757 they were on the Tax Roll in Donegal Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In 1768, Casper sold the land in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

In 2006, Gayle Foster visited Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and the Lancaster Historical Society Library and found the baptisms of Casper and Catherine's children in local church records. Also found land records and a map that showed where Casper and family owned land and lived in Lancaster County. The land is in Conoy Township. It is very near the Susquehanna River on Conewago Creek. We drove up Highway 441 and turned east onto Becker road and drove right through the beautiful farming land. An interesting note is that the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant is within sight of the home.

It is believed that the Schell family moved across the river to York County Pennsylvania after leaving Lancaster County. This would have been about 1768-1770.

About 1771, the Schell family moved to Maryland. Four of their children, including Casper, Jr. were baptized in the Reformed Congregationalist Church of Hagerstown Maryland. Hagerstown, Maryland was in Frederick County until 1776 when Washington County was created.

There are several baptismal certificates for the children of Casper and Catherine Schell that have survived and remain in the possession of descendants. These records are Pennsylvania Dutch frakturs. Fraktur art in America combined family history with folk art in a beautiful document that is a treasure to any family history.

Sometime between 1775 and 1786 the family moved to North Carolina, west of the Catawba River, probably following their oldest son and his wife. This pattern of migration is a common one. Many people migrated by this route on the Great Wagon Road, which was old Indian trail that had been widened for wagon travel. The Schells traveled this road with their Conestoga wagons, as they moved from Lancaster County Pennsylvania to Hagerstown Maryland, and then on to North Carolina. Much has been written about the Great Wagon Road, and it is an interesting topic to study.

In 1786, an early deed in Lincoln County North Carolina shows that Casper purchased 200 acres of land.

The Casper Schell family is shown in the first U.S. Census in 1790 in Lincoln County, North Carolina, when there were still three boys and two girls still living at home.

Casper died in 1805, leaving a will dated June 20, 1804, naming certain heirs. The Estate was administered in 1806 by a son Heinrich (Henry) Shell and son-in-law Christian Hahn.

THE LAST WILL OF CASPHOR SHELL - 1804 - Lincoln County, North Carolina (spellings as written) In the name of God, Amen; as I am at present in a sickley condition and do not now how long God Almighty will spair my life I have resolved to make my last will how matters are to be transacted after my death and it set down. Firstley, I recommend my Soul to the Almighty God in hopes he will receive me in his mercy. I bequeath and make over un to Charles Frederich Shell Fifty Dollars extronery and after that for to have an equal share with the Brothers and Sisters. Secondly, I bequeath unto Morey Conrad one bed and bedstand and one Heffer and Calf and a Spinning Wheel and then for to fall on equal share with my children and know share ofen her mothers side. Thirdly all my stock and property shall be sold at public sale, excluding what I have willed where unto to set my hand and Seal this 2nd day of June an domni 1804.

(his mark) XXX Casphor Shell

Abraham Cook Jacob Miller N.B. John Dietz (witnesses) I recommend Henry Shell and Christian Hawn as my Executors of my Estate God Almighty give his Blessing unto who I have willed and give me an Easty Rest and recover Joy and live in his Glory Amen Written in Lincoln County - 2 June 1804, Lincoln Co., North Carolina

Abstract of Will: son, Charles Frederick Schell, other children mentioned, but not named. Also mentions Morey (Mary?) Conrad. Witnesses Abraham Cook, Jacob Miller, N.B. John Dietz. Casper Schell made his mark to sign it. Executors are Henry Schell and Christian Hawn.

According to a transcription of a document dated 1800, Casper Schell was one of the early members of the Zion Lutheran Church in North Carolina. This document expressed support of the Reverend Godfrey Arndt, and was signed by many of the early church members. The document was transcribed by the Lorena Shell Eaker and included in the book, Shoe Cobblers Kin (1985). It is believed that Casper and Catherine Schell were buried at Zion Lutheran Church. There are many early graves marked only by fieldstones.

The second church building, was built of brick about 1800, and is still in use today. The old section is immediately behind the entrance tower, containing large arched windows. The hand-made brick was from nearby Yoder's mill. The adjoining cemetery grounds contain the graves of many early members, with many graves prior to 1800, and some headstones in German. There are many old graves marked only by fieldstones. All sermons were preached in German until 1840.

SOURCES:

• Lists of Passengers of the Ship ROBERT AND ALICE, 1742;
• Oath of Allegiance, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1742;
• Land Records – Lancaster County, Pennsylvania;
• Baptismal Certificates (Frakturs) including those from Maryland retained by Schell descendants;
• Church Records of Lancaster County Churches;
• Land Records - Lincoln County North;
• Will of Casphor Shell, Lincoln County, North Carolina, 1804; I have a copy of the handwritten will and the handwritten inventory of the estate papers (1806) He died between these dates.
• Newspaper Article THE SHELL FAMILY by Azor Shell, 1890, published in THE LENOIR TOPIC, Lenoir, NC;
• Newspaper Article - The Shell Family by Ralph T. Shell of Chicago, abt 1950 in HICKORY DAILY RECORD;
• 1790 US Census, Lincoln County, North Carolina (current day Catawba County);
• History of the German Settlements and of the Lutheran Church in North and South Carolina. By G. D. Bernheim. Baltimore, Regional Publishing Co., 1975;
• Hickory Tavern Chapter (NC) DAR Records, ancestors of Michael Schell, Revolutionary War Soldier;
• A History of Catawba County, by Catawba County Historical Association, 1954;
• Nixon's History of Lincoln County (NC) – The German Settlers;
• German Speaking People West of the Catawba River in North Carolina 1750-1800 by Lorena Shell Eaker - 1995;
• The Shell Clan of Catawba County, records submitted by Hickory Tavern Chapter, DAR, Hickory, North Carolina.

LIFE IN GERMAN NORTH CAROLINA

The province of Pennsylvania furnished North Carolina with most of her numerous German settlers. Settlement in present-day Catawba County began after 1740. The German immigrants from Pennsylvania and Maryland generally found land to their liking in the northern portion of the county west of the Catawba River, which resembled the ridges and rolling hills of their homeland. Land in Pennsylvania and Maryland was becoming more expensive and scarce, so the Germans moved southward traveling down the Great Wagon Road. The pioneer Pennsylvania German (Deutsch) people came down through the Shenandoah Valley to the wilderness of the Carolina colony. They journeyed in their Conestoga wagons, in a caravan. Every able-bodied person on foot, children on bedding in the wagons, and their livestock driven before them

These German settlers spoke "Pennsylvania Deutsch", a language made up of the dialects used in the ancient Palatinate, Wurttemberg and other countries bordering along the Rhine, intermixed with English words. They customarily interchanged Vs for Ws, Ds for Ts, and Bs for Ps. These letters have given the Germans considerable difficulty.

These pioneers brought with them their German Bibles and hymnals. They worshiped on Sundays in churches where the services were still conducted entirely in the German language. The early German churches were called "union" churches, in which both the Lutheran and German Reformed had equal rights and privileges, and each denomination alternately worshiped therein. They kept in contact with churches in Germany, and obtained their Bibles and catechism from Germany. Church records were in German. The Bible they used was the Luther translation in German. The transition to English services did not occur until about 1820. The early church history is quite interesting and there are many sources available on the early churches. School for the children was also held in the church buildings. Three of the early churches were Old St. Paul's, Zion, and Grace. During our visit to Catawba County, North Carolina in September 2009, we visited all three of these churches and cemeteries.

Having been peasants and small freeholders in the old country, they choose to continue their farming customs in this fertile Catawba River Valley. The German settlers were all industrious, economical, and thrifty farmers, and they generally avoided settling in towns. Many were skilled in services that were necessary to the community, such as operation of grist or lumber mills, operation of tanning yards, blacksmith and metal works, furniture building, and shoe cobbler. Many German families in Catawba County NC owned slaves. The cash crop grown in the early days was cotton. Tobacco as a cash crop wasn't grown there until later. As they acquired more acreage they began buying slaves to share in the booming cotton economy. Remaining evidence of these times is shown by the slave gallery in the Old St. Paul Lutheran Church that was built about 1818.

The distillery "still" was an important adjunct to the German farm. The "corn liquor" the Germans drank was a necessity of the domestic cupboard, and a "tram" (dram) was a symbol of hospitality. Sports favored by the German were horse racing, foot races, and hunting, wrestling, and square dancing. Many of their social gatherings centered around projects that benefited the group, such as corn shuckings, barn or house raisings, quilting bees, etc. These events provided an opportunity for socializing with neighbors, as well as the benefit of speeding the completion of the project by the many participants and the opportunity to compete.

The Germans encountered many hardships during to the settlement of a new country, but one of their most trying ordeals was the change of their language from their native German to English. The change was gradual, but was perhaps most marked between the years of 1820 and 1830. The entire German population outgrew the use of the German tongue. An interesting example of this early speech and pronunciation had been found in a phrase from a funeral service at Grace Church during the 1830's. It is as follows: "A rich man can die shust as vel as a poor man".

Johannes Casper Schell BIRTH 1722 Germany DEATH 1805 (aged 82–83) Lincoln County, North Carolina, USA BURIAL Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina, USA MEMORIAL ID 75350814 · View Source

MEMORIAL PHOTOS 1 FLOWERS 18 GRAVE IS MARKED BY ONLY A FIELDSTONE, PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST A PHOTO. THERE IS NO INSCRIBED GRAVESTONE.

According to a transcription of a document dated 1800, Casper Schell was one of the early members of the Zion Lutheran Church in North Carolina. Descendants believe that Casper and Catherine Schell were buried at Zion Lutheran Church, although there are no inscribed headstones. Their daughter, Anna Magdelena Hahn was also buried here, and she does have an inscribed headstone.

The book SCHELL FAMILY - PIONEERS OF MISSOURI by GAYLE FOSTER was published in 2015 and includes additional research notes and biographies of Johannes Casper and Catherine. Available on Amazon.com.

PATRIOTIC SERVICE - AMERICAN REVOLUTION - DAR Ancestor #100651 http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full...

NAME: The first name of Johann or Johannes was on the Immigration & Oath of Allegiance record, although it is difficult to read. All other records simply record his name as Casper, Kasper, or Gasper Schell/Shell. AGE & YEAR OF BIRTH: No records have been found that give the age or exact birthdate of Casper Schell. The age of Casper has been estimated based upon his date of immigration and oath of allegiance, date of first attempted purchase of land, estimated marriage date, and the age of their oldest children.

PARENTS AND BIRTH PLACE OF JOHANNES CASPER SCHELL - SEVERAL POSSIBILITIES - If one accepts Johannes Casper Schell as the full name of our immigrant ancestor, and his birthdate as approximately 1722, then there are several POSSIBLE ANCESTORS and locations of birth. Additional research and DNA analysis is needed.

1) Hendrik Schell of Amsterdam, Netherlands - Dr. Harvey Shell of Missouri, a descendant of Johannes Casper Schell, said his family tradition stated that Johannes Casper Schell was Holland Dutch. Dr. Shell hired a professional genealogist in the Netherlands, Erika Niederhander, and she located the following baptismal record that possibly is a match for Johannes Casper Schell. The baptism of Jan (short for Johann) Schell, son of Hendrik Schell was recorded 26 JAN 1725 at the Old Kirk in Amsterdam. The church and the baptismal font still exist. It is interesting to note that the name Hendrik (Henry) was repeated in descendants of Johannes Casper Schell. Dr. Harvey Shell of Missouri maintained a website for several years and shared his research and family information. He distributed DVDs with family history information to interested parties. The author obtained a DVD in 2009.

2) Other Schell families in Germany - Johannes Casper Schell may have come from the Palatinate area of Germany. Many people left this area, because of war, severe winter, and religious persecution. At least six individuals named Johannes Casper Schell (or something similar) were christened in Germany between 1710 and 1730, according to a search of the data base GERMAN BIRTHS AND BAPTISMS 1558-1898 that is available on familysearch.org. All of these individuals should be researched.

3) Petro Schild of Ettringen, Germany - A few years ago two individuals posted claims on several online genealogy forums saying they had found the parents of Johannes Casper Schell: the Petro Schild family of Ettringen, Rhineland Prussia, Deutschland (Germany). They did not offer any research notes or explanation of why or how they came to this conclusion. Several questions seem obvious - Why the name change from Schild to Schell, and why wasn't the name Peter (Petro) repeated in later generations of the family? This Petro Schild theory has been widely circulated, but it remains an unproven theory.

----------------------------

DNA ANALYSIS - Since we have not found an existing paper trail that provides Johannes Casper Schell's exact birthdate, birthplace, or names of his parents, our best chance to identify our early Schell ancestors and origin is Y-DNA analysis and comparison. A Shell/Schell Y-DNA project has been established, and in 2017 four descendants of Johannes Casper (through Casper II and Charles Frederick lines) have contributed DNA. Male Schell/Shell family members descending from the other sons (Johannes/John, Henry, Michael) as well as male direct descendants of POSSIBLE ANCESTORS are strongly encouraged to contribute DNA and participate in the Schell/Shell Y-DNA project.

If you would like to view the Y-DNA comparisons and matches, or would like to contribute funds to be used to test targeted individuals, please visit the SHELL SURNAME PROJECT website. Here is a link to the SHELL SURNAME PROJECT: http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/shell/results

DNA TESTING COMPANY – Family Tree DNA offers all kinds of DNA testing and is a favorite DNA resource for family historians. The Y-DNA 67 or 111 test is recommended. Here is contact information: Family Tree DNA, 1445 North Loop West, Suite 820, Houston, Texas, 77008. Their phone number is 713-868-1438. Email: info@familytreedna.com Website: https://www.familytreedna.com

Spouse

• Anna Catharine Gertrude Bott/Pott Schell 1730–1800

Children

• Johannes Schell 1750–1796
• Anna Marie Shell Conrad 1753–1791

Photo Catherine Schell Whitener 1770–1822

Photo Anna Magdelana Schell Hahn 1770–1854

Casper S. Shell 1772–1847

Photo Charles Frederick Shell 1774–1851

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75350814/johannes-casper-schell

http://www.mykinstories.com/Shell/JohannesGasparSchell1.html

Copy of his will is in Raleigh, NC.

Was born in Prussia (modern day Germany) and came to the US onboard the Robert and Alice in September 24, 1742. After landing in Philadelphia, PA, he worked off his debt as an indentured servant. He wed Anna Bott and they moved to NC. Johannes worked as a farmer and carpenter and had 13 children.