Martin Henry Shuman, II

Grave - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/215365584/martin-henry-shuman

Family of Martin Henry Schumann (Born 1740 Germany) The Shuman Family: Martin Henry (or Heinrich) Shumann was born in Germany approximately 1740-45 of Henry Schumann. He immigrated to the United States sometime before 1770. So far nothing has been found to say when he came over, if he was alone or already had a wife. Martin Henry Schumann and his wife Tobita (Tabitha) settled in Beaufort, South Carolina and had six sons and one daughter, John Shuman (born about 1768), Martin Henry Shuman II (born about 1770), George Henry Shuman (born about 1773), James Thomas Schuman (born about 1777), William Henry Shuman (born about 1780, married Mary Bridges on 15 June 1801 in Effingham County, Georgia), Jonathan Shuman (born about 1781 and died 1797 in Effingham County, Georgia) and Elizabeth Shuman (born about 1775). It’s said that those descendants that remained on the northern side of the Ogeechee River used the spelling of Schuman and those that moved south used the Shuman spelling. Martin Henry Shuman I used the spelling Shumann on at least three different documents found, including his will after settling in the Americas. Before1770 the Shumann family connected themselves with the Effingham County, Georgia Salzburger Protestants who had formed the Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Ebenezer (meaning Stone of Help), along the Ebenezer Creek (name given the creek which ran through the settlement) which joined the Savannah River in Effingham County, Georgia. The pastor, Johann Martin Boltzius sought to form a religious utopia in this new land after the expulsion of the Salzburger group from the Providence of Salzburg (present-day Austria) due to religious conflicts. This group of twenty thousand people had embraced the teaching of Martin Luther and refused to abandon those teachings. About three hundred of these people set sail for the Americas to find religious freedoms at the invitation of the Trusties of the colony of Georgia. The first ships held thirty-seven families, with more coming when possible, landed in the Americas on March 12th 1734. This group of people built the first church of any denomination in America. Pastor Bolzius’ ideals were successful for some time until the British invasion of Georgia and South Carolina during the Revolutionary War in 1778-83. During that war the town was all but destroyed. Whether Martin Henry Shuman and his family were part of the original Sulzberger group and came later (probably the late 1760’s) or just attached themselves because of the religious freedoms the community offered is unclear. Martin Henry Shuman II (the second child) was listed in Ebenezer Church records as being baptized May 11, 1773, at the age of three years. This was the same year Martin Henry Shumann I and his wife Tobita/Tabitha were sponsored into the church. Martin Henry I owned land in Effingham County where the Black Creek runs into the Ogeechee River. This was also the meeting point for Chatham, Effingham and Bryan Counties, which was why although neighbors many of the descendants lived in different counties. Martin Henry Shumann received a land grant of 500 acres from the King of England to property in Beaufort County, South Carolina, where he moved his family. While living in the Beaufort County area, Martin Henry’s sons, John and Martin Henry II also acquired land in the area. It was here that Martin Henry Shuman II married Martha and started a family. Although Martin Henry Shumann received land in Beaufort County, South Carolina deeded to him from the King of England, when the America people waged war for their independence from England, Martin Henry Shuman I fought in the Revolutionary War as a Horseman on foot in 1781. His son, Martin HenryII would have been about eleven years old at this time, with his older brother, John probably about thirteen. After the war Martin Henry I made Revolutionary claims in 1785 in South Carolina. He was also listed on South Carolina's Jurors List for St. Peters Parish, Beaufort County, South Carolina for 1778-79 and 1783. Sometime between 1783 and 1793 Martin Henry Shuman moved to Effingham County, Georgia with many of his family following. While living in South Carolina, Martin Henry Shuman's second son, Martin Henry Shuman II, married Martha who gave birth to William Henry Shuman (born 1790), Reuell Shuman (born 1790-1800) and Joseph M Shuman (born 1790-1800). There were also three unknown daughters born to Martin Henry and Martha in South Carolina. Martin Henry left his wife but never divorced her, possibly for religious reasons. Martha died about 1830/40 in South Carolina. Martin Henry showed his love for his family in his Last Will and Testament, dated October 4th, 1793. He had enormous respect for his eldest son, John and set him as the executive of his property. He made sure all the children and his wife were included and taken care of. In his will Martin Henry also mentioned land he had inherited from his father Henry Schumann in Germany. He asked that his children divide the proceeds from the land equally. Martin Henry died in 1798. His will went into probate in 1798 and was probated on December 1st, 1800 in Bryan County, Georgia. He and his wife, Tabitha, are buried somewhere in Effingham County, Georgia.

From: The Shuman Family Geneology and Allied Families by Gieger, Jarred, Futch and Knachel - Complied by Carolyn Barber Jarred

Martin Henry Shuman born C - 1770, South Carolina, m. (1) Martha (Unknown) - (Note: I later discovered her last name to be Key); born about 1770-1775, died between 1830-1840, South Carolina. m. (2) Dec 12, 1840, in Bryan County, Georgia, Pharabee Sauls, born C - 1773, South Carolina, died after 1870, Bryan County, Georgia. Martin died between 1840-1850, Bryan County, Georgia. Martin was a property owner in Beaufort County, South Carolina during the 1800 Census. He was married and already had a family (with Martha). He also had a family (with Pharabee) in Georgia. He was not able to marry the mother of his children in Georgia until the mother of his children and first wife in South Carolina died. She was still living at the 1830 census but by the 1840 census she had died. Martin then married Pharabee Sauls in Bryan County, Georgia. Pharabee and Martin's children were using the surname Sauls. In 1827 and 1829, Martin had them changed by legislature from Sauls to Shuman. Pharabee was still living when the 1870 census was taken.