Belthezar Schöffer

The first of the German Shaffers to come to the new world was Belthezar Schöffer. Already there was persecution for zealous Prostetants in South Germany. As for Belthezar and some of his sons after him for a couple of generations, they held extreme views, which made them particularly obnoxious to the Catholic authorities. He was something of a Pietist, Quaker-like, quite mystical and absolutely averse to war, even in self defense.

When some of the Shaffers were killed by the Indians, some of their brethren refused even then to bear arms against the Indians. But old Belthezar was not too meek to escape from injustice. He was one of the very first of all the Palatinates to seek a home in America. He came into Pennsylvania from Germany in 1708.

Belthezar was a fine, determined, Christian man. He was one of the very earliest religious refugees from that part of Germany. They were such believers in peace that some of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd generations never did anything to protect their homes against the Indians.

His daughter Christiana married Albrecht [Albert] Miller, of her own faith. Belthezar and his son Bartholomew were naturalized in Philadelphia April, 1719. Albert Miller settled in Plainfield Township in North Hampton County. He was born in Germany and died 1763. His wife, Christiana Schöffer, was a religious refugee from the Palatinate, Bavaria and Old Swabia.

The next in line appears to be George Bartholomew Miller and his wife Margretta Shaffer. Their daughter, Elizabeth Shaffer, married Captain Adam Zarfess in 1767; their oldest child, Anna Maria Margretta, was named Anna Maria after her father's grandmother, Anna Maria [Bierly] Miller, and her own grandmother, Margretta Shaffer.

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