Shavers of Ancaster

Guest Blog post by Fred Blair

Private William Shaver (1771-1830)

William Shaver served from October 13 to 24, 1813 in Captain Israel Dawdy’s Company of the 5th Lincoln Militia with Henry Shaver who was probably his brother (5L233). From other documents we know that William Shaver (1771-1830) was living in Ancaster Township but we have to keep in mind that there were other Shaver families in the area, William was the most common male first name at this time, and that the 5th Lincoln was recruited from Barton, Binbrook, Brantford, Glanford, and Saltfleet Townships as well as Ancaster. In the 1816 Assessments there were William Shavers recorded in both Ancaster and Barton Townships. Did one man own property in both townships or were there two William Shavers?

The 2nd York Militia also recruited from Ancaster Township and a Private William Shaver served there as well. One of the easiest ways to resolve the problem of two possible militia men with the same name is to look at their service records with the assumption that one man could not serve in two places at the same time. William Shaver, the 2nd Yorker, did not serve concurrently with William Shaver, the 5th Lincolner, so that strategy did not help resolve this problem. Was there other evidence of two William Shavers?

Wentworth Bygones, Volume 2, The Head-of-the-Lake Historical Society, Hamilton, pages 44 to 48, recorded that a William Shaver settled on Lot 35, Con. 3, Ancaster Township in 1789. He had to be at least twenty-one years old to legally own land. William Shaver (1771-1830) would have been about eighteen years old in 1789 which suggested that he was not the William Shaver who settled on Lot 34. However, William Shaver (1771-1830) obtained the patent on the same lot in 1797 and therefore must have been the same man. There was no evidence of a second William in the title to that property.

William Shaver (1771-1830) married Mary Catherine Book in 1798 and one of their children was born in 1815. On March 8, 1811, Rachel Shaver made a land petition as the daughter of John Garner and as the wife of William Shaver of Beverly Township, which was also in the recruitment area of the 2nd York Militia. There must have been at least two William Shavers as the other one was still married to Mary Catherine Book!

Rachel’s petition can be found online at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-..., pages 861 to 863.

The Book family men also served in both regiments. Enquiries are welcome about them.

John Shaver (1769-1852) served in the 2nd York Militia. Possibly his brother did as well. Most men served more than once and other men served in both regiments. I am unable to resolve the problem of the two Williams without more evidence but the possibility exists that the following service records may have been those of William Shaver of Ancaster Township.

Private William Shaver of the 2nd York was on guard duty from October 17 to 24, 1812 while serving in Captain William G. Hepburn’s Company but on furlough from October 25 to November 24, 1812 (2Y209)(2Y212). He returned to service from December 6 to 19, 1812. From September 25 to 27, 1813, he served in Captain William Bate’s Company (2Y271). This was the payroll that John and Isaac Shaver were absent from. From July 4 to 29, 1814, he was stationed at Burlington Heights in a detachment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Richard Beasley (2Y158). This detachment was present at the Battle of Lundy’s Lane on July 25th.

Looking at these records one could also argue that they were the records of two different men. The William Shaver who served in 1812 may not have been the same William who served in 1813 and 1814. The name William was so popular that three different William Markles served in the 2nd York.

Although I have not been able to resolve this problem, hopefully someone else can use the evidence presented here to help find the solution. Your comments would be welcomed. The next Blog will be about Jonathan Kelly’s and Elizabeth Catherine Shaver’s family.

Militia Payroll Document Links

147-148 (See Documents 158-160)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

158-163 (July 4 to August 16, 1814, at Burlington Heights)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

168-170 (See Documents 158-160)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

209-211 (Oct. 17 to 24, 1812, Capt. Wm. G. Hepburn’s Co.)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

212-214 (Oct. 17 to Nov. 24, 1812, Capt. Wm. G. Hepburn’s Co.)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

215 (Nov. 25 to Dec. 19, 1812, Capt. Wm. G. Hepburn’s Co.)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

233-234 (Sept. 17 to Oct. 24, 1813, Capt. Israel Dawdy’s Detach.)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

271-272 (Sept. 17 to Oct. 24, 1813, Capt. Wm. Bates’ Co.)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

522 (See Document 233)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

Fred Blair
fredblairorillia@hotmail.com