Revolutionary War Soldiers Series: Remembering Simon Shoemaker
By Betty F. Crum and Pat Young
Waw-wil-a-way Chapter Daughters
of the American Revolution, 250 Project
Note: This year, the United States of America will celebrate its semiquincentennial, its 250th anniversary. The semiquincentennial marks the first nationwide celebration of America's birth since the bicentennial in 1976. Of course, America's independence cannot be celebrated without also honoring the efforts of the Revolutionary War soldiers that led to independence. The Waw-wil-a-way Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, along with the Southern Ohio Genealogical Society, is presenting a series of articles featuring Revolutionary War soldiers who lived and died within the borders of Highland County.
Simon Shoemaker, a Revolutionary War veteran, served prior to the war in the Fairfax, Va. Militia 1755, 1756, and 1758.
He provided 275 pounds of beef during the Revolutionary War from 1776-1782.
Simon Shoemaker was born in Alsace, Germany in 1736, the son of Rudolph and Barbara Schumacher. The family arrived to the new world in 1752, during a time of increased German migration coming from the Palatinate. Simon would be about 16 years of age. In Loudon County, Virginia, history tells of German settlements there as early as 1730. It is believed that Simon served as a trooper in the Fairfax Virginia Militia between 1755 and 1758, Fairfax being the county seat of Loudoun County.
Simon married in 1759 at age 23. A three-volume series, “Loudoun County Virginia Tithables, 1758-1786,” compiled by Hiatt and genealogist Robert Scott, invites comparisons. In 1761, the number of Germanic-sounding names increased to about 45.
The 1785 list available for the German settlement has 67 German families, 10 with the surname Shoemaker or Shumaker. This may well have been where Simon and his young family thrived. We are able to record five of his children born in Loudoun County between 1760 and 1769; Martin, Polly, Samuel, Peter and Catherine.
No doubt, this is another case of a father traveling to a new area with their adventurous sons. Simon Shoemaker and his family arrived in the Sinking Spring, Brush Creek area of Highland County about 1800. Simon would be about age 64.
Son, Samuel, operated a mill there along with son Martin. This family has a well documented history in Highland County. Simon died Feb. 5, 1820 at the age of 84. One can only imagine his life. He represents the pioneers who came to a wilderness with courage and skill, created a family, a home, a community and a new nation. Not only their descendants, but those of us who live in this county are appreciative of their struggle and success.
Sources: Virginia County Records Vol II, Colonial Militia 1651-1776. Virginia Colonial Soldiers by Lloyd DeWitt Boekstruck, p. 161. Virginia Publick Claims by Abercrombie, p. 6. Loudouncountyhistory.org