John Godfrey (Godfrey) Schuh Sr aka Shew *WikiTree, John Schuh" *[[Schuh-101 | John Schuh]] *https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Schuh-101 Born about 1733 in Germany Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown] [sibling(s) unknown] Husband of Katherine Catharina Phillippina Frey — married 28 Apr 1757 in Churchville Presbyterian Church, Northampton Twp., Churchville, Bucks Co., Pennsylvania map Descendants descendants Father of Jacob Shew Sr. Died Oct 1805 in Northampton Twp., Fish House, Montgomery Co., NY map NOTE: The source of this document is a profile listed on WikiTree.com as is referenced hereinabove. The below has not been edited from the original. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ == Biography == ''This biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import. It's a rough draft and needs to be edited.'' === Name === : Name: Godfrey (John Godfrey) /Shew Schuh/ Sr<ref>Source: [[#S1]] Page: Pennsylvania Marriage Records. Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Archives Printed Series, 1876. Series 2, Series 6, page 500; Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1700-1821 at Ancestry.com Note: "Catrina Fry" married "John Godfrey Schach" April 28, 1757.</ref> === Birth === : Birth: :: Date: ABT 1733 :: Place: Germany :: Note: (or circa 1711 according to his great grand daughter Susannah Shew) This is an estimated date. "Godfrey Shew, the father of Jacob Shew, emigrated from Germany to this country, at the age of 19, and just before the French war". Germany at that time was a conglomeration of provinces, kingdoms, duchies & city-states, with northern Germany being predominantly protestant and southern Germany tending to be Catholic. There was a large immigration movement of Germans in the early 1700's as a result of constant conflict & displacement in the area. It is possible that Godfrey may have been from Pfalz (Palatinate). It was common for the immigrants to 1st move down the Rhine River to Holland, and then on to England. Many sailed on to North America after that.<ref name="Jacob"> "Jacob Dunham (1727-1779) of Lebanon, Conn. and Mayfield, N.Y. : his descendants and ancestors with five generations of English ancestors : also ancestors and descendants of Stephen Shew with historical accounts of the Shews, Sammons, and Dunhams" By Sophie Dunham Moore 1933.</ref><ref> HISTORY OF THE GODFREY SHEW FAMILY by Susannah Shew, 1862.</ref> The subject of this narrative is Godfrey Shew, who embarked from Germany about the year 1739 for the purpose of visiting this country. But alas, ere he completed half of his journey, his pleasure was clouded with sorrow. The ship was struck by lightening which caused a leak and all on board were in agony, expecting soon to find a watery grave. No time was lost pumping out the water and devising a plan to stop the leak, which they succeeded in doing the third day by spiking a piece of sole leather over the leak, then placing heavy boxes immediately on to close the valve. The exertion of all the passengers was so great that the insides of their hands were, in some cases, worn through to the bone. Although it was not his intention to remain in America, when he left home, after such extreme suffering he resolved when he reached New York "never to cross the ocean again". From thence he proceeded to view the country in Pennsylvania. There he married Katie Fry and remained in the State until some time after the close of the French and Indian War. He was in several battles and was wounded in his right arm, which caused his elbow to remain stiff afterwards. He next moved to Johnstown, then Montgomery Co., with his wife and two children, John and Harry (Henry), at which place, four more children, Stephen, Jacob, Polly and Sally were added to the family. They remained there until about 1772 when they came to Fish-house village and built the first house in this village in the north end of the lot where the Methodist Church now stands. The only method then to obtain direction of their journey was by marked trees. During the first year after the Shew family settled here, the only method provided to get bread was to go to Johnstown, a distance of about 18 miles and bring sacks of flour on their backs. The second year, they raised their own grain, but their labor, however, was doubled as they had to carry the grain to Johnstown and back again. Later they had a large mortar apparatus and converted the corn into syrup, thus obviating the labor to some degree. About two years after they settled here, Godfrey, Jr. was added to the family. He was the first white child born in this now beautiful and flourishing village. The family remained here until some time after the Revolutionary war broke out. On June 3, 1778, Mr. Shew, with his three sons, John, Stephen and Jacob -- Harry being absent -- were taken prisoners by the Tories and Indians who burned their buildings and killed their cattle, sheep and hogs. Mrs. Shew and three small children were left unaided, unprotected, and without any means of sustenance. Their only resource was to flee to Johnstown, which direction they obtained by marked trees. Three nights previous to the capture of Mr. Shew, & his three sons, the same Indians and Tories who took them prisoners left their bark canoes on the bank of the river about 4 rods East of the present dwelling house of L. P. Shew. Some of the Shews saw the fire the next morning but were not alarmed as they were repeatedly assured by some professed friendly Indians, who had received favors from them, that no harm should befall them. The only satisfaction the prisoners received for mercy from "friendly Indians" was "me not know you". Two hatchets have since been found while clearing the land where they encamped. From Tribes Hill, they returned to their bark canoes with their prisoners compelling them to carry a heavy load of the provisions they had plundered. They sailed for Quebec on the Sacandaga, and as often as they came to the rapids would take their boats out of the water and carry them on their heads. The first night after their departure from this place, Soloman Woodworth, one of the prisoners, ran away from them and returned home. The remainder submitted to their fate and traveled through the wilderness to Quebec where they were kept prisoners for some weeks. Their food consisted principally of horsemeat. This, however, was considered as a luxury when compared with previous refreshments, such as tainted beef made into soup. Every inducement was proffered them to join the British, but their love for freedom far surpassed their love for gold. Said John Shew was noted for being a superior marksman and on this account, was not allowed to leave the Indians. The remainder were sent to Boston and exchanged for British prisoners. Mr. Shew and Stephen returned to Johnstown in pursuit of wife and other children. Jacob, having small pox, was allowed to remain behind until recovered. Stephen, Harry and Jacob, soon after their return enlisted in the American Army, leaving their father to care for the remainder of the family. Henry (Harry) was at the taking of Burgoyne; Stephen was one of the number to guard the Fort at Johnstown; and Jacob was in the Battle with the Indians near East Canada Creek. The company was 45 in number, two-thirds of whom were killed. Capt. Soloman Woodworth, above mentioned, was one of the number who fell at Jacob's side. He escaped, however, although one ball passed through the clothes of his body, another cut off his hair between the place where it was tied and his head. He was also on an expedition from Johnstown to Schuylerville, and encamped one night by the high road spring Saratoga, which was then a wilderness. He was also on several scouting expeditions in various places. You are doubtless anxious to hear more about John, who was retained by the Indians. He was kept a prisoner for six months, and having won their confidence by a prompt return with plenty of game, was allowed to go out alone to hunt. After so long a confinement, he resolved to leave the first opportunity. To prepare for this scheme, he prolonged his stay each time and finally ran away from them. He subsisted principally on roots and herbs, not daring to shoot his gun, and as often as it became necessary to cross a stream of water, would travel a short distance up and down, in order to mislead his pursuers. It was a trial for him to have to part with his gun, when he swam across the St. Lawrence River, and yet it must have been a torture for him to have it and not be able to shoot it when he was starving for game. At length, he arrived home in safety, and remained there until peace was declared. He then resumed his favorite recreation and about a year from this time when engaged in the town of Milton, Saratoga Co., was suddenly called upon to halt by some eight or ten Indians to "Surrender and they would give him quarters". Seeing no way to escape he therefore surrendered. They then bound his hands and feet and tortured him to death by shooting arrows into him and mangling him beyond description, as his friends were credibly informed by two or three who interred his remains. He was murdered Oct. 1780. An account of the torture was also related by one of the Tories several years later in the State of Michigan at some neighborhood gathering, when Harry was present.