Hey, look at this! Hardly two full weeks into my New Year’s resolution to post more updates, and here we are…
First a disclaimer: In some of my correspondence, I’ve tried hard not to sound cynical or negatively prejudiced towards disbelief of family stories. The truth is, I neither believe nor disbelieve until I have something on which to base that decision. In this particular case, at this particular time, the only thing we have to go on regarding Indian ancestry is family legend posted online by other Shroyer descendants. That being the case, I am evaluating the pieces of evidence and trying to arrive at a conclusion. I reserve the right to modify my conclusion as new evidence is discovered (or NOT discovered) as research progresses. I’ll try and lay out what I think and why I think it, and as always, people may draw their own conclusions.
As regular readers of the newsletter (as if such a thing exists) might remember, I have made mention that our McGinnis family may have Native American connections. Having engaged in a number of discussions about this recently, I have been sufficiently motivated to do three things: 1) do a little internet research about it 2) formulate a game plan and head to Centre County to research in-person, and 3) finally update this here McGinnis site a few times telling you all about it. Progressing in a logical order, I have started with #3, will talk about #1, and get to #2 later. (This is sarcasm – a tool I rely on heavily 
OVERVIEW
First, let’s take a look at the text of the main variations of the story as the appear on the internet. Since I have not been able to get in touch with any of these authors, I won’t mention any by name here.
Version #1:
I have the history behind Jacob & Barbara Shroyer. Yes, they were Indian, Shawnee to be exact. Barabara’s father was the Chief of the Shawnee tribe along the Susquehanna. His name was Shawnee John. He adopted Jacob. So, Jacob and Barbara were not blood related, however, they were adopted brother and sister. Their daughter, Christina “Princess White Star” Schroyer married William Lutz, my descendent.
If you would like more info, I would be glad to give you more. I actually live near the land that Shawnee John was given for his tribe by William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. Shawnee John is buried near here. He is well known and well respected in the area. He actually left the Indian life when his tribe escaped to Ohio during the great Runaway. He chose to stay with his non-Indian family.
Version #2:
Seeking any information on the John Jacob SHROYER family. What I have been able to find out is: He was born about 1772 in Rebersburg, Centre Co., PA, and died bef. September 24,1825, in Haines Twp.,Rebersburg, Centre Co., PA, s/o Indian Chief John SHAWNEE. I learned he was adopted as a child into the Jacob SHROYER family. John Jacob SHROYER married Barbara SHROYER, born August 3, 1773, died January 4, 1857 in Rebersburg, Centre Co.,PA, d/o his adopted father. Of their 8 children, they had a daughter, Catharine.
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> She married a William LUTZ/LOTZ. They had a daughter, Harriet Shroyer LUTZ/LOTZ, born about 1838, in Woodward Twp., Centre Co., PA, and died August 6,1890 in Woodward Twp., Centre Co., PA.
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> >From what I understand is that John SHAWNEE, a Seneca Indian, served as an Indian Scout with Robinson’s Rangers during the French & Indian War at Heclapark (Mingoville), PA.
Version #3:
Barbara was the daughter of Jacob Schroyer who was an early Centra Pennasylvania settler (born bef 1860) He adopted the son of a Shawnee Indian Chief and named him Jacob Schroyer. He had a daughter named Barbara, b. 3 Aug 1773, Rebersburg, who married the Indian Jacob. Have much info re this family and willing to share. My wife is descended from Barbara’s daughter Christina “Princess White Star” Schroyer Lotz
PROBLEMS
Version #1
- Why would the adopted son of an Indian chief retain his German name? It is also worth noting that according to Jacob Shroyer’s probate file, his writings were in German
- While I wouldn’t call the search (or my knowledge) complete – I can find no instance of a land grant to a Shawnee tribe in PA, and certainly not by William Penn, who died in 1718. (There was a treaty in 1701, but PA had no land claims in the area at that time – it was still Indian land, so Penn wouldn’t have needed to grant them any) The Treaty of Ft. Stanwix in 1768 officially ceded all Indian lands in this area to the English and was the last purchase treaty between the Proprietorship and the Indians.
- The Great Runaway was in 1778, when white settlers fled to various forts and southward down the Susquehanna from Indian hostilities and attacks. The Shawnee had removed from the Susquehanna to Ohio 20 years earlier. (http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/shawnee/shawneehist.htm)
- Who was his “non-Indian family”? Meaning they had lived there the whole time, but he decided to live with the adoptive Indian family instead?
Version #2
- Robinson’s Rangers are a Revolutionary War group, not French and Indian
- John Shawnee is cited as a Seneca Indian (not saying it’s wrong – just different from the previous version)
Version #3
- Rebersburg was not laid out and named until 1809, although that’s not to say there weren’t settlers there as early as 1773 – will have to check into the dates/settlement a little more, but this would imply that there was either a father named “Shawnee John,” or a surname “Shroyer” at this time in this area.
CONCLUSION:
When you boil down these different versions, there are some similarities that might prove useful in guiding future research. The common elements seem to be the same, although the details appear to be inaccurate:
- Either Barbara or Jacob was an Indian adopted into a German family
- The Indian father in question, Shawney John/John Shaney, served the whites in some military capacity
- All of these stories derive from descendants of Catherine “Princes White Star” Shroyer Lutz
Without any further information or documentation it seems unlikely that any one of these stories is correct as they are recited. However, taken together, it seems reasonable that the basic concept of adoption is possible and reasonable
MOVING FORWARD:
So what do I hope to do to clarify our understanding of this story? My mom and I are off to Centre County this weekend. I won’t detail what information I have already collected, but will wait for a complete collection of evidence (ya right!) to present it all at the same time. Some of the information I will be looking for, both there and through other sources include:
- A more complete history of the land that Jacob and Barbara purchased near Aaronsburg, PA in 1796. Search land warrants/patents and Northumberland deeds for like-named folks
- Any further history of someone named Shawnee John. There is mention of the name in the Sixth Regiment of the Continental Line in 1778., but no details given.
- Double-check probate, other court records, Spangler collection, and burial records for Shawnee, Shawanese, or Shawnee John
- Find an obit for Barbara Shroyer
- Further research the family of Ludwig Shroyer, who died in Northumberland County in 1795. An Adam is listed among his sons – a name that appears again in Jacob and Barbara’s family.
- Check for any journals, diaries, personal papers, etc for this area and time frame
- Increase my general knowledge of the Indian tribes, situation, and potential documents in this area
I’m sure there’s a few things I’m forgetting, but if I keep working on this post, I’ll never get to Centre County on Saturday!
Incidentally, I find it interesting that in my own McGinnis family, James McGinnis’ midde name is Shadrul. I’ve done numerous searches for the meaning or other mention of this name but have found none. Is Shadrul a potentially Indidan term? Is it actually Shroyer and was misheard or misread?
It’s a McGinnis Mystery, alright!
