Printed with permission of owner.
John Shell was born Dec. 20, 1790 to parents Martin Shell and Catharine Diffenbach. John was taught the trade of gunsmithing by his father Martin who was quite an accomplished 18th century smith in the Lancaster\Lebanon PA school. John received his commission as major dated Aug. 1, 1814 and served in the 2nd Battalion, 98th Regiment of the Pennsylvania militia during the War of 1812. During John's long life he was married three times, to Jane Backenstow, to Mary Landis (b. Sept. 20, 1805, d. Feb. 9, 1858) , and to Catharine Rambler Zehring ( b. Mar. 2, 1800, d. Sept. 17, 1885). The 3rd marriage to Catharine is recorded Nov. 9, 1858 in Swatara Reformed Church, Lebanon Pa. He was the father of several children who I am continuing research on. So far, son John Jacob (b. Apr. 29,1829, d. Mar. 10, 1861). Joseph ( b. 1830, d. 1851). Mary Elizabeth ( b. Jul. 8, 1839, d. Mar. 10, 1868). Most important to this research is daughter Rebecca Shell Early (b. Aug. 1, 1830, d. Jan. 10, 1888) wife of Amos Early ( b. Sept. 7, 1832, d. Jun. 23, 1907) who was a gunsmith trained in the trade by his father in law, Maj. John Shell. John Shell worked not only as a gunsmith but also was a merchant and shop keeper in the town of Earlyville later renamed Shellsville after the Major. He died on March 27, 1875 and was buried in Shell's Lutheran Church Cemetery, Shellsville PA.
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