Schieffelin, Jacob, 1757-1835

British army officer; later a pharmacist in New York, N.Y.

From the description of Jacob Schieffelin papers, 1780-1929. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70980965

Schieffelin was secretary to Henry Hamilton in Detroit; later removed to New York City, where he became a successful merchant.

Jacob Schieffelin, son of Jacob (b. Walheim, Germany, Feb. 4, 1732) and Regina Yargaretha K. Ritschauerin (b. Milhaus Ender Ense, Germany, Sep. 9, 1731), was born in Philadelphia, Aug. 24, 1757; and married Hannah (daughter of John and Anna. (Burling) Lawrence), Aug. 13, 1730. They had nine children: Edward Lawrence, b. Detroit, Sep. 3, 1781; Henry Hamilton, b. Detroit, Jun. 20, 1783; Effingham, b. New York City, Nov. 3, 1785, and d. Montreal, 1789; Anna Maria, b. Montreal, Apr. 11, 1788, and m. Benjamin Ferris; Effingham II, b. Montreal, Apr. 20, 1793; John Lawrence, b. New York City, Feb. 25, 1796; Cornelia, b. New York City, Dec. 2, 1798, and d. Bloomingdale, Aug. 17, 1800; Richard L., b. New York City, Nov. 9, 1801. In his youth, Schieffelin served as secretary to Henry Hamilton in Detroit. There he built two houses and owned considerable property. He held the rank of lieutenant in the British Army, and was in Detroit as late as 1783, when he tried unsuccessfully to secure a large tract of land near the mouth of the Detroit River, where Amherstburg was later founded. After living several years in Montreal, he removed to New York about 1794 and established the firm of Schieffelin & Lawrence near Maiden Lane. In 1799 the partnership was dissolved, and Schieffelin entered the shipping business, clearing generous profits. He bought an estate at Manhettanville on the Hudson, and died, Apr. 16, 1835. (Burton Hist. Rec., I, 316 MS/929.2, Schieffelin) (blue index cards)

From the description of Jacob Schieffelin papers, 1777-1796 (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 630620716

Jacob Schieffelin, Sr., born in 1757, joined the loyalist army and served as Henry Hamilton's secretary during the Revolutionary War. He was captured in 1779 and held prisoner in Williamsburg, Virginia. Schieffelin escaped to Canada, where in 1780 he was appointed lieutenant in the Queen's Rangers by Henry Clinton. He spent time in Montreal and Detroit but returned to New York and founded a drug company with his brother Lawrence in 1794.

Jacob's company bought, sold, and imported drugs, medicines, fancy goods, perfumes, and other merchandise. In 1813, the business passed to Jacob's sons, Henry, Effingham, and Jacob, Jr., who renamed it H. H. Schieffelin & Co. In 1848, the name changed to Schieffelin Brothers & Co., which dissolved in 1865 and became W. H. Schieffelin & Co., with many of the same partners. Retaining its name, the partnership reformed again in 1870, with primarily the same people. By 1879 the firm had disappeared.

Jacob and his wife Hannah Lawrence had nine children. Their eldest son, Jacob Schieffelin, Jr., was born in 1793. He studied medicine in New York City in 1813-14, and afterwards joined the New York State Infantry. He had risen to the rank of colonel when he left in 1825, to rejoin his brothers in H. H. Schieffelin & Co. He was stationed in Mexico for most of his service with the company. In 1827 Jacob, Jr. returned home, left the company, and turned his attention to his real estate holdings in Tioga and Lycoming counties, Pennsylvania. He moved to Willardsburg, later Tioga, Pennsylvania and acted as an agent for himself, his family, and others. Jacob, Jr. married Elizabeth Berard and they raised nine children.

In January 1849, Jacob, Jr. traveled to California with his sons Alfred and Edward Girard on the ship Morrison . They arrived in September, but booked passage home via Panama in November.

Richard Lawrence Schieffelin, born in 1801, was Jacob, Jr.'s brother. He built a legal and business career in New York City.

Clinton Emanuel Del Pela Schieffelin, born in 1823, was Jacob, Jr. and Elizabeth's oldest child. In 1844, he traveled in Wisconsin and Illinois, where he may have mined. He later tried his luck in the California gold mines. He moved on to Oregon in 1853, where he mined, farmed, and ran a tavern. Clinton eventually brought his family to Jackson County, Oregon and settled on a farm.

Edward Girard Schieffelin, born in 1836, was Jacob, Jr. and Elizabeth's seventh child. He served with the Pennsylvania Volunteers in the Civil War and settled in Wellsboro, Tioga County. Elizabeth Schieffelin, a sister born in 1829, never married and kept house for her father after her mother's death.

Clinton and Jane Schieffelin's second son, Edward L. Schieffelin, was born in 1847. He achieved fame as the founder of Tombstone, Arizona, located where he found silver in 1877 and thought he would be killed by hostile Indians. With the wealth from his silver mines, he settled in California. Edward L. (E. L.) Schieffelin later prospected in Alaska in the 1880s.

Mary Somerville Schieffelin Brady, born in 1895, was the daughter of Edward Girard Schieffelin and Mary Monroe Somerville. She gathered information on her famous cousin Edward L. Schieffelin and collected family papers, which she donated to the Beinecke Library.

Jacob Schieffelin (1757-1835) m. Hannah Lawrence (1758-1838)

Edward Lawrence Schieffelin (1781-1850) m. Susan Anna Stewart

Henry Hamilton Schieffelin (1783-1865) m. Maria Theresa Bradhurst (1786-1872)

Effingham Schieffelin (1785-1789)

Anna Maria Schieffelin (1788-1843) m. Benjamin Ferris (1771-1832)

Effingham Schieffelin (1791-1863) m. Mary Samler (1788-1870)

Jacob Schieffelin (1793-1880) m. Elizabeth Berard (d. 1881)

John Lawrence Schieffelin (1796-1866) m. Matilda Theresa Bowen

Cornelia Schieffelin (1798-1800)

Richard Lawrence Schieffelin (1801-1889) m. Margaret Helen McKay (1813-1892)

Jacob Schieffelin (1793-1880) m. Elizabeth Berard (d. 1881)

Clinton Emanuel Del Pela Schieffelin (1823-1884) m. Jane L. Walker (d. 1916)

two children died as infants

Edward L. Schieffelin (1847-1897) m. Mary E. Brown

Albert Eugene Schieffelin (1849-1885)

Jane Elizabeth Schieffelin (1851-1931)

Effingham L. Schieffelin (1857- ) m. Fanny

Charlotte Schieffelin (1859-1895) m. Edwin Dunham

Richard C. Schieffelin (1862-1919) m. Rose

Jacob Schieffelin (1865-1867)

Theodore Schieffelin (1867-1881)

Jay L. Schieffelin (1870-1934) m. Emma

Alfred Schieffelin (1827-1913) m. Kathryn Ferry

Elizabeth Schieffelin (1829-1901)

Laura Schieffelin (1831-1866) m. Orlando B. Lowell

Cornelia Schieffelin (1834-1910)

Jacob B. Schieffelin (1836-1836)

Edward Girard Schieffelin (1836-1922) m. Barbara Duttenaffer ( -1884) m 2. Elizabeth Schmitt m 3. Mary Monroe Somerville

Mary Somerville Schieffelin (1895- ) m. Hugh Picken Brady

Laura G. Schieffelin (1897- ) m. William Hale Wilbur

Elizabeth Schieffelin (1899- ) m. T. W. Durbin

Jacob Schieffelin (1838- ) m. Emily P. Ryan (1843- )

Hannah Lawrence Schieffelin (1840-1935) m. Le Roy Mason Lyon (1834-1908)

From the guide to the Schieffelin family papers, 1779-1992, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)