Palser was married by this time to Catherine--and starting a family of their own. Palser took his pregnant wife and their daughter, packed all their belongings in a Conestago wagon and headed for the Shenandoah where new land had opened up for settlement.
They stopped in the German settlement in Loudoun County, Va long enough for Catherine to give birth to their first son,Abraham.
Palser and his young family arrived in the Brocks Gap area (already inhabitated by many German immigrants) of Rockingham County, VA as early as 1784.
EARLY RECORDS IN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
1785 Road Record: Conrad Humble, Jacob Custer, Jr. and Paul Kester and Wm Fitzwater were appointed to view for a road from Fitzwater's to Palser Shaver's via Doves and the first surveyor of this precinct was George Dove.
May 1, 1801 Tithe List upper Brocks Gap: Feaster, Ruble, Whetzel,Palser Shaver.
He appears in the Rockingham County Personal Property Tax List 1787. He was taxed on three horses and six head of cattle. According to the book, Virginia Valley Records-the Militia �Voucher� List for 1788 shows him with one tithable and 3 horses. He was the only Shaver in the Brocks Gap area of the county. *A tithable was a taxable person and the military companies were made up of local residents who were capable of armed service when needed.
*Notes on Palser Shaver:
1788 Daniel Baker tithable next to Palser.
Jacob May (son of James May?) born 1820-1898 -married Sarah Davis. He lived on the Palser Shaver place. A small cemetery was located on the place between the house and road. early Shavers are buried there.
April 23, 1808 - Henry Feaster located 125 acres adjoining Palser Shaver on Cold Spring River . Sold it to Jacob Lantz 1809.
1795 Road Survey -the Whetzel River between Feaster and Shaver's and Shaver's field and house.
Road Record: 1785 Palser Shaver on "Whetzel Run" marked the termination of a new road along up from Wm. Fitzwater. 1788 Viewers: Conrad Humble, Wm Fitzwater, Paul Kester, Sr. Jacob Custard, Jr. and Surveyor George Dove.
1837: Heirs of Palser: Daniel and Mary Heavener, Martin Wetzel and Catherine (daughter of Palser)-Frederick and Regina (daughter)Shoemaker,
Samuel and Susannah Price-widow Catherine. Abraham, Peter Raderbaugh and wife Magdaline (daughter), Isaac,George and Palser, Jr.
*Sources: deeds, Diary of Elder John Kline-Church of the Brethren minister.
DATE 9 July 1799. NOTE Location: Rockingham County. NOTE Description: 150 acres on the main head of North Shenandoah River in Brocks Gap. NOTE Source: Land Office Grants No. 42, 1798-1799, p. 441 (Reel 108). NOTE Part of the index to the recorded copies of grants issued by the Virginia Land Office. The collection is housed in the Archives at the Library of Virginia. OTHER FORMAT Available on microfilm. Virginia State Land Office. Grants A-Z, 1-124, reels 42-190; Virginia State Land Office. Grants 125- , reels 369-.
