It is unconfirmed as to the origins of the first generation of Shinabargers on American soil. It is evident our ancestors immigrated from Germany well before the 1760s. DNA Y and autosomal testing has confirmed a strong connection to the John Shinaberry ca 1735-1807 and Mary Lyndon (unverified surname) family who relocated to Mount Vernon, Knox County, Ohio about the same time as Michael Shinaberry and John Shinabarger. DNA testing has matched many Shinaberry descendants with roots in Augusta, Rockingham, Pocahontas, Pendleton and Highland counties in Virginia/West Virginia. With the changing county boundaries and the carving of portions of western Virginia to form the new state of West Virginia in 1863, these counties are in the same general area.

It is almost certain that among the early families who settled this region lies the answer to our major questions: who was the father of John Shinabarger 1764 and who was the mother of John’s eight children? Surnames which DNA testing has disclosed include Barnes, Life, Trimble, and Peck. There is a very strong indication that John Shinabarger’s roots lie in this same area and among these settlers. If so, then the possible patriarchs of the “Dozen S” families may be Johann Jacob Schoenberger and Anna Margareta Roller. 

June 2023 – I researched family history in Frederick County Virginia, Berkeley Co. West Virginia, Frederick Co. Maryland and York and Lancaster Pennsylvania. I concentrated on the surname Shinaberry and those allied families who married into our earliest generations. As previously learned, the Shinaberry, Shinabarger and Shanabarger families share a common ancestor. Searches pointed toward northern VA as a place to continue my search. This resulted in a “bingo” moment when John Shinabarger was found!

This research is a work in progress. New discoveries continue to be made that may confirm or change this family history. As of today, this is where our story stands. Read Latest on Patriarch for detailed research and information.

For in-depth coverage of current findings and speculations, read the histories found on the pages of  FAMILY CHRONICLES and the summaries located on the pages of DNA RESEARCH. 

The summaries below are brief. They follow my Shinabarger line and do not discuss the research and DNA findings.

Shinabarger Family History:

EARLIEST GENERATION – JOHN SHINABARGER SR.

FIRST GENERATION –  JOHN SHINABARGER

SECOND GENERATION  – JACOB SHINABARGER

THIRD GENERATION  – SIMON PETER SHINABARGER

FOURTH GENERATION  – FRANKLIN ERNEST SHINABARGER

FIFTH GENERATION  – RILEY ERNEST SHINABARGER

SIXTH GENERATION  – VERA MAY SHINABARGER

SIXTH GENERATION – KENNETH ERNEST SHINABARGER

THE SHINABARGER FAMILY HISTORY

The Shinabarger Family History is no longer being published. You may access and download copies of the final 2018 edition here SHINABARGER FAMILY HISTORY BOOK – 2018

Shinabarger Family History

Excerpt: Jacob Shinabarger

5 Comments

Pat · February 10, 2018 at 10:10 pm

It is wonderful to hear from you. I do have quite a bit here that my grandfather, Riley, collected. He lived with Ernest for a time in Grays Harbor and I have some photos from there. I will look in my records. Hope we can exchange some information.

Richard Shinabarger · February 9, 2018 at 11:04 am

is there any more info on Harry Shinabarger (pics maybe)son of Ernest franklin Shinabarger.I am Richard Harry Shinabarger,grandson,I am the son of Franklin William Shinabarger.

Irene · May 1, 2013 at 8:24 am

Hi Larry –

I was surfing the internet and found a question I had asked in 2012 which I never followed up on. My apologies. Do you have history on the Schlundt Bodien family? I would be interested to see if our family is one of the same.

Thank you.

Kind Regards,

Irene

irene · November 26, 2012 at 8:47 am

Does anyone know or is the same family as “Schlundt Bodien”?

Thank you.

Kind Regards,

Irene

Larry R. Jones · January 16, 2011 at 3:55 pm

Riley Shinabarger and Flora Schlundt were witnesses at William Schlundt and Clara Etta Murten’s wedding. William and Clara Schlundt were Etta Schlundt’s parents. Etta is my great- aunt. Lena Schlundt was Etta’s sister and my grandmother.
Have you compiled the Schlundt family history. If you like, I have some info.

———— Larry R. Jones

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