The circumstances of Shadrach’s birth father are unknown. All we know about his mother comes from Shadrach’s pension request letter. It reports that his mother married a man named Springer. At what age was he adopted? Shadrach identified himself as Montgomery most of his adult life and refers to having been known as Montgomery by Lieutenant John Moon prior to being adopted. This indicates the adoption was not in early childhood.
Clues from family names: Did Shadrach and Isabella name any of their children after his stepfather, birth father or mother? Their children’s names were: Elizabeth, Archibald (her father), David, Jane, Isabel (her mother), Charles, Samalia, Mary, Hannah, Sarah and Shadrick (himself).
Can census records help? There were a lot of Montgomery’s in Eastern PA back then. Limiting the list to just those that are recorded in census of the various townships of Chester, some of the Montgomery’s known to live around Chester, PA, 1790 – 1800 were:
John Montgomery: In the records there are a number of Montgomery’s named John. Several with that name died between 1790 and 1800. Possibly one of them was Shadrach’s birth father.
John Montgomery: One of several, Found in the 1790 and 1810 Census of New London, Chester, PA.
Hugh Montgomery: Hugh is listed in Dauphin, Chester in 1790 but not after that. There is however a Hugh Montgomery in the 1800 Census of First Moon, Beaver, PA in the Allegheny area, on the same page as Alexander McCulloch. (Shadrach may have spent time in Allegheny in between Chester and Ohio. See the discussion of the McCulloughs and Campbells.)
Michael Montgomery: 1726-1797, in New London, Chester, PA in 1790, died in 1797. Was 64 in the year Shadrach was born.
Joseph Mongomery[sic], Esq.: 1790 Census of Dauphin, PA. Joseph Montgomery is also found in the Chester area census of 1810.
Josh (or Jos. H.) Montgomery listed next to James Montgomery in the 1800 Census of Upper Oxford, Chester, PA. There was a Joseph Montgomery in the 1810 Census of Upper Oxford, Chester, PA.
Alexander Montgomery: 1790 Census of Dauphin, PA. Noted as “Alexn” Montgomery in the 1800 Census of Dauphin. Not found in 1810 in Pennsylvania.
David Montgomery: Found in the 1790 and 1800 Census of Dauphin, PA. Not found in 1810 in Pennsylvania.
Thomas Montgomery: Thomas Montgomery is found in census records of Chester, PA from 1790, 1810 and 1820.
Robert Montgomery: There were two Robert Montgomery’s in the Chester area in 1790 but only one in 1810. In 1820 a Robert Montgomery is listed in Beaver, Allegheny, PA. Spelled “Magomery” in 1800.
James Montgomery: James is in Dauphin, Chester in 1790, 1810 and 1820.
Samuel Montgomery: In the 1790 Census of New London, Chester, Samuel was recorded on the same page as Robert, John and Ann Montgomery. On the same page indicates they lived near each other. Perhaps they were all related. Spelled as “Magomery” in 1800, Samuel also shows up in Chester in 1810.
Shadrach and Isabella named daughters Hannah and Jane.
Hannah Montgomery: Born 1775 into a prominent, well documented family, daughter of General William Montgomery and Isabella Evans. Hannah is found in 1810 Census of Chester, PA. Spouse unknown, children unknown. Buried in Chester in 1847. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Montgomery-4597
Ann Montgomery: Female head of household in New London, Chester, PA in 1790, a widow?
“Widow” Montgomery: Head of a household in Dauphin, Chester, PA in 1810
A Jane Springer died 1834 and is buried in St. Paul’s Burial Ground in Chester, PA.
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