On 14 Aug 1869 George married Harriet Bell in Halifax, Halifax Co., Nova Scotia, Canada.12 Born abt 1849 in Halifax, Halifax Co., Nova Scotia, British North America. Harriet died in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, U.S.A., in 1943; she was 94.

George and Harriet Shaffer with a son resided in Halifax, Halifax County, Nova Scotia according to the 1871 Canadian federal census. George Shaffer was a car builder. The family were Anglicans. (RG 31-C-1, 1871, Nova Scotia, Halifax Co., West, ED 196-G, Halifax ward 6, p. 47)

The 1910 United States federal census states the widow Harriet Shaffer and her adult son William Shaffer resided at 17 Newport Street, Dorchester, Massachusetts. They rented their home. Harriet Shaffer had given birth to only one child who was still living in 1910. William Shaffer was a driver for an express company. They immigrated to the United States from Canada in 1885 and were not naturalized. (T624-622, Massachusetts, Suffolk Co., ED 1561, Boston ward 20, p. 19A)

According to the 1920 United States federal census, the widow Harriet Shaffer resided at 17 Newport Street, Boston, Massachusetts. She rented her home. Ten-year-old Evelyn Robinson was a boarder in the household. Harriet Shaffer immigrated to the United States from Canada in 1884 and was not naturalized. (T625-734, Massachusetts, Suffolk Co., ED 308, Boston ward 11, p. 5A)

The widow Harriet Shaffer resided at 48 Newport Street, Boston, Massachusetts according to the 1930 United States federal census. She rented her home for USD 26.00 per month. She owned a radio set. The widower John Hayes was a roomer in the household. He was a mechanic in a toy factory. Harriet Shaffer immigrated to the United States from Canada in 1884 and was not naturalized. (T626-951, Massachusetts, Suffolk Co., ED 380, Boston ward 13, p. 7BA)