BRETHREN-L Archives

Archiver > BRETHREN > 2006-07 > 1153076623


From: "William Thomas" <>
Subject: RE: [BRE] Kessler
Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2006 15:03:59 -0400
In-Reply-To: <000001c6a88b$77624fd0$5d8e4847@user10nwicomgc>


Gale:

I have done some minor research on a Kesler family in Saltlick Township,
Fayette County, which is on the border of Donegal Township, Westmoreland
County. This includes several land transactions involving Jacob Thomas and
his wife Polly, with Peter Kesler and his wife Polly. Jacob's wife is said
to be a 'Keckler'. Jacob Thomas is believed by many to be the brother of
Alexander and Michael Thomas, two well known Brethren. Alexander was an
Elder in the Sandy Creek congregation.

The "History of Westmoreland County" identifies a Peter Kesler of Donegal
Township as Brethren, and likely the same Peter that had a transaction with
Jacob Thomas. A Peter, George and Andrew Kesler are shown as early
landowners in this same area in the "History of Fayette County, PA". The
1810 census shows a Peter, George and William Kesler in Saltlick Township.
Peter disappears from the 1820 census, and then a Peter shows up in Donegal
Township in the 1830 and 1840 census. The age bracket fits into the other
census bracket ranges, so it is likely the same Peter. Peter is in the 60
to 70 age group in 1840.

I also found a genealogy on the web that shows Andrew Kesler lived in
Frederick County Maryland and died in Donegal Township, although Andrew is
missing from the Westmoreland/Fayette census. This genealogy includes a
Peter that fits the age of the Peter I've spoken of. Andrew's father was
named John and died in Frederick County. However, I don't know how
reputable that genealogy is.

A Peter Kesler first shows up in the 1783 Westmoreland County land records
(Fayette was part of Westmoreland at that time). There are no Kesler's in
the 1800 census for Westmoreland or Fayette County, but there is a George
and Matthew Kesler in Frederick County MD, but they were the only males in
the household. They also were in the oldest age bracket and the only males
in their family. The 1790 Frederick County census includes several Kesler's
including Andrew, who is on the same page as Adam and Daniel Neff. Earlier
than that is the 1776 Frederick County non-enrollers list, which includes a
John Kesler, an unnamed son of John Kesler, and a Peter Kesler, as well as
Adam and Daniel Neff. These names are also missing from the 1776 & 1778
census, which had direct military and loyalty emphasis. Almost all if not
all of the known Brethren found on the non-enrollers list are missing from
these two censuses. Thus there is circumstantial evidence that the
non-enroller Kesler's were Brethren or Mennonite. Is Andrew possibly the
unnamed son?

I don't see the name Kesler showing up much in early Brethren records, and
wonder if there is a connection to Ulrich. Do you or any others have info
that might connect Ulrich and these Kesler's?

Bill Thomas

-----Original Message-----
From: Gale Honeyman [mailto:]
Sent: Saturday, July 15, 2006 11:54 PM
To:
Subject: RE: [BRE]

Barbara,
I descend from Dunker elder Ulrich and Anna's son Joseph K. Kessler who
moved from Ashe Co NC circa 1811 to Montgomery Co OH with his father
where both died. Only two other children are known to have survived to
adulthood, Daniel who moved to Green Co KY and John who resided his last
years in Kosciusko Co IN. The remaining two children are said to have
been Henry and a daughter [name unknown] who are both said to have died
in PA before the family moved to Rockingham Co VA which was prior to
1784.
Gale



This thread: