Hello list, It is that time of year again that I go searching once again for the parents of my John Kessler. My ancestor John Kessler died in Botetourt Co., VA and at the time of his death from the mortality schedule we find that John's widow reported the death of John was in Feb 1850 (the year of the census) at the age of 75 years, caused by old age, and was born in Pennsylvania. This would make him born in 1775. John Kessler married Nancy Waskey 8 March 1794 Frederick Co., MD. We found the index of marriage for John Kessler and Nancy Waskey but were told the actual marriage certificates were burned in a fire. All that remains is the index. Index to Marriage Licenses 1778-1865 Frederick County Marriage Record p. 420 No. 1: Nancy Waskey to John Kessler Date of issuing license: Mar 8, 1794. Family beliefs have my John as a son of Andreas (Andrew in some records) Kessler 1746-1809 and Anna Maria Rama of Donegal Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA. There have been various spellings of Kessler ie: Kesler, Keslar, Kefler, Kepler, Kister, Keisler and also we are unsure if Rama is actually the name and has been suggested it is Rehmen or Raymer. For a fact we know that Andreas Kessler was the son of Johann George Bernhard Kessler 1711-1792 (master shoemaker in Frederick, MD) who came to this country from Winden, Germany in 1751 with his wife Anna Catherina (Hauswirth) and 4 children, Johann George Bernhard Kessler Jr b. 1729 (lastmaker in Frederick, MD), Johannes b. 1742 (who may have moved to Hagerstown, MD), Andreas b 1746 (referenced above) and Susanna Catherine b. 1749 (who I can't find anywhere). Recent DNA testing proves that my John Kessler from Botetourt Co, VA is genetically linked to Andrew Kessler Jr. 1770-1860 of Frederick Co., MD (proven son of Andreas) but was my John a son or a nephew of Andreas 1746-1809? Family Bible records show a son John Kessler born 24 May 1772 in Donegal Twp, Westmoreland Co. PA to Andreas and Mary Rama Kessler. A death date of 16 Dec 1840 was found for a John Kessler at Chestnut Ridge Historical Society, Stahlstown, PA but was this John the son of Andreas Kessler 1746-1809? There was a John Keslar who was given a warrantee 60 acres 27 Mar 1826 in Donegal Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA but found no deed transfer. The court house clerk said the government gave John the land for services rendered or from an estate settlement. He checked the old record book and it showed the land of this John Keslar adjoining the land of Peter Keslar that lived in Donegal in the year 1826. It lists no buildings on the property. John Kessler - deed Book 21 page 532, (24 Jun 1835) John Keslar of Donegal Township recorded an agreement to sell 15 acres at Laurel Hill Donegal Township to John Ganer of the same for $160.00. The agreement was dated 12 Dec 1829 but not recorded till 1835. The land adjoined John Ellis, heirs of Cornelius McLain and John Trough. John Keslar signed John Ganer by mark Adam Bowling and Elizabeth C. Larimer witnessed. No mention of a wife According to a deed dated 23 Nov 1808 my John Kessler came from Rockbridge Co., VA (where he had moved with the Waskey family from Frederick Co., MD) to purchase 156 and 73 acres on the waters of the Catawba Creek. Deed book 9 :545. The land was at Cedar Ridge (now called Simmons Ridge) at the headwaters of Catawba Creek, 5 miles north of Fincastle, VA. Anything that anyone might find related to the name John Kessler would be helpful. Maybe with more information I can sort this family out and find who the actual parents of my John Kessler were. I truly appreciate any help. Karen Kessler Cottrill WV Kessler/Kesler/Keslar Family Historian KesslerWV@aol.com I am making no claims that the above information is correct and should not be posted as so. This is being given as personal information to be used for further research and not all has been documented.