Karen, I found in John Humphrey's Pa. Births, Philadelphia County, 1766-1780 the following appeared: Kessler, John b. 17 Sept. 1774 Parents Andrew and Catherine. The records came from St. Joseph's Catholic Church established in 1733. A list of baptisms for this church was published in 1886 by the American Catholic Historical Society. There were also the following additional children listed with these parents: Helen b. 11 Aug. 1777 Anna Mary b. 24 Sept. 1769 Valentine b. 4 Mar. 1767 They were all baptised at the same church. Hope this helps! Helen -------------- Original message -------------- From: KesslerWV@aol.com > 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. > > > ==== PAWESTMO Mailing List ==== > >