Thanks Rena Dottie did so much for everyone and was quick to answer letters that I wrote her about 20 years ago about my Kessler line. She assured me at that time we were not related and sent me information that started me on my hunt for the correct family. There was so much confusion as to the wife of our John Kessler and for years she was listed as Mary McCray until we found a McCray researcher in Ohio about 15 years ago that was able to show proof that his John and Mary McCray Kessler moved to OH and were buried there. We then knew this could not be our John since ours died in Botetourt in 1850. Thus our search began and we have since proved our John KESSLER m. 1794 Frederick Co., MD Nancy WASKEY and came with the Waskey family to Rockbridge Co., VA and ending up on Catawba Creek, Botetourt Co. Children of John and Nancy Waskey Kessler married the following lines: RAY, BEANE/BEAN, BUTT, HAMILTON, BIERLY, DOOLEY with connections to AMMEN, PECK, MAYS, LEMON, NOFFSINGER, HOILMAN, FALLS, SIMMONS, HESLIP, CUST ER, HUFF, AUSTIN, SHOWALTER, Nice talking to you again. I haven't been too active lately. My husband had heart bypass surgery in Dec and I have moved my Mother with us for total care, so I've had my hands full. Best regards, Karen Kessler Cottrill In a message dated 3/20/04 8:28:13 PM, [email protected] writes: << I am refering to the Collection of vertical files donated to us by Dottie Kessler w/o Harry. It is a collection of her research consisting of 200-300 surnames. Rena ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2004 8:09 PM Subject: [VABOTETO-L] The Brugh Collection and the Kessler Collection > Hi Rena > Just a quick question about the Kessler Collection you mentioned below. I am > assuming you are referring to the two volume set, "Out From The Blue Ridge" by > Morris and Dean Kessler. If there is another collection of works on the > Kessler line would you let me know? My John Kessler, through DNA testing, has shown > no connection to the John Kessler mentioned in the two volume set although in > Part II of Volume I, Morris Kessler did devote a section to my "John Kessler > of Catawba." Since Volume I was printed in 1984 we have been able to add a > great deal of information to the John Kessler of Catawba Creek, Botetourt Co. > family. I am always willing to share/exchange any information on my family. > Karen Kessler Cottrill > WV Kessler/Kesler/Keslar Family Historian > 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. > > In a message dated 3/17/04 8:01:14 PM, [email protected] writes: > > << Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 07:56:49 -0500 > From: "Rena" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: [VABOTETO-L] Botetourt County News > > Botetourt County was formed in 1770 from Augusta County. We are fortunate to > have records intact from that time. NO FIRE has damaged our records. There > are two genealogist on staff at the courthouse to aid in your research. > Fincastle is the county seat of Botetourt County. The Fincastle Library was > remodeled last year and expanded to include a Genealogy room. There are > holdings in the room unique to any other Genealogy Room. Two being the Brugh > Collection and the Kessler Collection. These were donated by researchers and > only Fincastle library has them. > The Craig-Botetourt Genealogy Club was founded by Rena Worthen in 2000 after > completion of the Botetourt County Heritage Book. The group will also aid in > your research. Their address is [email protected] > The club will be giving free Genealogy Research Classes on the 3rd Wednesday > of each month starting in April. > The first speaker will tell us about Courthouse Research. She brings with > her years of experience in first source research. > > > > Rena Worthen [email protected] > www.geocities.com/genclub01 > http://www.geocities.com/floydmontgomeryheritage/index.htm > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Woods/3798 >> > >>