A new list has been initiated for those researching families associated with the C & O Canal. You may subscribe by sending an email with the single word "subscribe" in both the subject heading and the message to: [email protected] . Dory Zinkand

thank you sara some of that may be my lines and any help you could find would be most happy thank Linda Sara Patton <[email protected]> wrote:I have no idea about your Couchmans in Berkeley Co but you may be interested in the following report on the Couchmans who settled in the South Branch (of the Potomac) Valley just west of Berkeley county in the late 18th century. (Spelling may vary-Crouchman/ Couchman/Kautzman). While you still have to fill in some blanks, this may help you on your way. John Tevebaugh is a retired history professor. I will send your plea on to him. Sara Patton THE COUCHMAN/KAUTZMAN FAMILY of the SOUTH BRANCH of the POTOMAC A Preliminary Report by John L. Tevebaugh With two important exceptions, this family's surname on the South Branch of the Potomac, between 1756 and 1800, was recorded in English as Couchman, whether in Augusta, Hampshire or Hardy County's public records. The initial exception was first recorded in June 1778 in a deed of land from Samuel Beall to Charles Lynch, which noted that Beall's land was adjacent to that of "the heirs of Coutzman."(1) This surname variation continued through subsequent deeds to that tract: Feb 1779, Aug 1785 and Feb 1792. The second exception appears on Michael Stump's Hampshire County, Virginia, census lists of 1782 and 1784. In each of these entries for the son, Adam, Stump submitted the name as "Coutzman." Throughout all these same years, all other references to Adam and his sisters, Susannah and Margaret, were with the Couchman surname. Attempts to find the Coutzman surname (or its probable German equivalent, Kautzmann) in 18th century Virginia have proved futile. However, recent Couchman research in Indiana not only has found the sister, Susannah, but also has provided very strong evidence for the German equivalent as the original name.(2) From Sullivan County, Indiana, vital records, censuses, and their two subscription county histories, we find daughter Susannah, nearly 20 years after the death of her husband, John Wilson, who died in Greene County, Tennessee, in 1809. She and 4 of her sons and a married daughter all left Greene County at various times during the years 1828 and 1831 and settled in Sullivan County. The descendants of those children always identified Susannah's maiden name as "Kautzman," and that surname appears as a given middle name for some of her grandsons.(3) This use of the German form of the surname, plus the very long life-span of Susannah (she died in 1857 at age 94), gives full support to its existence and use in that family. The husband/father of this family was Henry Couchman/Kautzmann, who was first recorded as being in the South Branch Valley at the sale of the estate of one Christian Dousher at Michael Stump's on 03 Dec 1757. At that time, that location was under the jurisdiction of Augusta County, VA.(4) At some time between that and 1764, Henry purchased land from Eve Thorn, widow of Tobias.(5) By the time Henry drew and signed his will on 04 Sep 1767, he had married a Susannah [surname unknown], and they had produced three children: John Adam (b. ca1762), Susannah (b. ca1763) and Margaret (b. ca1765). Henry died before the end of 1767.(6) John Adam Couchman/Kautzman seems to have been the first child of Susannah and Henry, born about 1762. He was a blacksmith by trade.(7) By 1782 he had married Phebe See (d/o George See and Grisena/Christina Bogard); they would have 2 children, neither of whom lived more than 3 years. One was a daughter, the other of unidentified gender.(8) John Adam died sometime between 13 Jan 1786, when he deeded all claim to his rights as heir of his father to the husband of his sister Margaret Couchman Reed, and the 17th of March 1786, when his will was proved in Hardy County.(9) Phebe, soon childless, remained a widow; she signed her will on 25 Sep 1832, leaving her entire estate to the children of her sister Mary Ann Craigen [Mrs. John]; and died shortly thereafter.(10) Phebe may have gone to live with Mary Ann after John Adam's death. Susanna[h] Couchman/Kautzman also was born between 1760 and 1767, perhaps in 1763.(11) Sometime before 1784 she married a John Wilson, most likely in the valley of the South Branch in Hampshire Co., VA [now WV]. Family tradition has her carrying their first-born, Adam Wilson, "on horseback the entire distance" from VA to "East Tennessee" in 1785.(12) Like her sister, Margaret and her husband, George Reed [Riedt?], Susannah and John Wilson moved from the South Branch to what became Tennessee [first it was called the State of Frankland, soon changed to Franklin, then while in federal government hands as the Territory South of the River Ohio, and finally the new state of Tennessee]. Susannah and John settled there in Greene County, where they remained for many years. Their children increased to 11 by 1805: Adam, b. 1784 in VA; David, b. ca1786 in Greene Co.; John, b. ca1788; Elizabeth, b. ca1790; Peter, b. 1792; Susanna, b. ca1794; Margret, b. ca 1796; Millea [Amelia], b. ca1798; George, b. ca1800;, Charlotte, b. ca1802; and Enoch, b. ca1805.(13) Further research in Greene Co. public records should provide more specific data for these children, their marriages and their children. Late in 1828, of the above, Peter and John Wilson, along with their sister, Millea, and her husband, George Welty, and their families, having left Greene Co. earlier, arrived in Sullivan County, Indiana. Shortly after 1830 they were joined there by their mother, brother Adam and his family, and [probably] brother George.(14) Apparently the other children married and remained in Tennessee, although some family members thought that a few had moved up to Kentucky. Here, again, more intense research in both states should provide a clearer picture. The Direct and Reverse Deed Indexes for Greene Co., 1785-1871, indicate that much additional data should be found in the family deed activity at the time of John Wilson's death in 1809 and after. The indexes also suggest that sons David and Enoch remained there, and that David died there in the late 1860s. These indexes also suggest that they would be very helpful to Wilson family historians in sorting out members of the several Wilson families there with similar male given names. Margaret Couchman/Kautzman, like the others, was born between 1760 and 1767, probably about 1764.(15) Sometime before 1785 she married George Reed[perhaps Riedt earlier].(16) Early in 1786, Margaret and George sold their land rights and titles on the South Branch and joined a number of their neighbors on the trek south to seek the new opportunities offered by the new State of Frankland. They may even have made the journey with Susannah and John Wilson. After a few months in the neighboring county of Washington they returned to Hardy County, VA [now WV].(17) Their re-establishment was not to be permanent, however, for by 1793 they had begun to sell off lands and interests inherited from their respective fathers. By the Fall of 1795, they frequently were referred to as "of Bourbon Bounty," Kentucky in various deed records.(18) They were legal residents of Kentucky by the end of 1796, and would remain there the rest of their lives.(19) Little is known about their children [at this point, at least], but the 1810 Census of Bourbon County lists George and his wife with 9 young people in their home, 3 males and 6 females. The age categories seem not to show young married couples among them. We anticipate that further research in Bourbon County public records will disclose names and approximate ages of the children, and, importantly, the eventual dates of death for the parents. This concludes the preliminary report about this family. Please consult the endnotes that follow. One last point: some family searchers working with South Branch families have maintained that there was a fourth Couchman/Kautzman child named Michael. There is absolutely no valid, extant evidence of such a child; and the name does not appear in the families of John Adam, Susanna[h] or Margaret, while the others are frequently found. John L. Tevebaugh January, 2001 Endnotes 1. Hampshire Co., VA[now WV] Deeds, Bk. 5, p. 122. 2. Wolfe, Thomas J., ed., A History of Sullivan County, Indiana; �. (2 vols., Lewis Pub. Co., 1909), pp. 76-77, 134-135; and History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana;�. (Goodspeed Bros. & Co, 1884), pp. 704, 763-764. Most of the search in Indiana is the work of Donna Cooper, a descendant. 3. See the two county histories in note 2 above. 4. Augusta Co., VA, Wills, Bk. 2, p. 307. 5. Augusta Co., VA, Superior Court of Chancery, 1796-1806 [Circuit Court Cases Ended], Opinion and Decree, 1799, in the case of Craigen & Couchman vs. Thorn. 6. op. cit., Deposition of Craigen & Couchman, 1799; Deposition of George See, 1798. Henry's will was described in the chancery case, but apparently was among the Hampshire County records destroyed during the Civil War. Henry's wife, Susannah, married Daniel Tevebaugh a year or two later. She was the mother of his five sons. 7. Hampshire Co., Wills, Bk. 2, p. 33, Will of Conrad Slagel, 08 Feb 1782. Slagel apprenticed his son to Adam to "learn the Smith trade." 8. Augusta Co. Chancery case, as above; and Hardy Co. VA[now WV], Wills, Bk. 1, p. 1, the Will of Adam Couchman, probated 17 Mar 1786. 9. Hardy Co., Deeds, Bk. 1, p. 19, Adam Couchman to George Reed, 13 Jan 1786; and Adam's will as cited in note 8 above. 10. Hardy Co., Circuit Court Will Book 2, p. 31, the 25 Sep 1832 will of Phebe Couchman. 11. The two county histories cited above in note 2 give her birth year as 1763 and her death date as 17 Jul 1857, at age 94. 12. Hardy Co., Deeds, Bk. 4, p. 25; History of Greene and Sullivan Counties as cited above in note 2. 13. These children all are named in John Wilson's will, signed on 08 Aug 1808 and probated 25 Apr 1809; see Greene Co., TN, County Court Minutes, Oct 1802-Apr 1810, pp. 268-272, from Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilm Roll # 147, entitled Greene County Settlements. Family tradition in Indiana has John Wilson b. 16 Jun 1761 in what now is Hardy Co., WV. 14. See note 2 above; also 1850 Census, Sullivan County, Jackson Twp., pp. 509, 525-526, and Haddon Twp., pp. 422-423. Confirmation of birth places and ages are in computations made from these census enumerations. The 1830 Census of Sullivan Co. shows only Peter and John and the Welty's. 15. Bourbon Co., KY, Censuses of 1810 and 1830. The earlier one lists her as born on or before 1765; the latter as being born between 1760 and 1769 [her father's death in 1767 limits this range]. 16. Hardy Co., Deeds, Bk. 1, p. 12. George, in 1786 was once identified as "Jr.," indicating another of that name in the area. George was one of 2 sons born to Elizabeth and John Reed [Riedt?] of the South Branch; the younger son was John. It is possible that George's surname had been Riedt and that his father had come to the South Branch from the Tulpehocken Creek Palatine settlement in Pennsylvania. 17. Hardy Co., Deeds, Bk. 1, pp. 12, 19, 38, 134 and 167. 18. Hardy Co., Deeds, Bk. 4, pp. 24-25, 26, 28 and 61. 19. Hardy Co., Deeds, Bk. 4, p. 439; and Bk. 5, pp. 38 and 325-327. Garret Glenn Clift found George Reed on an 1800 Bourbon County tax list; see his "Second Census" of Kentucky - 1800, �.(Genealogical Pub. Co., 1982). Entries there are arranged alphabetically. See also the Bourbon Co., Federal censuses of 1810 and 1830. At 09:58 AM 1/17/03 -0800, you wrote: >This goes out to anyone living in the Berkley county WV area that just >might beable to look around and find something on Benedict Couchman SR. >and his wife Catherine ? maiden name unknow. Have been working on this >line for a long time with others and we all cannot get past Berkley >co. This is a very big brick wall that seams to be unable to knock >down. So Please can someone give us a lead. Looking for his siblins and >who is Catherine? Help please. Linda Summers P.S. we have >all his children documented. > > >==== WVBERKEL Mailing List ==== >Address your BERKELEY County List >messages to:[email protected]

This goes out to anyone living in the Berkley county WV area that just might beable to look around and find something on Benedict Couchman SR. and his wife Catherine ? maiden name unknow. Have been working on this line for a long time with others and we all cannot get past Berkley co. This is a very big brick wall that seams to be unable to knock down. So Please can someone give us a lead. Looking for his siblins and who is Catherine? Help please. Linda Summers P.S. we have all his children documented.

Found this on www.askjeeves.com About the Great Wagon Road http://www.garstfamily.com/articles/PhilaWagonRoad.htm -- Preston, Madaline H [email protected]

>______________________________X-Message: #2 >Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2003 11:27:32 EST >From: [email protected] >To: [email protected] >Message-ID: <[email protected]> >Subject: [WVBERKEL] the great wagon road >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > >the great wagon road > >Is this route any particular highway these days? >Nancy Pundsack > Hi Nancy, Yes, much of the great wagon road, as it passes through North and South Carolina is congruent with US Hiway 1. If you look at a map you will see it runs from west of Roanoak Rapids at the Virginia line all the way to Augusta Ga. This would have been the route travelled by most people from PA and Northern Virginia to the south. Large portions of US Hiway 17 are congruent to the original "Kings Hiway" which would have served those closer to the seaboard, such as tidewater Virginia, Maryland, and the coastal Carolinas. Bill

the great wagon road Is this route any particular highway these days? Nancy Pundsack

Berkeley Cnty, W VA Deeds & Wills Abstracts, Deed Book 1-5 (1772-1781), Will Books 1-3 (1772-1805), Larry G Shuck, 1999, Closson Press, Apollo, PA. Deed Book Vol 1:276. 18 Aug 1772. Mathew RIPPIE & John HART execs of Matthew ALLISON, 170 acres for £307.10 PA currency to Edward HERD. Land was surveyed by John REED and is adj to James BLAIR, Hugh GILBRAETH and is all the land of sd ALLISON, dec'd. Deed Book Vol 3:337. 14 May 1775. James BLAIR & wife Dorothy BLAIR of Cumberland cnty, PA, 14 acres for £120 PA currency to Robert CREIGHTON of Berkeley part of a tract formerly of John GLADDEN, now Edward HERD on the SS of North Mountain adj to land conveyed by CARLYLE & DALTON exec of sd John GLADDED to Mathew ALLISON. Wit: Phil PENDLETON, Moses HUNTER, Alex WHITE, Hugh VANCE, Robert STEPHEN.

Looking for information regarding Edward Heard who moved to Berkeley County WV around 1772 and presumably died there around 1795. I'm specifically trying to find where he might be buried. Does anyone know of a particularly old cemetery where colonist were buried. Edward's land was along "the great wagon road" heading south. Thanks, Madonna Davis Marks [email protected]

I am looking for anyone researching the Horn(e) family prior to 1800 in Berkeley County and nearby areas. Please contact me. June Clover Byrne [email protected] Editor, Clover Family Newsletters http://members.aol.com/junebyr/index.html

I am researching the connection between the Lemmon/Lemon and King surnames in the area of Berkely Co. My William Lemmon Sr. was in Harrison Co. KY. as early as 1794 and left a will there in 1818 mentioning his wife Elizabeth and three sons who were John Lemmon Jr., George and John. George Lemmon married Jane King in 1815 in Harrison Co. Ky. She was the daughter of Joshua King. Joshua King was the son of Richard King who also went to KY. from VA. I would like to hear from anyone who can give me a clue as to where to search further. Jean in Michigan

Dear Berkeley Co. folks, I'm new to this list today and wonder if anyone is researching any of the BISHOP families in Berkeley Co. during the time period of 1790-1825. Descendants of Rezin Bishop 1 Rezin Bishop b: 1795 in Virginia? d: 15 August 1867 in Greene Co., OH . +Margaret Kitchen b: 01 January 1806 m: 18 March 1824 in Berkeley Co., VA d: 24 August 1885 in Greene Co., OH .. 2 Rezin Bishop b: 1825 d: Bef. 1856 in Clark Co., OH? ..... +Clarinda McKinney b: 25 April 1823, m: 18 September 1845 in Clark Co., OH d: 19 April 1902 ...... 3 Elizabeth Bishop b: 1846 in Clark Co., OH .......... +Joseph Randall m: 25 May 1864 in Clark Co., OH .. 2 Gilbert Bishop b: 1827 in VA? .. 2 Hannah Bishop b: 1828 in VA .. 2 Thomas Bishop b: 1830 in OH, d: 09 February 1873 in London, Madison Co., OH ..... +Mary Garfield b: 01 January 1836 m: 14 November 1855 in Clark Co., OH ...... 3 Hanford Bishop .. 2 Reason Bishop, Jr. b: 1832 in Greene Co., OH .. 2 John Bishop b: 1835 in Greene Co., OH .. 2 George Washington Bishop b: 07 August 1838 in Greene Co., OH d: 14 December 1863 in Greene Co., OH .. 2 Mary C. Bishop b: 1841 in (Is she Catherine Bishop in Cem. record?) d: in Greene Co., OH .. 2 Ellen Bishop b: 1844 in Greene Co., OH d: Aft. 1860 Thanks for any help! Pat Bishop Obrist

Re: Washington Evans, for Jeff Gray, Refer to Berkeley County Will Book 3, page 359: John Evans, Jr.; Will 17 Mar 1798, probated 26 January 1801. Wife Margaret EVANS. Sons; John EVANS, Ephraim EVANS, Edmond EVANS, Washington EVANS, Isaac EVANS, Joseph EVANS, Daughters; Martha EVANS, Rebecca EVANS, Elizabeth EVANS, Mary EVANS, Rosanna EVANS, Ann EVANS. John EVANS married Mary Vanmeter 26 January 1797. Perhaps Washington EVANS (1790 - 1853) is the one mentioned in the above Will. It could be that your Hezekiah Washington EVANS, son of John and Mary (Vanmeter) EVANS, is, then, the grandson of John EVANS, Jr. (died 1799, probably). Harry Grossman

Washington Evans (1790-1853) was editor of the Martinsburg Gazette in Martinsburg, Berkeley Co, VA as well as propriertor of several hotels in Cumberland MD. My Great Great Grandfather was Hezekiah Washington Evans, also of Berkeley Co. He was the son of John Evans and Mary Vanmeter. What is the relationship of Washington Evans and Hezekiah Evans? Who were the parents of Washington Evans? Jeff, Email: [email protected] _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus

Hi...I am seeking more information on the Kelley family who lived in Washington Co., MD and in Warren County, IL. This is what I have..... Hi...This is what I have on my Kelley family..... William Henry Kelley was born in MD 05 Jun 1829 and died 17 Jun 1904. He married 3 times but the only marriage i know so far about is to Margaret Jane Mallott. William had four children that I know about. Frisby(he was my great great grandfather) was born Apr 1847 in MD, Ann, Samuel E. Kelley born 16 Feb 1859, and Edward Lamar Kelley born 04 Aug 1862 in Clear Spring, Washington Co., MD and died 20 Feb 1948 in Rock Island, IL. Frisby married a Elizabeth Nicholas or Nicholson and had 8 children: William(Jul 1878), Elly or Effie(Sept 1882), Bessie M.(Oct 1883), Martha(Oct 1887), Elizabeth(Sept 1890), Clara Virginia Kelley(my great grandmother)(26 Nov 1892), Alda M.(13 Apr 1897) and Edna A.(Jun 1, 1898). Nor much is known on Frisby's family, except for my great grandmother. Clara married Edwin Bennet Alsip. Frisby's children were born in MD and they had moved to West Virginia for a while...Berkeley County, Falling Waters. They did move back to Washington County, MD before Frisby's wife died in 1907. Edward married Anna Mary Arendt and they had 8 children: George E.(19 Nov 1882), Tillie R.(2 Aug 1884), CharlesW.(Aug 15, 1886), Edward Ross(2 Oct 1888), John(1 Nov 1890), Fred(Dec 6, 1892), William(1894-23 Jun 1898), Howard L. Kelley(11 Dec 1896) Except for the first two children, the rest of Edward's children were born in Warren County, IL. George and Tillie were born in PA. So there you go...If anyone can help me in finding out more information, please I would appreciate whatever info there is. I can't find Frisby after the 1900 census....his wife died in 1907 and in the 1910 census, it is only shown his children who live in other locations....and if anyone has any info on Edward, appreciate the help..... Stephanie Grohol Stephanie Grohol

To the list, Thank all of you who responded to my query. There were some good leads and I will check them all out. Bea

Russ, thank you. I have tried all of those trying to find it. As I said previously, the original land grant in 1749 said Augusta Co. and a will dated 1754 stated it was in Frederick Co. Due to county line changes, I thought perhaps it was in Berkeley Co. The Shenandoah begins in Berkeley Co at the Potomoc River and flows south as you pointed out. There were a number of Burk(s) in Berkeley Co and I thought perhaps it was named after one of them. Thanks again. Bea

Hello list, I am seeking the location of "Burks Branch". My ancestor received a land grant from Lord Fairfax in 1749, described as South River of Shenandoah and head of Burks Branch in Augusta Co., VA. Later, in 1754, it was described as being in Frederick Co, VA. In 1772, Berkeley Co was carved from Frederick Co., VA. I believe this section of the Shenandoah lies in present day Berkeley Co. Can anyone confirm this and give me some idea as to where Burks Branch located? TIA Bea

In a message dated 11/27/02 8:01:32 AM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: > Sam Fetter 1777-1848 was buried in Berkeley County, his obit stating he was > well respected. This very likely means he died with property and or > money, how can I find out what his business was? His wife Catherine > Katterman died 10 years later and is buried in Greenhill Cemetery. It > didn't exist in 1848. Any cemetery census/index for the area that can be > checked for his grave? His son John was married to Susanna Keesecker, > maybe they may be close in whichever cemetery. 2 daughters, Susannah > married to Hiram Jones and Catherine married to Jacob Staub. No > information on their outcomes. > This name line comes out of Lancaster County, PA, Katterman from Berks > County, PA > > Thanks, > Dan Fetters > > HI Dan, Per CEMETERIES OF MARTINSBURG & BERKELEY CO., WV: Fetter, Catherine Jan 12 1781-Nov 8 1858; wife of Samuel Fetter, Sarah Nov 8 1808-Aug 8, 1893. These are the only Fetter family listed. Happy Thanksgiving. Terri

Sam Fetter 1777-1848 was buried in Berkeley County, his obit stating he was well respected. This very likely means he died with property and or money, how can I find out what his business was? His wife Catherine Katterman died 10 years later and is buried in Greenhill Cemetery. It didn't exist in 1848. Any cemetery census/index for the area that can be checked for his grave? His son John was married to Susanna Keesecker, maybe they may be close in whichever cemetery. 2 daughters, Susannah married to Hiram Jones and Catherine married to Jacob Staub. No information on their outcomes. This name line comes out of Lancaster County, PA, Katterman from Berks County, PA Thanks, Dan Fetters Surnames (Becky:) BURGESS, GRANSDEN, HAVENS, RAY, BISSETT, MCCUMBER /MACOMBER, MILLER, POTTER, SMITH, TOMLIN, YOUNG (Dan:) CARGILL, CARR, DRAGOO, ERNST, FETTER (s), FEATHER, FORTMAN, KATTERMAN, KEESECKER, KNIGHT, LAYMAN, MONROE, MILLER, ST. JOHN, SLICE-SLISE, SWITZER, VETTER, WILLIAMS, Zeller NS>NB>MI PA, OH, MD>WV>IN>MI GERMANY, FRANCE, SWITZERLAND, IRELAND, SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, CANADA, AMERICA

No. Never thought of that spelling. CD has no ZELLERS and no ZEILERS, however there are quite a few ZELLER, several counties. ZELLER wills sent to you backchannel.