I am missing info on George C. Keesecker of Berkeley Co. He dropped out of my database between the 1860 census and his families' migration to Logan Co., Ohio by 1870. His wife was listed as a widow in the Ohio census (1870 or 1880, I believe) My understanding is that there is a gap in WV records during part of the 1860s. Any suggestions on how to proceed would be welcome. A Geo Keesecker was listed in the VA Militia, Confederate side, but I don't have any details. Russ Sarver [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: "TIMOTHY SNYDER" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2003 1:48 PM Subject: Re: [WVBERKEL] War Between the States > On May 23, 1861 the citizens of Virginia voted in a referendum to approved or disapprove the decision of the state's convention to secede from the Union. The vote was not about creating a separate state. While Virginia as a whole voted overwhelmingly to secede, Berkeley and Morgan counties voted to remain in the Union. In Berkeley, the vote against secession was over 800 more than those who favored secession. The actual number of citizens who supported the Union in Berkeley may have been larger. On May 19 Col. Thomas J. Jackson (later called "Stonewall"), who commanded at Harpers Ferry, sent a regiment of troops from the Ferry to Berkeley Co. to "check the disloyalty there." (his words, concerning disloyalty to the Confederacy). Later that year a soldier from the Stonewall Brigade referred to Martinsburg as an "abolition hole." > Evidence shows that Berkeley was pro-Union, although the minority of citizens who supported the South was large, perhaps as high as 40-45%. > Tim > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Deb Ludwig > To: [email protected] > Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2003 7:52 AM > Subject: [WVBERKEL] War Between the States > > > Berkeley County was part of the state of Virginia prior to June 1863. To answer the question, "Was it a pro Union or pro Southern Confederacy state," it is important to consider that its delegates to the 1861Seccesion Convention in Richmond voted unanimously to secede, the majority of its men fought for the Southern Confederacy and, after the Civil War, the people joined in a law suit, which went to the Supreme Court for final decision, to return Berkeley and Jefferson Counties to Virginia. > > With respect to the long-held myth that the people of the state voted to have western Virginia separated from Virginia and made into a new state, the polls weren't even opened for a vote in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties. It was considered too dangerous for "Union"agents to appear in the area. > > It is also important to note that the state of West Virginia was created by Executive Order of the President, not a vote of the people. The legitimacy of the Executive order raised sufficient questions that the United States Congress later voted to create the state. That voted raised sufficient questions that the question was taken to the Supreme Court. Like the issue of returning Berkeley and Jefferson Counties to the state of Virginia, in the post war atmosphere of bitterness, the Supreme Court made its decision in favor of "Union" ADVOCATES. The will of the citizens of Berkeley County was never considered in the decision. > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.551 / Virus Database: 343 - Release Date: 12/11/03 > > > ==== WVBERKEL Mailing List ==== > BERKELEY County List Administrator: > <=<[email protected]>=> > > ______________________________