Christian and John KESLER are both listed as head of household in Rowan County, NC in the 1820 census. I don't know anything more - since I haven't researched this line very much yet. I am unsure of their ages since the 1820 census for this area was written in a book with no headings as far as I can tell. Do you recognize the names? Janet Goodman Lane rhiow@carolina.rr.com KesslerWV@aol.com wrote: > There were four different Kessler/Kesler lines, that I am aware of, that came > from the West Virginia area. The first three of these lines came out of > Virginia and the last most likely from the PA or MD area. I refer to each group as: > > #1- The descendants of Christopher and Sarah Greenwood Butt Kessler- We find > them in WV as early as 1859. These Kessler's most always spelled their name > with the double "s", although some old records spell it with one. They were > located around Nicholas & Greenbrier Co. Later into Webster, Lewis, Harrison and > Cabell Co.'s > > #2- The descendants of Peter and Catherine Schietz/Sheets Kesler- We find > them in WV as early as 1802. These Kesler's spelled their name with both one and > two "s" depending on the individual family, and were located in Greenbrier, > Fayette & Nicholas Co. There are at least seven major researchers working on > this line at the present time. I have made several of these researchers aware of > the other and they are now working jointly. > > #3- The descendants of Johannes and Eva Dorothea Leman Kesler- We find them > in WV circa 1866 and maybe earlier. These Kessler's also spelled their name > with both one and two "s" depending on the individual family, and were located in > the Summers, Monroe and Mercer Co. area. Later into Kanawha and Pocahontas > Co. This family has been well research and documented in several volumes of > books entitled "Out from the Blue Ridge", by Morris S. Kessler and Rev. A. Dean > Kesler. > > #4-The Eastern Panhandle Kessler Family- Most of these Kessler's use two "s". > They are referred to as the Eastern panhandle group because they are from the > Berkeley and Jefferson Co. area located in the Eastern panhandle of WV. We > find them there as early as 1837. Little is know of this group where they came > from or where they went. I have been able to lean a little more about this > line with the recent death records added to the WV Cultural Society web site. > > There was some belief that family #1 & #2 were related, but recent DNA > testing for genealogical purposes has ruled that out, even though they lived in the > same geographical area of WV. > > One important fact that you have to remember is that West Virginia did not > become a state until it separated from Virginia in June of 1863. The state of > Virginia had many Kessler/Kesler families and I get inquiries on a regular > basis about many Kessler/Kesler's from Botetourt, Rockbridge, Rockingham, and > surrounding Virginia counties. I don't have much information about these families, > but have connected others who are working on the same lines. I do however, > have and am always looking for more, information of those Kessler/Kesler > families in WEST Virginia. > > Are your Kessler/Kesler's from WEST Virginia? Do you know which group you are > from? If not, just tell me back as far as you know and I will probably be > able to help you find your ancestors. I look forward to hearing from you. > Karen Kessler Cottrill > email KesslerWV@aol.com > SURNAMES- > KESSLER/KESLER- MANSFIELD/MANSPILE- PECK/BECK -MCCLUNG -BUTT/BUTTS- > AMMEN-GREGORY-SHUTTLESWORTH- HAMRICK-PAYNE-COGER/COGAR/KOGER-MOLLOHAN- > GIVEN-WASKEY-HIME-BORDEN-GROVER-WINTER-DIERDOFF/TIERDORF-CAVENDISH-BOLLAR-DODDRILL- > BICKEL-COTTRILL and dozens of others > > 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. > >