Hello Janet I do recognize the names John and Christian Kesler of Rowan Co., NC. They were brothers and sons of John Kesler who died there in 1807. There was also another brother George Kesler and a sister whose name is unknown. As far as I know they don't connect to my WV Kessler/Kesler/Keslar's but you never know. I am not working this line but have been contacted by several people who are and I am passing their names along to you as well as copying this letter to them. Perhaps you can help each other. The first is Sid Druen druens@columbus.rr.com the next is Dave Benfield dbenfield@skybest.com and lastly Maureen Tinnesz ptinnesz@bellsouth.net I would be very interested in knowing how you connect to this line and also copied the exchanges you might have so that I can keep up on this branch. Karen Kessler Cottrill In a message dated 8/4/06 11:00:54 PM, WVRALEIG-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: << Date: Thu, 03 Aug 2006 22:47:25 -0400 From: Janet Lane <jlane12@carolina.rr.com> To: WVRALEIG-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [WVRALEIG] THE WEST VIRGINIA KESSLER/KESLER FAMILIES 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. > > >>