1.3.2.7 Nancy Mary Kessler Dooley (1810-abt 1880)
Nancy Mary Kessler (1810-after 1880) was the seventh and final child of John (1772-1850) and Nancy Waskey Kesler (1779-1852) and granddaughter of Andreas Keslar (Kesler or Kessler). She was born in 1810 in Botetourt County, Virginia.
Her father had been born on the Kessler farm in Jefferson, Frederick County, Maryland. When her grandfather, Andreas Kessler (Keslar/Kesler) and several of her aunts and uncles decided to depart for western Pennsylvania in 1794, her father, John, remained on the family homestead in Frederick County rather than leave for the frontier with his father, possibly because of his romantic relationship with neighbor Nancy Waskey, whose family lived on an adjoining farm.
Three of Nancy’s siblings were born in Maryland, before the family relocated to Virginia. The remaining sisters and brother, Virginia, Margaret Agnes, John, Sophia and Nancy were born in Virginia.
On March 21, 1805 John Kessler of Rockbridge County, Virginia purchased 156 acres located in Botetourt County, Virginia. The acreage was on Catawba Creek, a tributary of the James River. In 1808 an additional 73 acres was purchased.
Nancy was born in 1810. She married Stephen Dooley on 8 Oct 1832 when she was 22 years old. By 1850 Nancy and Stephen had moved from the Fincastle area of Botetourt County to Roanoke, the nearest “big city”, where Stephen worked as a laborer. By 1860 Stephen was farming at a location southwest of Roanoke, in the Alleghany Springs area. They were still living on a farm in this area according to the 1870 US Census, after living through the Civil War years. In the 1880 US Census both are listed at age 70.
Alleghany County During the Civil War
Alleghany County had experienced rapid population growth before the Civil War, nearly doubling in the 1850s, but it was halved during the war. In the first year more soldiers enlisted from Alleghany County than there were voters, most serving in the famous Stonewall Brigade. The most noted of the local commands was Carpenter’s Battery that fought at the battles of Manassas, 2nd Manassas, Winchester, Gettysburg, and Bloody Angle. Most were killed in battle and the few surviving soldiers surrendered with Robert E. Lee at the Appomattox Courthouse.
The County’s population did not get back to where it was before the war until 1890. There was almost no military action in Alleghany County.
The Alleghany Highlands had a strong agricultural history, producing cattle, corn, oats, wheat, orchards, garden products, and dairy. Cattle were a major industry for early residents due to the number of tanneries in the area. Dairy farms were also populous, producing milk in bulk. After the Civil War, Alleghany County began to grow. The earlier iron industry that was established prior to the war began to flourish.
The Dooley Family
Stephen and Nancy had six daughters and two sons:
- 1.3.2.7.1 Margaret Dooley (b: 1834-d: unknown)
- 1.3.2.7.2 Martha Jane Dooley Graham (b: 1836-d: 5 May 1873 Montgomery Va.)
- 1.3.2.7.3 Isabella Dooley Huff (b: 31 Feb 1836-d: Feb 13, 1926 Montgomery County, Va)
- 1.3.2.7.4 Mary M. Dooley Austin Jewell (b: 1840-d: 1933)
- 1.3.2.7.5 Elizabeth Ann Dooley Showalter (b: 1842-d: unknown)
- 1.3.2.7.6 William M. Dooley (b: 1844-d: Likely died in Civil War 1860s)
- 1.3.2.7.7 Nancy Ellen Dooley Stewart (b: 1 Jul 1851-d: 13 Jul 1885)
- 1.3.2.7.8 Elder Lee Dooley (b: 1852-d: unknown)
US Census details:
- 1820(1): 1820, Botetourt, Va. (p. 30/57 dd mmm) John, son of Andreas.
3 males 16-25 = Samuel (1795), Christopher (1802) & John (1804)
1 male 45+ = John (Johannes 1772)
2 females 10-15 = Nancy Mary (1810) & Sophia (1806)
1 female 16-25 = Mary Polly (1794)
1 female 45+ = Nancy Waskey Kesler (1779?) - 1830: 1830, Botetourt, Va. (p. 77/146 dd mmm) John, son of Andreas.
1 male 50-59 = John (Johannes 1772 age 58)
1 female 20-29 = Likely Nancy Mary (1810, age 20) who marries a Dooley in 1832
1 female 50-59 = Nancy Waskey Kesler (1779, age 51) - 1840: Botetourt County, Va. (11/100) Stephen Dooley 1 male under 15-29, 1 male 30-39; 3 females <5, 1 female 5-9, 1 female 30-39
- 1850: 1850, Roanoke, Va., District 55 (p. 51/52 30 Jul) Stephen Dooley 45 (laborer), Nancy 43, Margaret 16, Martha J. 14, Isabella 13, Mary 11, Eliza Ann 9, William M. 7
- 1860: Alleghany Springs, Montgomery County, Va. (25/191 28 Jun) Stephen Dooly 57 (farmer), Nancy 50, Mary 20, Ann E. 18, William M. 16 (laborer), Elder Lee 8.
- 1870: Alleghany Springs, Montgomery County, Va. (29/64 17 Sep) Stephen Dooly 62 (farmer), Nancy 63, Nancy E. 19
- 1880: Alleghany Springs, Montgomery County, Va. (19/35 14 Jun) Stephen Dooly 70 (farmer), Nancy 70