Ch 10 – 1.3.6 Jacob Kessler (1782-1817)

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Important Note: There is some confusion regarding Jacob because there was more than one Jacob Kessler living in Frederick County in the same timeframe. Jacob Kessler born on 27 Jun 1784 was a tailor and possible that he is not related to our family. This Jacob lived in Frederick Town, not the community of Jefferson. It is possible that this Jacob’s father was the brother of Andreas, 1.1 Johannes ‘John’ Kessler (b: 12 Jan 1742 Winden, Germany d: 21 Feb 1826 Frederick, Maryland). It is also possible that he was not related in any way. The following children of Jacob are also likely not related:

• • William Henry Kessler (1813-1849)
  • Ann Catherine (1817-1880)
  • John Valentine Kessler (1820-1900)
  • Matilda Kessler (1822-1843)
  • George Everett Kessler (1825-1907)

Care should be taken not to mix the names listed above with those listed below.

Jacob was born 25 June 1782 in Jefferson, Maryland and died in April 1817 in Frederick County, Maryland. Jacob was christened June 18, 1785, at the Middletown, Evangelical Lutheran, or Lutheran Congregation of Zion Church, Frederick, Maryland. Parents listed as Andreas Kessler and Maria.

Jacob was one of Andreas’ sons who did not accompany his father to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in 1794. He remained with his then 24-year-old brother Andrew (1770-1860) on the family farm in Jefferson Township, Frederick County, Maryland.

Jacob married Rachel Goodman (14 Feb 1777-4 Apr 1856) on 10 Nov 1806, and they had four children, with the second child, Susan dying at childbirth. A third daughter, Rebecca Ann, was born in 1812 and never married.

Jacob’s father Andreas owned a lot in what is now Washington, DC. Jacob obtained that lot in Washington, DC by paying the back taxes that accumulated on it when Andrew died in 1809.

It is possible that Jacob fought in the War of 1812. There is a Jacob Kessler on the muster rolls of Capt. John Brengle’s company of volunteers, raised in 4 hours by marching through the streets of Frederick, August 25, 1814. This was the day after the battle of Bladensburg when the news of that battle was received. Rev. David F. Schaeffer rode by the side of Capt. Brengle through Fredericktown, encouraging men to volunteer. (Western Maryland History, Vol. 1, p. 193).

In the 1790 US Census, he was likely listed as one of Andreas’ dependents. Taken in April 1791 (p 34 of 61, 221-222), which is likely the entry for Andreas before he left for Westmoreland County, Pa in 1794, there is the following entry:

• 5 males under age 15 (Andreas would have had seven if they all resided in his household: 1.3.4 George b: 1776, 1.3.5 Peter b: 1778, 1.3.6 Jacob b: 1782, William b: 1784, 1.3.8 Samuel b: 1786, 1.3.9 Thomas b: 1788, and 1.3.10 David b: Mar 1790)
• 3 males age 15 & older (1.3 Andreas b: 1746, Andrew b: 1770, 1.3.2 Johannes ‘John’ b: 1772)
• 3 females (1.3a Mary Rehman, 1.3.3 Mary ‘Showe’ b: 1774 and one other)
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Records could not be located for Jacob and his family in Frederick County, Maryland for the year 1800.

In the 1810 U.S. Census he was listed as living in Frederick County, Md. (p. 74/105) J. Kepler (Kessler), 2 males 16-25, 1 female <10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 16-25 Note: Living next door to Andrew Kessler

Jacob and Rachel had the following children.

• 1.3.6.1 Mary Kessler Kramer Thomas (b: 13 Mar 1809-d: 2 Jul 1884 Frederick County, Md.) married George Henry Thomas (b: 12 Mar 1782-d: 22 Jun 1855) on 20 Nov 1833 and they had one daughter, Rebecca, who married William Kemp. The family and descendants resided in Washington County, Maryland.
  • 1.3.6.1.1 Rebecca Thomas Kemp (b: 22 Apr 1828-d: 31 Jan 1918 Washington County, Md.) married William H. C. Kemp (b: 10 May 1823-d: 6 May 1889 Washington County, Md). Rebecca and William had three children:
    • 1.3.6.1.1.1 David Clayton Kemp (b: 23 Jul 1849-d: 27 Sep 1913 Washington County, Md.)
    • 1.3.6.1.1.2 George M. Kemp (b: 8 Jan 1852-d:12 May 1927 Washington County, Md.)
    • 1.3.6.1.1.3 John William Kemp (b: Oct 1854-d: 3 Jan 1939 Baltimore City, Md.)
• 1.3.6.2 Susan Kessler (1810-died at birth). It is possible that this death led to a split between Jacob and Rachel.
• 1.3.6.3 Rebecca Ann Kessler (b: 12 Mar 1812-d: 12 Jun 1880 Frederick County, Md.) resided in Frederick County where she died at age 68. She never married.
• 1.3.6.4 Lloyd Alexander Kessler (b: 17 Mar 1814-d: 12 May 1902 Frederick County, Md)

The Last Will and Testament of Jacob Kessler (recorded Kesler) SOURCE: FamilySearch.org Maryland, Register of Wills Books, 1629-1999 Frederick Wills 1816-1822 vol 2 Images 45-46 (Pages 71-72)

(Page 71) In the name of God Amen. I Jacob Kesler of Frederick County in the State of Maryland being sick and weak in body but of sound disposing mind, memory, and understanding, considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me hence, do therefore make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following

– First and principally, I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God, and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executrix hereinafter named, and after my debts and funeral charges are paid, I devise and bequeath as follows –

Item. To my beloved wife Rachel Kesler I give all of my estate during her single life or widowhood to be occupied and possessed by her for the time aforesaid, for the maintenance of herself and my children by her, except that part which I have herein after directed to be sold for the payments of my debts, and at her death or marriage, I direct the same to be sold under the direction of the Orphan’s Court of said County, and the net proceeds thereof to be equally divided among my children aforesaid or the survivors of them, share and share alike

– And for the purpose of making sale and distribution of my said Estate I hereby direct, and authorize, that the Judges of the said Orphan’s Court, or any one of them may appoint a trustee in the same manner and under the same restrictions and penalties, for their faithful performance as administrators are by them appointed, to which said trustee I hereby give full power and authority to convey by sufficient deed all or any part of my real property to the purchaser thereof so sold by him by the purpose aforesaid.

And whereas my father Andrew Kesler formerly of the County of Frederick in the State of Maryland at his death held a legal title to a certain Lot of ground in the City of Washington within the district of Columbia distinguished by 12 on square 79 which said Lot was sold by the Collector under the authority of an act of the corporation of the said City for arrearages of taxes due thereon. And whereas I became the purchaser at the public sale thereof, and as I am informed by the provisions of the said act the said Lot is my property on my complying with the terms of the said sale, which I hereby authorize and direct my executrix hereinafter appointed to do

– And I hereby authorize my said Executrix to sell to the best advantage in her power (Page 72) all my right, title, interest, claim and demand of in and to the said Lot and apply the net proceeds thereof to the payment of my debts, and do hereby authorize my said Executrix to give and execute in a legal manner any Instrument of writing that may be necessary for the sale and conveyance of the same to the purchaser thereof. –

And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my wife Rachel Kesler to be the sole Executrix of this my last will and testament, revoking and annulling all former wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this and none other, to be my last will and testament.

– In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this eleventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen

– his Jacob Kesler “seal” mark Signed sealed published and declared by Jacob Kesler the above-named Testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us, who at his request, in his presence, and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto – Augustus Larned, Jacob Thomas jr., John Thomas Frederick County, to wit, On the 14th day of April 1817, then came Rachel Kesler and made oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God that the foregoing Instrument of writing is the true whole will and testament of Jacob Kesler late of Frederick County deceased, that hath come to her hands and possession, and that she doth not know of any other.

– Sworn before Henry Steiner Reg. Frederick County, to wit, On the 14th day of April 1817, then came Augustus Larned and John Thomas two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing last will and testament of Jacob Kesler late of Frederick County deceased and made oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God that they did see the Testator therein named sign and seal the will, that they heard him publish, pronounce and declare the same to be his last will and testament, that at the time of his so doing, he was, to the best of their apprehensions of a sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, and that they together with Jacob Thomas jr., the other subscribing witness, respectfully subscribed their names as witnesses to this will in the presence and at the request of the Testator, and all in the presence of each other

– Sworn before Henry Steiner Reg. 8~Sides.