User Home Page Genealogy Report: Descendants of Mathias Kessinger 1st
Descendants of Mathias Kessinger 1st
1.MATHIAS KESSINGER21ST(ANDREAS1KESSINGER) was born Abt. 1731 in Germany, and died Abt. 1795 in Greenbrier County Va (Now WVA).He married JUDITH WILSON 1756 in Pennsylvania.
Notes for MATHIAS KESSINGER 1ST:
Mathias Kessinger,according to various family researchers,immigrated to the American colonies with his parents Andreas and Sussanna (Fischerin) Kessinger on the ship "William" in 1737.He was only 6 years old and made the trip across the Atlantic with three other siblings.I have yet to find a primary source that ties Mathias to Andreas, the German immigrant whose name appears on the passenger listing of the Ship William (1737).We do, however, know that Mathias was of close relation to Andreas because he was named the executor of Andreas' estate in 1760, Lancaster County, Pa.Solomon's baptism record is found in Lancaster County, Pa.It is also important to notice that Mathias' oldest son was named Andrew(English version of Andreas).It was common for Germans to name a son after there father.Thus, it was common for various grandchildren in the same generation to have the same name.Mathias' son Andrew named one ofhis sons Mathias(1780), after his father.Often there was a pattern in which Germans named there children after ancestors.The first record that I have found of Mathias 1st is an Augusta County, Vadeed record in 1769.A transcript of the record follows:James Scott and Easter to Patrick Corrigon, 20 pounds sterling, 24 acres on the Jackson River. ( The Jackson River runs through present day Bath and Allegheny Counties). Delivered Mathias Kessinger July 1769.I am uncertain of what the meaning of the transaction is and whether the above statement represents a purchase or sale.Mathias wouldmove to the Greenbrier River Valley circa 1770.By moving to the Greenbrier river valley, Mathias was venturing into an area which had only 6 years prior been the site of Chief Cornstalk and the Shawnee's massacre of the European populace west of the Alleghenies.In 1774,Virginia's Governor Dunmore commissioned General Andrew Lewis to assemble 1200 volunteers from Augusta , Botetourt and Fincastle to strike against the Shawnee.(Gen. Lewis was also an executive of one of the land companies and helped survey the land adjacent to the Greenbriar River).Mathias and his son Andrew(Mathias is 43 years old and his son Andrew was 18), are listed on the roster of Capt. John Lewis' company.The volunteer militia men would fight the Shawnee at the Battle of Point Pleasant.The battle was reported to be a violent clash in which the frontiersmen gained an upperhand.The result was a treaty that made the Ohio River the temporary boundary between the white and red man.Indian raids continued through much of the latter 1780s but never reached the intensity as in years prior.In order to encourage settlement, land companies were established that offered settlers tracts of landonce they were cleared and improved.In March of 1774, Mathias is listed on a survey of land sold or granted by the Loyal Land Company.Mathias would receive 100 acres on the Greenbrier River. In 1780, the local commissioners of the court granted him 350 acres along the Greenbrier River along the mouth of Wolf Creek.in present day Monroe County, WVA and Giles County, VA.Court records reveal that Mathias was involved in several land disputes,served as a juror on several occasions and defended his son Andrew in a assault/battery trespassing charge.After his death, his heirs inherited an estate of $869 with 550 acres of land on the Greenbrier river.(Greenbriar County, WVA will book 1 pg. 385)
More About MATHIAS KESSINGER 1ST:
Military service: 1774, Served in John Lewis' Company, Augusta Volunteers during Lord Dunmore's Indian War.
Will: October 12, 1795, Greenbrier County Va (Now WVA),Will Book 1, Page 113
Notes for JUDITH WILSON:
Judith's maiden name comes from secondary sources.I have not been able to verify her maiden name.
Children of MATHIAS 1ST and JUDITH WILSON are:
| 2. | i. | MICHAEL3 KESSINGER, b. 1767, Pennslyvania, according to 1850, Monroe County Census; d. Abt. 1855, Monroe County, WVA. | |
| 3. | ii. | ANDREW KESSINGER, b. December 25, 1756, Lancaster County, Pennslyvania. | |
| iii. | MATHIAS II KESSINGER, m. NUTTY BALLARD, May 18, 1803. |
| Notes for MATHIAS II KESSINGER: Moved to Montgomery County Virginia,Mathias II, along with his brother Andrew Kessinger moved to the Giles County and Blacksburg Area. Ref:"A history of Monroe County"Oren F. Morton.McClure Compay Staunton, Virginia. |
| iv. | SUSSANNA KESSINGER, b. 1759; m. THOMAS FULTON, August 22, 1782, Greenbrier County, Virginia. | ||
| v. | ELIZABETH KESSINGER, b. 1770; m. EZEKIAL PARSONS, May 07, 1785, Greenbrier County, Virginia. | ||
| vi. | ANNIE KESSINGER, m. JAMES MADDY, July 10, 1791, Greenbrier County, Virginia. | ||
| vii. | CATHERINE KESSINGER, b. 1761; m. GORDON GRIFFITH, January 02, 1781, Greenbrier County, Virginia. | ||
| viii. | JACOB KESSINGER, b. May 06, 1763; m. SARAH FULTON, July 29, 1783, Greenbrier County, Virginia. |