Kesterson Kollections Newsletter Vol. 31

KESTERSON KOLLECTIONS
NEWSLETTER
Volume 31 May 1, 2002

Christine Walters

Happy Springtime to everyone! Wow - its been a busy couple of months for me. Most of you know that my Computer decided to get sick and dumped all my files and I lost a lot. Thanks to all of you who sent me back up information etc., I've been able to get most of it back. Some is gone forever I fear. BUT - I have survived. I'm still going through old disks and mail trying to find out what I've missed. Some of these are priceless - You might want to adopt a few !
My family coat of arms ties at the back... is that normal?
My ancestors are all in the "Witness Proctection Program"
A family reunion is an effective form of "Birth Control"
After 30 days - unclaimed relatives will be adopted
That's the problem with the gene pool - NO LIFEGUARDS!
Genealogy - Always willing to share my own ignorance
I researched my family tree - My great grandparents were never born!!

Robin Kesterson Harned a descendant of Sylvester Welch Kesterson VA to IA is planning a trip to VA. Sylvester was a son of John Kesterson who died in Jefferson Co OH in 1824 and the father of Sylvester,Benjamin, Hazzard and Willis Kesterson. She needs to know the best places to go to for finding information on these people. John was in Rockbridge VA when he married in 1783 but prior to that he bought land there in 1780. Then he had several land transactions in Amherst VA between 1784 - 1799 and he is on the Augusta VA tax list in 1787. Where does one go to research in these Counties? Northumberland Co VA where it all started is on the Coast - the Town is Heathsville which is the County Seat. Is it better to go to the individual Counties or to spend the most time in the Virginia Archives. Where exactly are the Virginia Archives. Please give Robin some advice on what is the best course of action. Shirley Smith made this trip some years back so Shirley if your out there - what words of wisdom do you offer?

Here are some "new" marriages that might help some of you. I got these from a contact who got them off of a LDS Marriage CD. You will have to verify them yourself if you find any that belong to you. There are some people here I have not heard of before. They have an "?".. So let me know if you know who they are and who they are connect to..

Helen M KESTERSON to John G WATERMAN 30 Mar 1873 Washington OH
Hester KESTERSON to Hosea B JOHNSON 24 FEb 1874 Washington OH
Jeanette KESTERSON to Charles E AMES 18 Sep 1878 Washington OH
Sylvester KESTERSON to Mary WHEELER 20 Feb 1878 Washington OH
Willis KESTERSON to Elizabeth C WILHELM 9 Oct 1867 Washington OH
The above were children of Wm Franklin & Melissa (Treadway) Kesterson of Wood Co WV

James Mitchell COLEVILLE - Nettie KESTERSON 1 Dec 1900 Wood WV
Daughter of Willis & Elizabeth Wilhelm Kesterson

Mamie M KESTERSON (21) to J H SKIDMORE (29) 30 Oct 1902 Howard AR
Daughter of Charles Pinkney & Sarah Caroline (Forester) Kesterson

Bailey J KESTERSON (33) to Polley L FORTSON (32) 18 Jul 1860 Pulaski AR
* I think he was the s/o George Jr & Malinda Colley Kesterson of Caldwell KY ?

John KESTERSON (27) to Rosetta COOPER (16) 1 Feb 1881 Clay IL
Son of William & Anna (Stroud) Kesterson of Greene TN

I need help on the following - who do they belong to?
Charles M KESTERSON to Mary E PURDY/PURDKEY 20 Oct 1898 Jefferson TN
George KESTERSON to Margaret SMITH 14 May 1818 Baltimore MD
Ida KESTERSON (17) to J T CURRY (22) 8 Dec 1893 Quachita AR
John KESTERSON to M H LAUIS 3 Dec 1866 Meigs TN
John T KESTERSON to Dora McLAMORE 29 May 1884 Davidson TN
Joseph KESTERSON to Elizabeth Minerva CONNER 11 Jun 1865 Cape Girardeau MO

Everybody loves a mystery right? Well we have another one to worry over.. Cornelia A KESTERSON was born about 1839 in TN (Possibly Cocke Co TN). Who was she the daughter of? She turns up in Madison Co NC on the 1860 Census in the home of R F McKee as Age 21 and an Adaline Smith age 18 is also listed in this home. I haven't seen the the details of this census so if anyone can find it for me it might help. The McKee's could have been relatives or the girls might have just been domestics, working in the household. Cornelia married Jesse DUCKETT 6 Dec 1860 in Madison Co NC (Across the county line from Cocke Co TN). Strangely enough, Jesse is found to have died in Cocke Co TN in 1889 and is buried there. We don't know the reason why Jesse is in Cocke TN when he died and I don't know if Cornelia was with him in TN or not. She died many years later in NC where they are thought to have lived all the while. Jesse and Cornelia lived around Buncombe NC during their married life. So the question is - What family of Kestersons does Cornelia A belong to ?? Kevin Edwards is a descendant of this line, and would like our help. His complete line is listed below under New Members.

This is mainly for the many KESTERSON/COURTNEY descendants we have - and others that might follow this line. Its recently been discovered a rather big mistake has occurred. We have had TWO William Courtney's mixed up for too many years to remember.. Here is what we think it "correct". I'm not trying to rewrite family genealogy here - just reporting whats been learned.

Wm Courtney who was married to Martha (Margaret) E Kesterson had no children of his own. He was the son of Marshall Courtney/Catherine McBroom. His birth is hard to determine but according to census reports - it could be 1817 to 1828.

Wm Courtney b about 1817 who married Mary Haun 21 Oct 1841 Greene TN was the son of James Courtney and Elizabeth McBroom and he had several children.

For some reason we had these two Williams reversed and its gone on for years. Many of the Courtney Researchers have contacted me - and all agree that this is the Correct way it goes. Some may disagree but it makes much more sense when it goes this way. There are wills in the hands of some who verify this. This all came about over the fact that Charles Kesterson was the nephew of William Courtney and Martha Kesterson and was in fact practically raised by William. For this reason we now believe that Martha Kesterson was a sister of John and James Kesterson who lived in Johnson Co MO.. John married Sarah Elizabeth Conway. James married Caroline Wester and they were the parents of Charles who grew up in William Courtneys household. If you need further explanation or convincing email me. Tis true -- they were reversed...

Found the Will of L C Kesterson, widow of Thomas Kesterson. This added fuel to the mysterious 1880 Census which I and John Rankin found, that had an L C Kesterson (Widow) and several children listed with no names just initials.. FINALLY - the secret is uncovered and why we didn't see it sooner is a mystery to me. "Especially" those of us who were around in the EARLY stages of the Kesterson Research. L C Kesterson is none other than Louisa Caroline HURLEY (30 Jan 1830 - 3 Mar 1906) d/o Zachariah & Sarah Ann (Courtney) Hurley - Sarah Courtney was the d/o James & Sarah (Kesterson) Courtney d/o William and Ann Kesterson of Greene TN.. Louisa married John Thomas Kesterson on 1 Dec 1853 in Greene Co TN. He was born 23 Apr 1828, died 16 Feb 1874 the s/o Thomas & Nancy Carol (Jackson) Kesterson who was the s/o John Kesterson Sr. s/o William & Ann. John Kesterson Sr & Sarah Kesterson were brother/sister as you can see, so Louisa and John Thomas were like 2nd cousins. The "Thomas" was what threw me for a long time because I couldn't find a Thomas to fit the picture. Until, I realized she was the widow of "John Thomas" who obviously went by the name of Thomas. If anyone wants a copy of this Will, just let me know and I'll mail it to you. I have transcribed it to the best of my ability and its on the Website under "Kesterson Wills". In the Will, Louisa names all her children except one, and the girls had married names which I didn't have before. The children were Sarah Anne Kesterson who married a HOLT, Emaline Kesterson (looked like Elizabeth in the Will) married John D STUART which we did have, Jane (believe this is Catherine Jane) married a KIRK, Martha F married a KIRK, Nancy L married a JONES. The sons were J T Z (or J T L) in the Will and the Census - but regardless of the initials, this was John Thomas who married Nancy RIDENOUR, which we already knew, and James A who I believe is the one who married Susan F MASONER.. The only daughter not mentioned in the will, but who was on the Census as P L D would be Phoebe the youngest child. Phoebe probably died between 1880 - 1902 would be the only reason I can see she wouldn't be mentioned in the will. Louisa was careful to leave all her children at least one dollar. So now we have a few more pieces to fill in on the puzzle. This one only took about 30 years to find and neither Lari nor I knew what we had for the longest.

And speaking of mysteries - another one needs investigating! Penelope Kesterson was born about 1833 in Claiborne TN. She married John Pellom around 1855 in Hamilton TN. Right away you think -- she must belong to the Abraham Kesterson family who moved from Claiborne Co to Hamilton TN before/around 1840. The reason I say this is because he is on the 1840 Census in Claiborne Co but there is a Deed Transaction between him and William Kesterson in 1838 in Hamilton Co who might have been his brother. So Abraham was between Claiborne/Hamilton around 1840. On this Census (1840) there is an additional female who nobody has identified before now! In 1850 Penelope is not on the family census because she is living with the Slopshier Family as a domestic. On the 1860 she is married and listed with her husband. So we have no Cenus material to tie Penelope to the Abraham Kesterson family but there is an opening for her in 1840!!

Earl Ikemeyer sends this recollection: "The oldest son John was 11 years old (1868) when his uncle put him on a boat and sent him to St. Louis. He was left on the dock and it was a sad site to see him carrying his baby sister in his arms and three sisters beside him. Their father was taking his farm product to town when his horse and wagon turned over, killing him. It was said he was a wealthy man. Their mother had died in childbirth. The uncle sold the farm and gambled away the money. Its believed a relative lived in St. Louis and that's why John and his sister's were sent to St. Louis.

So its apparent to me that Penelope was the daughter of Abraham. (Remember that I use Logic). She died in childbirth in 1868 - her husband shortly thereafter had an accident and was killed. The Uncle (I think he was on the Pellom side) sold the property, spent the money and shipped the kids off to another Pellom relative. I think it was a Pellom because I don't believe the Kestersons had any people in St Louis at this time, if in fact Penelope was a Kesterson in the first place.

So anyone with the ability to check the Hamilton Co resource ---- maybe you can find something on our Kesterson's there in connection with the Pellom family. We have several members of the Kesterson family buried in Hamilton Co - but where? Perhaps Penelope is buried near them?

More News and Updates on our famous George Washington Kesterson (Art Mix) movie star. Seems he had another wife and he definitely did have a daughter. The Grandson of Art Mix is Darryl Zazulak who found our Kesterson Website and contacted me. I was so happy to hear from him. Finding a descendant on this line was a total surprise, since we just assumed that George had not had children. Darryl who was born, and still lives in Canada, inherited his grandfathers personal belongings and has some priceless treasures which he is sharing with us. Darryl barely remembers his grandmother Grace Kesterson who died in the mid 1950's in Victoria B.C. We are now on a hunt for this marriage record to George and we need her Death Certificate. George's daughter was Francis Lorraine Kesterson born about 1925 or so - died 1963 Canada. She married Walter John Zazulak. I have added all the information that Darryl has sent me - a lot of pictures of Art in Movie Mode. A couple of small articles concerning George after his retirement and one very large article on Darryls father Walter Zazulak which I include because it mentions the Kestersons. There is a picture of Inez Gomez the 2nd wife of George and a picture of Frances, his daughter. One of the articles mentions that Francis had a brother but no name given. This may or may not be a "Kesterson" brother.

James W Kesterson of Winter Haven FL sent me a picture the old Homestead of David Chadwell Kesterson, Claiborne Co TN. Along with it he sent a picture from a magazine of the old Saw Mill also located on the property on Indian Creek..

To refresh your memory a bit - David Chadwell Kesterson was in Lee Co VA in 1795 - His personal Property List that year was - 1 White over 16 and 1 Horse. David Chadwell who was David Kestersons Uncle and for who he was named was 1 White over 16, 5 Blacks age 12-16 and 3 Blacks over 16 with 7 Horses. Together they established what was then known as Chadwells Station. David built his home and established his family in Cedar Fork, near Tazwell in Claiborne Co TN, about 8 miles from Chadwell Stations which was in VA. There he raised a family of at least 9 children - John, Nancy, Abraham, William, Martha Jane, Anna, Elizabeth, David and Reuben. All were born between 1800 - 1820.

Upon Davids Death the homestead was passed on to Reuben Kesterson his youngest son. When Reuben died in 1882 his son Garrett Henderson Kesterson acquired the place. The original two story Cabin was burnt down and another place was built. Garrett put Brick Veneer around this one to preserve the home. The Saw Mill was in years for many years - even back as far as David Chadwell Kesterson. One day when Garrett was runnin the sawmill, he slipped and fell into the saw and cut in half. James W Kesterson was only about 10 years old at this time but will never foget the tragedy. After the death of Garrett the Saw mill was never used as such again. In later years it was only used to Grind Corn into Cornmeal.

Anyone wanting to contact James W Kesterson can contact me for his address.. James is not online.

In keeping with the David Chadwell Kesterson saga -- James W Kesterson also wrote to me about Thomas jefferson Kesterson who was a grandson of Davids, a son of Reuben & Adeline (Henderson) Kesterson. Reugen had 7 children - 6 boys and 1 girl. One of the boys - John died in infancy and the daughter Martha Jane died in childbirth after her 3rd child. James knew all of his grandfather brothers - Arch, Garrett and Neil were closely associated together for all of their lives but never once did James ever hear of them mentioning the name of Thoams Jefferson Kesterson their other brother. James doesn't know why he was never mentioned - just that he never was ! Thomas was more or less disowned by his brothers. The first time James ever heard mention of Thomas was when he died in Chattanooga, Hamilton Co TN. I thought I had the date of his death but can't find it now. Apparently Thomas died a pauper so Reuben Neil Kesterson (his nephew) paid for his burial. None of the brothers went to the funeral and the exact reasons still remain a mystery to James.

James does know that Thomas Jefferson Kesterson was married but had no children with that wife. Thomas Jefferson Kesterson had another, common law wife, and had several children with her. At one point in time James had some contact with one or two of those children but nothing since. I believe that Ollie Josephine Kesterson and her brother Joseph are two of the children of Thoams Jefferson Kesterson and that time will eventually bring forth some more of them. The children apparently did use the Kesterson name as well they should. They grew up near or around the Chattanooga TN area .. Back in those days Thomas behavior would have been a "shame" to the family and perhaps this is the reason his brothers had nothing to do with him.

NEW MEMBERS

Diane Wofford DiAnn / Marvin GREEN 1913 AR / Wm Thomas GREEN 1879 AR / Susan BLACKWOOD 1849 AR / Andrew Jackson BLACKWOOD 1827 TN / Rebecca KESTERSON 1810

Clifton Wann Cliff / Kathryn WILSON/ Jessie Allan WEBSTER 1904/ Rebecca BARENTINE 1882 / Almeda BLACKWOOD 1866 AR / John BLACKWOOD 1829 AR/Rebecca KESTERSON

Frederick E White Fred / Bonnie Ethel KESTERSON 1896 TN / Emslay (Ben) KESTERSON 1866 TN / Frederick KESTERSON 1826 TN / Hazzard KESTERSON 1787 VA / John KESTERSON 1742 VA / John KESTERSON 1712 VA / George KESTERSON 1674 VA / Thomas KESTERSON

Amy Lykins Williams Amy LYKINS/ Linden LYKINS/ Ruth LEWIS 1915 KY / Adaline KESTERSON 1885 TN / Garrett H KESTERSON 1852 TN / Reuben KESTERSON 1820 TN / David Chadwell KESTERSON 1770 VA / John KESTERSON

Bob Weaver Bob / Mable SMITH 1919 WA / Pearl Rosalind KESTERSON 1883 WA / Benjamin F KESTERSON 1857 MO/ John J KESTERSON 1831 TN / John Henry KESTERSON Jr 1797 TN / John KESTERSON Sr 1760 VA / William KESTERSON 1735 VA / John KESTERSON 1712 VA / George KESTERSON 1674/ Thomas

Kevin Edwards

Debbie Stadden Thomas B 1917 OR / Noah D 1879 MO/ Leland D 1821 TN / John Henry Jr 1797 TN / John Sr 1760 VA / William 1735 VA / John 1712 VA / George 1674 VA / Thomas 1648

Steven Robert Kesterson Steven / Stevie Wayne 1958 AR / Robert Glen 1913 AR / George Monroe 1864 AR / Marion 1834 AR / Vincent Kesterson

Darryl Zazulak Darryl/ Francis Lorraine Kesterson abt 1920 / George Washington (Art Mix) 1896 IL / George Washington Sr 1870 IL / Jeremiah Jefferson 1840 KY/ Peter 1800 KY / George Sr 1765 VA/ Wm Sr 1735 TN/ John 1712 VA / George / Thomas

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