Frederick Keister arrived in Philadelphia in 1737 on the Virginia Dare, then moved to Lancaster, PA. His son and grandson, Philip and Peter were in Rockingham Co., VA in the 1780s and 1790s before moving to Montgomery Co., VA in 1800. Before the Europeans arrived, this Shenandoah Valley trail, followed by so many immigrants, was the Great Indian Warpath. With the arrival of the Europeans, the trail became known as the Great Wagon Road. Today, interstate 81 through Virginia roughly follows this route.
.
This
clock has been passed down through the Keister family for generations. Family tradition is that it was brought with
the family as they traveled down the Shenandoah Valley from Pennsylvania to
Montgomery County, VA in the latter half of the eighteenth century.
The presumed line the clock has passed through
(since it ended up with my grandmother) is Philip Keister (c. 1730-c. 1814),
Peter Keister, Sr. (c. 1765-1839), Peter Keister, Jr. (1802-aft. 1870), David P. Keister (1830-bef. 1910), Walter
Henderson Keister (1869-1938), Harry Price Keister (1902-1954) and finally
Harry Keister’s wife, Margaret Howell
Keister (1908-1992). In Peter Keister’s
will of 1839, a clock is mentioned
among his possessions which may be this same clock.
This
was a working clock for perhaps 200 years.
As late as the 1980s it was on the mantle at my grandmother’s house and
the last thing she did before going to bed each night was to wind this clock.
The
clock shows two soldiers sitting on tree stumps around what appears to be a
drum. The one on the left has just
rolled dice on the drum. The metal has
“U. S. A.” stamped on the inside of the base while the clock face has “Liberty”
(a brand name or maybe a sentiment) and “Wurtemberg” written on it.
24
September 1787 Rockingham County, VA
Deed of B & S ... Ack'd to
Phillip Kester ...
22
October 1787 Rockingham County, VA
Deed of B & S to Pet. Kester, was Ack'd ...
24
Nov'r 1788 Rockingham County,
VA
A grand jury for the body of this County, to wit:
... Phillip Kester...
Dec
1789 Rockingham
County, VA
Deed of B & S ... to Peter
Kester
Rockingham
County Marriages, VA
Peter Kester and Elizabeth Schreyer-
----1798 con. Lewis wit. Susan?
Rockingham
County, VA
81-Kester, Peter Eliz. Schreyer; (German)Lewis, (German)cn. Sus. Schrever, wt.
1792
Dec 24 Philip Kester as bondsman
24
Dec 1792 Rockingham County, VA
Peter Kester app’d to appraise the
estate of the s’d Deceased in Currant money & Make report thereof to the Court.
28
Jan 1793 Rockingham County, VA
... Peter Kester ... being first
sworn be appointed to view the same and make a report of the conveniences and inconvienences
25
Feb 1794
Peter
Kester & John Tutwiler wit's Sum'd for WOOLF vs. WASS fined Nise for their
non att’ce.
From
Early Adventurers on the Western Waters-Kegley
1800 PHILIP KEISTER from John McCall and
Margaret, 65 acres on small branch of Tom's Creek
1800 PHILIP KEISTER from John Preston and Francis
Preston, executors of William Preston deceased, and executor of James Patton,
deceased, 111 acres on a small branch of Tom's Creek
1800 PETER KEISTER from Jacob Scilar (Sailar) and
his wife, Mary, 173 acres on Tom's Creek
1804
Sept 6 PHILIP BUMGARDNER and BETSEY
KESTER, sur. Philip Bariger, consent of father Philip Chester (his mark) for
daughter Betsey
1809
June 12 ALEXANDER PRICE, JUNR. and
ELISABETH KESTER, sur Michael Price and Peter Kester (German script)
1814
Nov 4 JOHN KEESTER and SALLY MARTIN,
sur. Philip Keester and Barbara Martin
1815
Dec 2 FREDERICK BARGER and SALLY
KEESTER, daughter of Peter Keester, sur. Peter Keester; James P. Preston
certified Frederick for whom he was appointed guardian "is now to the best
of my belief of age or above 21 years old. He has made a title to land to his
mother who knows his age from accurate recollection."
1819
Dec 22 PHILIP BARGER and POLLY
KEISTER, sur. Peter Keister (signed in German)
1825
Aug 25 ISAAC HENDERLITER and SUSAN KESTER, sur. George Kester; consent of
(father?) Philip Kester
1826
Mar 9 PETER KEISTER and CATHARINE
SHELL
Later
Marriages from Montgomery County, VA Marriage Registry
Date County Husband/Wife Age Status
Dec
23,1875 Montgomery Harvey G. Harless/Fannie Keister W
18/21 Single/Single
POB Residence Parents
Occ. Ceremony
Montgomery Montgomery H
& F? Harless/DP & LL Keister Farmer S.R. Smith
Jan.2,
1879 Montgomery Miles Barker/Eliza C. Keister
W
23/20 Single/Single
Henry/Mont. Montgomery GL
& V Barker/DP & LL Keister Farmer GH Thompson
Sep.3,
1902 Montgomery Shelton Keister/Annetta Burk W 28/23
Single
Montgomery Montgomery David & Lou Keister/Jos.& Emaline Burk Farmer
Jan.6,
1904 Montgomery Charles E. Keister/Fannie Howard W 27/22
Single
Montgomery Montgomery DP
& Emma Keister/Jno. W. & Viola Howard RR
Employee
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