Hans George Keller

Hans Georg “George” Keller
BIRTH 11 May 1711
Weiler (Fischerbach), Ortenaukreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
DEATH 30 Oct 1782 (aged 71)
Mount Olive, Shenandoah County, Virginia, USA
BURIAL
Keller Cemetery
Mount Olive, Shenandoah County, Virginia

Find a grave memorial: "George Keller was a son of Bastian Keller & Elisabeth Hildebrandt. He arrived at Port Philadelphia from Europe on the ship "Pleasant" on 11 October 1732---exactly one month after his future wife and in-laws. George married about 1735 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Anna Barbara "Barbara" Hottel (1713-1798), daughter of John & Elisabetha Hottel. George & Barbara had at least ten children: John Carl (born June 7, 1736 in Lancaster Co. PA; died in childhood), George Keller II, Anna, John, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, Jacob, Henry, and Barbara."

Arrived philadelphia 11 Oct 1732 on Ship Pleasant,J.Morris,Master.departing from Rotterdam then to Deal.One month later than father in law,John Hottel. born 11 May 1711 According to book "History of the Descendants of John Hottel": George Keller had a younger brother named Joseph who was born near the city of Zweibrucken, Bavaria (Rhein-Pfalz) on 3/15/1719. George Keller came from the Palatines on the ship "Pleasant" with J. Morris as Captain. Arrived Philadelphia, PA on 10-11-1732. Contact for the Kellers: Janet Ariciu, monkey@getgoin.net. Her website: www.geocities.com/janet_ariciu According to Daniel Bly, a researcher specializing in old German records, posting at: http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/print.cgi?keller::1290.html: The record of George Keller's birth is from the Reformed Church Records of Weiler, Wurttemberg, Germany. He was baptized 17 May 1711. In March 1770 George Keller, who lived along North Mountain west of Strasburg made deposition in the Fairfax-Hite suit that he was "age 59 May next." Record of the emigration of this family from Germany can be found in Annette Burgert's "Eighteenth Century Emigrants from the Palatinate: Vol. I: The Northern Kraichgau." It seems almost certain that these immigrants had much in common in Europe and came to America because of association in the old country, as well as for opportunities which the new world afforded. It is probable that on his arrival George Keller was associated with his brother Joseph in Northampton Co., Pa., and perhaps with the Hottel family during their eighteen year sojourn in Bucks County of the same state, and emigrated with them to Shenandoah Co., Va, in 1750. He settled permanently on the headwaters of Toms Brook in Stonewall District near the original Hottel homestead not far from Mt.Olive. The same year the Hottel family emigrated to the Shenandoah Valley,George Keller purchased from Lord Thomas Fairfax 400 acres of land lying on the South Shenandoah River. By inheritance through his wife, Barbara Anna, he came into possession of a part of the original Hottel homestead where they lived for the remainder of their lives...He died late in 1782 or in the early part of 1783, leaving a will in which he provided for the comfort of his widow and left much land to his children. He was an outstanding citizen in the early history of Shenandoah County, having been one of the justices of the first court. He was also a prominent churchman. In one instance where reference is made to a land deal, George Keller mentions John Hottel as his father-in-law.In another when referring to his wife he calls her Barbara, while the immigrants register has the name Anna. Her full name therefore must have been Barbara Anna Hottel. The children of George and Anna (Hottel) Keller were born in the seventeen-forties and fifties. The Keller family record could not be found. The names given below were copied from George Keller's will and may not be in rotation of births. George Keller Anna Keller John Keller, who probably lived near stony Creek, Shenandoah Co., Va., sold the farm he inherited to Russell Borden. No further record. Elizabeth Keller, is supposed to have married Joseph Snapp, June 15, 1784. She received from her father 203 acres of land. Margaret Keller Mary Keller Jacob Keller Henry Keller Barbara Keller Source: Janet Ariciu at monkey@getgoin.net

George Keller was a prominent churchman, and one of the Justices of the Peace of the first court of Dunmore---later renamed Shenandoah---County, Virginia. The court system in the colony of Virginia was a combination of traditional English doctrines with additional rules for unique situations. Most non-capital criminal cases began and ended in the county courts, as did most civil lawsuits. Holding court in the counties were the Justices of the Peace, also referred to as the Magistrates or the Gentlemen Justices. Besides their judicial duties, the Justices directed the laying out of roads, the location of bridges, appointed road surveyors and imposed fines on those who neglected to maintain their assigned sections of highways. They licensed water mills, ordinaries, ferries and courthouses. The Justices even advised the colonial legislature on the placement of warehouses, ferries churches and courthouses in their counties. There were eight Justices per county with a quorum of four to conduct judicial business. How often the county courts met was contingent upon many variables: the weather, conditions of the roads, the crop cycles, the number of cases filed and the availability of the Gentlemen Justices. All county Justices served at the appointment of the Royal Governor. A vacancy on the county court usually arose with the death of a Justice. The remaining Justices submitted a worthy gentleman's name to the Governor for his consideration. The worthy gentleman was a "Justice in waiting". He was a gentleman of impeccable reputation and honor. He was a respected individual within his community. He had served a "Justice" apprenticeship in governmental functions. This apprenticeship involved serving as a juror, overseeing the performance of wills, viewing property to ascertain ownership, the examination of disputed accounts, estate appraisals of deceased persons and orphans, and assisting the court in determining damages. He gained his legal expertise through "on the job training" and observing his more experienced colleagues.

In 1727, the first permanent white settlement in the Shenandoah Valley was Germanic immigrants. The Tidewater English now began to take up large holdings of land in speculation. Within a short period, hundreds of immigrants arrived to patent this land and the land of the Northern Neck Propriety. The ethnic background of those who settled the Valley were English, Scots, Northern Irish, and Germanic. The listed order represents the social standing within the Valley of these ethnic groups.

In 1772, the tax-paying population of Frederick County had reached adequate size to support the formation of a new county. This new county was Dunmore (later renamed Shenandoah), named for Governor John Murray, the Earl of Dunmore. From the four ethnic groups, Governor Dunmore appointed the first Justices. Of those eight worthy gentlemen, one was George Keller from the headwaters of Toms Brook. Let us now "flesh out" the gentleman justice, George Keller. We know that he had served his "Justice in waiting" apprenticeship. He was highly respected and had great influence in his community. George Keller was important enough to come to the attention of the Royal Governor. He could understand and speak the English Language. As German was his native language, he could function as a translator when necessary. He was highly respected and had great influence in his county. He was intelligent, as he had to attend to public business by administrating justice. He had an impeccable reputation and great personal honor.

George Keller was a Patriot during the American Revolution: George signed on as a member of the Committee of Safety in Dunmore County, VA - which of course was tantamount to signing his own death warrant if the British had won. His descendants are eligible for membership in the DAR or SAR.

Please view the family website at www.hottelkeller.org

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Nov 11 2018, 3:46:51 UTC

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Hans Georg “George” Keller BIRTH 11 May 1711 Weiler (Fischerbach), Ortenaukreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany DEATH 30 Oct 1782 (aged 71) Mount Olive, Shenandoah County, Virginia, USA BURIAL Keller Cemetery Mount Olive, Shenandoah County, Virginia

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22124579/hans-georg-keller

Children Martin Keller 1735–1816

Photo George Keller 1735–1818

Anna Keller Fravel 1736 – unknown

John Carl Keller 1736 – unknown

John Keller 1740–1800

Margaret Keller Wilkins 1745 – unknown

Elizabeth Keller Bowman 1748–1806

Jacob Keller 1750–1810

Photo Mary Keller Rinker 1753–1806

Barbara Keller 1754 – unknown

Photo Henry Keller 1759–1823

In 1750 George Keller, husband of Barbara Hottel, received a land grant from Lord Thomas Fairfax. This 400 acre portion of land became the Keller home when he and his family settles there ca. 1760. Surrounding this property was land owned by Barbara’s father and brothers George, John, and Charles Hottel. Together these land grants, encompassing over 2,000 acres, define what is commonly called the Hottel-Keller homestead.

During the Civil War this land would be the center of some heavy fighting. The Battle of Toms Brook partially occurred on this land. Both Confederate and Union forces raided structures and families who lived on this tract during the conflict.

Apart from the war, this land has seen a vibrant history related to this area’s agricultural heritage. The farmers who tilled this land, Hottels, Kellers, and others, raised wheat, corn, apples, cattle, and numerous other items. Today most of the property is still part of active farms.

The core portion of the homestead is currently owned by Hottel-Keller Memorial Inc. They maintain the Keller house, built ca. 1800, several other historic structures, and ruins that are related to the original Hottel and Keller immigrants. Their 391 acre tract is also the home to annual reunions, festivals, and the Shenandoah Germanic Heritage Museum.