Johann Heinrich Keller

Henry of Heinrich Keller arrived in Philadelphia on the good ship "Glasgow" September 9th, 1738. From the records of Keller's Church, we have the following: "Heinrich Keller was born January 9th. 1708 and died October 18, 1782, his father's name was Wilhelm Keller and his Mother's name was Gertraut, in Weierbach, out of Naumburch, Braden. and came to America September 9th, 1738. On the 20th of October, 1728, he married Juliana, born in 1711: her Father's name was Peter Kleindinst and Mother's name Anna Maria, also out of Weierbach, Naumburch. Her Father held an Office there."

Their eldest child Peter died within a week of their landing and seven others were born to them in Pennsylvania.

After Henry (Heinrich)'s arrival, the first record of him as a landholder was in 1750, when he purchased of Thomas and Richard Penn 150 acres in Bedminster township, on the northwest side of the Ridgeroad. This tract he conveyed to Michael Yost in 1752. His residence at that date as shown by the deed was Bedminster. In the year 1734, a tract of 300 acres on the north side of the Tohickon, in Haycock township, was sold to Henry (Heinrich) Keller on May 10, 1757.

On November 05, 1754, Henry (Heinrich) Keller obtained a warrant for the survey of 21 acres and 136 perches at the northwest corner of the above tract and the draft of survey, on file at Harrisburg, shows that the Davis tract was then in the tenure of Henry (Heinrich) Keller. It is therefore probable the Henry (Heinrich) Keller took possession of the tract soon after his sale of his Bedminster land in 1752, under an agreement to purchase that was not completed until the date of the over the Tohickon into Bedminster township at two or three points, caused by curves of the creek. Of this tract of 300 acres purchased of Davis, Henry (Heinrich) Keller and Juliana, his wife, 1772, conveyed about 225 acres in three practically equal tracts to their sons Henry, Peter and Christopher. His son John, had purchased a large tract adjoining his father in 1772 of David Graham. Henry (Heinrich) Keller was a man of prominence in his community. He was the first constable of Haycock township, and was frequently named by the Court or selected by the parties to assist in the settlement of estates.

He is buried beside his wife, Juliana, in the graveyard at Keller's Church. His will, dated January 23, 1782, probated November 1, 1782, devises to his wife "my dwelling house together with all other buildings as it is mentioned in a certain article between Peter Keller and Christopher Keller, together with all incomes of my four sons, that is to say, John Keller, Peter Keller, Christopher Keller, and Henry Keller, as it is mentioned in a certain article of agreement [together with her personal goods and his personal estate] and 100 pounds shall stand upon interest if she should want it, ... all this she shall have so long as she remain my wife. " To his four sons he devises 75 pounds each and to his five daughters 50 pounds each.

The first place of worship in Bucks County was at the Tohickon Church, and dates back to 1743. It was called Keichlines Church, as he is reported to have given the land on which the first building, a log structure, was built. This building, also used as a school house, was replaced by a stone building by 1766. By 1749 the church was a union church - that is, it housed two congregations. One was the Lutheran congregation, the other a German Reformed congregation. The first full time Reformed minister was Jacob Riesz.

Melchoir Muhlenburg sent them a catechist in 1751 named Lucas Rauss. Under his supervision the church began to grow. A warrant for land for the erection of a church building was taken out. The survey is dated 5 November 1752. [However, the patent for this land was not issued until 5M ay 1857.] Henry (Heinrich) Keller was one of the active leaders in the development of this church. His farm was opposite the present Upper Bucks Technical School. The first church was made of logs. Keller's Church was a union church as well. It's sister congregation was Solomon's Reformed Church. The two churches separated now, alternated services on Sunday mornings and afternoons. The church in the community was a unifying organization for the people of the area. It offered it's congregation reassurance - a time to see relatives and neighbors - and a time to hear a word of hope. Politics did enter into the church - the various ministers told the people what their faith expected of them at the time the Revolution.

Henry (Heinrich) was the chief founders of Kellers' Church in 1746. He purchased a large tract of land extending across the Tohickon Creek into Haycock Township and lived there until his death. He was one of the trustees who, on July 28, 1751, secured title to the twenty-acre tract upon which the first church, known as "Kellers," was erected; and he was one of the elders and trustees of that church until he died.

During the Revolutionary struggle, his eldest son, Colonel John Keller, was one of the most prominent men of his nationality in Bucks County. He was a member of colonial assembly in 1776, and in the same year a delegate to the first constitutional convention, and in 1778 was a member of the supreme executive council. In 1784, he was again returned as a member of the Supreme Executive Council. At the organization of the Bucks county militia in 1776, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Third Battalion, and in 1780 was assigned to the command of the Second Battalion. His Battalion was in active service during the greater part of the war. His brothers Christopher and Henry, and his brother-in-law Philip Stever, were also in the service, Christopher as an ensign in the Fourth Battalion where he participated in the Battle of Long Island, and Henry as a captain under Colonel Keller.

GEDCOM Source

@R-944301646@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::81333380

GEDCOM Source

@R-944301646@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::81333380

GEDCOM Source

@R-944301646@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::81333380

GEDCOM Source

@R-944301646@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::81333380

GEDCOM Source

@R-944301646@ Germany, Select Marriages, 1558-1929 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,9870::0

GEDCOM Source

1,9870::1076585

GEDCOM Source

@R-944301646@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=85278086&pid...

GEDCOM Note

Keller’s Church named after him as he was one of the Founders.

GEDCOM Source

@R1651039602@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=119345541&pi...

• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Sep 15 2021, 14:32:23 UTC