| Home Surname List Name Index Sources Email Us | First Generation1. ABRAHAM KELLAR1,2 was born about 1722.3 He died on 20 April 1787 at the age of 65 in Shenandoah County, Virginia.3 Correspondent Beth Hugenot believed that Abraham Kellar who fought with George Rogers Clark was the father of Jacob and John. Dates and other records indicate that Abraham was much more likely the brother of Jacob and John. Jacob's will written in 1781 names his brother Abraham one of the Executors, but by 1787 when Jacob's will was proved, one of the other Executors had to take over the chore [Abraham was by then deceased himself.] There is a reasonable possibility that George Kellar was either the father of or a brother of Abraham. It is even possible there was both an older George and one approximately the same age as Abraham: 6 Jan 1748 Inv of Estate of George Kealer, Frederick Co. [?Kellar?] Appraisers were George Bowman, Isaac Hite, Robert Warth. Lewis Stephen, Adminstrator. "Frederick Findings" Vol. 9, #1, Spring 1996, p.13. The total estate was £36.13.3. The book A History of Shenandoah, Virginia by John W. Wayland, 1927, discusses three Keller families. That of Abraham - and he did point out that the Abraham Keller who served in George Rogers Clark's Regiment was not the same sa the man who was a justice and sheriff in Shenandoah Co but he did not know of any relationship. He also discusses two George Kellers. Although there are some similarities in names of children of these families, Abraham Kellar's family does not have a George, nor a Barbara. 8 Feb 1758 Abraham Keller, Lt. appears in VIRGINIA'S COLONIAL SOLDIERS, by Lloyd D. Bockstruck, p.16 [Service in the French & Indian Wars from Frederick County] 6 Aug 1760 Abraham Keller added to the list of tithables. Frederick Co VA Order Book 9, p.113. Found in database online: In the suit of Hite vs. Fairfax, 1760, Abraham Kellar bargained to purchase from Paul Froman, a portion of a 500 acre tract which Froman had received from the Hite-McKay Co and for which Hite had not yet received a deed from the Council of VA. Kellar lived on the South River, opposite a village called Bentonville. 1760's, "It is described in the vestry book as the Chapel at Ephraim Leith's Spring, and also as the South River Chapel.....But vestry minutes leave no doubt that the South River Chapel at which William Dobson held services was none other than the Chapel at Ephraim Leith's Spring..... The parish levy of 1766 appropriated 30 pounds "for building a Chapel on the So. River." But it was not until its meeting on November 13, 1767, that the vestry ordered Isaac Hite, one of its members and a son of Joist Hite, "to let the building of a Chapel at Ephraim Leith's Spring, the walls of square logs Dove Tailed, Twenty-two by thirty feet, and to be covered with Lapped shingles." The Vestry stipulated that the building was to be completed before the first of November, 1768. On January 25 of that year a contract was signed with Abraham Keller. It contained the above stipulations and described the location of the new chapel as Ephraim Leith's Spring, "near the South River of the Shenandoa" in Frederick County. The contractor gave a security bond and this bond is recorded in the vestry book. The contract with Keller called for payment to him of 49 pounds "in current money of Virginia" for building the chapel. The parish levy of 1770 provided 20 pounds 10 shillings as the amount due Keller for the execution of his contract. This sum, added to the 30 pounds levied in 1776, made the total cost of the Chapel at Ephraim Leith's Spring 50 pounds, 10 shillings.....On November 26, 1770, the vestry ordered that a committee named by it "Do View and Receive the Chapel at Ephraim Leith's Spring if the same is Finished according to Contract". No later entry concerning this place of worship can be found in the vestry book. The vestry's committee evidently accepted it, and the next year it became a part of Beckford Parish." Source Unknown, ?? Chapter on Frederick Parish, 1744-1780 pages 31 and 32. The above order confirms the fact that Abraham Kellar was a carpenter and builder. The list of his personal effects after he died included carpenter tools. The skill was passed on to his sons - Jacob mentioned his own carpenter tools in his will and Abraham the younger was apparently responsible for some of the building at the Falls of Ohio during the Revolution. Oct 1761 List of Frederick county militia recorded in DB 18, 2 Sep 1756. Abraham Keller, Lt. 1768, January 25, "Know all men by these presents that we Abraham Keller and Peter Rufner of Frederick County in the Colony of Virginia are held and firmly bound unto Charles Smith and Thomas Wadlington Church wardens of the Parish of Frederick.....in the sum of ninety-eight pounds current money of Virginia.....we bound ourselves.....Whereas the above bounden Abraham Keller hath undertaken to build a chappel at Ephraims Leith's Spring.....thirty feet long in the clear and twenty-two feet wide in the clear and eleven feet high from the sill to the wall plate.....Now the condition of the above obligation is that if the said Abraham Keller shall complete the above in a workmanlike manner next ensuing the date here of then the above obligation to be void and of no effect or else to remain in full force and virtue." Copy of Original from Vestry Book of Frederick Co, #19745. It is said that Abraham Kellar's first wife died following the birth of William in 1768. He then later married Elizabeth Painter, widow of Peter Painter. 6 Mar 1771 Abraham Kellar and nine others took oath as vestrymen of Beckford Parish, formed from Frederick Parish. Beckford Parish was formed in 1769. 17 Apr 1772 Abraham Kellar was one of the original justices of Dunmore County. 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant. Capt. Joseph Bowman's roll lists Abram Kellor, Sgt. [probably not this man but perhaps his son Abraham] 22 Jul 1777 Abraham Keller, Gent. was appointed by the county court to take the list of tithables in Capt. Netherton's district. Dunmore County name was changed on 1 Feb 1778 to Shenandoah County. Woodstock was the county seat. 14 Dec 1778. From Lord Fairfax, Proprietor of the Northern Neck of Virginia....confirm to Col. Abraham Keller of Shannandoah Co land near the South River Surveyed by John Hough. 149 acres. Northern Neck Grants R, p.59. Surveys for the above grants:
27 Oct 1781 Abraham Keller furnished one beef weight, 250 £, for the use of the Continental Army. Recorded Shenandoah Co VA Court Book p. 4 31 May 1782. Abraham Keller took the oath of Justice of the Peace and Justice in the Court of Chancery. May 1782. Abraham Keller was appointed a trustee of the town of Woodstock. This appears in Vol. XI of The Statues at Large: Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia from the First Session of the Legislature, by William Waller Herring, 1823, p.57. 1784/85 Abraham Kellar represented Shenandoah Co in the Virginia House of Delegates. 1787, Apr 16. Last Will & Testament. Abram Keller of Shenandoah County being very sick, but of sound mind and memory....to my beloved wife Elizabeth one third part of my real & personal estate after all debts. My beloved son Joseph Kellar to be sole executor. Son William the plantation whereon I now live after a valuation being made. He is to have an equal part of the moveable estate with John, Jose [Joseph], Rachel and Elizabeth. After my wife Elizabeth's full third the remainder to be equally divided between my beloved children: John Keller, Jose Keller, William Kellar, Rachel Keller, and Elizabeth Keller. Signed: Abram Kellar 1 Jun 1787. Estate of Abram Keller dec'd sold at publick vendue by Joseph Keller, Exr. Approved for record 29 Feb 1788. 27 Jun 1787 Account of the estate of Abraham Keller, dec'd. Included receipt to Elizabeth Keller as adms. of Peter Painters estate. ABRAHAM KELLAR and Unknown [KELLAR] were married. Unknown [KELLAR] died about 1768 in Frederick County, Virginia. ABRAHAM KELLAR and Unknown [KELLAR] had the following children:
ABRAHAM KELLAR and Elizabeth PAINTER were married. Elizabeth PAINTER was born (date unknown). Elizabeth was the widow of Peter Painter. |