ANCESTRY OF KERCHNER FAMILY

     It is a rare individual who does not at some point in their life
ponder some of the great questions of life.  Where did I come from?
Why am I here?  Who am I?  And when we reach that point we are not
seeking simplistic answers.  There is a yearning from within that
seeks more.

     Who am I? When someone asks another person that question they will
probably be told their name as the answer. So your name is one answer
to that question. Thus part of who we are as a human being is our name.
But where did we get this name?  The answer given is - from our parents.
But where did they get their name?  From their parents. And they from their
parents. And so on, and so on. But where did they get their name originally
and who were they?

     And so the search begins. To learn more about who we are. And to
do that we must learn more about our name and the people who came before
us who bore that name and passed it on to us. So we pursue the trail of
who we are in part by tracing our name and the ancestors who bore that
name. So in particular, what do we know about our family name - Kerchner.

     The science of onomastics is the study of the meaning of names.
Etymology is the study of etyma or roots of words since its earliest
recorded occurrence in the language where it is found. Using such analysis
techniques, what then is the meaning of our name Kerchner? The Kerchner
name, according to family tradition and discussions with some German
language experts, and learned members in the field of onomastics, is
believed to be derived either from the German word "kirche" which means
"church" or from the German word "karcher" (with an umlaut over the letter
"a"), otherwise spelled as kaercher or kercher, which means "carter",
as in cart driver. But regional variations in the various German dialects
are important to this discussion too.  Very interestingly, in the Pennsylvania
German dialect, which is mostly derived from "Middlelander German" which is
the German dialect spoken in the middle land areas of Germany between the
lowland regions in the north and the highland regions in the south of Germany,
the word for church is "karriche" (with an umlaut over the letter "a"),
otherwise spelled "kaerriche". Thus a "kaerricher/kaerrichner" would be
a church worker in the Pennsylvania German dialect.

      The first theory is that our name was spelled "Kirchner" or "Kircher"
and was misspelled by the English as "Kerchner" when our ancestor settled in
Pennsylvania and since he was not literate he simply continued using the
misspelling. Therefore, our name if originally spelled "Kirchner," would be
translated to mean "of the church" or "church worker" or "church man." Our
immigrant ancestor's name was spelled "Kircher" in two transcriptions of the
original ship lists, but he did not personally write his name. He made a
mark with an (A) next to his name. So one person who heard him say his name
wrote it down as "Kircher". Other ship list recorders have his named spelled
as "Sercher" and "Cheniker". The "Kircher" transcription was made by two
different German script experts in two separate works and is considered
to be the most accurate. However, we shall also see that the name Kerchner
does exist separately, even to this day as a distinct spelling in Germany.
It is treated by some experts in onomastics as a spelling variation of
Kirchner with the same meaning, i.e., a person who worked at or lived near
a church.

     A second theory is the name evolved from Karchner, with an umlaut,
i.e., Kaerchner, and then the "a" got dropped along the way. Another theory
as to how the name would have been changed from Karchner, with an umlaut, to
Kerchner is that spelling was difficult to maintain when translating from
German to English and the name was spelled as close to how it sounded in
English. The pronunciation of the name Karchner, with an umlaut over the
"a", changes the sound of the "a" to a short "e" sound, and thus the name
was spelled Kerchner since that is how it sounded in English.

     The third theory is that the name is a misspelling of the Pennsylvania
German dialect word for church and church worker. The Pennsylvania German
dialect word for church worker is Kaerrichner. So one can also see how this
spelling could have evolved from that to Kerchner.

     Hand me down oral history and family tradition indicated that the name
was derived from the German word "kirche" meaning church.

     If from the German word kirche, the name is thus an occupation derived
name relating to a person who worked at a church. The most logical English
translation of the closest occupation relating to our name would be a
"sexton." The original form was probably Adam der Kirchner, meaning Adam the
church worker. The definite article 'der' in the name eventually was
dropped, and the name became Adam Kirchner. At some point in history the 'i'
was changed to an 'e' and our name became Kerchner. The most common theory is
that our name was misspelled by the English registrars when the family
settle in America, although this is not certain. It is possible the 'i'
evolved to an 'e' in Germany. This possibility will be discussed in further
detail later in this report. The family name being associated with churches
correlates well with the lifestyle of the early Kerchners since they were, as
were many of the early immigrants who came to Pennsylvania, religious people.
You will find several elders, deacons, and trustees of churches among our
forefathers.

     For more information concerning occupation related names such as ours,
consult the German-English Genealogical Dictionary by Ernest Thode, German-
American Names by George F. Jones, the Dictionary of German Names by Hans
Bahlow - 1993 English language edition, and the Pennsylvania-German
Dictionary by Marcus Bachman Lambert, M.A.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 2

     When researching this name expect to find it misspelled phonetically
many ways in church, census, tax records, and newspaper accounts, etc. Some
examples I have found in my research are: Kercher, Kerger, Kergner, Karchner,
Kaerchner, Kershner, Kerschner, Kerscher, Kelchner, Kircher, Kirkner,
Kurchner, Carrickner, Carricker, and Carchner. Some of these misspellings
occasionally results in confusion of our family surname with other similar
sounding surnames.  In addition, I have found some records with (at first
glance) very far off misspellings such as "Keiser(?)"  and "Churchner".
However, if one says the names Kerchner, Kerschner, Kercher, Kerscher,
and Keiser over and over in one's mind, with various accented variations
of the Pennsylvania German dialect, one can easily imagine how the
Keiser misspelling came about. In the specific example where Keiser was
recorded instead of Kerchner, even the transcriber was not sure of the name
when he wrote down Keiser which is why he put the question mark after the
entry. When the original script was carefully double checked by myself it
was clear that the name written down was Kercher and not Keiser. With regard
to the Churchner entry, interestingly, Churchner is the half English and half
German translation of our name since, as I said before, "kirche" means church
in German. The compound noun literal English translation of our name would
be "Churchman." The Pennsylvania German dialect, which evolved in
Pennsylvania, is rich with the mixture of English and German words. One
can see how the person who recorded or translated that record of our name
got the name Churchner out of Kerchner. One must really have an open mind
when researching this family name, and any Pennsylvania German family name.
As to the theory of the English registrars misspelling our root name from
"Kirchner," virtually all tombstone inscriptions, and most legal records of
the family found to date in the United States, have consistently been
spelled "Kerchner." All personal family records found in the Lehigh County
branch of Kerchner descendants, after the 1768 Will of our progenitor, spelled
the name Kerchner. Therefore, I am not 100% convinced of the misspelling
explanation, especially since allegedly another clan exists in Germany
spelled our way. I will report on this further in subsequent pages.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 3

     A brief comment is in order regarding the similarly spelled and sounding,
but different, family names such as Kershner, Kerschner, and Kirschner. In all
my research so far, in general, except for the occasional misspellings mentioned
above, I find that the Kerchner / Kirchner clan is not related to the Kershner /
Kerschner / Kirschner clan. Their names appear to be derived from the German
word "Kirsche" which means cherry as in the word Kirschbaum which means cherry
tree. In German, our family's root name "Kirch" is pronounced "Kirk" or "Kirc"
with the 'c' on the end sounding like the 'c' in the word can. In German, the
root name Kirsch is pronounced "Kirss" with the 'ss' sound at the end
pronounced 'sh', as in the word she. Unfortunately, many English-speaking
people in the USA over the centuries eventually began pronouncing both names
the same way; that is with the 'sh' sound. Apparently the 'sh' sound is easier
on the English tongue to pronounce. Being raised with very little Pennsylvania
German language spoken in our home, and being under the influence of an English
only education, I have been guilty of this mispronunciation and thus frequently
have to correct people in the way they spell our name, i.e., telling them
there is no 's' in our name. If I pronounce it correctly they usually ask me
how to spell it. This confusion in the correct pronunciation of our name
could explain the occasional misspelling of our family name (with an 's' in
it) by recorders in the past. Therefore, in doing research on our family
name, one must use extra care if one finds a record which spelled our name
with an 's.' If you find different recorders spelling that person's name
different ways but basically our way without the 's,' and find other records
of the same person occasionally spelling it with an 's,' then that person
could be part of our clan. However, if the person being researched
personally spelled their name with an 's' in their own signature and if
various recorders predominantly used the 's' in the name, they are probably
not of our clan.

     Now having said the above, I have found that there is one
group of Kerchners who descend from an Isaac Harry Kerchner. Isaac Harry
Kerchner moved west to Ohio sometime after the Civil War. For whatever
reasons his descendants apparently changed the spelling of their surname
to Kershner. I was contacted by a descendant and researcher from this
family group and we have verified this oral history information. Y chromosome
Y-DNA tests tests were conducted between 2001 and 2004 for my family, this family,
and also for descendants of the main Kershner family. Comparisons were done
between a male descendant of this "Kershner" clan with the Y-DNA markers of the
other Kershners and with various members of our Kerchner clan. The results showed
a 36/37 nearly exact match to me and very close matches to other Kerchner cousins.
And they did not match at all the Kershner clan. Thus the Y-DNA testing confirmed
the family's oral history that their family indeed originally was a Kerchner descendant
branch and they are not genetically related at all to the Kershners. Not even close.
Thus the story of the permanent surname spelling change of their branch as that branch
of our Kerchner extended family moved west is true. This spelling change by this
Kerchner branch will undoubtedly confuse future inexperienced Kerchner family researchers
in the USA who repeatedly at first think that the Kerchner and Kershner families are the
same family. But we are not the same Germanic family. The onomastics tells us they are
different rooted Germanic family names, the traditional research proves the main Kerchner
and Kershner families are different families, and now the new scientific Y-DNA testing proves
they are different families too. But we also now know this one small group of Kershners
are really Kerchners, as their personal family oral history had stated all along.
See the Kerchner Surname Y-DNA Project for more details.

     Another point I wish to mention regarding the surname spelled Kershner
is that their is a group of Kershners who lived in the Windsor Township and
Lenhartsville area of Berks County, Pa., who intermarried with the Kerchners.
These Windsor Township Kerchners descend from, Johan Jacob Kerchner, the son
of an immigrant named Johan Andreas Kerchner. Johan Andreas Kerchner arrived
in Philadelphia on the ship Edinburgh on 15 Sep 1749. Johan Andreas Kerchner
settled in Rockland Township, Berks County, Pa. His occupation was listed as
a shoemaker in the 1767/1768 proprietary tax records. His descendants later
settled in the Richmond, Perry, Greenwich, and Windsor Townships region of
Berks County. To this date I have found no relationship between our Kerchner
clan and the Windsor Township and environs Kerchner clan, at least not on
this side of the ocean. It is possible that our progenitor, Adam Kerchner,
who I will discuss more later in this report, and Johan Andreas Kerchner
could have had common ancestry in Germany. So we could be very distant
cousins.

     As I said before, some of Johan Andreas Kerchner's descendants in Windsor
Township intermarried with the Kershner family of that same area. The Kershners
of Windsor Township were the descendants of Johannes Kirschner / Kershner,
the son of Conrad Kirschner/Kershner I. This makes research into our clan all
the more complicated. The confusion caused by the intermarrying of this Windsor
Township Kerchner clan and the Conrad Kershner descendants has led some earlier
researchers to confuse the Kerchner and Kershner families altogether, thinking
that they have common lineage in Germany. They do not. The Kerchner and Kershner
families are two completely different German family surnames. For more
information on the Kershner family, consult the report The Kershner Families
of Maryland 1731-1977 by Mary Kershner Maxwell or contact the Kershner Family
Association, c/o William E. Kershner, Jr., 1449 Fox Run Drive, Charlotte NC 28212.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 4

     Another family group, with a name spelled similar to ours, is the
Kelchner family. Though similarly spelled, they are a completely different
family from ours. The root of their family name appears to be from the German word
Kelch which means cup, goblet, or chalice. Therefore, their name possibly
means cup maker or chalice maker. Again, the Kelchners are not related to us.

     Another family group, with a name spelled similar to ours, is the
Karcher family. Occasionally one will find our Kerchner name misspelled in
records as Karchner or Karcher. Even more confusing is that in one case, some
descendants of an immigrant name Johan Andreas Kerchner who lived in Berks
County, Pa., later moved to Luzerne County, Pa., where they locally adopted
the spelling / misspelling of their name as Karchner in subsequent
generations. The family members who remained in Berks County retained the
Kerchner spelling. Though similarly spelled and sounding, the German family
name of Karcher is a completely different family from ours, at least in this
country. The name Karcher is occupation based and means freight hauler, as in
a cart or wagon, a carter.

     Another family group, with a name which sounds, and is spelled, similar
to ours, is the Kurschner or Kursener family. Though similar in sound and
spelling, this family is completely different from ours. Their name is
occupation based and means furrier.

     The Kerchners, according to family tradition, emigrated in the early
1700's from the region of the former Reich State of Palatinate in Southwest
Germany. However, it is not certain our family came specifically from the
Reich State of Palatinate. Early immigrants from the southwest region of
Germany were known as "Palatines" even though many did not come specifically
from the Reich State of Palatinate.

     As an example of another province of Germany our ancestors may have originated
from, I have found a later clan of Kerchners, with their named spelled exactly
like ours, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1832. The name of this
immigrant was Michael Anthony Kerchner. He was a shoemaker. He first settled in
Philadelphia. Later he moved to Wilmington, Delaware. Finally he settled in
Baltimore, Maryland. Michael Kerchner emigrated in 1832 from the village of
Freudenberg, near present day Wertheim, Reich State of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.
I have not tied our clan into this clan. However, the Palatinate and Baden-Wuerttemberg
border each other along the Rhine River so there may be a connection. This later
arriving clan was of the Catholic religion while our clan was German Reformed
and/or Lutheran. Despite the difference in religions, it is possible we came from
the same area. Therefore, it is possible that our family did not originate from
the Palatinate specifically but instead may have come from Baden-Wuerttemberg.
If so, we could also be very distant relatives of Michael Kerchner's clan.
Research follow-up note: Y-DNA in 2004 and 2005 proved that our Kerchner clan
is not related to the Michael Kerchner clan.

     I also have found via the internet a group of Kerchners which spell the surname
exactly as we do. Their family is from the town of Spesbach which is near the city of
Kaiserslautern in the southern part of Rheinland-Palatinate, Germany. Unfortunately,
they did not know anything of their ancestry nor was the contact very interested
in genealogy. Research follow-up note: Y-DNA testing in 2004 and 2005 proved that
our Kerchner clan is not related to the Kerchner clan of Spesbach, Rheinland-Palatinate,
Germany.

     Another possiblity was brought to my attention by another Kerchner researcher
via a Fraktur for a granddaughter of Adam Kerchner. The Fraktur has the phrase
"Adam Kerchner in Dessen" at the end. If this means "of Dessen" then it could be
a reference to a village or town of origin in Germany. I searched for a village
named Dessen but found none. But I did find a small village named Deesen, in Westerwald,
Rheinland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz), Germany. With the help of some individuals in
Westerwald, Germany, who I found via the Internet, I pursued this "in Dessen" lead.
No records were found in or near the village of Deesen, Westerwald, Germany, showing
any connection to our Adam Kerchner. I emailed the Fraktur image to several German
genealogy researchers who live in Germany. After examining the Fraktur image they
said that in their opinion the "in Dessen" does not refer to a village or place but
that it is an early Dutch, i.e., Holland Dutch, language formal grammatical phrase
meaning "in this case". According to these correspondents, one of whom was an expert
in early Dutch writing and language, the "in Dessen" is not referring to a village
but is a formal, legal grammatical phrase being used in this formal Fraktur baptism
document. The official who prepared this Fraktur in Pennsylvania was probably Dutch,
i.e., Holland Dutch or was from the low Deutsch areas of Germany near Holland. Several
early ministers in Pennsylvania were from the Dutch Reformed Church of Holland which
was sending ministers to Pennsylvania to minister to their German Reformed brethen.
Thus the "in Dessen" lead turned into another dead end.

     In November 2005 it was learned that the person registered next to our immigrant
ancestor in the 1741 ship list, Jacob Fortineux, was from the town of Otterberg, 
Rheinland-Palatinate, Germany. This Jacob Fortineux also had a cousin who married to
a Kirchner. This was an exciting new discovery as finding the home village of other
passengers on the same ship is one way to sometimes find the home village of one's own
ancestor. However, research of the microfilmed church records yielded no specific information
familiar to me and/or no information related to our Kerchner line. Actually there were
very few Kirchner or Kircher entries in the church record. Thus the Kirchner family
mentioned in the marriage to the Fortineux family must have been from another area.

     In February 2006 a friend and fellow researcher by pure serendipity, while looking
at some microfilmed church records for the Auenstein, Baden-Wuerttemberg area, noticed
that there were quite a few Kirchner and Kircher records at that church and nearby churches.
She then checked the Auenstein records to see if there was an Adam Kirchner/Kircher baptized
in the records, circa 1704. And to much excitement she did find a Hans Adam Kircher
baptized on 4 Aug 1704, a son of a Georg and Barbara Kirchner. Research now continues
on this promising new lead.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 5

     Many early immigrants came to America because of religious persecution,
political tyranny, poor economic conditions, and frequent wars, all of which
were the rule rather than the exception in this area during the 1600's and
1700's. Catholic monarchs and electors fought Protestant princes and electors
to gain control of the south and western areas of Germany and in particular
the Palatinate.

     The "Thirty Year War" (1618-1648) destroyed most of this area and
much of Europe. Over 70% of the population of the Palatinate was lost
in this struggle. The Thirty Year War ended in 1648 with the Treaty
of Westphalia. The treaty guaranteed peaceful co-existence between
all religious denominations. However peace did not prevail. Many
politically motivated religious wars occurred in this area of Germany
in the late 1600's and early 1700's. During the last decade of the
1600's, King Louis XIV, the ruthless Catholic monarch of France,
succeeded in the destruction of the Palatinate. He wiped out it's
military power and installed Roman Catholic control in the area.
This, plus the unexpected conversion to Roman Catholicism (for
political reasons) of Frederick Augustus I, Elector of Saxony, had
reduced German Protestant political and military power to a low point.

     Another war, the "War of Spanish Succession" (1701-1714), saw
armies marching back and forth across this region. The "War of Polish
Succession" (1733-1738), resulted in French armies again overrunning
and occupying this area. Catholic French officers were forcibly
quartered in Protestant homes. Protestant cities and churches were
destroyed and the persecution and economic hardships became
unbearable. This, plus the economic opportunities of the New World,
set the stage for what was to become a massive emigration from the
region.

     Another interesting side note was that William Penn's mother,
Margaret Jasper of Rotterdam, Holland, had German cousins. This may
have also played a part in why Pennsylvania was offered as a haven for
the religiously persecuted of Germany. Once it started, thousands of
Palatine Germans traveled down the Rhine River to the ports of Holland
such as Rotterdam, where they boarded ships for immigration to
Pennsylvania. Some stayed in Rotterdam for awhile until they could
earn enough money for their passage to America. Some traveled to
England temporarily until transportation to the New World could be
arranged. Upon arrival in Philadelphia they had to sign an oath of
allegiance to the British Crown. Then they probably walked the six
miles to Germantown, now part of Philadelphia, to be with their own
kind. From here they settled in the inland counties now known as
Lancaster, Berks, Lehigh, Bucks, and Northampton. These Pennsylvania
Germans eventually became known as the "Pennsylvania Dutch" possibly
from a rendering of the German word "Deutsch" which means German.

The Pennsylvania Germans also didn't discourage the confusion of their
true nationality during the two World Wars with Germany when a public
backlash against people of German sympathy and nationality occurred in
this country. However it is clear we are of German heritage, not
Dutch.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 6

     Over the years I have had two candidates for the patriarch of our
family in America:

     Candidate No. 1:

     The first early candidate has since been proven not to be our family's
progenitor but the information on this individual is provided herein
for research evolution continuity purposes and to correct prior
published information claiming this individual as the progenitor of
our family.

     Johan Philip aka Philip Kerchner, was incorrectly assumed, according to
brief information collected by George F. Kerchner, Sr. in 1909 and presented
at a Kerchner family reunion held in the summer of that year, to be the
progenitor of our family. I have a copy of his hand-written report. In
it he reports the speculation that Philip Kerchner was the progenitor
of our family but he admits in the same report he can't prove it. He offers
no circumstantial or anecdotal evidence. However, the late E. Jesse Kerchner,
my cousin once removed (SAR#99810), who gave me a copy of the report, believed
that at the time of the report, George F. Kerchner, Sr. (1868-1929),
who was his father, could possibly have had personal recollections of conversations
with John F. Kerchner (1804-1888), and other Kerchner's from the 1800's,
who would have personally known Frederick Kerchner (1750-1828). Thus he
believed it entirely conceivable that the theory could be true. But it appears
from the 1909 report that the real reason George F. Kerchner, Sr., speculated
that Johan Philip aka Philip Kerchner was the progenitor of our family was that
he was the only immigrant ancestor with the surname spelled as Kerchner which
was listed in the reference book, "Thirty Thousand Names of Immigrants in
Pennsylvania", second edition, by Professor Daniel Rupp, published in 1876 and frequently
used in the very early 1900s. The three volume set of books "Pennsylvania German Pioneers",
by Strassburger and Hinke were not published until 1934 so that work was not
available to George F. Kerchner, Sr., in 1909. Also, it appears that George
F. Kerchner, Sr., never checked local courthouse records for early wills and
estates or he probably would have found the will of Adam Kerchner in which it
mentions his son named Frederick Kerchner. There are no mentions of any son
named Frederick in the church or any other records of Johan Philip, aka Philip Kerchner.
George Kerchner in his report in 1909 never mentioned doing any courthouse estate file
or early church original records research in his 1909 report and subsequent letters
to cousins. Of course today we have many more powerful research tools available to
us such as microfilmed and indexed early church records and easier access to courthouse
records than he did in 1909. In order to prove that Adam Kerchner was our ancestor
and Philip Kerchner was not, I did an exhaustive research over several years of the
historical records of both male lines in any and all records available to me. 

    The following is what I have compiled on Johan Philip Kerchner. Some
of it I obtained from the 1909 report, some was obtained verbally from
E. Jesse Kerchner, and some was obtained from my own research in an attempt
to prove or disprove the theory of George F. Kerchner, Sr.

     Johan Philip Kerchner is recorded to have emigrated from the
Palatinate, Germany, to Pennsylvania in the year 1744. He sailed from
the port of Rotterdam, Holland, on the ship Phoenix. He landed in
Philadelphia. The following is an excerpt from the book, A Collection
of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French,
and Other Immigrants to Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776, Rupp, 2nd Edition,
published 1876, page 169: "October 20, 1744: Foreigners imported in
the ship Phoenix, William Wilson, Captain, from Rotterdam, last of
Cowes." Appearing in the list of 104 immigrants on page 170 is Johan
Philip Kerchner. A facsimile of his original signature attesting his
oath of allegiance and abjuration is found in Pennsylvania German
Pioneers, Strassburger and Hinke, (3 volume 1992 reprint of 1934
edition), Vol. 2, published 1934, p.374. I have a copy of the
reprint. Because this immigrant's name is spelled in the Rupp book
exactly as ours is now, could be the reason why, in 1909, George F.
Kerchner, Sr. incorrectly picked this immigrant as the likely
candidate to be our progenitor. The Strassburger and Hinke work, which
is generally believed to be more accurate, was not completed until
1934, so it was not available to George F. Kerchner, Sr. In Strassburger and Hinke's
work Johan Philip Kerchner's name is translated and spelled as Johan
Phillib Kercher (sic), not Kerchner. But name spelling in a single record
is never a deciding factor in genealogy work. We must look at other facts.

     I have found records of a Johan Philip Kerchner/Kercher/Kerger and
wife named Catharina Eisenmen(in) (Note: The 'in' on the end of the name
denotes feminine gender in the German language) baptizing their children
circa 1755-1761. The children were:  "Andreas", born 5 Dec 1755 at home,
per the records of the Rev. Daniel Schumacher, "Ana Cath. Kerchner," born
about 30 Apr 1757, baptized 29 May 1757, Moselem Zion Lutheran Church,
Richmond Township, Berks County, Pa.; "Catharina Kercher," born 25 Mar 1759,
baptized 29 May 1759, Old Goshenhoppen Lutheran Church, Salford Township,
Montgomery Co., Pa.; and "Henricus Kerger," born 1 Jan 1761, baptized about
Apr 1761, Old Goshenhoppen Lutheran Church.

     I have found no records to support the 1909 speculation that Philip Kerchner
was the father of the Frederick Kerchner from whom we have descended, or even that
Philip Kerchner ever had a child at all named Frederick.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 7

     Our family's progenitor, according to some theories related to me
by E. Jesse Kerchner, is allegedly buried on the old Rauch Farm cemetery plot
located east of Huff's Church, Pa. The plot is accessed via the Cloud Nine
Kennels driveway. He remembered visiting the site with his father when he
was an 8 year old boy but did not remember seeing a specific grave site.
Jesse took me to the alleged burial location. The burial plot is on private
property at the top of a lightly wooded, weed overgrown, knoll a quarter
mile east of the village of Huffs Church, Hereford Township, Berks County,
Pa. It is a few miles west of Seisholtzville, Pa., which is the area near
where our original progenitor settled. Allegedly about 100 people were
buried in this plot. Whether our progenitor is actually buried there or
whether E. Jesse Kerchner's father was speculating on that, one will never
know for sure. I have visited and photographed the site. Only six or so
inscribed markers remain. All the rest must have been destroyed or carried
off by vandals.

     Additional research by me has located another possible burial location
for our Adam kerchner. There was a very early cemetery known as God's Acre
associated with the Upper Milford Reformed Congregation, now known as Old
Zionsville UCC Church. Adam Kerchner was affiliated with that congregation.
This old cemetery is in the village of Old Zionsville, Lehigh County, PA.
Ony a couple of tombstones remain. The rest were carted off by vandals.
But the cemetery land is still maintained by the cemetery association of
Old Zionsville UCC Church. More on this old cemetery and its connection
to our Adam Kerchner is discussed on page 10 of this report.

     Jesse had a remarkable memory. His personal recollections of
family history and events occurring during his lifetime have checked
out to date during my subsequent research. Therefore, I was reluctant
to discount completely his theories and recollections concerning the
information passed on to him by his father. However, at this point, I
am very doubtful about the validity of his father's claim that Johan
Philip Kerchner is our progenitor. The evidence is overwhelming that he
is not our family's progenitor and that Adam Kerchner is.

     Candidate No. 2:

     Adam Kerchner (c1704-1768), according to my research to date, is
the most likely candidate for progenitor of our family. I have found
very strong evidence pointing to him as the progenitor of our family.

     That evidence is herein listed:

     (a) Adam Kerchner's will, recorded in the Berks County
         Courthouse in 1768, lists a son, Friedrich Kerchner.

     (b) One of Adam Kerchner's daughters, Eva Elizabeth Kerchner,
         married Johan George Wetzel. The Wetzel's owned land next
         to our Frederick Kerchner's farm when it was sold in 1830.

     (c) When Anna Barbara (nee Fetterman) Kerchner, wife of
         Frederick Kerchner, died in 1841, her death notice stated
         she was living in the home of Peter Wetzel. Peter Wetzel
         was the son of Johan George and Eva Elizabeth
         (nee Kerchner) Wetzel. Eva Elizabeth Kerchner was the
         daughter of Adam Kerchner. Thus, Peter Wetzel was the
         grandson of Adam Kerchner. Anna Barbara (nee Fetterman)
         Kerchner, widow of Frederick Kerchner, was Peter Wetzel's
         aunt-in-law. Peter Wetzel lived near the farm formerly
         owned by his deceased uncle, Frederick Kerchner, which
         was located north of Seisholtzville, Pa. Frederick Kerchner
         was the brother of Eva Elizabeth Kerchner.

     (d) When Adam died, his wife, who was named (Anna?/Elisabetha?)
         Barbara, remarried Conrad Schaub/Shoup (his best friend
         according to Adam's will). Conrad Shoup's 1806 will lists
         a Frederick Kerchner as a debtor to him. It is easily
         conceivable for him to have loaned money to a step-son.

     (e) Adam Kerchner and the Fetterman family were apparently
         members of the "Schoolhouse Near the Old Spring"
         congregation, the predecessor to the Upper Milford Lutheran
         Congregation, which then became the Zion Evangelical
         Lutheran Church in Old Zionsville, Pa. Adam was listed as
         a sponsor at the baptism of Anna Barbara Fetterman,
         daughter of Balthaser Fetterman. This same Anna Barbara
         Fetterman later became the wife of Frederick Kerchner,
         the son of Adam.

     (f) A sister of Frederick Kerchner baptized a daughter in which
         she named her father as being named Adam.

     For the above reasons and having found no other historical evidence
linking any other colonial times immigrant to our Frederick Kerchner, born 1750,
I have concluded that Adam Kerchner is the father of our Frederick Kerchner,
and thus the progenitor of our Kerchner family in America.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 8


     Given that Adam Kerchner is our progenitor when did he arrive. My
research on a possible Adam Kerchner migrating to America listed in
Pennsylvania German Pioneers, by Strassburger and Hinke, 3 volume 1992
reprint of 1934 edition, yields two possible Adam Kerchners.

     The first prospect is Johan Adam Kircher, on page 316 of the 1980
version: "At the Courthouse Philadelphia, Nov 7, 1741. Present: The
Honorable George Thomas, Esquire, Governor, William Till, Esquire.
The Palatines whose Names are underwritten, imported in the snow Thane
of Fife, William Weems, Master, from Amsterdam, but last from
Aberdeen, did this day take the Oath to the Government, viz."
Appearing in the list of 19 men who took the oath that day was Johan
Adam (A) Kircher. A facsimile of his original signature and mark
attesting his oath of allegiance and abjuration is found in the same
reference (3 volume 1992 reprint of 1934 edition), Vol. 2, page 325.
His age was listed as 37.

     The second prospect is Adam Kirchner on page 371 of the 1980
version: "At the Courthouse at Philadelphia, 5th Sept 1748. Present:
William Attwood, Esq., Mayor, William Allen, Esq., Recorder, Robert
Strettell and Benjamin Shoemaker, Esq. The Foreigners whose Names are
underwritten, imported in the Edinburgh, James Russell, Master, from
Rotterdam, but last from Portsmouth, did this Day take the foregoing
Oaths to the Government." Appearing in the list of 127 men who took
the oath that day was Adam (X) Kirchner. A facsimile of his original
signature and mark attesting his oath of allegiance and abjuration is
found in Pennsylvania German Pioneers, by Strassburger and Hinke, 1934,
(3 volume 1992 reprint of 1934 edition), Vol. 2, page 403. I have a copy.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 9

     Which Adam became our Berks County Adam? One very significant point is
that in our Adam Kerchner's will, which was signed in August 1768 and recorded
in the Berks County Courthouse in October, 1768, it shows a signature with
an (A) mark. This is a very strong link of our Adam Kerchner to the first
prospect above who also made his mark with an (A) in the Thane of Fife list.

     Other tidbits of information suggest slightly confusing and possibly
contradicting theories. An Adam Kerchner in Berks County was the sponsor
at the baptism for Anna Barbara Kurchner, daughter of Friederich Kurchner,
at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church on Oct 7, 1764. What do we know
about this Frederick Kerchner.

     A Friederich (O) Kirchner arrived in Philadelphia on the Ship Brothers
on Sept 16, 1751 embarking in Rotterdam. If related to our Adam, possibly
brothers, uncle and nephew, or cousins, it would seem likely that they both
would have embarked from the same port, i.e., from Rotterdam. Also the 'ner'
in the surname at registration could be significant. This could suggest a
link of this Frederick Kerchner with the later arriving Adam (X) Kirchner,
the one who made his mark with an (X). His surname was recorded with the 'ner'
suffix in the surname. This is all weak circumstantial evidence. And another
group of Kirchners claim the 1748 Adam Kirchner immigrant as their progenitor.

     Also, we must consider that the person who wrote these names could have
used the "er" or the "ner" suffix based on their German province spelling of
this occupational surname rather than the way the immigrant would have wrote it
if they were literate in writing their own name, which these immigrants were not
since they made their mark and someone else wrote their names. Thus the suffix
could be the scribe's spelling and not the immigrant's correct name spelling.

    At this time, I am rather strongly convinced that the immigrant Adam
who arrived in 1741 is our immigrant ancestor. The use of the "A" mark by him
when he signed the ship list and when he signed his will is very strong
piece of evidence that this is the correct immigrant.

    That our Adam and the later arriving Frederick are related somehow is also
suggested by the fact that the immigrant Adam Kerchner had a son named Frederick
and the immigrant Frederick Kerchner apparently had a son named Adam. This Adam
Kerchner may have been the one killed at the Battle of Long Island in the
Revolutionary War, where an Adam Kerchner was reported as missing after the
battle and apparently never returned. But that Revolutionary War surmise is
only a theory of mine.

    Another point to be noted is the age factor. Our Adam appears to have been
significantly older than the immigrant Frederick.

    Research also indicates that the 1751 immigrant is the Frederick Kerchner
who later moved to Bedford County, Pennsylvania, where the surname was
misspelled as Karriger and Kariger. Some of his descendants then moved to
Ohio where the name was further misspelled phonetically as Carriher. Later
descendants moved to Indiana where the surname became misspelled again as
Carrier. An interesting evolution of the surname. Starting with the surname
Carrier, it would at first glance be a real leap to surmise that this surname
evolved from Kerchner. But the evidence seems to indicate this is true.

     In 2001 and 2002 Y chromosome DNA testing of direct male descendants of
Frederick Kerchner, the only known son of our Adam Kerchner, the immigrant,
and the the descendants of the immigrant Frederick Kerchner family who went
west to Bedford Co PA and then who subsequently changed their surname spelling
to Karriger, showed a very close match in their haplotypes. This indicated
that the immigrants Adam Kerchner and Frederick Kerchner were indeed related.
See the Kerchner Surname Y-DNA website for more details.

     Our Berks County Adam Kerchner was still siring children in
years 1750-1763. If it was the first immigrant prospect, who was age 37 in
1741 when he arrived, then he would have been about 59 in 1763 when his
youngest proven daughter, Anna Maria, was born. Adam's wife is surmised to
have been significantly younger than him since she remarried a friend of Adam
Kerchner, Conrad Schaub/Shoup, a year or two after Adam's death. She also
lived until sometime after 1790. It certainly is possible for a much younger
wife to be bearing children with an older husband. Sometimes I also have
speculated to myself that maybe Adam may have been married twice with an
unknown earlier family remaining back in his German home village. All things
considered, one must pick a preference. At this time, based on the similar
signature mark (A) recorded at his arrival and the (A) in his will, I have
assumed the first prospect, the one who arrived in 1741, to be the correct
candidate for our progenitor.

     Nothing is known as to the dates or location of his marriage, but
we do know the names of his wife and children from his August, 1768,
will and other records. His wife's full given name appears to be Anna
Barbara, maiden name unknown. She was mentioned in Adam's will simply as
Barbara. However, when she served as a witness at the baptism of Anna
Barbara Fetterman in 1753, her given name was recorded as Anna
Barbara.

     According to The Journals and Papers of David Shultze, Adam died
on 26 Aug 1768, "on old Seiler's place." His will was signed and
witnessed the same day he died. His five known children who grew to
adulthood were: a son Friederich, (1750-1828), married c1773 Anna
Barbara Fetterman, died in Longswamp Twsp., Berks Co., Pa.; and the
daughters Eva Elizabeth, (c1753- c1829), married c1773 George Wetzel,
Sr.; Anna Barbara, (1758-1829), married c1782 Johannes Schaub, died in
Hereford Twsp., Berks Co, Pa.; Anna Margaret, (c1760- ), she may have
died young as nothing is known as to what happened to her; and
Anna Maria, (1763-1843), married c1782 Jacob Truckenmiller, died in
Delaware Twsp., Northumberland Co., Pa. Another possible daughter, but
not yet conclusively proven, is Elisabetha Barbara Kirchner (sic),
(May 1767-....), baptized at Upper Milford Zion Lutheran Church, U Milford
Township, Lehigh Co., Pa. The uncertainty in assuming that she is a
child of our Adam and Anna Barbara is that the mother of this child
was recorded as Elisabetha Barbara while the earlier records indicate
the wife of Adam Kerchner was named Anna Barbara. Also there was no
child, Elisabetha Barbara, listed in Adam's will dated 1768, only one
year later. This child could have died soon after birth, or she could
be from a different Adam Kerchner/Kirchner family. There was more
than one Adam Kerchner/Kirchner in Eastern Pennsylvania at this time.
As an example there was an Adam Kerchner reported missing and presumed
killed at the Battle of Long Island in 1776 in the Revolutionary War.
Another possibility is that the Anna Barbara's full given name could have
been Elisabetha Anna Barbara which would explain the various name
variations. Further research is needed into this May 1767 birth and the
who historically really are the parents and what happened to this child.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 10

     To date, I have not been able to locate the exact location of his
200 acre farm. But, based on old survey maps by the early surveyor,
David Shultze, one can locate the properties of many families
associated with Adam Kerchner's family and mentioned in his recorded
legal documents. Based on the location of these properties, I have
deduced that Adam Kerchner's farm was probably located about 1 mile
south-east of Seisholtzville, Hereford Township, Berks County, Pa.,
along the upper reaches of the eastern branch of the Perkiomen Creek
and very near the border with Lehigh County, Pa. He may have owned
the land which at one time was owned by George Seiler. He also appears
to have owned land at one time just across the border in Upper Milford
Township, Lehigh (then Northampton) County, Pa., adjacent to and south of a
tract of land owned by Catherine Eck. His name, recorded in her deed as Adam
Kargher/Karcher, is listed in the meets and bounds for her property. Adam's
son, Frederick Kerchner, had a farm about 1/4 mile north of Seisholtzville,
just across the border in Longswamp Township, Berks County, Pa. Adam's
daughters married into well known, local neighboring families, such as
the Wetzels, Schaubs, and Truckenmillers which also lived southeast of
Seisholtzville. His only known son, Frederick, married into the neighboring
family of Fetterman. Therefore, I have concluded Adam lived near to
the village of Seisholtzville, Hereford Township, Berks County, PA. Other
neighbors were named Eck, Seiler, Rauch, Fetterolph, Christman, Rothenberger,
and Marsteller.

     We do not know where Adam or his wife are buried at this time.
It could be at the old Rauch Farm burial plot mentioned earlier. But
no evidence exists to support this theory other than the possibility
that at least that part of the family tradition was true. Another
possibility is that he was buried on his own farmland. We do know,
based on his estate papers, which show a small fee paid to the
Reverend Leydich, that Adam was probably buried by the Reverend John
Philip Leydich, pastor of Upper Milford Reformed Congregation from
1766-1771. There is also an old cemetery located southeast of the Upper
Milford Zion Reformed Church (now UCC). It is about 1/2 mile off the
road and can only be accessed via a small alley and then crossing over
private property. This cemetery, which is on private property, was
adjacent to the original location of the first log church in use when
Adam Kerchner died. For whatever reason the early church never obtained
title to the land on which the cemetery is located. Since Rev. Leydich
was pastor of this church at that time, it is possible that our Adam and
spouse are buried in that old cemetery. I have visited the site and only
a couple of gravestones remain. Allegedly the gravesite was not being
maintained for many years and then at some point in the past most of the
old stones were stolen by a contractor who allegedly used them to decorate
a stone fireplace. No one has been able to learn the name of the person
who allegedly did this. If true, this is a terrible thing for a person
to have done.

     Of course it is possible that neither of these candidates is our
progenitor. I cannot be 100% sure until I find conclusive primary
source proof and I will keep searching for that. However, at this
point I am 99.44% sure that the Adam Kerchner who died in 1768 in
Hereford Township, Berks County, Pa., is our progenitor, and that the
Friederich mentioned in his Will is our Frederick, the Revolutionary
War militia soldier.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 11

     Frederick Kerchner (1750-1828), my 4th great-grandfather, was
born March 15, 1750. The exact birth location is unknown but it was
probably near the area of what is now Hereford Township, Berks County,
Pa., since his probable father, Adam, was taxed on a 200 acre farm there,
near the Berks County and Lehigh (then Northampton) County line, until
1768 when Adam died. Frederick married, c1773, Anna Barbara Fetterman
(a/k/a Barbara Fetterman), the daughter of Balthaser and Catharina
Margaretha (nee Hufft) Fetterman. She was born 7 Jun 1753 in Upper
Milford Township, then part of Northampton County, but now part of
Lehigh County, Pa. She was baptized 1 July 1753 by the Schoolhouse
Near the Old Spring congregation, the predecessor of the Upper Milford
Zion's Church.

In 1772, Frederick Kerchner is recorded on the tax rolls
for Upper Milford Township as being a laborer in the township.
My theory is that he left his home in Hereford Township to find work
in Upper Milford Township. He possibly could even have been working
for Balthaser Fetterman since Balthaser and Adam Kerchner knew each
other and Adam Kerchner was a sponsor for Anna Barbara's baptism.
Frederick and Anna Barbara probably grew up knowing each other and
probably went to the same church, Upper Milford Zion's Church. Thus,
while working in Upper Milford Township in 1772, Frederick probably
courted Anna Barbara resulting in their marriage in c1773 with their
first child, Johan George, being born in 1774. It was a fruitful
marriage. According to Barbara's death notice published in the May 4,
1841, issue of the Reading Adler, they had a total of 8 children.
However, to date I have only found records of 6 who grew to adulthood:
Johan George, a/k/a George, (1774-1835), married Elizabeth Keiser
c1800, died in Snyder County Pa.; Frederick Wilhelm, a/k/a William,
(1776-1841), baptized at Longswamp Reformed Church, married Salome Egner
circa Jul 1800, died in Macungie Twsp, Lehigh County Pa.; Philip Peter,
a/k/a Peter, (1778-1822), baptized at Longswamp Reformed Church,
married Catharina c1799, died in Longswamp Twsp, Berks County Pa.;
Elizabeth, (1783-1833), baptized at Lehigh Zion Lutheran Church, married
Abraham Griesemer on Jun 7, 1801, died in Hereford, Berks County
Pa.; Jacob, (1787-1836), baptized at Longswamp Reformed Church,
married Catharine Koser on Jan 26, 1808, died in Towamensing Twsp,
Carbon County Pa.; and Maria, (1796-1873), married Jacob Miller in
1816, died in Hereford Twsp, Berks County Pa. Barbara's death notice
indicated they had 52 grandchildren and 57 great-grandchildren.

     Frederick owned a 123 acre 98 perch farm divided in 3 tracts. He
undoubtedly farmed his land but his main occupation, which was listed
in his 1796 land purchase deed and in the 1779, 1780, 1784 tax lists
for Longswamp Township published in the Pa. Archives Vol. 18, was that
of a turner (wood lathe worker). His farm was in Longswamp Township
straddling the Maxatawny to Philadelphia road just north of the
village of Seisholtzville, Hereford Township, Berks County, Pa. The
farm is on or very near the border of the two townships. The home and
10 acres were on the east side of the road. The barn and the rest of
the tract were on the west side of the road. I have traced prior and
later ownership of the farm as follows: Peter Fetterolf (c1752),
Christopher Bittenbender (1777), Frederick Kerchner (1796), John
Reiter (1833), Jacob Moll (1855), Franklin Moll (1881), Angeline Moll
(1892), Sylvester Schmoyer (1905), George Fisher (1907), Willis F.
Walker (1907), Willis B. Walker, and recently to Donald Nielson
(c1968) who built the Mountain Village Mobile Home Park on the
property. The barn was torn down when the mobile home park was built.
The residence became unoccupied and was allowed to deteriorate and
eventually it was set afire several times by local vandals. I have
photographed the tract as it appears today, including the burned out
home. I have also obtained photos from the Walker family of the home
that shows the home when the Walkers owned it. The photo, taken in
the early 1900's, shows the home with an addition apparently added
in the mid-1900's.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 12

     Frederick Kerchner (1750-1828), 4th great-grandfather continued:

     Frederick served in the Revolutionary War. According to the
Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Vol. 5, he served in various Berks
County militia companies from 1780-1781. In 1781 he received pay as a
private in Captain Jacob Ladich's Company of the Berks County Militia.
His battalion commander was Colonel Samuel Ely. His name appears on
the payroll record listed in the Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series,
Vol. 5, Pg. 280. His name also appears with spelling variations on
pages 221, 223, and 235 of the same reference.

     Frederick Kerchner is listed in the Pennsylvania Septennial
Census 1779 of Berks County. He is recorded as a married taxable
inhabitant of Longswamp Township in this census. His name appears on
page 20 of the 1989 reprint of this census published by the Berks
County Genealogical Society. Frederick's family is listed in the
first U.S. census in 1790. It recorded 3 males age 16 and over, 2
males under 16, and 2 females. At the time of completion of the
census Maria had not been born. One must remember that ages were often
recorded incorrectly or were deliberately misstated to census takers
for various reasons. Therefore, it is this researcher's best
estimate, that the 3 recorded males over 16 would have been Frederick
and his sons Johan George and Frederick Wilhelm. His second son's
(Frederick Wilhelm) age was probably recorded wrong as being 16, when
he was only 14 at the time. The males under age 16 would have been
sons Philip Peter and Jacob. The 2 females would have been his wife
and their first daughter Elizabeth.

     Frederick died Aug 10, 1828. His death notice was published in
German in the September 2, 1828, issue of the Reading Adler. A copy
of the paper is on file at the Historical Society of Berks County,
Reading, Pa. Frederick and his wife are buried at Huff's Church
Cemetery located in the village of Huffs Church, Berks County, Pa.
His grave (#M22) is in the 13th row of the "old cemetery" on the left
side of the church. It has a soldier's marker beside it. He is listed
in the historical records of the church. His wife Barbara died April
26, 1841, and is buried in grave #M18 which is located in the same row
about twenty feet to the right of Frederick's grave. Frederick's
tombstone is barely readable. Barbara's is still in good shape.
However, both tombstone inscriptions are recorded for posterity in a
book entitled, Tombstone Inscriptions, by Raymond E. Kiebach, Reading,
Pa. I have a copy of the inscriptions. I have also photographed the
gravestones. A copy of Longswamp Reformed Church and Lehigh Zion
Lutheran Church records are on file at the Lehigh County Historical
Society, Allentown, Pa. His will, written in old German script, was
recorded in 1828 in the Berks County Courthouse, Volume 6, Page 223.
I have had his will translated into English. It lists his wife and
children's names and the husbands of his daughters. It is very
interesting reading in the detailed instructions he provided for the
disposal of his assets and the care of his wife.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 13

     Johan George Kerchner, aka George Kerchner, (1774-1835), first
known child and son of Frederick Kerchner, and my 3rd
great-granduncle, was born March 3, 1774, in Berks County, Pa. He was
baptized Johan George but chose to use his middle name as his legal
name. This was a common custom with early Germans. He signed all his
documents George Kerchner, but on his tombstone it is engraved, "John
G. Kerchner," according to Snyder County Tombstone Inscriptions by
George W. Wagenseller. To date I have found no record of his baptism
although his brothers were baptized at Longswamp Reformed Church in
Longswamp Township, Berks Co., Pa. About 1800, he married Elizabeth
Keiser, born January 30, 1783, the daughter of Peter and Gertraut
Keiser. She was also baptized in April 1783 at Longswamp Reformed
Church. They settled in Longswamp Township where four of eight of their
known children were born: Johan George Jr. (Dec 15, 1802 - Nov 21, 1889),
died in Keokuk County, IA; Lydia Kerchner (Dec 22, 1804 - Sep 11, 1883),
died in Perry Twsp, Snyder Co PA; Judith Kerchner (Jan 2 1807), and
Elizabeth (Jun 12, 1809), allegedly died in Liverpool, Perry Co PA.
These four children were all baptized at Longswamp Reformed Church.
His family is listed in the 1800 and 1810 censuses of Longswamp Township,
Berks County, Pa. About 1811 he moved with his family to Beaver Township,
Union County, Pa., where he was listed in the 1820 census. He later was
located in Perry Township, Union County, Pa., later Snyder County. His
family was listed in the 1830 census of Union County. In this area he had
the last four of his eight known children, all boys, the water must have
been different in that area . The boys were: Solomon (Feb 20, 1812 -
Feb 7, 1883), probably died in Perry County, PA; Augustus (Feb 19, 1815 -
Jan 18, 1855), died in Wheatfield Township, Perry County, PA; Reuben
(Apr 7, 1818 - Sep 12, 1883), died in Delaware Township, Juniata County,
PA; and Benjamin (Oct 19, 1820 - Aug 18, 1898), died Walker Township,
Juniata County, PA. His last known son, Benjamin, was baptized at Grubb's
Church (Botschaft) Lutheran Church, Chapman Township, Snyder County, Pa.
Johan George, Sr., died November 10, 1835. His wife died November 25, 1849.
They are both buried at Grubb's Church Cemetery. A baptismal record, an old
German Taufschein, has been found for Augustus Kerchner on which his
mother's maiden name is recorded as Kayser which is a slightly different
spelling but phonetically the same name. I still believe Keiser is the
correct spelling of her maiden name. The Taufschein was purchased for the
sum of about $800 and was donated to the collection of the Perry Historians,
New Castle, PA. I have a photographic copy of it.

     While researching this branch of descendants I have located two
3rd great grandsons of Johan George Kerchner who have also done
research into this branch of descendants of Frederick Kerchner. The
first individual is a direct male descendant of Benjamin Kerchner, the
youngest son of Johan George Kerchner. His name is Jerome E.
Kerchner, Jr. He resides in Stevensville, MD. The second individual
is a descendant of Augustus Kerchner, the 3rd son of Johan George
Kerchner. His name is Clifton P. Hyatt. He resides in Newville, PA.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 14

     Frederick Wilhelm Kerchner, aka William Kerchner, (1776-1841),
second known child and son of Frederick Kerchner, and my 3rd
great-grandfather, was born March 12, 1776, in Berks County, Pa. He
was baptized "Frederick Wilhelm Kerchner" but chose to use his middle
name as his legal name as was the custom of those times. He signed all
his documents, "William Kerchner" but on his tombstone it is clearly
engraved "F. Wilhelm Kerchner." I have photographed the tombstone. The
record of his baptism at the Longswamp Reformed Church is on microfilm
with a facsimile copy on file at the Lehigh County Historical Society,
Allentown, Pa. He also may have chosen to use his middle name to distinguish
himself from his father. He was a farmer. In July 1800, he married
Salome Egner (aka Saloma Egener), born November 12, 1779, the daughter of
Henry Egner and Susanna Romig.

This Kerchner family moved to what is now the Lower Macungie Township area
of Lehigh (then Northampton) County, PA, where they owned a large farm. They
had 4 children who were: Henry (Apr 29, 1802, died age 18), never married;
John Frederick (Feb 12, 1804 - Jul 25,1888), married Maria Christman;
died in Lower Macungie Twsp, Lehigh Co PA, Hanna (Feb 5, 1806 - May 6, 1844),
married Thomas Eisenhart, died in Lower Macungie Twsp, Lehigh Co PA; and
Susanna (Sep 19, 1811 - Apr 18, 1894), married Daniel Christman, died near
Macungie, Lehigh Co PA. Daniel Christman and Maria Christman were brother and
sister and were the children of Johan Henry and Anna Maria (nee Roeder)
Christman. Wilhelm, or William as he was known in English, built the home
located about one mile north of Macungie on the right hand side of the road,
immediately after the entrance to the Mack Truck assembly plant. It was
later owned by the Faust family who are related to the Kerchners. You can
easily see the large "WK" with the year "1835" in the apex of the north wall.
I have a photograph of it. He is listed in the 1810 Census of Longswamp
Township, Berks County, Pa., page 792, Wm. 'Kircher'. He is also listed in
the 1820 Census of Macungie Township, Lehigh County, Pa., page 171,
William 'Kercher'.

     William died on Nov 22, 1841. He was the first person buried at
the Solomon's Reformed Church in Macungie, Lehigh County, Pa., which
was completed that year. He was active in the establishment of this
church and his untimely death is recorded in the historical records of
the church. His grave is in the second row, far left, of the "old
cemetery". His wife, Saloma, who died June 5, 1870, is buried by his
side. I have photographed the tombstones. Records of his children's
baptisms were recorded at Lehigh Zion Lutheran Church near Macungie,
Pa. A microfilm copy is on file at the Muhlenberg College Library,
Allentown, Pa. A facsimile copy is on file at the Lehigh County
Historical Society, Allentown, Pa. His will, written in German, was
recorded in 1841 at the Lehigh County Courthouse, File #1586. I have
had it translated into English. It lists his 3 surviving children,
plus the 2 daughters and their husband's names. Like his father's
will, it is very interesting in the detailed explanation on exactly
how his wife is to be taken care of until she dies. She lived almost
30 more years, until 5 Jun 1870, so the final account to the court of
his estate was not done until 10 May 1871. When William died on 22
Nov 1841, he was serving as the administrator for his mother, Barbara
Kerchner's estate in the Berks County court system. She had recently
died on 26 April 1841. This caused a very complicated estate for
William's son, John F. Kerchner, and the other executors to resolve.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 15

     Philip Peter Kerchner, aka Peter Kerchner, (1778-1822), third
known child and son of Frederick Kerchner, and my 3rd
great-granduncle, was born February 11, 1778, in Longswamp Township,
Berks County, Pa. He was baptized on March 15, 1778, at Longswamp
Reformed Church as Philip Peter, but chose to use his middle name as
his legal name. This was a common German custom. About 1800, he
married Catharina (last name unknown). They settled in Longswamp
Township. His family is listed in the 1800 and 1810 censuses of
Longswamp Township, Berks County, Pa. They had ten children of which
the names of eight are known. They were: Catharina (Jun 7, 1801),
Salome (Apr 1805), Patty (Mar 27, 1807), Anna (Apr 30, 1809), Lydia
(Sep 3, 1810), Judith (Aug 24, 1812), Mathilda (c1815), and Peter
(c1817). Some of the children were baptized at Longswamp Reformed
Church and some were baptized at Zion Lehigh Lutheran Church, Macungie
Township, Lehigh County, Pa. Philip Peter died about 20 Oct 1822.
His estate was administered in the Berks County Courthouse in Reading,
Pa., under the name Peter Kercher. His last name was misspelled.
However, his name is spelled correctly in several of the estate documents
such as the inventory and in the petition signed by his wife to appoint
guardians for the minor children. His wife, Catharine, and his brother,
William Kerchner, were the administrators. I have not found a record
of Catharine's death. As of this date I have not located were they
are buried.

     Elizabeth M. Kerchner (1783-1833), fourth known child and the
first known daughter of Frederick Kerchner, and my 3rd
great-grandaunt, was born May 25, 1783, in Longswamp Township, Berks
County, Pa. She was baptized on July 6, 1783, at Lehigh Zion Lutheran
Church, Macungie Township, Lehigh County, Pa. The daughters were
apparently baptized Lutheran since the mother was Lutheran while the
sons were baptized Reformed since the father was Reformed. This was
common with German "mixed religion" marriages. On June 7, 1801, she
married Abraham Griesemer, born April 16, 1777, the son of Leonard and
Elizabeth (nee Lefebre) Griesemer. They had nine known children:
Rebecca Margaret (Mar 6, 1802), Elizabeth (Dec 22, 1803), Catharine (c1805),
Maria Magdalena (1808), Jennike Eunice (Mar 7, 1810), and John
(Aug 26, 1812), Julia Ann (Aug 1, 1816), Mary (c1820), and Abraham
(Nov 7, 1822). Elizabeth died January 18, 1833. Her husband died October 15, 1823.
They are buried in the same row as her parents at Huffs Church
Cemetery, Huffs Church, Hereford Township, Berks County, Pa. Her
maiden name was misspelled as Kergner on her tombstone.

     Jacob Kerchner (1787-1836), fifth known child and the fourth
known son of Frederick Kerchner, and my 3rd great-granduncle, was born
November 28, 1787, in Longswamp Township, Berks County, Pa. He was
baptized at Longswamp Reformed Church. On 26 Jan 1808 he married
Catherine Koser, born on August 17, 1788, the d/o Johan George and
Elizabeth Barbara (nee Peters) Koser. Initially, Jacob and his family
lived in Longswamp Township but later moved north of the Blue Mountain
to Towamensing Township, Carbon County, then part of Northampton County,
Pa. His family is listed in the 1820 and 1830 censuses of Towamensing
Township. They had nine known children: Jacob Jr. (28 Jun 1808-26 Oct 1831),
never married; Benjamin (8 May 1810-5 Apr 1896), married Elizabeth Box;
Anna Maria (b. 5 Apr 1812), married George Greenzweig;
Catherine (4 May 1814-7 Apr 1882), married George Ziegenfuss;
Judith (27 Mar 1816-2 Jul 1903), married Joseph Christman;
John (24 Mar 1819-27 Mar 1889), married Susannah Serfass;
Salina (9 May 1822-27 Jul 1896), married first to Mr. Arner, married
second to Mr. Wagner; Daniel (1827-12 Mar 1900), married Fannie Hawk;
Susann (c1831), married Peter Meixel; Jacob Kerchner, Sr., died about
March 1836 in Lower Towamensing Township, Carbon (then Northampton)
County, Pa. His estate was administered at the Northampton County
Courthouse, Easton, Pa. His wife, Catherine, died October 2, 1867.
It is not known where Jacob, Sr. is buried. His wife is buried in the
Salem Church Cemetery in Gilbert, Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County, Pa.
Several of their children are buried in the cemetery at Gilbert.
She was probably living with one of her children in that area when she
died. Their first son, Jacob, Jr., who died young at age 23, is buried
at St. John's Union Church Cemetery, Palmerton, Lower Towamensing
Township, Carbon County, Pa.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 16

     Maria Kerchner (1796-1873), sixth known child and the second
known daughter of Frederick Kerchner, and my 3rd great-grandaunt, was
born January 20, 1796, in Longswamp Township, Berks County, Pa. I
have found no baptismal record for her as of this date. In 1816
she married Johan Jacob Miller, aka Jacob Miller and/or John Miller,
born Sep 22, 1786. They had nine known children: Caroline (Oct 1, 1817),
Jacob (1818), Lydia (Aug 13, 1819), Judith (Sep 11, 1821 - Nov 25, 1895),
William (Aug 25, 1823 - Feb 2, 1881), Charles (Aug 26, 1826 - Jun 10, 1898),
female child (c1833), Edwin (c1835), and Franklin (c1838). Some of the
information on these children was found with their burials records in the
private burial records of Rev. Eli Keller, CLDS Film No. 1305843-05.
Maria (nee Kerchner) Miller died February 19, 1873. She is buried in
the same row as her parents at Huff's Church Cemetery, Huffs Church,
Hereford Township, Berks County, Pa. Her maiden name on her tombstone
is spelled, Kergner. Her tombstone inscription states she was married
to Jacob Miller. However, as of this date, I have not found the burial
location of her husband.

     John F.(Frederick?) Kerchner (1804-1888), my 2nd
great-grandfather, son of F. Wilhelm a/k/a William, and grandson of
Frederick Kerchner, was born February 12, 1804, in Macungie Township,
which was then part of Northampton County, Pa. Lehigh County was not
created from Northampton County until March 6, 1812. He was a farmer.
On March 7, 1830, he married Maria Christman, who was born
November 4, 1805, the daughter of Johan Henry and Anna Maria (nee
Roeder) Christman. They had 9 children who were: William Henry (Mar
6, 1831 - Feb 4, 1879), married Levina Laros; Mary Ann (1832), married
John Bastian; Thomas Franklin (Nov 9, 1833 - May 31, 1884), married
Eliza Miller; Sarah Amanda (Feb 8, 1836 - Feb 3, 1895), married Peter
Faust; Salome Caroline (c1838), married William Eberhard; Eliza
Catherine (c1840), married John Schantz; John Addison (Feb 10, 1844-
Jan 21, 1926), allegedly served in the Civil War, died in Ohio,
married first to Louisa Schwartz and second to Emma Weidner; Susanna
Rebecca (Oct 9, 1847 - May 30, 1854), died age 7; and Jacob Benjamin
(Dec 27, 1849 - Nov 20, 1870), never married. John Kerchner and his
family are listed in the 1850 Census of Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh
County, Pa., page 161, line 17, John Kercher (sic), age 46, farmer.
According to A History of Lower Macungie Township, published in 1976,
and on file at the Lehigh County Historical Society, there were two iron
ore mines located on his property. John Kerchner was active in community
affairs. He was one of the 16 original shareholders in the establishment and
building of the "Macungie Institute" school in 1856. The Borough of Macungie
was known as the village of Millerstown back then. The school was named
after the township of Macungie since it served the whole township area and
not just the village of Millerstown. The original building still stands today
with large additions made in 1871 and 1941, and renovations completed in 2002.
Today the Macungie Institute building serves as a community center and the
home of the Macungie Historical Society.  John F. Kerchner died Jul 25, 1888.
He left an estate of record valued by the court at more than $20,000, a
considerable sum for those times. $20,000 invested at 3% interest would
be worth about $582,000 in 2002. It was divided between the children and
one grandson. He and his wife are buried at Solomon's Church Cemetery.
His grave is in Section A, Lot 54, Grave #7. His wife, Maria, who
died February 15, 1874, is buried by his side. I have photographed
the tombstones. They are heavily weathered. His will, written in
English, was recorded in 1888, at the Lehigh County Courthouse, File
#7028. It lists his surviving children and the husbands of his
surviving married daughters. Also it names one of his grandsons,
Morris R. Schantz. His daughter, Eliza Catherine, who married John
Schantz, had predeceased him. Several other children, including his
oldest son, William Henry, also predeceased him.

KERCHNER ANCESTRY                                                Page 17

     William Henry Kerchner (1831-1879), my great-grandfather, son of
John F., was born March 6, 1831, in Lehigh County, Pa. His occupation
in the 1850 census was listed as apprentice (wagoner?). In 1853, he
married Lovina (aka Levina) Laros (aka Larosch, Larrash, Laurisch), born
October 16, 1833. Lovina was a descendant of an early settler in the
Macungie Twsp area Ludwig Larosch. Lovina Laros was the daughter of Jesse
and Lydia (nee Siegfried) Laros. William and Lovina had 9 children. They
were: Oscar Llewelyn (1855), Mary Alice (c1857), John Henry (Oct 28, 1860 -
died age 24, studying for the ministry), William Jesse (Sep 26, 1862 -
was a blacksmith by trade and owned a blacksmith shop in East Macungie,
PA). The blacksmith shop was continued by his son, William Jesse, Jr. An
account of the their shop and their skills appeared in A History of
Lower Macungie Township, published in 1976, Ellen Louisa (c1866),
George Franklin (Apr 21, 1868), Jacob Benjamin (Dec 13, 1870), Edwin
Alfred (Jan 6, 1873), and Margaret Lydia (Jan 26, 1877). He was a
farmer, carpenter, and made furniture. A cane chair he made was owned
by his grandson, the late E. Jesse Kerchner. He is listed in the 1850
Census of Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County, Pa., page 161, line
13, William 'Kercher', age 19, apprentice. He was living with his
sister, Mary Ann, who married John Bastian, occupation wagoner. Since
William's father, John, owned two iron ore mines on his property, the
wagons were probably used to haul iron ore to Lockridge Furnaces in
Alburtis. William, according to the deed description for the property
he owned, probably lived in the house located at the 'V' intersection
of the road to Alburtis and the road to Trexlertown immediately north
of the entrance to the present Mack Truck facility. The present day
location of this road has been relocated from it's former location.
William Henry died, at the rather young age of 47, on Feb 4, 1879.
His father outlived him. William Henry is buried in the Solomon's
Church Cemetery, Section A, Lot 44, Grave #5. His wife, Lovina, who
died July 20, 1902, is buried by his side. I have photographed the
tombstones. A copy of Solomon's Church records are on file at the
Lehigh County Historical Society, Allentown, Pa. His estate was
administered at the Lehigh County Courthouse in 1879, File #5385.

     Jacob Benjamin Kerchner (1870-1941), my grandfather, son of
William Henry, was born December 13, 1870, on the "Kerchner Farm" near
Macungie, Lehigh County, Pa. On January 2, 1897, he married Emma M.
C. Derr, who was born September 7, 1877. Emma was the daughter of John
and Lucy Ann (nee Walbert) Derr. Jacob and Emma had 8 children -- Irvin
Jacob (was in business as a painter and paper hanger), Levina Estella
(died in childhood), Verna Ella (married James Heil of Macungie), John
Oscar (died in childhood), Edgar Harold, George Paul, Mildred Emma
(never married), and Charles Frederick. Jacob was a farmer but for a time
it is alleged he worked in Ohio as foreman at a pipe factory. His obituary
states that for 12 years he was proprietor of the Sunset Shirt Manufacturing
Company near Vera Cruz. He was also in partnership with William Kern in
a glove making business in Macungie, Pa. My father, Charles (Sr.),
remembers that for a while he managed several shirt manufacturing
businesses in Emmaus, Pa. and in Danielsville, Pa. He also was in
partnership with William Kern in a shirt factory in Emmaus, Pa. He was a
church elder for many years at Solomon's Reformed Church in Macungie, Pa.
He died on October 3, 1941. He is buried in Solomon's Church Cemetery,
Section B, Lot 23, Grave #5. His wife, Emma, who died November 20, 1956,
is buried by his side. I have photographed the tombstones. A copy of
Solomon's Church records are on file at the Lehigh County Historical
Society, Allentown, Pa. His will was recorded in 1941 at the Lehigh
County Courthouse, File #32110.

Links to other surnames and web sites of prime genealogical interest to me:
Laudenslager Genealogy Home Page.
Lucy Ann Walbert Genealogy Home Page.
Additional Surnames of Interest to Me Descendants Charts Page.

Rootsweb RSL List surname search engine.
U.S. Surnames Distribution Map home page.
Genetics and Genealogy Information Page
Kerchner Surname Y-DNA Chromosome Genetics and Genealogy Project
Library of Congress online catalog of holdings.
Palatines to America organization home page.
Pennsylvania Deutsch information page.
German-English On-Line Dictionary home page.
German Town Locator - GEO Serv procedures and instructions home page.
Old German Professions, Occupations, and Illnesses
National Genealogical Society organization home page.
National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution home page.
National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution home page.
Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet home page.
CLDS Online Ancestral File and IGI Search home page.
Vital Records Division Addresses for the 50 U.S. States.
Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records Address and Contact Information.
Pennsylvania GenWeb home page.
Lehigh County PA GenWeb home page.
Lehigh County Historical Society home page.
Dillingersville School - Union School and Church Association aka The Schoolhouse Near The Old Spring.
Early Lehigh Co PA Surnames, The 1812 Project home page.
Interactive Maps, Lehigh County PA, and Environs home page.
Berks County PA GenWeb home page.
Berks County Genealogical Society home page.

Other reports written by me:
18th Century PA German Naming Customs
18th Century PA German Nicknames
18th Century PA German Name Spelling Idiosyncrasies
PA Dutch Are Of German Heritage, Not Dutch
Kerchner and Kershner Are Different German Family Names
Kerchner and Kercher/Karcher Are Different German Family Names
Tips and Tricks For The Beginner - Genealogy 101

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Please feel free to contact me if you would like more information
and/or have information to share about other descendants or connections with this line.

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Charles F. Kerchner, Jr.
3765 Chris Drive
Emmaus PA 18049-1544 USA
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Copyright ©1996-2007
Charles F. Kerchner, Jr.
All Rights Reserved
Website Created - 1 Sep 1996
Website Updated - 7 Nov 2007