George Kissling, Jr.

(Note: Much of the followiing information comes from the research of Michael E. Keesling.)

(Also note that the surname was spelled Kisling, Kissling and Keesling in tax, court and census records.    We do not know which spelling was used by the family.)

George Kissling, Jr. was born in 1759, near Reading, in Berks County, Pennsylvania.     He was the eldest of at least nine children born to Johann Georg Kisling and Anna Maria Muller.   

George served as a Private in the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War in the Continental Army, along with his younger brother, Conrad.   

According to the writings of Harold Charles Keesling, by 1776 Georg Kisling, Sr. had acquired about 600 acres of land and had entered into the liquor business as a distiller.   By 1781, the family owned 2 stills.   It is only logical to assume that George, Jr. worked in the business with his father.   

Michael E. Keesling relates that "a Funding Tax of over 13 pounds State and over 13 pounds County was assessed on George Kissling and George Kissling, Jr. in 1783.    It was recorded that Tax Collector George Kemp was allowed a deficiency upon the items of Georg and George, Jr. ..... The deficiency only meant that the tax was not collected at that time.   The tax assessment could have been contested or payment extension for a later date could have been set at the time of collection.    In 1784, a Return and Assessment was recorded on Georg Kisling for 2 stills, 200 acres, 5 horses, 3 cattle and 6 sheep.     George, Jr. was assessed and taxed on 1/4 acre."

Keesling further relates that "a supplies tax of Maxatawny township in 1785 was assessed on George Kissling, Sr., George Kissling, Jr., single freeman and Conrad Kissling, single freeman.    A deficiency was allowed to Henry Grim, collector on this tax collection.    This was the last recorded record of George Kissling, Sr. in Pennsylvania.    George, Jr. and Conrad appeared on the 1786 Maxatawny supplies tax; but this was the last record of them in Pennsylvania."

On February 4, 1784, George's brother, Jacob Kissling drowned in the Schuylkill River.    Orphans Court records show that on March 25, 1784, Jacob Kissling, above the age of 14, son of Jacob Kissling, chose George Kissling as his guardian.    On February 8, 1785, Walburga Kissling, widow and administratrix of Jacob Kissling, deceased, reported the sale to George Kissling of Maxatawny township for 1201 pounds.

It appears that George's father moved to Montgomery County, Virginia by late 1785.    We believe George, Jr. and his brother Conrad followed him to Virginia in 1786.

The 1787 Montgomery County, Virginia Personal Property Tax list dated Mar 31, 1787, shows George Keasler taxed on 3 tithes, 4 horses and 4 cattle.    The tithes were listed as George, Sr, George and Konrad Keasler.

George's father died June 3, 1788.    The 1788 Montgomery County Personal Property Tax list dated Oct 10, 1788, shows George Keasler (this was George, Jr.) taxed on 1 tithe and 1 horse, and his brother Konrad Keasler taxed on 1 tithe and 2 horses. 

George married Catherine Goss on November 2, 1791, in Wythe County.    Catherine Goss was born about 1764, in Rowan County, North Carolina.    She was the daughter of Stephen Goss (born 1720, Alsace, Germany; died August 10, 1799, Wythe Co, VA) and Catherine Spraker (born 1745, PA; died after 1809, Wythe Co, VA). 

                                                                                             Michael E. Keesling relates that "George inherited most of his father's farm and property in 1788.   On November 9, 1790, he purchased 190 acres on both sides of both forks of Mill Creek, a branch of the New River.    On December 13, 1796, George purchased 110 acres on Peek Creek from James and Florence Patton.    On May 14, 1799, George purchased 37 acres from his brother-in-law and sister, Jacob and Phobe Kisling.    On July 10, 1802, he purchased 363 acres in two tracts on Cripple Creek from Charles and Sarah Buster.    This was the beginning of the Keeslings' farm, saw mill and store at Cedar Springs, Virginia.    The 1815 Virginia Tax Assessment showed him living on a 296 acre farm on the head waters of Cripple Creek.    The farm consisted of a two story log home, 30 ft. by 24 ft., a barn, a barn house, loom house, spring house, meat house and three other old houses all made of logs.    The total assessed value of this farm was $2000."

The 1820 Wythe County census shows George Kisler, a male over 45; two males 18-25; one male 16-18; one male 10-15; one female (Catherine) over 45; and one female 10-15 years old.   Also listed on the same page of the census were the families of his widowed sister-in-law, Rebecca Kisling (Conrad's widow); John Kisling, 16-25 years old; John Kisling 26-44 years old; and Peter Kisler 26-44 years old.   

The 1830 Wythe County census shows George Kesling, a male 70-79; and a female (Catherine) 70-19 years of age.    Listed next to George on the census was the family of George Kesling, Jr., 20-29 years old.     Also listed on the same page were the families of Joseph Kesling, 20-29 years old; Peter Kesling, 30-39 years old; and John Kesling, 30-39 years old. 

There is disagreement on when Catherine Kissling died.   We believe she died between 1830 and 1840, in Wythe County.     

George Kissling died March 19, 1840, in Wythe County and was buried in the Keesling Cemetery in Wythe County.    We have been told Catherine is buried beside him. 

We are unsure how many children were born to George and Catherine.    We have record of eight of their children.

Children of George Kissling, Jr. and Catherine Goss