Forgive me if this message arrived twice.
Hello and thanks to all who have gotten me started on the genealogy for my kids.
I have reached that proverbial brick wall, and I'm hoping to find the answer
here.
I know that the Custers of Old Berkeley Co. VA are descended from Peter and
Elizabeth. I can trace back to John Custer who was born in 1818 and died in
1902. He spent his entire life in Berkeley County, marrying Lucinda Collis
(Lucy) in 1850. He was referred to as "Jack" in many of the court documents
and in Lucinda's obit. Jack and Lucy had four children: William Alonzo,
Winfield Scott, Daniel, and Daisy.
I can't pin down Jack's parents. I know Mark, son of Peter, had a John
Peter, born in 1818, but this John moved on to the western part of the
state. Peter and Elizabeth had a John who married Rachel Morgan, but he
went back to PA where he died.
At Jack and Lucy's marriage in 1850 the suretor was Jonathan Custer. The
census for 1850 shows a Jonathan Custer household, with Jonathan being 33
years old, a Mrs. J. age 40, and a John, age 25. Jonathan was born in PA,
John was born in VA.
There was also a John Custer, married to Mary Baker, who died in the 1840's
leaving his widow with 7 children under the age of 21, including a John but
I can't figure out the parentage of Mary Baker's husband John either.
Mary's son John may be the same John living with Jonathan in 1850, and
possibly the same John I'm tracking down, although the age is wrong if the
1850 census is right in listing John as age 25.
In later census reports there was a Jonathan Custer (advancing in age
concurrently as the suretor Jonathan) who lived with an older woman named
Kesiah, (Cassie, and other spellings). This woman may, and likely was, his
mother. Many Berkeley County marriages list Reuben and the multi-spelled
Kesiah as the parents.
If I could pin down the parents of John ( "Jack" 1818-1902) I would have the
complete lineage down to my grandson age 16 months!
Seems that Berkeley County has too many Johns! I hope someone out there has
a clue!!
Thanks
Polly Custer
Berkeley Co WV
e-mail:
pjc(a)mail.usa.com
or
pcuster(a)access.k12.wv.us
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