Barbara Kerstetter (abt. 1785 - 1882)

Born about 7 Jul 1785 in Province of Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Died 29 Aug 1882 at about age 97 in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Michael Kerstetter [send private message], Matt Pryber [send private message], and Linda Perry [send private message]

Name Uncertainty

There is uncertainty regarding the name of John Leonard and Elizabeth Kerstetter's last daughter. "The Kerstetter Family : The Early Years, 1727-1850" by Steve Kerstetter^[1] gives her name as Barbara, maybe born about 1785. The name almost certainly comes from the Orphan's Court record which names guardians for "Henry, George and Barbara, minor children of Leonard Kerstetter, deceased".^[2] Steve Kerstetter doesn't mention a daughter Hannah and neither does the guardianship ruling, which it would if Hannah were a separate child born in that year. No primary record has been found that mentions Barbara besides the Orphan's Court record.

There are several primary records referring to Hannah, but any connection to John Leonard and Elizabeth is indirect and from a secondary source. Specifically, "Genealogical and Biographical Annals of Northumberland County, PA", in a passage about Johan Philip Bubb, mentions that his first and second wives "Magdalena and Hannah Kerstetter, respectively, were sisters".^[3] Records link Bubb to both Magdalena and Hannah and the birth date on Magdalena Kerstetter Bobb's headstone^[4] matches a baptismal record for Magdalena, daughter of Johan Leonhard and Elizabeth Kerstetter.^[5] The birth date on Hannah Kerstetter Bobb's headstone is a 1785 date which matches Steve Kerstetter's estimate for Barbara.^[6]

So the question left unanswered is: is this woman named Barbara or Hannah, or is one a first name and the other a middle name, or are there actually two separate daughters?

All of this said, the following biography assumes Barbara and Hannah are the same single individual, possible in a first/middle name situation. This can all be changed if better information can be found to solve the dilemma.

Biography

Barbara/Hannah was born in Pennsylvania on 7 Jul 1785,^[6] the daughter of Leonard Kirstaetter and Anna Zehrung.

Barbara/Hannah's sister, Magdalena, was the wife of Johann Philip Bobb and after Magdalena's death in 1812, Barbara/Hannah married the widower Bobb and had five (or possibly six) children^[3]:

• Frederick Leonard (1818-1893) (see Research Note)
• Salome (aka Sally) (1820-1901)
• Mary (aka Polly) (1821-1901)
• Catherine (1822-1890)
• Isaac (1825-1890)
• Susanna (aka Susan) (1829-1850)

Philip and Barbara/Hannah are recorded in the 1850 US Census as living alone in Little Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County.^[7] After Philip's death, Barbara/Hannah is recorded in the 1860 US Census as living with her son Isaac and his family in the same township. ^[8] Barbara/Hannah should appear in the 1870 and 1880 censuses, but she has not yet been found.

Barbara/Hannah (Kerstetter) Bobb passed away 29 Aug 1882 in Shamokin, Northumberland County and is buried at the Stone Valley Cemetery.^[6]

Research Notes

The Annals does NOT list a child Frederick Leonard, but DOES list a child Polly (Mary in the list above), married to John Patrick.^[3] Frederick comes from Family Search.

Sources

1. ↑ Book: Family of Johan Leonhardt Kerstetter Sr and Anna Elizabeth Zehrung; The Kerstetter Family : The Early Years, 1727-1850; Steve Kerstetter; self-published; 1996, pp. 20-21.
2. ↑ Record: Northumberland County, PA, Orphans Court docket, 1772-1868; index 1772-1930, p. 117 (image 148); https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKS-L9PT-P
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Book: Families of Johan Philip Bubb; Genealogical and Biographical Annals of Northumberland County, PA; J. L. Floyd & Co.; Chicago, IL; 1911; p. 270.
4. ↑ Burial: "Find A Grave Index"
   citing record ID 38761304, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
   FamilySearch Record: QVKF-6H6P (accessed 14 July 2023)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #38761304
   Magdalena Kerstetter Bobb burial (died in 1812) in Hickory Corners, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
5. ↑ Baptism: "Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950"
   citing FHL microfilm: 823598;
   FamilySearch Record: V2JX-GM4 (accessed 14 July 2023)
   Magdalena Kirstatter baptism on 3 Nov 1782 (born 2 Nov 1782), daughter of Leonhardt Kirstatter & Elisabeth, in Washington Township, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Burial: "Find A Grave Index"
   citing record ID 38690772, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
   FamilySearch Record: QVKF-6H62 (accessed 14 July 2023)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #38690772
   Hannah Kerstetter Bobb burial (died on 29 Aug 1882) in Hickory Corners, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
7. ↑ 1850 Census: "United States Census, 1850"
   citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
   FamilySearch Record: M4CC-D32 (accessed 14 July 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-DZH9-C6K Image number 00365
   Hannah Bupp (54) in Lower Mahanoy Township, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States. Born in Pennsylvania.
8. ↑ 1860 Census: "United States Census, 1860"
   citing Page: 9; Affiliate Publication Number: M653; Affiliate Film Number: 1149; FHL microfilm: 805149; Record number: 12683;
   FamilySearch Record: MX5J-X3P (accessed 14 July 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GBSF-977Y Image number 00313
   Hannah Babb (68) in Lower Mahanoy Township, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States. Born in Pennsylvania.