Hazzard Kesterson (1787 - 1833)

Born 1787 in Amherst, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Died 6 Jun 1833 at about age 46 in Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, United States

Research Notes

Note: Appeared as Hasard Kesterson, third son, in the will of John Kesterson of Island Township, Jefferson County, Ohio. ^[1]

Will of John Kesterson

In the name of God Amen. I John Kesterson of Island creek township Jefferson County and State of Ohio being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be Almighty God for the same do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say:

1. First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Kesterson all my houses and lands cows and horsed and chattel property of every kind whatever, that is to say my entire property of every kind whatever. Also all my money what I have or any due to me.
2. I do also give and bequeath to my oldest son Benjamin Kesterson the sum of one dollar and no more if demanded.
3. I also give and bequest to my second son, Silvaneous Welch Kesterson the sum of one dollar and no more if demanded.
4. I also give and bequeath to my third son Hasard Kesterson the sum of one dollar and no more if demanded.
5. I also give and bequeath to my fourth son Willis Kesterson the sum of one dollar and no more if demanded.
6. I also give and bequeath to my oldest daughter, Nancy Kesterson the sum of one dollar and no more if demanded.
7. I also give and bequeath to my second daughter Jincy Kesterson the sum of one dollar and no more if demanded.
   

Which said several sums I order to be paid to the said respective legalese within six months after my decease if demanded by them the said legacy.

1. I also give and bequeath to my third daughter Sarah Kesterson the sum of one dollar and no more if demanded.
   

I hereby appoint Benjamin Mains of Island Creek township Jefferson County State of Ohio and my beloved wife my executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills made by me. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five signed sealed published and declared by the above named John Kesterson to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator first read. ^[1]

Biography

• Fact: Burial (16 June 1833) Nashville City Cemetery, Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, United States
• Fact: http://familysearch.org/v1/LifeSketch Hazzard Kesterson was born about 1787 in Augusta Co VA. His death, brought on by Cholera, occurred 06 June 1833 in the Nashville, Davidson County TN prison. He was incarcerated March 8, 1833 for the crime of Petit Larceny committed in Anderson Co. He was 52 years of age at the time and sentenced to one year, but due to his death only served about 3 months. We don't know the circumstances surrounding Hazzard's life at this time, so the reasons for his having to steal are unknown.

Hazzard was married to Elizabeth Grass on the 6th of March 1807 in Augusta Co VA.^[2] We are yet uncertain as to just how many children Hazzard and Elizabeth were the parents of. From census reports and family data we have been able to determine there were about 10 - 13 children most or all of them born in Augusta Co VA. Hazzard Kesterson appeared at Augusta County, Virginia in the 1810 U.S. Census along with Silvester Kesterson who was listed on the next page of the report. ^[3] In 1820 Hazard Kesterson appeared at Augusta County. The Rebecca and Willis Kesterson households were also listed nearby. ^[4] In 1830 Hazzard Kesterson was listed in the Southern District, Augusta County on the same page as Willis Kesterson, and one page after the Benjamin and Rebecca Kesterson housholds. ^[5]It appears as though the family moved from Augusta County VA to Campbell Co TN around 1832 or so. If you have any information or corrections please let us know.

Unknown Male Kesterson born 1807 - 1810 Unknown Male Kesterson born 1807 - 1810 Mary Kesterson born about 1810 married James Lemay 21 August 1827 Augusta Co VA Unknown Male Kesterson born about 1811 Clara Kesterson b 15 June 1813 married Isaac Moore 28 August 1833 Augusta Co VA John Kesterson b 06 Feb 1818 m Martha Wilhite 10 Jul 1842 & Sarah Sweaton 31 Jul 1864 Campbell TN James Kesterson b abt 1820 m Margaret Lovely 14 Jan 1841 & Clarinda Riddle 11 Jul 1869 Campbell TN Levina Jane Kesterson b about 1821 married Ephraim Cooper 13 Jul 1839 Campbell TN Frederick Kesterson b December 1826 married Anna Lovely 28 November 1849 Campbell TN Nancy Kesterson b about 1832

Copied from Roots Web

Disambiguation

Rosemary Haber I thought the following might clear up some of the confusion. BEWARE - Two different Families!

WILLIAM THOMAS KESTERSON & FAMILY - "The Iowa Branch"

Actually there were "two" branches of the Kesterson line that settled in the same area of Iowa. They spent a lot of time back in the old days trying to figure out how they were related, but it wasn't until the mid 1970's that we finally were able to prove two different families.

The first group to arrive here around 1844, was William Thomas Kesterson and his wife Hannah M. Ulred. William was the son of Sylvester Welch & Elizabeth (Johnson) Kesterson. I believe Sylvester was born in Augusta, Virginia and he was the son of John Kesterson born 4 December 1842, in Northumberland County, Virginia. As best as can be determined John deserted his wife and children in Augusta, Virginia sometime before 1809 because we found a marriage license for this particular John and Elizabeth Bollen, in Jefferson County, Ohio. We were able to tie John back to the family in Augusta, Virginia by a will he left in Jefferson, Ohio where he named each child - leaving them $1.00 "if they so desired". There were no children between Elizabeth Bollen and John.

John's first wife is believed to be Elizabeth Rebecca Whitman whom he married 29 Nov. 1783, in Rockingham County, Virginia. Through various census records its is seen that "Rebecca" Kesterson, always a widow, was in close proximity to all of the known children that John named in his will. They were:

1) Benjamin Kesterson born about 1784 - Married Elizabeth Nancy Wood.

2) Sylvester Welch Kesterson born April 1785, married Elizabeth Johnson, settled in Anderson County, Tennessee.

3) Hazzard Kesterson born about 1787, married Elizabeth Grass, settled around Hamilton County, Tennessee.

4) Willis Kesterson born 12 Feb 1792, married Catherine Gregory, remained in Virginia.

5) Jenny Kesterson born about 1794.

6) Nancy Kesterson born 1796, married Jesse Wood.

7) Sarah Kesterson born 1798.

The Second Family line includes William Harvey Kesterson (1762 - 1837) born in Faquier County, VA and spouse Mary "Polly" Bailey. John Smith Kesterson (1712 - 1752) Is William Harvey's Great Grandfather.

Source Information: KESTERSON FAMILY GENEALOGY - RootsWeb

I hope this gives a little bit of insight to these families.

Rose O'Donnell

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Ohio, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1786-1998
2. ↑ [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9XF-4WJ2?i=117 "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch ( 29 January 2020); Hazard Hesterson and Elizabeth Grass, 1807; Reverand William King, Augusta County Marriages, Image 118, Page 45.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1810", database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 23 September 2022), Hazzard Kesterson, Augusta, Virginia, United States; citing p. 357, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 66; FHL microfilm 181,426.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1820", database with images, FamilySearch (16 July 2015), Virginia > Augusta > Middlebrook > image 38 of 38; citing NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ Year: 1830; Census Place: Southern District, Augusta, Virginia; Series: M19; Roll: 189; Page: 89; Family History Library Film: 0029668

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 08 October 2021, 17:10), entry for Hazzard Kesterson (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:G89Z-16L ); contributed by various users.