KOOSER, Jacob, of Berks and Somerset Counties, PA

Jacob Kooser was born 17 Nov 1754 in Berks Co PA,[1] son of Hans Michael Kooser and his wife Anna Maria Sybilla.[2]He died in Lavansville, Somerset Co PA, between 1 Dec 1794, the date he signed his will, and 5 Nov 1795, when the will was proved.[3] He was buried in Samuel’s Churchyard, Lavansville PA.

            He was married in 1785 in Colebrookdale, Berks Co PA, to Mary Sample. Mary was born about 1758, possibly in England or Delaware, and died after 29 Aug 1813 in Lavansville PA.

There was a John Sample in the same section of Bedford Co PA in 1790, and a George Sample in Milford Twp, Somerset Co in 1800. Three “Semple” men also witnessed her husband’s will.

Thomas M Koser writes: “Since three men by the name of Semple or Sample witnessed the will of Jacob Kooser, it is understandable why descendants are of the opinion that Jacob’s wife was a born Semple. However, there is some evidence pointing to the fact she may have been the daughter of Joseph Anthony, a merchant of Philadelphia. (This could be cleared by checking the Will of Joseph Anthony in Philadelphia Courthouse).”

Not so. I obtained Joseph Anthony’s estate and no reference is made to any relatives or to land in Somerset Co. (Note that for $28, which was a large genealogy expense for me at the time, the courthouse said they would send the will, but they sent the estate papers, not a will.) The biography of Joseph Shultz in Lee Co IL History[4] states that his grandmother was Mary Sample, that she came from England to Delaware to PA, and that she lived to the age of 83, that is, ca 1844, given a possible birthdate a few years younger than her husband, and within the adult memory of Joseph Shultz.

I used to think that during the Revolutionary War, Jacob Kooser served in Capt Stephen Crumrine’s Berks Co PA Company of Militia. But this was likely a brother Michael who also had a given name of Jacob, after the German patterns of naming. At any rate, the NSDAR rejected my supplemental application, claiming there were several Jacobs and mine was likely not as old as the 1754 birthdate universally used among his descendants.

Sometime after his father’s death in 1774,[5] Jacob moved to Bedford Co PA, the part which later became Somerset Co PA. Jacob executed a deed in Berks Co PA when he moved west, 1794. He was also mentioned by name in a sister’s will. His brother also moved to Somerset Co. Both men were in Milford Twp, Bedford Co in 1790. Bedford Co PA, p 24. Jacob Kiser: 1/0/1. The widow, Mary Kooser, was on a 1796 tax list in Milford Township.[6] Her 1800 census shows all four children living at home: Somerset Co PA, Somerset Twp. Polly Kyser: 11001/11010/00. In 1810, she was probably with her daughter, Catherine Shultz’s family: Somerset Co PA, p 369, Conrad Shultz: 11010/21201.

Jacob and Mary’s children were:

1. Catherine KOOSER was born on 26 Jun 1786 in Colebrookdale, Berks Co PA. Catherine died in Lavansville, Somerset Co PA, on 1 Jan 1863; she was 76. About 1806 Catherine married Conrad SHULTZ, son of Michael SHULTZ & Maria RUSH, in Somerset Co  PA. Born on 27 Oct 1780 in Tewksbury, Hunterdon Co NJ, Conrad died in Lavansville, Somerset Co PA, on 9 Apr 1853. They had the following children:

            i.            Mary (1807-1859)

            ii.            Phoebe (1810-1838)

            iii.            Eliza (~1810-1894)

            iv.            Joseph (1819-1902)

            v.            David (1822-1851)

            vi.            Ann Sophia (1824-1876)

            vii.            Henrietta (1829-1900)

2. John KOOSER was living in 1800 in Somerset Co PA, but reportedly died young.

 

3. Maria M KOOSER was born ca 1790 in Colebrookdale, Berks Co PA, she was probably living in 1810 in the household of her sister and brother-in-law, Conrad Shultz. She is reported to have married a Mr Rickard, although that name is not known in either census or cemetery records in Somerset County.

4. Jacob Semple KOOSER was born on 13 Jan 1795 in Somerset Co PA. Jacob died in Cedar Rapids, Linn Co IA, on 25 Jan 1872. He first married Eleanor PARKE. Born on 20 Aug 1799 in Somerset Co PA, Eleanor died in Somerset Co PA, after 1827. Jacob second married Margaret JOHNSON. Born ca 1810 in PA, Margaret was living in Somerset Co PA in 1860. Jacob was the father of 13 children. With Eleanor he had:

i. Curtis O, 28 MAR 1819 in Jefferson TWP, Somerset Co, PA

ii.     Benjamin Parke, 1 JAN 1822 in Westmoreland Co., PA

iii.   William, 1825 in Jefferson TWP, Somerset Co, PA

iv.   Herman Horton, 9 SEP 1827 in Somerset Co, PA

With Margaret, he had these children:

v.     Catherine, 1838

vi.   Mary, 1840

vii.  Elizabeth, 1842

viii.             Rose A, 1844

ix.   John, 1846

x.     Henry, 1847

xi.   Alfred, 1848

xii.   Emma, 1850

xiii.              Rebecca, 1852

© 2008, Kathy Alvis Patterson

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[1] Baptized 20 Apr 1755, Jacob Bauman and wife were sponsors. He was confirmed 1 May 1774 (17 years old, the late Michael’s son), New Hanover Lutheran Church, Falkner’s Swamp, Montgomery Co PA. It has been suggested that Jacob’s mother was a Bauman, that is, a relative of the baptismal sponsors of her child.

[2] Hans Michael Kooser and His Descendants, by Thomas M Koser of Mechanicsburg PA.

[3] Somerset Past, I, 1, p 5, “Wills and Administrations, Somerset Co, Will Book 1: Jacob Kooser of Milford Township, Bedford County, yeoman. ‘Sick and weak in body.’ Wife: Mary. Son John. Daughters: Catherine, Mary. Also mentions: ‘and child my wife is now big of.’ Executors: wife Mary and trusty friend Adam Keffer. Witnesses: George Semple, William Semple, John Semple Jr. Will dated 1 Dec 1794; proved 5 Nov 1795. (page 17).

[4] Lee Co IL History, p 352-353.

[5] New Hanover Lutheran Church, d Feb 26 1774 (age given): will 1774.

[6] Somerset Co genweb site has this: Copied from The History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania, 1884. 1796 Tax List Milford Township: Mary Kooser.

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