Name of Patriot: Frederick Keister, Jr.
NSSAR Patriot # P-227699
Submitted by: Michael Wayne Barrett
Frederick Keister, Jr. was born in Strasbourgh, Germany, in 1730, son of Frederick Keister, Sr. (b.1704)
Frederick Keister, Jr., came from Germany as a young boy on the ship "Virginia-Grace" on Sept. 24, 1737, and first settled in Lancaster & York Counties, Pennsylvania.
Frederick Keister, Jr. married Miss Hannah (Dyer) (1735-c1819), d/o Roger Dyer & Hannah (Green), in Bath Co., Virginia, in 1755. He was an early pioneer settler on South Fork River near Brandywine, Augusta Co. (now Pendleton Co.), (W.) Virginia, where his children were born and raised.
Frederick Keister, Jr. was naturalized on May 18, 1762 along with other German neighbors. (Abstracts of the Records of Augusta Co., Virginia, by Lyman Chalkley, Vol. 1, pg 97)
He served in the Revolutionary War from Augusta & Rockingham Counties, Virginia, and qualified as lieutenant in the Virginia Militia on Sept. 28, 1778. (Virginia Militia in the Revolution, J. T. McAllister, pg. 230; Abstracts from the records of Augusta County, Virginia, Lyman Chalkley, Vol. II, pg. 364); He was a member of a band of Indian scouts and a 1st Lieut. in the 46th Regiment of the Virginia Militia in 1782; He is also listed as furnishing supplies in an account dated May 29, 1782 (A History of Rockingham County, Virginia, John W. Wayland, pg.101); & "Frederick Eister" (List of Colonial Soldiers in Virginia, by H. J. Eckenrode, pg 37)
"Frederick Keister" is listed on the 1792 Pendleton Co., (W.) Virginia, tax list
Frederick Keister's will was written on August 10, 1806, and witnessed by John Davis, Robert Davis, Robert Davis, and Henry Puffenberger, was proved on December 5, 1815. He willed that "... all my just debts and funeral charges be paid...to my dearly beloved wife one negro wench named Poll, two beds and beding, two pair bedsteds, one-third of all my moveable property...to my beloved sons, Frederick Keister and George Keister, all my lands on this side of the river...to my son James Keister, all my lands on the side of the river he now lives on by paying 35 pounds...equally divided amongst all my daughters...appoint my wife, Hannah Keister, and James Keister executors..."
Frederick Keister, Jr., died in Pendleton Co., (W.) Virginia, on November 28, 1815, and is buried in the Keister Cemetery #3 near Brandywine, Pendleton Co., W. Va.
HIS CHILDREN WERE:
James Keister, Sr. (1756-1824)
Hannah (Keister) Hull (1757-1837)
Elizabeth (Keister) Hull (c.1759- )
Sarah (Keister) Blizzard (1762- )
Mary (Keister) Kile (c1765- )
Esther (Keister) Hull (c1769-1836)
Frederick Keister, III (1774-1857)
George William Keister, Sr. (1776-1854)
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