Abraham G. Sellers

Other Events:

• Census: 1850, Clear Creek Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States; as George Sellers, farmer, head of household
• Beneficiary: 12 May 1852; in the will of his father, Jacob Sellers
• Census: 1860, Clear Creek Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States; as George Sellers, farmer, head of household

George married Anne Sellers on 25 Sep 1814 in Warren County, Ohio, United States. Anne (daughter of John Sellers and Henrietta Smith) was born on 12 Dec 1794 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; died on 18 Jun 1856 in Warren County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Annie Sellers
• Census: 1850, Clear Creek Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States; as Annie Sellers, in the household of George Sellers

Other Events:

• Obituary: Newspaper unknown
• Name: Jacob Zeller
• Census: 1830, Turtlecreek Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States; as Jacob Sellers
• Census: 1840, Turtlecreek Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States; as Jacob Sellers
• Census: 1850, Turtlecreek Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States; as Jacob Sellars, farmer, in the household of Abrahan Miller
• Will: 12 May 1852, Warren County, Ohio, United States
• Probate: 24 Feb 1853, Warren County, Ohio, United States

Notes:

In 1798 when Jacob Sellers came to Ohio, he settled in what was Hamilton County, (now Warren County,). Warren County, was not formed until 1803.

Jacob was one of the pioneer settlers of Warren County, Ohio, arriving there before either the county or the state was formed. He and his cousin John pioneered the route followed by other Sellers' emmigrating to Ohio, over the Allegheny mountains by wagon to Brownsville, Pennsylvania, and then by raft down the Monongahela and Ohio rivers to the vicinity of Cincinnati. This trip of some six hundred miles, more twice the direct distance, took a month or more, depending on the weather, luck, Indians, and other factors. In 1798 he purchased 300 acres from John Symmes in the northern part of what was to become Warren county

Notes- 1. Symmes Tract Transactions. p. 36. 2. Warren County, Ohio Will book 12, p. 594. [Reference: Frank M. Sellers, "Sellers - A Preliminary Study of the Descendants of Heinrich Sellers", (Denver, Colorado: Lion Press, 1984), pg. 8.]

Excerpt from old letter.....
My recollection of grandfather Jacob Sellers is that he was a man of rather less than medium height, well made and active; rather quiet in his movements. He made regular visits to his children living near him, about once a month, and always came on horseback. He rode a good animal; well kept, and gentle and a good traveler, and always well groomed. He was always neatly and clearly dressed and smoothly shaven. Hair white, with a pleasant, cheerful countenance, and a great friend among us children. We were always in high glee when grandfather came. He spoke very broken English, and asked the blessing at table in German. I remember the queer sounds of his words yet. He was a zealous active member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Lebanon at the time of his death, and had been for many years before.

His first wife's name was Runkel, as you see by Adam's sketch; and his second marriage was to a Munger, an aunt, I think, of George Munger of Clear Creek township, who died some years ago.

Grandfather came to Turtle Creek township north of Lebanon, in 1798. He remained on the same farm until the time of his death, which was in 1853 or 1854, if my memory is not at fault. He was not a great man, nor exceedingly wise. He never became wealthy, nor tried to do so, was possessed of some 160 acres of land and some money and property; but he was a good man, honest and loyal, and a good Christian, of a type not to be mistaken. [Source: Letter dated 'Waynesville, O. June 9th, 1890', includes this description of Jacob Sellers written by his grandson, Peter Sellers (1834). The sketch he refers to is with Peter Sellers notes]

Excerpt from old letter.....
In 1798 or 1799 the Jacob Sellers family moved from Virginia to Warren County, Ohio. It was in Turtle Creek township north of Lebanon, Ohio that Jacob Sellers settled, remaining on the same farm until his death in 1853. At the time he purchased land Jacob Sellers was the head of one of the original families of that then remote region of and can be considered one of the true pioneers of Warren County, Ohio. These excerpts are taken from an article entitled, "Lebanon, City of Culture and Education," which appeared in the July 15, 1936 addition of "The Cincinnati Enquirer: Into this wild, unsettled region a few determined pioneers visioned a city dedicated American ideals, culture, and education. The scalping of Indians and the howling of wolves had scarcely ceased when the few settlers of the outpost laid the foundation of the first school. The building stood on the north bank of Turtle Creek, not far from the present boundary of Lebanon. From this small group there came some famous characters, among them the familiar names of Thomas Corwin, Judge Kesling, Hon. Moses B. Corwin, A. H. Dunlevy, William Taylor, Matthias Corwin, Daniel Voorhis, and Jacob Sellers.

He was buried in the Old Methodist Graveyard, Lebanon. His wife's grave is located in the Presbyterian Cemetery.

Birth:
(now Augusta County, Virginia)

Obituary:

DIED.
On the 10th inst., at his residence near Lebanon, Mr. Jacob Sellers, in the 87th year of his age. The subject of this notice removed from Rrockingham County, Va., to the Turtlecreek Valley, Warren County, Ohio, about the year 1798, and was thenceforward until the time of his dath one of the valuable accesions which this vicinity gained by the emigration of that early period in the history of this community. Industrious, honest and frugal, he was enabled to possess himself of the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, and a competency of this world's wealth. The writer of this notice is not wware of the precise period when he embraced religion, He was a number of years a member of the German Reformed Church, but eleven or twelve years since united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in this place, by letter, in which he lived an example of punctuality, humility and meekness, honored and beloved by all who knew him.
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."

Will:


Last Will and Testament of Jacob Sellers
—I Jacob Sellers of Warren County, Ohio do make & publish this my last will & testament.
—Item 1st, It is my will, that after my death the farm in which I live be sold by my Executors to the best advantage, either at public or private sale, and upon such terms of credit as my said Executors shall think advisable, and the proceeds of the sale thereof be equality divided among my following children and heirs to wit: George Sellers, the children of Nancy Gallaher, Lucinda Miller, Rebecca Long, Mary Miller, Sarah Sheets and Jacob M. Sellers. That is to son George Sellers and his heirs to receive one equal seventh part of the proceeds of the sale of said farm; the children of Nancy Gallaher and their heirs to receive one equal share equal seventh part of the proceeds of the sale of said farm; Lucinda Miller to receive one equal seventh part of the proceeds of the sale of said farm; Rebecca Long and her heirs to receive one equal seventh part of the sale of said farm; Mary Miller to receive one equal seventh part of the proceeds of the sale of said farm; Sarah Sheets to receive one equal seventh part of the proceeds of the sale of said farm and Jacob M. Sellers to receive the one equal seventh part of the proceeds of the sale of said farm. The portion of the heirs of Nancy Gallaher to remain in the hands of my Executors to be paid out to them as they respectively become of age.
—Item 2nd, it is my will that out of my personal estate all my just debts and funeral expenses be fully paid, and the residue be divided among my children as follows to wit: My son Jacob M. Sellers to receive One Hundred Dollars for extra services by him performed after he becomes of age; Abraham Miller to receive One Hundred Dollars for services received; and after the said Two Hundred Dollars and my just debts and funeral expenses are paid, my son John Sellers to receive one ninth part of my said personal estate; my son George Sellers to receive on ninth part of my personal estate; the children of Nancy Gallaher to receive on ninth part of the same upon the same terms and in the same way that they are to receive their portion of my real estate; my daughter Lucinda Miller to receive one ninth part of the same; my son Wm. Sellers to receive one ninth part of the same; my daughter Rebecca Long to receive one ninth part of the same; my daughter Mary Miller to receive one ninth part of the same; my daughter Sarah Sheets to receive one ninth part of the same; and my son Jacob M. Sellers to receive one ninth part of the same.
—Item Third, I hereby release and discharge my sons John & William Sellers all claims for advancements by me to them made with in money or the purchase of land for them or either of the said advancements being considered equal in a full share of my real estate, and will make them equal with the rest of my children and heirs.
—Item 4th, I do hereby nominate and appoint my sons William Sellers and Jacob M. Sellers, Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby authorizing and appointing them to compromise, adjust, release and discharge in such manner as they may deem proper the debts & claims due me.
—I hereby revoke all former wills by me made.
In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal this 12th day of May 1852.
Jacob Sellers [Seal]
—Signed, sealed and acknowledged by the said Jacob Sellers as his last Will & Testament in our presence & signed by us In his presence.
Leonard Peckenpaugh
Benj. Blackburn

Jacob married Christina Runkle on 11 Oct 1788 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. Christina (daughter of Peter Runkle and Margaret Steiner Koch) was born on 2 Mar 1772 in Augusta County, Virginia, British Colonial America; died on 31 Aug 1807 in Ohio, United States; was buried in Sep 1807 in Warren County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Nancy Christene Runkle
• Nationality: of German origin

Notes:

Buried:
(Moved from Presbyterian Cemetery)

Other Events:

• Census: 1830, Lockport, Warren County, Ohio, United States

John married Henrietta Smith on 2 Dec 1793 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. Henrietta was born in Apr 1775 in Augusta County, Virginia, British Colonial America; died on 2 Dec 1843 in Warren County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Dec 1843 in Warren County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: John Sellers

Notes:

Johannes Zellers (aka. John Sellers) born in Weinheim, Germany, in the Duchy of Baden, in the Holy Roman Empire came to America with his father Heinrich and mother, Anna Maria, on the Ship Queen Elizabeth and landed in Philadelphia 16 September 1738. He died between January 1804 and March 1804 in Rockingham County, Virginia.

In 1758, John was a private in the Augusta County, militia and helped defend the frontier during the French and Indian War (1754-63) In 1761 he purchased 130 acres from his father, married the daughter of the neighboring farmer and started his own farm. Less than a year later, he inherited 135 acres from the estate of his father-in-law and on July 7, 1763 patented another 195 acres, bringing his total to 460 acres. On 16 Oct. 1765 Johannes (John) Sellers was naturalized in Augusta County, Va. and qualified as a Justice. He was an active participant in all phases of community affairs. On March 16, 1772 he sold the land he got from his father to his son Henry. In 1773 he purchased 64 acres from Calem Price to replace it. During the Revolutionary War (1775-83) he furnished tools and provisions to the American forces. Like most others who furnished supplies to the fledgling government, he found that the pay was slow in coming, with the final payment more than five years after the delivery of goods.

In anticipation of his death, John, Sr. engaged in several land transactions with his son, John, Jr. On October 7, 1803, he sold his son the 330 acres from his original patent for £765. On November 15, 1803, he purchased the land back for £860 and on December 12, 1803 he sold his 130 acres for £260. The net effect of this was to reduce the size of the farm and accumulate some cash.

He continued to sign his name in German in business transactions after many of his German neighbors had started using English. He was named by the Court to appraise estates and report to the court. He is listed as a Rockingham County, landowner in 1789 with 394 acres in Militia District 12.

John Sellers' will, written shortly before his death in 1804, contained several interesting provisions. He had a family of at least 4 sons and 5 daughters who are named in his will. He left the remainder of the farm to John, Jr. and Daniel with the provision that they pay each of the girls a yearly fee, cut Jacob off with the note that he had received his part of the estate when he left for Ohio, then called New Pennsylvania, in 1797. He evidently became involved in a disagreement with his son Henry that he never resolved and felt it was necessary for him to ask Henry to leave Rockingham before receiving his inheritance. He left Henry £40 to be delivered "as soon as he leaves the country." At the same time he says Henry's share was equal to his brothers and sisters. The dispute with Henry arose over Henry's immediate sale of the land he got from John in 1772.

It was noted that members of Johannes family spoke and wrote German. Many of them spelled their name Sellars before converting to Sellers.

WILL.....
Book A pg. 12 (Note: typed as written in will book, blank lines are unreadable)

In the name of god Amen. I John Sellers of Rockingham County, being week in body, but in perfect mind and memory and calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all ____ recommend my soul unto the _____ to be buried in a decent Christian manner a _____ my executors nothing doubting but at the general resurrecti__ receive the same again by the mighty power of God. And as to- such worldly estate where with it has pleased God to bless me in life, I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth my horse her saddle and bridle, two cows, two beds with furniture a big iron kettle a duch oven an iron pot, her spinning wheel and big wheel the reel all the peuter in the house all the flax thread and cloth which shall be found a--- decease; also the choice of two sheep all thares and t__ Further is it my will that my said wife shall keep her possession of my dwelling house and both gardens during ___ natural life. Further it is my will that my wife shall receive her maintainance by my two sons JOHN and DANIEL ___ as is pointed out in an obligation signed by said JOHN ___ DANIEL letters and bearing date the 16th of January 18__ unto my son HENRY I give and bequeath the sum of Forty dollars ds to be paid unto him by my son JOHN as soon as my sd ___ HENRY shall leave this part of the country he having already received by my hand such a sum as well with the above ___ other Forty pounds make him equal with his other brothers and sisters in his share of my land I shall die in possessing of My son JACOB he having received at the time of his moving to New Pensylvania a like sum to be equal to his share of land and for which he has given his receipt, he shall be entitled to his share of my movable estate __ ___ JOHN and DANIEL and their heirs I _____ is to have the lower containing one hundred and thirty and my son Daniel the upper part containing one hundred and thirty four acres: the division in the said land is run by Mr. Thomas Mauzy. Further I give and bequeath unto my daughters Catherine, Elizabeth, Molly, Margaret and Christena and their heirs, to each of them the sum of One Hundred pounds lawful money of Virginia to be paid unto them or heirs by my sons John and Daniel. As the sum my sons John and Daniel have to pay equally divided will amount to Two hundred and fifty pounds each it is my will that each of them shall pay yearly the sum of twenty five pounds, which two payments one of their sisters or heirs shall receive, but the time of paying such a sum shall not commence, not till a full year after my decease, and continue till all their sisters have received their legacies. It is also my will that my daughters shall receive the first payment of fifty pounds in such an order as will be decided by lots; and after; and after each of them shall have received their first payments then the last payment shall begin in the same order as before. Item my sons John and Daniel though they shall enjoy the possession of my lands, it is my will that none of them shall have power to sell off their sharenot till after my wifes decease and in case of sale the other brother of these two shall have the first offer, at such a price as another person might buy it. All the remaining-movables after my wifes decease shall be sold by my executors and to be divided equally ___ all my children the wearing of my wif__ Lastly I do hereby constitute and apoin_ my _____ executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoke all other or former wills by me heretofore made.

In witness whereof I have set hereunto my hand and seal the 17th day of January A.D. One thousand eight hundred and four.
John Sellers (S__)

Signed, sealed, published and delivered as and for the last will and testament of the above named John Sellers in the presents of us
Philip Long
Michael Rhinehard
Jacob Yancey

Rockingham March Court 1804
The last will and testament of John Sellers Senr. was settled in Court and Proved by the oaths of Philip Long Michael Rhinehard and John Yancey three witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the of John Sellers the executor therein ___med who made oath therein and with security entered into ___ acknowledged bond Conditioned as the law directs a Certificate is granted him for obtaining a Probate in due form.

Teste: S.W. Williams

Source:
[1] Mary Marie Koontz Arrington, "Cradled by the Masanutten: The Zellers-Sellers Family", Baltimore: Gateway Press, 1986
[2] Frank M. Sellers, "Sellers a Preliminary Study of the Descendants of Heinrich Sellers", Denver, Colorado: Lion Press, 1984

Johannes married Elizabeth Perkey in 1761 in Augusta County, Virginia, British Colonial America. Elizabeth (daughter of Henry Perkey and Margaret Runkle) and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Baptism: 8 Apr 1746, Wackernheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany; now Wackernheim, Mainz-Bingen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
• Immigration: 7 Sep 1748, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial Ameirca; Aboard the ship "Hampshire"
• Census: 1810, Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; 1810 Federal Census
• Census: 1820, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; 1820 Federal Census
• Will: Aug 1821, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States
• Probate: 7 Aug 1821, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States

Notes:

Peter Runkle served as Constable of Augusta County in 1767 and served in Frazer's Company from Virginia during the Revolution.

Peter received his share of the estate in his father's lifetime so that he would take care of his mother, Anna Maria (Hammer) Runkle, who was nearly helpless for two and a half years before her death in 1813. Therefore, Peter is not named in his father's will. Margaret Runkle b: 04 APR 1776.

Birth:
now Wackernheim, Mainz-Bingen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

Immigration:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS84-X3QT-M?cat=1031370

Census:
as Peter Runkle

Census:
as Peter Runkle

Will:

I Peter Runcle of the county of Rockingham and State of Virginia do hereby make my last will and Testament in manner and form following First I desire my that all the perishable and moveable part of my estate be immediately sold, after my decease and out of the monies arrising therefrom, all my Just debts and funeral expences to be paid. 2ndly. After the payment of my debts and funeral expences by my Executers which will be named hereafter I give to my wife Margaret Runkle during her natural life the one third part of my real and personal estate (the negroes only excepted) to be taken by her at the Appraisment with two rooms in the house I now life and one Negroe woman her choice of my Stock and at her death I give and the aforesaid moveable and perishable property that may be left to be sold and equally divided among my children 3rdly. The negroes that are left after my wife has taken her choise-is to be appraised and as equally divided among my children as the case will admit the shear or shears that mey fall to my Daughters Mary Price and Christina Sellars after they have received one each of equal value with the rest of my children I give to my then children by their first husbands and after such division of the negroes is made it is my will and desire that each one retain such negro or negroes as may fall to each ones share and not sell them to Strangers but that they be retained amongst the family except the increase thereof which they are at Liberty to do as they please with 4thly. the land that was willed to my son Jacob Runkle by his Grand Father Jacob Runkle which will more plainly show for it self by having reference thereto is not to be considered as any part of my estate or as any part of his my son Jacobs sh---------------------------------ally divided-------------------------cepted and at the death of my wife M---------------her my will and desire that the plantation where ------------------ two or more three disinterested discreet men to be chosen by ---------------- the payments I wish to be made thereof and after the estimate ---------------- of payment fixed and agreed on by the men so chosen (which -------------- wish to be made easy It is my Will and desire that my son Jac-- -------- said plantation to have and to hold the same in fee simple forever ------------- said plantation to have and to hold the same in fee simple forever ---------- or is not able -- to -- comply with the terms agreed on then and in tha- ------- will and desire that any other of the within named Children or them -------- shall have a right to take the land in like manner he or they payi-- ----- ---- aforesaid arbitrators.
6th. An lastly all the rest of my estate both real and personal of what natu--- soever it may be not herein before particularly dispose of I desire may ------ divided among my several children before name which I give to the---------- heirs executors or assigns forever. And I do hereby constitute and appoint Jacob Runkle and Daniel Sellars executors of this my last will and Testa--- hereby revoking all other of former wills or testaments by me heretofore mad-
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal ----- lmy seal this day of in the year of our lord 1821
Peter (his mark) Runkle
Signed sealed published and declared as and for the last will and Testament of the above named Peter Runkle in the presence of us.
Philip Moyers
Michael Snyder
T. R. McGahey

Peter married Margaret Steiner Koch about 1772 in Elkton, Rockingham County, Virginia, British Colonial America. Margaret (daughter of George Koch and Maria Sara Reiner) was born on 14 Dec 1753 in Delkton, Virginia, British Colonial America; died in 1834 in Virginia, United States; was buried in 1834 in Elkton, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Peter Sellers

Notes:

Believed to be a son of Heinrich Zeller. We first find Peter documented by land transaction on the east side of the Massanutten in 1755. On June 13th of that year he patented 90 acres next to 28 acres Heinrich had bought from Lewis on February 28, 1750. The Zellers land was on the west bank of the Shenandoah River and had about a mile of frontage on it. Peter bought 123 acres from Heinrich on August 17, 1765. Twenty-three of this was from Heinrich's home site. He patented another 183 acres July 5, 1774, a total of 334 acres on the east side of the Massanutten.

Next, we find a Peter Sellers buying land in what is now the Mountain Valley community on the west side of the Mountain in 1791. This is a 17 year time span. This land was not so far removed from his other land, at that time, as it appears today. There was a "path" or trail road thru that early settlers traveled to Peaked Mountain Church and the McGaheysville-Elkton area from the Mountain Valley area. This Peter had a wife, Margaret.

Peter's land at Mountain Valley was a part of David Andersson's warrant for 2000 acres granted to him December 1, 1783. Peter's survey for 16 acres cites "S. W. -Stephen's corner". The old Stephen's place was on Smith's Creek between Lacey Spring and road 620 today. Road 806 is in this general area today.

This land seems to have descended to Conrad Sellers, to John Sellers, to Daniel Sellers and was sold out of the Sellers family. Leon Cave owned most of this land in 1985. A section of it along the east line descended to Amanda Layman, daughter of Daniel Sellers. Wayne Phillips owned this in 1985 and it is thus now owned by a Sellers descendant.

Many land records were burned on the wagons hauling them to safety during the Civil War. The effort to save the records resulted in their being partly destroyed. This loss of records makes it difficult to trace land transactions.

Peter furnished supplies to the militia during the American Revolution. He was active in community affairs. He was named as one of four, any three to serve, to appraise George Schulenger estate March 22, 1799; March 22, 1784 for Frederick Haynes, and June 28, 1784 James Madley's estate.

He and Adam Zellers were named executors of Christian Teeters' will August 23, 1784. He was a member of the Grand Jury in 1785. Augustine Price and Frederick Armentrout processioned Peter's land 1767-68.

Like his brothers John and Adam, Peter furnished livestock and food to the American forces from 1780 to 1782. He received payment for all three years provisions in November 1783.
Source:
[1] Mary Marie Koontz Arrington, "Cradled by the Masanutten: The Zellers-Sellers Family", Baltimore: Gateway Press, 1986
[2] Frank M. Sellers, "Sellers - A Preliminary Study of the Descendants of Heinrich Sellers", Denver, Colorado: Lion Press, 1984