Eramus Zeller

Eramus married Barbara Biensach on 9 Feb 1702 in Steinau An der Straße, Hessen, Germany. Barbara (daughter of Albrecht Biensach and Margretha Aylget) was born in 1682 in Möttgers, Hessen, Germany; died on 22 Jan 1720 in Möttgers, Hessen, Germany. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Heinrich Seller
• Name: Henry Sellers

Notes:

NOTE: Rockingham County was established in 1778 from Augusta County. The county is named for the Marquis of Rockingham, British statesman

A Frankish tribe settled at the end of the Weschnitz Valley and its chieftain Wino gave Weinheim its name. The village Weinheim is first mentioned in the Chronicles in 755. It became a fief of the mighty Abbey of Lorsch and its Peterskirche was protected by the Castle Windeck. Power changed hands and in 1232 the Abbey's holdings were transferred to the Archbishop of Mainz. Count Palatine founded a new town one mile south of the old in the year 1250. The old and the new were joined in 1456 after many conflicts. Only 1/2 of the population survived the Thirty Years' War but it was spared when France devastated almost every town in the Palatinate between 1689-1693. When Napoleon rearranged Europe in the 18th century it became part of the Grand Duchy of Baden.

The Thirty Years' War, lasting from 1618 to 1648, involved most of the countries of western Europe, and was fought mainly in Germany. At first the struggle was primarily based on the religious antagonism engendered among Germans by the events of the Protestant Reformation. Religious tensions were seriously aggravated in Germany during the reign (1576-1612) of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II. Protestant churches in many parts of Germany were destroyed, restrictions were placed on the rights of Protestants to worship freely, and the emperor's officials made the Treaty of Augsburg the basis for a general resurgence of Roman Catholic power. The religious hatreds that flared into the Thirty Years' War had smoldered for more than half a century before 1618. The war, was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history. Uncertainty, fear, disruption, and brutality marked everyday life and remained a memory in German consciousness for centuries.

Heinrich Zeller (aka Henry Sellers) was born in or very near Weinheim, Germany in the Duchy of Baden in the Holy Roman Empire and here he married Anna Maria (last name unknown). Around the year 1700 the number of barges moving down the Rhine river began to increase in number. They were loaded with families bound for Rotterdam where they hoped to find passage to a new world called America.

Heinrich Zeller, at the age of thirty four, boarded a barge with his young wife and small children in the early summer of 1738. Friends and relatives had been leaving the area of Weinheim for some years. The preparation for leaving had gone on all winter. Most of it had consisted of what they could take with them, which was very little. They probably packed what clothing and food they could in an old trunk or wooden chest. They perhaps had a few utensils and some seeds and bulbs. Seeds and bulbs were two items the women tried to bring. A bulb was a tie back home.

He was probably very excited when the day finally came to catch the barge. The barge was damp and well worn from previous trips up and down the Rhine. Word had been coming to the area about "Penn's Land" and if he was going to go he must go soon since he was now 34 and in the eighteenth century life was short.

He was better prepared in some ways for his trip than some of his fellow immigrants in that he had some education. He firmly inscribed his name HEINRICH ZELLER on the ship's register when he landed in Philadelphia. He probably carried some coin. He was evidently Lutheran or Reform since we find his family with these faiths in America.

All winter the river had been ice bound but now the warm winds of spring had washed the winter snow away and the Rhine River was running high. As the barge drifted down the river the passengers took one last look at their homeland as the old Windeck Castle on the hill faded from sight. Thought to be on the barge with him were his daughter Anna Barbara, age 5; Johannes, age 3; and his wife, Anna Maria who was probably some years younger than he. Anna Maria may have been expecting since it is thought a son, Peter, was born circa 1738 or 1739. At Rotterdam he secured passage on the ship Queen Elizabeth, Alexander Hope, Commander. They stopped at Deal, England to refuel and take on their last provisions for the trip. The air was filled with excitement. Little did they know what lay ahead for them on the high seas before they saw land again. The crowded conditions, sickness, and the stench on the small sailing vessels were yet to be realized along with the fearful waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Food and water was often scarce at sea and disease was often rampant. There were many burials of crew and passengers made in the stormy waters leaving broken families and orphaned children when the ship finally landed in America. They were fleeing into the unknown but it was less frightening than the conditions under which they were living. They were seeking freedom from interference with their religious and family life. They landed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania September 16, 1738. They were probably very glad to be on firm ground again, even though they knew nothing about their new country or what lay ahead.

Sometime after arriving in Pennsylvania Heinrich learned of land in the Valley of Virginia through friends and promoters. Several friends and neighbors moved to Virginia, some also from Germany. It is not known the exact route he followed to Virginia and there has been much speculation. He had to cross Maryland and there were only three crossings of the Potomac that were widely used by those coming from the north in the early days. Coming as early as Heinrich did, it is likely they traveled by pack horses since the trails were not cleared well enough to get over them with wagons. In any case we find him in 1750 at the foot of the Peaked Mountain, west of Elkton. Augusta County, Virginia land books show he acquired his first land in 1750.

The Heinrich Zeller family was active in the Peaked Mountain Church. The old church record refers to it as the "Pinquit Moundyn" in "Agosti" County, toward the South "Chanithor" River. The area was in Augusta County, Virginia on the Shenandoah River that became Rockingham County, Virginia in 1778. The name was from the southern peak of the Massanutten Mountain and around which the Zellers family settled. The first church was near a Mr. Hermann's mill. The second church was dedicated October 23, 1768. The building was used by both the Lutheran and Reform congregations. On October 31, 1769, forty five persons signed an agreement that it was to be a Union Church. It was near Stony Creek. A third church was dedicated on May 27, 1804 and the building was still shared jointly between the Lutheran and the Reform.

The Zeller/Sellers name is German, or perhaps German-Swiss. The Zellers spelling continued well into the early part of the 19th century. The records of early America were kept in English. The English did not know German and the Germans did not know English and therein arose the dilemma concerning the spelling of names of the German immigrants. The English had to make the entries so they spelled phonetically as it sounded for official records. Names became Anglicized as time went on so that it is difficult today to sometimes identify the origin. Some of the old deeds and other business transactions that are written in English were signed in German. There has been found many spellings of the name Zeller/Sellers. Some of the spellings found were Sehler, Selers, Celers, Celer, Sellar, Cellars, Zöller, Zöllner, Seller, and Söller.

The origin of the name seems to be open to question by authorities. One version is that it was derived from "of the cellar". There was a position of some note within the feudal hierarchy known as the office of the Cellarer. The person holding this position served as a steward. The steward managed and supervised accounts, servants, and other domestic concerns. One holding the position of Cellarer certainly had considerable responsibility in relation to the well being of the lord and his vassals. There were certainly stewards of the vast cellars under the castles of medieval Europe where the food supplies were stored and the great wine cellars existed. It is possible, that the name came from "of the cellar".
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
[3] "Thirty Years’ War." Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2001. © 1993-2000 Microsoft Corporation.

The Sellers (Cellers, Zellers) family in Warren County was among the earliest pioneers, having taken up landed holdings in January 1799, by purchase. The first hundred years of the Zellers family, (as it was then spelled) has been lost in the maze of time. It is a matter of family traditions that three brothers came from Germany about two hundred and fifty years ago. One of them settled in Pennsylvania, one in Maryland and one in Virginia. [Source: Lee L. Dodds, "Pioneers of Warren County and Their Descendants, (reprinted with permission of the Middletown Journal, Middletown, OH (Originally printed in 1941) Warren County Genealogical Society, Lebanon, OH 1998) The Sellers Family, published 16 March 1941]

Hans married Anna Maria Fechter on 23 Feb 1730 in Germany. Anna (daughter of Nicolaus Fechter and Judith Kehm) was born in 1701 in Möttgers, Hessen, Germany; died about 1776 in Augusta County, Virginia, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anna married John Jacob Nicolaus on 7 Dec 1752 in Augusta County, Virginia, British Colonial America. John was born on 15 Jul 1724 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; died in 1781 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; was buried in 1781 in McGaheysville, Rockingham County, Virginia, British Colonial America. [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

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [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:

• Name: Adam Sellers
• Residence: 1789, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States
• Residence: 1817; migrated to Warren County, Ohio

Notes:

Johan Adam Zellers was probably the 4th child of Heinrich and Anna Maria Zellers. John was probably born about 1742 in Pennsylvania and died in Ohio in 1821. Tradition is that when he was 75 he moved to Ohio. Based upon dates of his land sales he moved to Ohio in 1817. His two sons Henry and Adam Jr. were dead and the rest had moved to Ohio and this probably influenced his moving.

A list of large landowners compiled from the original manuscripts in the Rockingham County, Virginia Clerk's Office for the year 1789, lists Adam Sellers in District 12 with 1142 acres of land. District 12 was a part of the East District which included the land around the foot of the east and southeast side of the Massanutten and west of the Shenandoah River.

In Strickler's Tenth Legion Tithables, 1791 John Adam Sellers is listed as having 6 horses, his son Peter, 21, and on negro over 16.

Boones Run flows east out of Runkles Gap and enters the Shenandoah River just above the old St. Peter's Church where probably the oldest settlement in Rockingham County, was made. Jacob Stover who pioneered settlement in this area married an aunt of Daniel Boone and thus we have Boones Run.

Runkles Gap is named for the pioneering Runkles family from Germany. There is an old Runkle Castle at Runkle, Germany, just on the outskirts of Limberg. Johan Adam Zellers' son Peter married Elizabeth Runkle, daughter of Peter Runkle, Sr., who was of this Runkle family.

The Zellers family became caught up with hundreds more from the valley with wanderlust. They moved west across the Alleghenies to take advantage of cheap lands and the military bounty land after the American Revolution. Two other historical events contributed to another wave of people moving on, not only from east of the mountains but from Ohio westward. One was the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and the Missouri Compromise in 1820, which settled the matter of slave and free territory.
Reference:
(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

From The Western Star, April 30, 1821
PUBLIC VENUE
Will be sold at public vendue on Friday the 1st day of June next at the late residence of Adam Sellers, on Clearcreek, one Clock and Case, one ten plate stove, a number of Hogs, and Cattle, Beds and Bedding, Corn, wheat, household and kitchen furniture, and a number of other articles too tedious to mention. A credit of nine months will be given, by the purchaser giving his note with good approved security.
Admrs.
William Sellers
Christian Sellers
Charles Null
April 25th 1821 230c4W

ADMINISTRATORS NOTICE
All persons indebted to the estate of Adam Sellers, late of Warren county, Ohio, dec'd. are requested to make immediate payment, and those having claims against said estate are requested to present them legally authenticated, for adjustment within one year from this date.
Admrs.
William Sellers
Christian Sellers
Charles Null
April 25th 1821 230c5W

Name:

The original German spelling of the name was "Johan Adam Zeller". Anglicanized by both the English courts as well as English society in general, the English version of the name became "Adam Sellers". The last name is also found in various court records either as "Seller" or as "Sellars". As evidenced by the estate records at his death in Warren County, Ohio, he was known as "Adam Sellers".

Johan married Barbara Teeter on 30 Jul 1801 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. Barbara and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anna married Jacob Risch before 4 Jan 1774. Jacob and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anna married Daniel Preiss on 7 Dec 1752 in Augusta County, Virginia, British Colonial America. Daniel and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anna married Peter Müller before 25 Jan 1764. Peter died before 1804. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

.....The executor's bond for his estate was filed in Rockingham County, Virginia August 18, 1812. Andrew Sellers was named executor of his estate with bond of $3500 signed by Zebulon Harrison, Peter Zetty, and Peter Henton, his neighbors. Michael (Sillers) Sellers was listed tithables for 1775. Adam, Peter, Henry, and John Siller were also listed.
.....John Michael Zellers was the pioneer of the Melrose, Virginia Sellers. He patented 106 acres in 1781 on the west side of Smith's Creek (Patent book 1, pg. 63) and 60 acres in 1785 on east side of Dry Fork on Smith Creek (Patent book 1, pg. 319). He paid fifteen shillings sterling to the Commonwealth of Virginia April 13, 1780 for the 106 acres. It is likely that he laid claim to this land prior to 1780 and had probably lived on it for sometime before it was surveyed and the deed recorded. It is believed that his log house was located on the west side of the hill below where Fellowship Church stands in 1984. An old house stood on this site and was used by Jacob Benjamin Franklin Sellers, in the early years of his marriage, before he built a new house nearby.
The Sellers cemetery is on the side of the hill just south of the location of this log house. According to tradition Michael started the cemetery. He and his wife are probably buried in it in unmarked graves.
.....Family tradition says he had the Methodist circuit riders hold services at this home before he helped build a church on his land. There was also a school on his land. There is a possibility that school was held in the church building since this was customary in the days of settlement.
He sold Andrew Sellers 93 acres in 1812 "of the upper plantation". He probably died early summer of 1812. His estate was not settled for some years since Andrew Sellers paid $1.00 for taxes on 162 acres for the Michael Seller's estate in 1818. The delay in the estate settlement could have been because Michael's wife was still living but it was not unusual for years to pass before settlements were made. There is a question as to why there is no mention of other heirs. His will if any, could have been burned and he left all to Andrew; the rest of the family having left the area or being deceased. Christina was deceased but she left a large family of children.
.....There were one or more structures on the old church site before a deed for the land was made to Fellowship Church in 1854 some 42 years after his death.
He is listed as a landowner in Rockingham County, Virginia in 1789. The militia vouchers for Rockingham 1788 lists Michael Sellers in Captain Richard Regans Co. 13 with 1 Tithable and a male, Jacob, over 16. Usually these males were sons unless otherwise designated. Since horses were essential in case of defense they were also inventoried. Michael owned four.
.....Michael's wifes name is not known, and a record of his marriage has not been found. There is also considerable uncertainty about the names of his children and how many. The girls listed, however, are verified by marriage bonds and Jacob and James by tithables vouchers. Land transactions and the fact Andrew was the executor of his estate indicate he was a son.
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

Family/Spouse: Henry Monger. Henry was born in 1754 in Virginia, British Colonial America; died about 1828. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anna married John Risch in McGaheysville, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. John was born in 1753 in McGaheysville, Rockingham County, Virginia, British Colonial America; died in 1835 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Magdalene Molly Coffelt on 12 Jun 1786. Magdalene and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Baptism: 25 Apr 1762, Augusta County, Virginia, British Colonial America; Address:
  Peaked Mountain Church

Peter married Julianna Boshang on 20 Feb 1786. Julianna and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Susanna married George Gall in 1785. George was born on 28 Jun 1766 in Berks County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; died in Oct 1851 in Brushcreek Township, Highland County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Oct 1851 in Brushcreek Township, Highland County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anna married Peter Miller in 1785 in Virginia, United States. Peter and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married Christian Fudge on 10 Aug 1790 in Virginia, United States. Christian was born on 20 Mar 1766 in Hanover, Germany; died on 26 Nov 1823 in Springboro, Warren County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Nov 1826 in Clear Creek Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jacob married Elizabeth Bright in 1797. Elizabeth and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anna married George Pence on 5 Sep 1796. George was born in 1764; died on 11 Jun 1824. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Conrad married Mary Laymans on 11 May 1806 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. Mary and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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]

Notes:

Henry Conrad on March 18, 1833 was named guardian of Rhody and John for 2000 pounds with Henry Miller and Charles Yancey bondsmen.

John married Eve Phifer on 6 Oct 1792 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. Eve died before 20 Jan 1845. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
(now Augusta County, Virginia)

Catherine married Daniel Price in 1788. Daniel was born on 5 Jan 1760 in Virginia, United States; died on 8 Apr 1825 in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Apr 1825 in Camp Dennison, Hamilton County, Ohio. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
(now Augusta County, Virginia)

Henry married Barbara Link about 1790. Barbara and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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]

Jacob married Christena Munger on 24 Sep 1808 in Warren County, Ohio, United States. Christena was born on 1 Oct 1779 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; died on 11 Nov 1841 in Warren County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Nov 1841 in Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married John Hart in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. John was born on 11 Jul 1771 in Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; died on 1 Jan 1856 in Carroll County, Indiana, United States; was buried in Jan 1856 in Flora, Carroll County, Indiana, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Daniel was appointed guardian of Isaac's children March 25, 1839. Daniel Sellers land joined a Conrad land survey April 1, 1819 and he was one of the appraisers of Captain Stephen Conrad's estate in 1822.

Birth:
(now Augusta County, Virginia)

Daniel married Margaret Elizabeth Runkle on 3 Dec 1796 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. Margaret (daughter of Peter Runkle and Margaret Steiner Koch) was born on 4 Apr 1776 in Augusta County, Virginia, British Colonial America; died on 30 Aug 1859 in Augusta County, Virginia, United States; was buried in Sep 1859 in Weyers Cave, Augusta County, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
(now Augusta County, Virginia)

Margaret married Charles Fye on 8 Oct 1800 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. Charles and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Christena married William Pence, Jr. on 15 Sep 1801 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. William was born on 18 May 1781; died on 10 Jun 1849 in Monroe Township, Preble County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Molly married John Pence on 8 Oct 1800 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. John and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Heinrich Zellers

Notes:

Henry Zellers deeded a part of his land, in Augusta County, in 1761 to his son John Conrad Sellers for 5 pounds. Henry and his brother-in-law, William Hedrick, combined their land holding into a single farm of 1500-1/2 acres in 1799. This farm was on east side of the Shenandoah River between Elkton and Port Republic. Henry recovered his part of the farm, 837 acres, after Hedrick's death in 1817 and purchased the remainder after Hedrick's widow's death in 1829. Under the terms of Henry's will (Rockingham County, Virginia Will book A, pg. 126) Henry, Jr. and John received the farm but had to pay each of the girls $900 in annual installments of $100. This land was deeded to Jerome in 1858.

The land was located on Whiskey Creek and remained in Augusta when Rockingham County, was formed. Whiskey Creek flows into Jennings Branch and then into Middle River, a branch of the Shenandoah. The area was subjected to Indian raids and there was an old rock fort on Middle River near the Greenhill Cemetery; near the bend in the river and in sight of Cave Springs by the bluff.
Source:
[1] Frank M. Sellers, "Sellers a Preliminary Study of the Descendants of Heinrich Sellers", Denver, Colorado: Lion Press, 1984
[2] Mary Marie Koontz Arrington, "Cradled by the Masanutten: The Zellers-Sellers Family", Baltimore: Gateway Press, 1986

Henry married Mary Magdalene Hedrick on 10 Feb 1789 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. Mary was born about 1769 in Rockingham County, Virginia, British Colonial America; died about 1841 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Christian Zellers

Notes:

.....Christian is listed on the salary subscription list of the congregation at Peaked Mountain Church for the year beginning on February 17, 1799 by Pastor Johannes Braun of the German Reform side of the church. This church was shared with the Lutheran congregation.
Christian Zellers moved to Warren County, Ohio near the Nulls in the summer of 1803. He bought land there and the rest of his children were born in Ohio. Christian was evidently an aggressive seeker of land and before his death evidently owned double his father's land in Virginia. The western lands were appealing so we find Christian moving on to Indiana where he died in 1841 at the age of about 73.
.....Frank M. Sellers says Christian by tradition had 13 children. This could be possible since there are gaps between the births of those known where there could have been children who died as infants or young. [Reference: Mary Marie Koontz Arrington, "Cradled by the Masanutten: The Zellers-Sellers Family", (Baltimore: Gateway Press, 1986), pg. 52.]

Christian married Mary Elizabeth Schneider on 30 Jul 1801 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. Mary was born on 8 May 1782 in McGaheysville, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; died on 29 Dec 1852 in Parke County, Indiana, United States; was buried in Jan 1853 in Hollandsburg, Parke County, Indiana, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Probate: 27 Aug 1807, Warren County, Ohio, United States

Notes:

Moved from Virginia to Columbia, Hamilton County, Ohio (near Cincinnati) in 1797 and finally settled in Warren County, north of Lebanon in 1799.

Peter married Elizabeth Runkle on 20 Feb 1797 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. Elizabeth (daughter of Peter Runkle and Margaret Steiner Koch) was born in 1775 in Augusta County, Virginia, British Colonial America; died on 16 May 1859 in Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, United States; was buried in May 1859 in Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Mary Christina Zellers

Mary married Charles Harmon Null on 5 Aug 1793 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. Charles was born on 31 Oct 1767 in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia, British Colonial America; died on 20 Mar 1844 in Warren County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Mar 1844 in Warren County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Mathias Snyder. Mathias and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married Jacob Carsh on 5 Jan 1796. Jacob and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sarah married Michael Monger in 1791 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. Michael and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Gerdrant married Henry Dacks in Augusta County, Virginia, United States. Henry and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married Jacob Huffman in 1792 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. Jacob and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Rebecca married Jacob Runkle in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. Jacob and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]