George Keller was a son of Bastian Keller & Elisabeth Hildebrandt. He arrived at Port Philadelphia from Europe on the ship "Pleasant" on 11 October 1732---exactly one month after his future wife and in-laws. George married about 1735 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Anna Barbara "Barbara" Hottel (1713-1798), daughter of John & Elisabetha Hottel. George & Barbara had at least ten children: John Carl (born June 7, 1736 in Lancaster Co. PA; died in childhood), George Keller II, Anna, John, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, Jacob, Henry, and Barbara.
George Keller was a prominent churchman, and one of the Justices of the Peace of the first court of Dunmore---later renamed Shenandoah---County, Virginia.
The court system in the colony of Virginia was a combination of traditional English doctrines with additional rules for unique situations. Most non-capital criminal cases began and ended in the county courts, as did most civil lawsuits. Holding court in the counties were the Justices of the Peace, also referred to as the Magistrates or the Gentlemen Justices. Besides their judicial duties, the Justices directed the laying out of roads, the location of bridges, appointed road surveyors and imposed fines on those who neglected to maintain their assigned sections of highways. They licensed water mills, ordinaries, ferries and courthouses. The Justices even advised the colonial legislature on the placement of warehouses, ferries churches and courthouses in their counties. There were eight Justices per county with a quorum of four to conduct judicial business. How often the county courts met was contingent upon many variables: the weather, conditions of the roads, the crop cycles, the number of cases filed and the availability of the Gentlemen Justices. All county Justices served at the appointment of the Royal Governor. A vacancy on the county court usually arose with the death of a Justice. The remaining Justices submitted a worthy gentleman's name to the Governor for his consideration. The worthy gentleman was a "Justice in waiting". He was a gentleman of impeccable reputation and honor. He was a respected individual within his community. He had served a "Justice" apprenticeship in governmental functions. This apprenticeship involved serving as a juror, overseeing the performance of wills, viewing property to ascertain ownership, the examination of disputed accounts, estate appraisals of deceased persons and orphans, and assisting the court in determining damages. He gained his legal expertise through "on the job training" and observing his more experienced colleagues.
In 1727, the first permanent white settlement in the Shenandoah Valley was Germanic immigrants. The Tidewater English now began to take up large holdings of land in speculation. Within a short period, hundreds of immigrants arrived to patent this land and the land of the Northern Neck Propriety. The ethnic background of those who settled the Valley were English, Scots, Northern Irish, and Germanic. The listed order represents the social standing within the Valley of these ethnic groups.
In 1772, the tax-paying population of Frederick County had reached adequate size to support the formation of a new county. This new county was Dunmore (later renamed Shenandoah), named for Governor John Murray, the Earl of Dunmore. From the four ethnic groups, Governor Dunmore appointed the first Justices. Of those eight worthy gentlemen, one was George Keller from the headwaters of Toms Brook.
Let us now "flesh out" the gentleman justice, George Keller. We know that he had served his "Justice in waiting" apprenticeship. He was highly respected and had great influence in his community. George Keller was important enough to come to the attention of the Royal Governor. He could understand and speak the English Language. As German was his native language, he could function as a translator when necessary. He was highly respected and had great influence in his county. He was intelligent, as he had to attend to public business by administrating justice. He had an impeccable reputation and great personal honor.
George Keller was a Patriot during the American Revolution: George signed on as a member of the Committee of Safety in Dunmore County, VA - which of course was tantamount to signing his own death warrant if the British had won. His descendants are eligible for membership in the DAR or SAR.
Please view the family website at www.hottelkeller.org
Martin Keller (1735-1816) has been added to findagrave as a son of George & Barbara. I question this as I have never seen a record stating that they had a son Martin.
George Keller was a prominent churchman, and one of the Justices of the Peace of the first court of Dunmore---later renamed Shenandoah---County, Virginia.
The court system in the colony of Virginia was a combination of traditional English doctrines with additional rules for unique situations. Most non-capital criminal cases began and ended in the county courts, as did most civil lawsuits. Holding court in the counties were the Justices of the Peace, also referred to as the Magistrates or the Gentlemen Justices. Besides their judicial duties, the Justices directed the laying out of roads, the location of bridges, appointed road surveyors and imposed fines on those who neglected to maintain their assigned sections of highways. They licensed water mills, ordinaries, ferries and courthouses. The Justices even advised the colonial legislature on the placement of warehouses, ferries churches and courthouses in their counties. There were eight Justices per county with a quorum of four to conduct judicial business. How often the county courts met was contingent upon many variables: the weather, conditions of the roads, the crop cycles, the number of cases filed and the availability of the Gentlemen Justices. All county Justices served at the appointment of the Royal Governor. A vacancy on the county court usually arose with the death of a Justice. The remaining Justices submitted a worthy gentleman's name to the Governor for his consideration. The worthy gentleman was a "Justice in waiting". He was a gentleman of impeccable reputation and honor. He was a respected individual within his community. He had served a "Justice" apprenticeship in governmental functions. This apprenticeship involved serving as a juror, overseeing the performance of wills, viewing property to ascertain ownership, the examination of disputed accounts, estate appraisals of deceased persons and orphans, and assisting the court in determining damages. He gained his legal expertise through "on the job training" and observing his more experienced colleagues.
In 1727, the first permanent white settlement in the Shenandoah Valley was Germanic immigrants. The Tidewater English now began to take up large holdings of land in speculation. Within a short period, hundreds of immigrants arrived to patent this land and the land of the Northern Neck Propriety. The ethnic background of those who settled the Valley were English, Scots, Northern Irish, and Germanic. The listed order represents the social standing within the Valley of these ethnic groups.
In 1772, the tax-paying population of Frederick County had reached adequate size to support the formation of a new county. This new county was Dunmore (later renamed Shenandoah), named for Governor John Murray, the Earl of Dunmore. From the four ethnic groups, Governor Dunmore appointed the first Justices. Of those eight worthy gentlemen, one was George Keller from the headwaters of Toms Brook.
Let us now "flesh out" the gentleman justice, George Keller. We know that he had served his "Justice in waiting" apprenticeship. He was highly respected and had great influence in his community. George Keller was important enough to come to the attention of the Royal Governor. He could understand and speak the English Language. As German was his native language, he could function as a translator when necessary. He was highly respected and had great influence in his county. He was intelligent, as he had to attend to public business by administrating justice. He had an impeccable reputation and great personal honor.
George Keller was a Patriot during the American Revolution: George signed on as a member of the Committee of Safety in Dunmore County, VA - which of course was tantamount to signing his own death warrant if the British had won. His descendants are eligible for membership in the DAR or SAR.
Please view the family website at www.hottelkeller.org
Martin Keller (1735-1816) has been added to findagrave as a son of George & Barbara. I question this as I have never seen a record stating that they had a son Martin.
George Keller was a son of Bastian Keller & Elisabeth Hildebrandt. He arrived at Port Philadelphia from Europe on the ship "Pleasant" on 11 October 1732---exactly one month after his future wife and in-laws. George married about 1735 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Anna Barbara "Barbara" Hottel (1713-1798), daughter of John & Elisabetha Hottel. George & Barbara had at least ten children: John Carl (born June 7, 1736 in Lancaster Co. PA; died in childhood), George Keller II, Anna, John, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, Jacob, Henry, and Barbara.
George Keller was a prominent churchman, and one of the Justices of the Peace of the first court of Dunmore---later renamed Shenandoah---County, Virginia.
The court system in the colony of Virginia was a combination of traditional English doctrines with additional rules for unique situations. Most non-capital criminal cases began and ended in the county courts, as did most civil lawsuits. Holding court in the counties were the Justices of the Peace, also referred to as the Magistrates or the Gentlemen Justices. Besides their judicial duties, the Justices directed the laying out of roads, the location of bridges, appointed road surveyors and imposed fines on those who neglected to maintain their assigned sections of highways. They licensed water mills, ordinaries, ferries and courthouses. The Justices even advised the colonial legislature on the placement of warehouses, ferries churches and courthouses in their counties. There were eight Justices per county with a quorum of four to conduct judicial business. How often the county courts met was contingent upon many variables: the weather, conditions of the roads, the crop cycles, the number of cases filed and the availability of the Gentlemen Justices. All county Justices served at the appointment of the Royal Governor. A vacancy on the county court usually arose with the death of a Justice. The remaining Justices submitted a worthy gentleman's name to the Governor for his consideration. The worthy gentleman was a "Justice in waiting". He was a gentleman of impeccable reputation and honor. He was a respected individual within his community. He had served a "Justice" apprenticeship in governmental functions. This apprenticeship involved serving as a juror, overseeing the performance of wills, viewing property to ascertain ownership, the examination of disputed accounts, estate appraisals of deceased persons and orphans, and assisting the court in determining damages. He gained his legal expertise through "on the job training" and observing his more experienced colleagues.
In 1727, the first permanent white settlement in the Shenandoah Valley was Germanic immigrants. The Tidewater English now began to take up large holdings of land in speculation. Within a short period, hundreds of immigrants arrived to patent this land and the land of the Northern Neck Propriety. The ethnic background of those who settled the Valley were English, Scots, Northern Irish, and Germanic. The listed order represents the social standing within the Valley of these ethnic groups.
In 1772, the tax-paying population of Frederick County had reached adequate size to support the formation of a new county. This new county was Dunmore (later renamed Shenandoah), named for Governor John Murray, the Earl of Dunmore. From the four ethnic groups, Governor Dunmore appointed the first Justices. Of those eight worthy gentlemen, one was George Keller from the headwaters of Toms Brook.
Let us now "flesh out" the gentleman justice, George Keller. We know that he had served his "Justice in waiting" apprenticeship. He was highly respected and had great influence in his community. George Keller was important enough to come to the attention of the Royal Governor. He could understand and speak the English Language. As German was his native language, he could function as a translator when necessary. He was highly respected and had great influence in his county. He was intelligent, as he had to attend to public business by administrating justice. He had an impeccable reputation and great personal honor.
George Keller was a Patriot during the American Revolution: George signed on as a member of the Committee of Safety in Dunmore County, VA - which of course was tantamount to signing his own death warrant if the British had won. His descendants are eligible for membership in the DAR or SAR.
Please view the family website at www.hottelkeller.org
Martin Keller (1735-1816) has been added to findagrave as a son of George & Barbara. I question this as I have never seen a record stating that they had a son Martin.
George Keller was a prominent churchman, and one of the Justices of the Peace of the first court of Dunmore---later renamed Shenandoah---County, Virginia.
The court system in the colony of Virginia was a combination of traditional English doctrines with additional rules for unique situations. Most non-capital criminal cases began and ended in the county courts, as did most civil lawsuits. Holding court in the counties were the Justices of the Peace, also referred to as the Magistrates or the Gentlemen Justices. Besides their judicial duties, the Justices directed the laying out of roads, the location of bridges, appointed road surveyors and imposed fines on those who neglected to maintain their assigned sections of highways. They licensed water mills, ordinaries, ferries and courthouses. The Justices even advised the colonial legislature on the placement of warehouses, ferries churches and courthouses in their counties. There were eight Justices per county with a quorum of four to conduct judicial business. How often the county courts met was contingent upon many variables: the weather, conditions of the roads, the crop cycles, the number of cases filed and the availability of the Gentlemen Justices. All county Justices served at the appointment of the Royal Governor. A vacancy on the county court usually arose with the death of a Justice. The remaining Justices submitted a worthy gentleman's name to the Governor for his consideration. The worthy gentleman was a "Justice in waiting". He was a gentleman of impeccable reputation and honor. He was a respected individual within his community. He had served a "Justice" apprenticeship in governmental functions. This apprenticeship involved serving as a juror, overseeing the performance of wills, viewing property to ascertain ownership, the examination of disputed accounts, estate appraisals of deceased persons and orphans, and assisting the court in determining damages. He gained his legal expertise through "on the job training" and observing his more experienced colleagues.
In 1727, the first permanent white settlement in the Shenandoah Valley was Germanic immigrants. The Tidewater English now began to take up large holdings of land in speculation. Within a short period, hundreds of immigrants arrived to patent this land and the land of the Northern Neck Propriety. The ethnic background of those who settled the Valley were English, Scots, Northern Irish, and Germanic. The listed order represents the social standing within the Valley of these ethnic groups.
In 1772, the tax-paying population of Frederick County had reached adequate size to support the formation of a new county. This new county was Dunmore (later renamed Shenandoah), named for Governor John Murray, the Earl of Dunmore. From the four ethnic groups, Governor Dunmore appointed the first Justices. Of those eight worthy gentlemen, one was George Keller from the headwaters of Toms Brook.
Let us now "flesh out" the gentleman justice, George Keller. We know that he had served his "Justice in waiting" apprenticeship. He was highly respected and had great influence in his community. George Keller was important enough to come to the attention of the Royal Governor. He could understand and speak the English Language. As German was his native language, he could function as a translator when necessary. He was highly respected and had great influence in his county. He was intelligent, as he had to attend to public business by administrating justice. He had an impeccable reputation and great personal honor.
George Keller was a Patriot during the American Revolution: George signed on as a member of the Committee of Safety in Dunmore County, VA - which of course was tantamount to signing his own death warrant if the British had won. His descendants are eligible for membership in the DAR or SAR.
Please view the family website at www.hottelkeller.org
Martin Keller (1735-1816) has been added to findagrave as a son of George & Barbara. I question this as I have never seen a record stating that they had a son Martin.
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