It’s Family Time~The John Peter Kepley Family

John Peter Kepley was the fist born son of Killian Kepley and his unknown wife. From the minutes of the Organ Lutheran Church, Rowan County, NC, we know that John Peter Kepley was borne on 9 March 1795 and baptized on 29 May 1795. His sponsor was his grandfather Peter Kepley.  

Let’s STOP a minute for some Clarification.

There are many on-line trees claiming that John Killian Keppel/Kepley married Sarah Krawl/Crowell.

https://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2021/04/marriage-of-johann-kepple-sarah-krawl.html

It just isn’t so. I have not found a single document that names the wife of Killian Kepley.

The Marriage Licensee for Sarah Krawl shows that she married John Keppel/Kepley and that Killian Keppel/Kepley were their bondsman. Killian Keppel/Kepley had an older brother John, born 27 Jan 1757 and I say its this John Keppel/Kepley that married Sarah Krawl on 10 May 1798.  

Plus, as stated in the first paragraph, Killian Kepley first borne son was John Peter borne 9 March 1795 a full 3 years before Sarah Krawl’s  marriage in May 1798.

Now back to the family of John Peter Kepley.

John Peter Kepley married Rachel Simison on 9 April 1821. To this union was borne 9 children before the death of their father sometime about but before August 1849.

In 1850 Rowan County, we find Rachel Kepley, a widow, with 7 children still at home. Two daughters are missing from the Census having moved out and married.

On 10 June 1858, Rachel Simison Kepley wrote her Last Will and Testament. It seems almost certain that Rachel had a premonition that her life would not be long lived. The Last Will and testament is the last record we have of Rachel's life in Rowan County.

She named all her children except her oldest daughter in her Will. Not Named was Anna, borne abt 1823, married Tobias Goodman. It is believe that Anna Goodman died shortly before 13 November 1852. On that date, Tobias Goodman married Rosa Mariah Crotzer.

John Peter Kepley and Rachael Simison had the following children:

        i.    Anna Kepley, born abt 1823; married Tobias Goodman, 14 Mar 1842, Rowan County, North Carolina; died bef 13 Nov 1852.
         ii.    Nancy Mariella Kepley, born abt 1825; married Daniel Harkey, 1 Aug 1861.
         iii.    Milas Alexander Kepley, born 1 Nov 1825, Davidson County, North Carolina; married Margaret Lyerly, 21 Jul 1850; died 19 Aug 1862, North Carolina.
         iv.    MaryAnn Kepley, born abt 1831; married Samuel Canup; died May 1880, Rowan County, North Carolina.
         v.    Jacob Nathaniel Kepley, born 25 Apr 1832, Rowan County, North Carolina; married Delia Loretta Johnson, 26 Feb 1856, Rowan County, North Carolina; died 26 Feb 1888, Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina.
         vi.    Jane Catherine Kepley, born 29 Aug 1834, Gold Hill, Rowan, North Carolina; married Noah Canup, 20 Dec 1851; died Oct 1909, Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina.
         vii.    Crissa Lavina Kepley, born abt 1837; married James J. Eller, 5 Feb 1866; married Jacob C. Brown, 23 Feb 1871, Rowan, North Carolina.
         viii.    Robert Warner Kepley, born 21 Apr 1839, Rowan County, North Carolina; married Sarah Louvina Holshouser, 17 Mar 1861, Rowan County, North Carolina; died 24 Jul 1872, Raleigh, Wake, North Carolina.
         ix.    George C. Kepley was born about 1843. He died on 16 Sep 1862 at the age of 19. He served in the military.

John Peter Kepley is my 1st Cousin 5X Removed.

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[1] https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4H-89TJ-7?i=84&cat=353923

[2] Rowan County, North Carolina, Probate Office,Will Book "K", page 271 Rachael KEPLEY Last Will; , Salisbury, North Carolina.

[3] 1850 U. S. Census, Rowan County, North Carolina, population schedule, School District 37, Rowan, North Carolina, Page: 229A(Stamped), Line 28, Dwelling 1832, Family 1858, Household of Rachel KEPLEY; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 March 2021); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 643.