GENERATION
312. Heinrich KESSELBURG was born in BACHERSDORF,
NEAR BRUGES, GERMANY. His Will is dated 16 AUG. 1729, and Probated, 4 SEPT. 1729. His name was variously spelled Hendrick Kasselberg, Henry Kessleberry, Henry Casselberry, Henry Casstkeberry. He came to Germantown Pa., probably on the Concord, landing there Oct. 5, 1683 and is first mentioned of record Mar. 7, 1691, when he made an attempt at naturalization, which act was required before he could own land; he was one of 62 immigrants, including Francis Daniel Pastorius and William Rittenhouse, who sought their citizenship thru an act signed by Thomas Lloyd, Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania. There arose a dispute concerning the legality of the procedure in such attempted naturalization; whereupon, he and 25 others survived to be re-naturalized, according to Penn. Statutes at large, (Vol. II, p 299), passed 29 Deptember 1709, and confirmed by Queen in Council, 20 Feb. 1713-14. In 1692, he signed his name "Heinrich Kasselberg, as witness to the marriage of Henry Ffrey and Anna Lovering by Acting Justice of the Peace, Francis Daniel Pastorius, at Germantown. His wife Catherine is mentioned as a member of the first Mennonite Church, 23 May 1708. The Mennonites were forerunners of the Baptist Church. Being a very religious people, they felt it unnecessary to mark their graves, feeling that God would know where to find them, which was all that mattered.
In 1683 William Penn invited the Mennonites to settle in Pennsylvania. Soon many of them from the lower Rhine, around Crefeld, and the Netherlands, settled in and about Germantown.
The Mennonites are likely descended from the Waldenses, who were numerous in Holland and Flanders. They probably date from the 12th century opposition to Roman Catholicism. Their enemies, who presecuted them severely, nevertheless bore testimony of the purity of their lives, their thrift, frugality, and homely virtues. They were husbandmen and artisans, and many were weavers. The Mennonites and Quakers were very close, after being driven up and down the Rhine for 150 years, they were ready to come to America, a wild country.
313. CATHERINE _____ ?. Children were:
i. DIRICK
CASSELBERRY. His wife was Mary ___. He named in his will (dated 16 May 1765, pro. 14 June 1765) the following children: Rena (Rosena) mar: Peter Keyser, Catherine, Susanna married Elisha Davis, Elizabeth, son Daniel.
ii.
JOHN CASTLEBERRY.
iii.
PAUL CASTLEBERRY. Mar: Margaret Adams. Will dated 22 Mar 1747 pro. 18 April 1748. Mentions wife Margaret, Mother Catrin, Children: Richard, Jacob, Benjamin, Catrin, Elizabeth, and Ann.
156 iv.
William CASTLEBERRY.
v. ELIZABETH
CASSTLEBERRY. Mar: ____ Davis.
vi.
EVE CASSELBERRY.
vii.
MARY CASSELBERRY.
viii.
KATHERINE CASSELBERRY.
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