The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: MD/VA
Qualifying Service: Captain / Patriotic Service
Johann Casper Keller was born August 25, 1736 at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and was baptized September 5, 1736, the second son of Conrad Keller and Barbara Blaar. His siblings were Mathias, Susanna, Adam, Elisabeth, Maria Magdalena, and Charlotte. Evidence of his full name appears in the baptismal record of the First Reformed Church at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The record was subsequently transcribed as John Casper Keller. All subsequent records refer to him as Casper or Caspar Keller, including the Family Bible, land deeds, military records, and obituary.
Casper Keller married Anna Margaretha Cassel, January 19, 1768. Their marriage was recorded in the Loney Family Bible, along with the birth of their eleven children: John Henry, Christian, Mary Magdalene, Christiana, Anna Margaretha, Daniel, Samuel, Elizabeth, Conrad, David, and Johannes.
From the Frederick County, Maryland Committee of Observation, Captain Casper Keller was listed with other Captains, June 5, 1776, “…to summons Non-enrollers and non-associators to attend at Elizabeth Town… to show cause why they shall not be fined according to the Resolves of the Convention.” Captain Peter Sholly resigned his commission to the Council of Safety of Maryland, June 16, 1776, and recommended Casper Keller for command of his company. From the Committee of Observation for Elizabeth Town District, at Washington County, Maryland, July 2, 1776, Captain Keller provided a list of non-enrollers and non-Associators residing in his district.
Captain Casper Keller continued his service in 1777, as recorded from a January 21 meeting, where the question of blankets, rugs, etc., for his company was raised by Jacob Young. In his complaint, these items had been impressed without the authority of the committee. Captain Keller replied that several blankets were “…wanting for the use of his company...” Later that same month, it was reported to the Committee of Observation Peter Shalley was under guard by order of Captain Keller at Jerusalem Town.
In August 1776, Casper Keller was a millwright and farmer and purchased 195 acres of land from his brother, Adam, called “Loss Gained.” He also purchased a piece land named “Zura,” and in 1777, purchased a parcel named “Mohock” for an additional five acres. He later sold portions of “Loss Gained” and all of “Mohock,” leaving him six and one-half acres in June 1780, before he purchased 66 acres named “Providence,” in October 1783.
It was reported in the May 10, 1808, Hagerstown newspaper Casper Keller was the “Keeper of the workhouse” and was offering a reward for those involved in breaking in which allowed three to escape.
Casper Keller’s death was reported in The Maryland Herald, Hagerstown, December 28, 1819: “Died on Friday night last, Mr. Casper Keller, in the 84th year of his age. His remains were interred on Sunday afternoon in the presence of a large concourse of relatives and friends.” Anna Margaretha Cassel Keller died March 30, 1826.
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