First: A Disambiguation of the two principal William Housels

In our view, there is no relationship within the three Housel lines that is more misreported than that between Johannes & Nelly (nee Unknown) Houshell (Housel) and their son, William. Obviously only one of these two distinctly different men could be a son of John and Nelly. What follows on this page is information on each; then we offer a proof of our conclusion that William D. Houshell is the son 'William' of John and Nelly Houshall of Hunterdon, New Jersey.

"Rev." William Housel of Stanton

Many researchers, including Ira A. Brown in his Trimmer Notebooks^[8] (and in the "Dierdorff Notebooks" which are also authored by Ira A. Brown^[9]), have reported this William as the son of Johannes and Nelly. This William HOUSEL is reportedly born in 1728 in Neuweid, Rheinland-Palatinate, Germany; died 2 Jun 1809 in NJ; and buried in the Newell Family Cemetery, Readington Twp., Hunterdon County, NJ, next to his wife, Altia Newell^[7]. By both the Trimmer and Dierdorff Notebooks, this William Housel along with Abraham Laushe (born 1732 in Creyfelt, Germany) were serving as preachers at the Brethren Church in Amwell as of 1790.

In discussing Susannah (nee Houshell) Trimmer, Brown (Trimmer Notebooks, Vol 3; Page 11) is clearly relying on the Will of Johannes Houshell when he notes that her brother, William Housel, was the Preacher at the Amwell Church. However, that defining factor (that he was a preacher at any place) was never indicated in Johannes Houshell's Will. It is clear that Brown simply referenced the name William and did not realize that there was, in fact, another William Housel living in Hunterdon, New Jersey in that era up until perhaps about 1800 (see below)

In fairness to Brown, and the many other researchers having made the same error. For many years this researcher had simply felt that one man had retired from preaching and removed to lands to the west (a myth that was burst upon the discovery of two separate and distinct WILLs) It should also be noted that the proof of the true identity of the William Housel, s/o Johannes and Nelly, was NOT easy to come by: In fact, it relies heavily on the identity of the wives of these men.

William D. Houshell of Chillisquaque, outline and biography

While it is clear that William, the preacher, by his WILL, married Altia Newell and had no offspring ^[15], William D. (Houshell) Housel (b. 14 Feb 1738 in Amwell, Hunterdon, Province Of New Jersey, Great Britain and died 9 Aug 1829 in Chillisquaque Twp., Northumberland Co., PA) married Elizabeth Kemple before 1760, in Hunterdon, Province Of New Jersey, Great Britain. Elizabeth had been born Mar 1746, in Hunterdon, Province Of New Jersey, Great Britain, daughter of Phillippus (Philip) and Elizabeth (nee Lupp) Kemple.

The eight children of William D. and Elizabeth were born in Hunterdon between 1760 and 1786. After the last of those eight children were born, the couple moved to Northumberland Co., PA, where Elizabeth reportedly died on 29 Mar 1813. Tellingly, the eldest of those children was named John after his grandfather (although the name "John" is far from being uncommon in any branch of this family).

We also know that William married for a second time prior to the date he signed his Will^[5], (1 May 1824) as evidenced by his reference to his wife, Lydia, in that document.

Although we do not know precisely when William D. moved from Hunterdon Co., NJ to Northumberland Co., PA or whether or not there was an intermediate stop between the two locations, we do know that he appears in the 1800 census of Chillesquaque Twp., Northumberland Co., PA.^[1] The presence of a female age 26 – 44 in his household suggests that there was a wife. The appearance of a John Housel immediately after William D. on the scroll and within the township, is thought to be the entry for his son John's household.

The record of the 1810 census for Chillesquaque Twp.^[2] are noteworthy in that William D.’s household appears on page 103, his son, David’s appears on page 104, son John’s on page 108, and brother Peter Sr. (Peter H.) and his son, Peter Jr on page 109. (It is this census where the data appears in linear fashion, possibly indicating a census taker walking from house to house, that is unlike the 1800 and 1820 census, where the data appears organized in semi-alphabetical manner)

The 1820 census^[3] for the same township, again offers a view of multiple households of interest to us – William Sr., and sons, David and John, appear adjacent to each other on this semi-alphabetized list.

The 1830 census^[4] for the same township, reflects the absence of William D. who had died on 9 Aug 1829, with Lydia living alone, although the household immediately before hers is that of her step-son, David. However, lower on the same page, a William HOUSEL does appear. That it is not William D. is most easily apparent given his age which is shown as only 40 – 49 while William D., if living would be 92.

The death of William D. HOUSEL was reported in the newspaper "Danville Intelligencer" published on18 Aug 1829 in the following manner, "DIED... On Sunday morning, 9th inst., at his residence in Chillisquaque township, Mr. William HOUSEL, aged 91 years and 6 months."

The graves of Elizabeth (nee Kemple) Housel, William D. Housel and Lydia (nee Unknown) have not been identified.

Looking at the Proof

That William D. Houshell is the son of Johannes and Nelly Houshell

We now turn to the evidence that John & Nelly’s son was William D. and not William, the Preacher. The proof lies more in the records for the Kempel family, than it does in the records of the Housels. We need to begin with a critical piece of information: that being that William D.’s wife, Elizabeth (nee Kemple) Housel was the daughter of Philip & Elizabeth (nee Lupp) Kemple, who were also the parents of a Maria (Mary) Catharina Kemple. Maria the first wife of Peter H. Housel, brother of William D. and son of John and Nellie. The two sisters had married the two brothers.

We will write more of Maria in her own Bio, but it is important here to note that her life was short, born in 1738 and died in Apr 1774, reportedly by drowning in the Delaware River. However, before her death, she and Philip bore four children: Elizabeth, Eleanor, John M., Wilhelm (William). (We note that on 18 Apr 1774, Peter married Maria Wilson with whom he had 8 more children).

Central to the proof that William D. Housel was the son of Johannes & Nelly (nee Unknown) Housel is the Will of Philip Kemple^[10], and the Abstract of that Will^[11].

In that Will there are three statements of import to us now:
• “Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Houshill and her heirs one equal part of my real and personal, excepting £25, the value of her onset.”
• “Item, I give and bequeath unto my four grandchildren of Peter Houshill and to their heirs one equal part of my moneable and real estate, the one equal part for the four children.”
• I hereby constitute and ordain that my beloved wife Elizabeth Kemple, my son-in-law, William Housel and my own beloved son Ontieal Kemple my sole executors of this my last will and testament….”

The final part of this proof is in papers of the estate of Peter H. Housel, brother of William D. Peter apparently died without a Will, so Letters of Administration were issued. These records are from the reports made to the court by the men to whom those letters were issued^[12] , in which he acknowledges all four of the children he had with Mary Catherine Kemple (sister of William D. Housel's first wife):
• On page 658: “A list of sundries goods that my daughter Elizabeth received wife of Daniel Bush….”
• On the same: “A list of sundries goods that my daughter Eleanor received wife of Abraham Swigart. . . .”
• On the same: “Received May 1788 the sum of 60.11.9 in part of my portion Rec. by me – John Housel
• On page 659: “Received May 1812 William Housel … Horse at ninety-five dollars. The above towards his portion.

1. ↑ United States Census Bureau. 1800 US Census data for Housels living in Chillisquaque.

   1800 Census
   HOUSEL, William;
   1 Male - 45+ (William at age 62)
   1 Male - 16 - 25 (born 1775 to 1784 is probably son David Housel)
   1 Female - 26 - 44 (born 1756 to 1774 - Can NOT be Elizabeth Kemple if she was born 1746, this is likely Lydia who is mentioned in William's WILL)
   1 Female - 16 - 25 (born 1775 to 1784 Could this be Elizabeth Jr?? If so, the indication is that a 1764 or a 1770 estimated birth date is probably incorrect)
   1 Female - 10 - 15 (born 1785 to 1790 probably daughter Catherine Housel)
   
   
   see Link above
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2. ↑ United States Census Bureau. 1810 US Census data for Housels living in Chillisquaque.

   1810 Census of Chillesquaque Township, Northumberland Co., PA;
   
   Pg. 103 [1]
   HOUSEL, William
   1 Male - 45+ (William at age 72)
   1 Female - 26 - 44 (born 1766 to 1784 still unlikely to be Elizabeth Jr if her birth was 1764 or 1770, Could this still be wife #2 Lydia?)
   1 Female - 16 -25 (born 1785 to 1794 probably Catherine age 24+/-)
   1 female - Under 10 (born 1801-1810 - unknown child in household.)
   
   
   
   see Link above
   -------------

3. ↑ United States Census Bureau. 1820 US Census data for Housels living in Chillisquaque.

   1820 Census of Chillesquaque Township, Northumberland Co., PA;
   
   Page 27;[1] 7 Aug 1820
   HOUSEL, William Sr.
   1 Male - 45 + (William at 82)
   1 Male - Under 10 (unknown male child, perhaps grandchild?)
   2 Females - 45+ (probably both wife #2 Lydia and daughter Elizabeth Jr)
   1 Female - 16 to under 25 (not Catherine, perhaps unknown child from 1810 Census?)
   
   
   
   see Link above
   -------------

4. ↑ United States Census Bureau. 1830 US Census data for Housels living in Chillisquaque.

   William Housel Sr is no longer listed.
   Confirming death in 1829.
   Note, Lydia Housel is still listed.
   HOUSEL, Lydia
   1 Female - 60 – 70
   
   
   see Link above
   -------------

5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 The WILL of William D. Houshell. (Northumberland County Will Book 3, Pp 52 - 54).

   The Full text of the WILL is available by clicking the link. A summary is provided below.

   from William Housel's Will:
   
   May 31, 1824, William Housel of Chillisquaque township, Northumberland County, made will.
   Names wife Lydia; sons John and David; daughter Elizabeth; son Philip; granddaughter Margaret, married to Mr. Jones of Ohio; granddaughter Maria now Mrs Jones of this township; daughter Catharine now Mrs. Lena of Columbia County; grandchildren, the children of daughter Eloner deceased married to John Miller, and son Jacob. Appoints sons John and David executors. Witnesses John Ruch and Isaac Straub.
   Probate 24 Aug 1829.
   Recorded Northumberland County Will Book 3, Pg 52.

   Will of William Housel Will of William Housel (pg2)
6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 Linn, John Blair. Annals of Buffalo Valley, 1755-1855. (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Lane S. Hart, Printer and Binder., 1877).

   Annals of Buffalo Valley, Pennsylvania, 1755-1855
   by Linn, John Blair, (he 1831-1899)
   Published 1877
   Publisher Harrisburg, Pa. : L.S. Hart, printer and binder
   page 569
   "William Housel, d. Aug. 9, 1829, aged 91" (b. 1738)
   "Mrs. William Housel, d. July 7, 1835"

7. ↑ The Gravemarker of the 'Reverend' William Housel of Amwell, Stanton, etc.

   While the burial location of William D. Houshell and his wives remains undiscovered, the 'Reverend' William Housel and his wife Altia, are known as shown at this link.
   https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13505322/william-housel

8. ↑ Trimmer Notebooks by Ira A. Brown, in Bell, Raymond Martin, and Ira A Brown. The Trimmer family : New Jersey, Pennsylvania. (Washington [District of Columbia]: Library of Congress Photoduplication Service, 1986).

   Be sure to select the texts at FamilyHart, those at the Family History Center are incomplete.
   -----------

9. ↑ Ira A. Brown. Dierdorff Notebooks. (self, 1959).

   Link included to PDF files of the Dierdorff Notebooks available at FamilyHart website.
   
   ---------

10. ↑ Kemple, Phillip. Will of Phillip Kemple of Amwell, Hunterdon, New Jersey.

    Click here to see the Will
    
    NOTE that in the WILL, Philip Kemple included this language, “Item, I give and bequeath unto my four grandchildren of Peter Houshill and to their heirs one equal part of my moneable and real estate, the one equal part for the four children.”
    
    He also claims his daughter Elizabeth Houshill and names his son-in-law William Houshill as an executor of his WILL.
    
    ----------------

11. ↑ Kemple, Phillip. Extract of the Will of Phillip Kemple of Amwell, Hunterdon, New Jersey.

    Click here to see the Extract of the Will.
    
    ----------------

12. ↑ Stark Co, Ohio. Transcription of the Estate papers of Peter H. Houshell.

    Click here to see the Transcription.
    
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13.   NOTE that the William HOUSEL who was the minister of the Bretheren Church in Stanton, Hunterdon Co, NJ is a completely different William HOUSEL whose ancestry has not yet been settled. You may find more information about him at this link.
    
    Proof
    Annuls of the Buffalo Valley seems correct indicating the William of Northumberland Co, PA died in 1829. However no burial has been located for him.
    
    A separate WILL exists for William Housel of Chillisquaque TWP, Northumberland Co, PA is found in the Northumberland Co, PA WILL book #3 pg 52. That WILL was filed May 31, 1824 and probate in August 24, 1829.
    
    SO THESE TWO MEN ARE COMPLETELY SEPARATE INDIVIDUALS!!!!
14.   FOR REFERENCE:
    HOUSEL-Henry# 125
    
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15. ↑ (reference complete data of 'Rev' William Housel here)