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Facts and Events
Biography
Pieter (Peter H) (Houshell) Housel was born to Johannes and Neeljte "Nelly" (nee Unknown) Houshell in Nov 1736 at Amwell, Hunterdon Co., NJ.
He was baptized at the Dutch Reformed Church at North Branch, Somerset County, New Jersey on 28 Nov 1736. [6]
Literally nothing is known of Peter’s youth in Hunterdon Co.
In approximately 1756, Peter married Mary Catharina (nee Kemple), a daugher of Philip and Elizabeth (nee Lupp) Kemple. She was also the sister of Elizabeth Kemple, wife of William D. Housel, Peter H.’s brother. The two sisters married the two brothers. (See the discussion in the Bio of William D. Housel at WeRelate).
Over the next 15 years, Peter and Mary had four children, all born in Hunterdon Co.:
1. Elizabeth (1757 - ) marr. Daniel Brush
2. Eleanor (21 Apr 1764 – 14 Apr 1828) marr Abraham Swigart
3. John M. Housel (8 Apr 1766 – 19 Aug 1820) marr. Mary Miller
4. Wilhelm or William (15 Oct 1771 - )
Sadly, Mary's (nee Kemple) Housel’s life was cut short between 15 Oct 1771 and 18 Apr 1774, when she drowned in the Delaware River[17].
In his Will[7] and the Abstract of that Will[8], signed 10 Aug 1777, 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.”
The grave site of Mary (nee Kemple) Housel has not been identified.
On 18 Apr 1774, Philip Houshell , of Hunterdon Co., married his second wife, Maria Wilson, of Hunterdon Co., New Jersey[11], born ca. 1749.
We do not know precisely when Peter and Maria left New Jersey, but it was clearly during the period 18 Apr 1774 – 3 May 1780. This period is framed by the date when Philip Housel married Maria Wilson in Hunterdon, New Jersey and by the birth date for their first-born-son (who was their second-born- child), Peter H. Housel. Peter H. Housel's birthplace is remembered as Abbottstown, York County, Pennsylvania. Abbottstown, Pennsylvania is near the center of Berwick Township.
The presence of the family of Peter and Maria in Berwick Township is confirmed by their presence on the 1780 tax rolls of that township. Peter is listed as owning 260 acres of land, 4 horses, 7 cows and one negro slave. Taxes due amount to 177.10.0.[12] Interestingly, Anthony Dierdoff is listed on the previous page, which raises the possibility that Peter’s family made the move from Hunterdon to York County at the same time as did his sister, Susannah (nee Houshell) Trimmer and several of the Dierdorffs. As noted in Susannah (nee Houshell) Trimmer’s bio, they made the move to York Co. in ca 1767 settling in Reading Twp, where they appear on the 1780 tax rolls.
Peter appears again in the tax rolls of Berwick Twp. of York Co., PA in 1782. In this case, Peter Howsel is shown as owning 200 acres of land, 4 horses, 6 head of cattle, 5 head of sheep, and 1 mill. Taxes due were 20.17.11. He also had to pay an additional 10.16.8 “for surities property.” [18]
Regardless of the precise date of their arrival, the stay in York Co. was short for Peter and Maria, since their next child, Anthony Tynes Housel, was born in Northumberland Co., PA on 6 Nov 1782.
They were recorded in the 1790 federal census of Northumberland Co[10]. (no other sub-jurisdiction is recorded) on page 192. The household was recorded as having 10 members - 3 free males above 16; 3 free males under 16 and 4 free females. (Those 3 categories were the only ones available on the form.)
During the period between the census of 1790 and that of 1800, Peter revealed a propensity for the acquisition of real estate that his son, John M. Housel (8 Apr 1776 – 19 Aug 1820) would demonstrate in a most dramatic manner. During this period Peter acquired properties in several townships, most noticeably:
First a parcel of 300 acres in Penn Twp.[4] [13];
Then, two years later, in 1794, second, a parcel of 400 acres in Washington Twp. [5]
The following real estate transactions are also relevant. They are from the files of Edgar Searles Housel to whom we are so indebted for so much of the original research on this family.
Property 3: 25 Jun 1794, Book L, p15, Peter & wife Maria of Penns twp to Joseph Pawling, 2 tracts of land called Spring Tract 414a and 40 1/2a.
Property 4: 01 Jan 1795, Book I page 236, Andrew Straub sell fronting road from Milton to Hutchinson's mill to Peter Housel of Chillisquaque Twp.
Property 5: 03 Jan 1797, Book I p 235, Peter and Maria of Chillisquaque twp sell lot on Bradway to Adam Kimble (Kemple) ?.[19]
Given all this activity between the two cenus reports, in 1800, Peter and family were in Northumberland County. This time it was in East Buffaloe Twp[1]. Note the presence of Peter’s kinsmen in the adjoining township. Did he knowingly leave where his sister and many family friends lived (York Co.) and go to the frontier where he knew his uncle and cousins were settling?
The same question arises when one looks at the 1810 census of Chillisquaque Twp., Northumberland Co., PA (ref 1810 Census) which is noteworthy in that not only Peter Sr. (Peter H.) and his son, Peter Jr appear on page 109, but that the household of Peter’s brother, William D. Housel, appears on page 103, that of his son, David, appears on page 104, and son John’s on page 108[15].
But Peter was not content to live out the remaining portion of his life in Northumberland Co. In 1812, Peter with Maria and most of their children moved from Northumberland Co., Pa to Plain Twp., Stark Co, Ohio. [20]
Our last view of the family of Peter and Maria is the 1820 census of Plain Twp., Stark Co., OH. The household consists of only three people. Peter is noted simply as a male over 45 years old, Maria is noted simply as a woman over 45 years old. The third is noted simply as a woman 16 – 25 years old[15].
Not long afterward, in the 24 Aug 1821 (Friday) issue of the Ohio Repository of Canton, Ohio, the following notice was published on Page 3, Col. 4: “DIED - On Saturday last, of dysentery, Mr Peter Housel, aged 85, a respectable inhabitant of Plain township..." Since 24 Aug 1821 was a Friday, the preceding Saturday (the day of Philip’s death) would have been 18 August 1821[9].
His beloved Maria did not join him in death for another nearly four years, dying on 9 Mar 1825 in Plain Twp., Stark Co., OH.
Both are buried in the Henry Warstler Cemetery, Plain Twp., Stark Co., OH. (See F-A-G Memorial# 157777906 for Peter and # 157779224 for Maria.)
Peter died intestate. Letters of Administration were assigned to Peter’s son, Peter Housel and John Clark (see Stark Co., OH; AR Book B, Page 654; 19 Jan 1822). The records of the estate are most interesting and are most valuable in identifying children from both of Peter’s marriages[1].
We listed above the four children born of Peter’s first marriage, with Maria Kemple. Here we will list the eight children that Peter sired with Maria (nee Wilson):
1. Catherine (30 Sep 1777 – 10 Dec 1868) M) William Irwin
2. Peter H. (3 May 1780 – 11 Dec 1870) M)Sarah Myers
3. Anthony Tynes (6 Nov 1782 – 2 Feb 1870) M1) Mary W. Murphy; M2) Mary Hoover; M3) Mary F. Kerr
4. Anna Margaret HOUSEL (28 Nov 1784) - no further data.
5. Julianna (1792 – 22 Feb 1881) M) William Stadden
6. Sarah (11 Jan 1792 – 5 Feb 1889) M) James Smith
7. Margaret Amelia (11 Feb 1793 – 20 Jul 1879) M) James Fisher Murray
8. Margaret (16 Sep 1798 – 15 Sep 1868) NM
Unfortunately, the action within the family did not end with the death of Peter or Maria. On the 27th of May 1825 a legal notice ran in the Ohio Repository of Canton, Ohio. It announced that William Stadden and his wife, Julia Ann (nee Housel) Stadden had initiated a petition for partition naming twenty-two Housel-family members as respondents. The suit is not important as a legal matter. But as a source of names of the heirs of Peter it is priceless[3].
(NOTE: Changes made to original write-up by John Ramer made Thursday, January 10, 2019. See "History" of this page to see the changes made.)
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States. Housels living in 1800 East and West Buffalo, Northumberland, PA.
CLICK LINK ABOVE TO SEE PETER'S KINSMEN IN ADJOINING TOWNSHIPS.
!CENSUS:
1800 Census of East Buffaloe Twp., Northumberland Co., PA; Page 270.
HUSEL, Peter:
1 Male - Over 45 Peter at age 64
1 Male - 16 - 25 born 1784-1775
1 Male - 10 - 16 born 1790-1785
1 Male - Under 10 born 1800-1791
1 Female - Over 45 born 1755 or before
2 Females - 16 - 25 born 1784-1775
4 Females - Under 10 born 1800-1791
>
NOTE: See the 1800 Septennial Census Returns for the same year and the same township which follows for the spelling used there.
!CENSUS:
Source: Septennial Census Returns, 1779-1863.
Box 1026, microfilm, 14 rolls.
Records of the House of Representatives.
Records of the General Assembly, Record Group 7.
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA.
>
Buffaloe Twp., Northumberland Co.
> HOUSEL, Peter
> NOTE:
No data is included as to numbers in the family or other factors
- Stark Co, Ohio. Transcription of the Estate papers of Peter H. Houshell.
Peter Houshell apparently died without a WILL, leaving us only with these estate papers compiling the household goods and possessions, as well as a summation of the promissory notes extended to his children.
Estate Papers of Peter H. Houshell (IMG1 of 4)  Estate Papers of Peter H. Houshell (IMG2 of 4)  Estate Papers of Peter H. Houshell (IMG3 of 4)  Estate Papers of Peter H. Houshell (IMG4 of 4) 
- ↑ Stark County Ohio, Secretary of State. Wm Stadden (& etc) vs Anthony Housel (& etc). (Legal Notice of Petition of Partion appearing in the Ohio Repository, The (Canton Ohio); issue of 27 May 1825).
- ↑ Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952; Northumberland Co.; 1792, in Peter Housel application for 300 acres, Northumberland, PA.
- ↑ Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952; Northumberland Co.; 1794, in Peter Housel application for 400 acres, Northumberland, PA.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Somerset County Historical Quarterly. (Somerville, New Jersey: Somerset County Historical Society).
- p216; 1736 Nov 28:
Housel, Johannis and Neeltje -- Pieter
Also notice the attached independent transcription shown here from the Holland Society of New York; (located in New York City); Record Title: New Millstone North branch and Six Mile Run I, Book 76 (this transcription is not from the Somerset County book, but what appears to be a modern transcription made by hand, and which appears to be on 'modern' lined paper).
The birth year is based on the idea that the child would have been baptized not long after his birth.`
The baptism was held in a log structure built in 1719 located near the confluence of the North Branch and South Branch of the Raritan River, about three miles east of Readington, in what is now Branchburg in Somerset County (hence some of its history in the Somerset County book). Two years after Pieter was baptized, in 1738, the congregation left its original site and built its second church, a new frame building in Readington (within the bounds of Hunterdon County). The Readington Reformed Church is the oldest Dutch Reformed Church in Hunterdon County.
Link to Readington Reformed Church Wikipedia page. [1]
Baptismal Record for Peter Housel 
- ↑ Kemple, Phillip. Will of Phillip Kemple of Amwell, Hunterdon, New Jersey.
“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.”
- ↑ Kemple, Phillip. Extract of the Will of Phillip Kemple of Amwell, Hunterdon, New Jersey.
"To my 4 grandchildren (Peter Houshill's)..."
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Notice of Death, Peter Housel - Stark Co, Ohio.
Death notice transcribed from microfilm of The Canton Repository [Canton, Stark, OH] Thursday 23 August 1821 page 3 column 4; located at the Stark County District Library, Reference Department.
"On Saturday last, of dysentery, Mr. Peter Housel, aged 85 - a repectable inhabitant of Plain township."
- ↑ 1790 Census at Northumberland, Pennsylvania.
1790 Census at
Northumberland, PA
Peter Howsel (spelled Howsjel)
3,3,4 indicating
3 males age 16 and over
3 males under 16
4 females
- ↑ State of New Jersey. Marriage record for Peter Houshell and Maria Wilson.
New Jersey State Archives. New Jersey, Published Archives Series, First Series. Trenton, New Jersey: John L Murphy Publishing Company
New Jersey Marriage Records 1683-1802; Volume XXII, Marriage Records 1665 – 1800; Page 186
Marriage, Peter Houshell and Maria Wilson 
- ↑ Egle, William Henry. Returns of taxables of the county of York for the years 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782 and 1783. (Pennsylvania: Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer of Pennsylvania, 1898)
21, 276.
Returns of Taxables of the County of York for the years 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782 and 1783.
Edited by William Henry Egle, M.D.
printed by Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer of Pennsylvania
Berwick TWP, YOrk Co, PA page 276 in 1780
page 447 in 1781 (260 Acres, 1 negroe, 4 horses and 5 cattle).
- ↑ Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952.
Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952;
Northumberland Co.; 1792
>
"Peter HOUSEL applieth for 300 acres of land adjoining lands of Adam ARNOLD including several springs and adjoining lands of Christopher HAINLY in Penn Twp. of Northumberland Co."
- Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Northumberland County WARRANT REGISTERS, 1733-1957. [series #17.88]. (Pennsylvania State Archives).
Northumberland Land Record P120  Northumberland Land Record P133 
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 United States Census Bureau. 1810 US Census data for Housels living in Chillisquaque.
CLICK LINK ABOVE TO SEE PETER'S BROTHER WILLIAM D. and HIS SONS
all living in 1810 Chillisquaque, Northumberland, PA
Page 109 [4]
HOUSEL, Peter
1 Male - 45+
1 Male - 26 - 44
1 Male - Under 10
1 Female - 45+
2 Femaels - 16 - 25
1 Female - 10 – 15
>
Followed by (also on page 109)
Peter HOUSEL, Jr.
1 Male 26 -44
3 Males under 10
1 Female 16 -25
- 1820 Census for Peter Housel at Stark County, Ohio.
1820 Census at Plain TWP, Stark, Ohio
Peter Housell
1 male 45+
1 female 16-26
1 female 45+
Living next to Anthony Howsell
2 male under 10
1 male 26-45
2 females under 10
1 female 26-45
- ↑ Citation Needed
- ↑ Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission; Records of the Office of the Comptroller General, RG-4; Tax & Exoneration Lists, 1762-1794; Microfilm Roll: 343; Manahan Twp., York Co.; 1782; Pg. 113
- ↑ Research notes of Edgar Searles Housel
- ↑ Research notes of Edgar Searles Housel
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