Wilmer Kerns Collection

214 THL

Inventory created by Archives Staff 01/1998. Last revised 02/2021.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: Collection is open to all researchers.

USE RESTRICTIONS: Restrictions may apply concerning the use, photoduplication, or publication of items in this collection. Consult a member of the archives staff for information concerning these restrictions. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright. Note: Several items in this collection are under copyright and may not be copied without permission of the author. These documents are identified in the organization section.

EXTENT: 4 linear feet

DATE:  1693-2016

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The Wilmer Kerns Collection contains genealogical research about families living in the Winchester-Frederick County area in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, including. photocopies of articles from the West Virginia Advocate (1983-1992). There are also copies of several Frederick County road petitions, a record book for Nelson’s Chapel, and documents concerning the Grove families, John Parish, John Wolford, the Doctors McGuire, and the account book of Aaron Kerns.

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL: Dr. Kerns is a well-respected genealogist and historian of the Lower Shenandoah Valley, and the author of a number of books concerning Fredrick County, VA and Hampshire County, WV. These books are available in the Archives Reading Room: Shanholtzer History and Allied Family Roots of Hampshire County, W. Va., and Frederick County, Va. (929.2 Ker), Frederick County, Virginia: Settlement and Some First Families on Back Creek Valley, 1730-1830 (975.599 Fre), Historic Records of Old Frederick and Hampshire Counties, Virginia, Volumes I and II (975.599 Fre), Kerns Family Roots in Virginia, (929.2 KER 2011), and Old Frederick County, Virginia Historical Series, Volume I and II (975.599 Fre), and Kerns Family Roots in Virginia (929.2 Ker). 

Nelson’s Chapel, also known as the Railroad Union Sabbath School, was a United Brethren in Christ Church that was located near Cross Junction. The record book included in the collection is the only record of the church’s existence. This collection also contains a list of charter members of the church, a brief history by Wilmer L. Kerns, a list of members from when the chapel was reorganized in 1908, and a list of members in 1918. 

RELATED MATERIAL: Wilmer Kerns was a veteran of the Korean War. His memoirs can be found in the Korean War Collection , 1447 WFCHS.

CITE AS: Wilmer Kerns Collection, 214 THL, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA. 

ACQUISITION INFORMATION: Acquired as a gift.

ORGANIZATION:

BOX 1 - Families A

Adams, Jonathan, Family Bible, 5 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Alkaire Family genealogical material, 2 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Allemong Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; 2 folders, unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript

Arnold Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; 4 folders, unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript

BOX 2 - Families B-C

Bageant, Sampson—Loose papers found in journal of Sampson Bageant; unnumbered leaves, manuscript/print

Bennear Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript 

Bennett Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript

Bennett, William – genealogy 1805 -1841

Braitewaite Family – Correspondence, Mrs. Burtron Davis to Wilmer Kerns, June 15, 1992, 1 leaf, typescript

Brelsford Family – Notes, unnumbered leaves, typescript (photocopy)

Brill Family – Notes, unnumbered leaves

Bruce Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript

Bruce Family genealogical material, 2 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Buckwalters Family genealogical material, 2 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Buzzard Family – Notes, unnumbered leaves

Cacapon Bridge, land survey map, 3 leaves, 4 photocopies, published in the West Virginia Advocate, 1984

Cacapon Valley, 8 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Capon Bridge, history of and spellings, 2 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Carlyle Families - see Poston Families, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Cather, Joseph (1740-1812) – Family Papers, unnumbered leaves

Chapman, Giles, 2 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Clark, Abner (1740-1812) – Researcher Notes, unnumbered leaves

Clowser Family – “Henry Clowser and His Decedents of Frederick County, VA with a partial history of Jacob Keckley’s Decedents” by Merle D. Moore; unnumbered pages, typescript and manuscript (printed photocopy

Coe Families – Research Papers and Correspondence, unnumbered leaves

BOX 3 - Families D-Gl

Dalby Family of Back Creek – Notes, unnumbered leaves

Dew Family Genealogy Material, 5 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Dunlap Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Dunlap Family, 24 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Elliott, Reuben (1811-1860) – Biography by Wilmer Kerns, 2 leaves, printed

Evans Family – Notes, unnumbered leaves

Farmer, John (1775-1808) – Bible Records, 5 leaves, manuscript (photocopy)

Foreman Family genealogical material, 31 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Gaddis Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Gaddis Family genealogical material, 14 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Garrett, Joseph (1825-1884) – Bible Record, 1 leaf, printed (photocopy)

Gibbons Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Gibbons Family, 13 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Giffin Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Gill Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Ginevan Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Glaize Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

BOX 4 - Families Go-J

Good Family genealogical material, 8 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Green, John: 1^st resident physician of Mineral County, WV; 9 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Groff Family – Family Newsletters, 1964; 1987, 13 leaves, typescript

Grove Family, 6 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Grove, Abraham – Fraktur copies, 14 leaves, typescript and manuscript (photocopies)

Grove, Christian – Genealogy of – Old Frederick Shenandoah,1756-1917, 11 leaves, typescript

Grove Family – Correspondence on Family, 55 leaves, 3 pages, typescript and manuscript

Grove Family – Land Research and Plats prepared by Mike Conaboy, 14 leaves, 7 pages, typescript and manuscript

Grove Family - Marriage Bonds, Deeds, and Wills, 68 leaves, typescript/manuscript/photocopy

Grove – research by Ernestine Moss; Cyrus Grove and Descendants, 18 leaves, typescript

Grove – research by Frederick T. Newbraugh and the Morgan County, WV Historic Society, 83 leaves, typescript and manuscript

Heare Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Heare Family genealogical material, 1 leaf, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Hefflebower Families - see Poston Families, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Hickle Family genealogical material, 2 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Hiet Family genealogical material, 9 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Hook Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Hook Family genealogical material, 7 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Hott Family genealogical material, 1 leaf, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Hull Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Jenkins Family genealogical material, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Julian Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

BOX 5 - Families K-L

Kackley Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Kackley Family genealogical material, 13 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Keiter Family history, 17 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Kesler Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Kidwell Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Kidwell Family, 10 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate 

Kline Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Kump Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Kump, Frederick (1798-1878) – Biography by Wilmer Kerns, no date, 2 leaves, printed

LaFollette Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

LaFollette Family genealogical material, 1 leaf, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Larrick Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

LaRue Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Leith Mountain settlement, 4 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Lewis Family genealogical material, 8 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Lockhart Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

BOX 6 - Families M

Malick Family genealogical material, 4 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Mauzy Family - Huguenot settlers, 14 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

McBride Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

McCoy, Edwards, Caudy, and Taylor genealogical material, 3 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

McDonald Family – Letter from Benjamin McDonald III to his sister Ann and his brother Samuel Farmer, February 16, 1840, 4 pages, manuscript. 2 leaves, typescript

McDonald – Letter from Sarah Jane Ellis (1805-1873) to Ann McDonald Farmer, November 5, 1869, 1 leaf, manuscript

McDonald Family Correspondence (1840-1869); 3 leaves, manuscript, letters addressed to and from various members of the McDonald family

McDonald, Benjamin Families, 14 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate, Bible records, correspondence to and from Wilmer Kerns, print and photocopies

McGuire Family – Medical bills and letters, Four statements from St. Luke’s Hospital in Richmond and two letters from the doctor to John W. Parish for his wife’s surgery, 1900 – 1901, 8 leaves, manuscript

McKee and Sommerville Families --- Memories of the McKee and Sommerville Families by George Alexander McKee, with minor editing and pictures by Wilmer Kerns, 8 leaves, typescript

McKee Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

McKee Family genealogical material, 2 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Mercer – “The Life and Times of a Rural Northern Virginia Family: Nathaniel and Lydia Mercer” by Gary M. Entler; 34 leaves, typescript

Mercer Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Miscellaneous Records—contains the following: post card to F.M. Farmer with picture of Winchester on back, drawing of birds with the name Sarah Ann Farmer on back, Certificate of Social Insurance Award to Winton Kerns dated April 13, 1955; 4 items, typescript/printed/manuscript

BOX 7 - Families N-Z

Nixon Family – Early Settlers in Old Frederick County: The Nixon Family of Cacapon Valley by Wilmer Kerns, n.d., 10 leaves, printed

Oates Family genealogical material, 8 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Parks Family, 9 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

"Phillips Family of Rockingham County, Virginia [A Preliminary Study of John Phillips (ca. 1720-1790) and Some of His Descendants]" by Wilmer Kerns, ca. 1997, 19 leaves, typescript
DO NOT  PUBLISH WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE OWNER

Poston Family – History and Recollections of John Cheshire (1824-1900), Oral History of the Poston Family of Maryland and Old Fredrick County, 1 leaf, photo, 17 leaves typescript (photocopy)
DO NOT COPY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE OWNER

Poston/Carlyle/Hefflebower Families, 20 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

“The Potts Family” by Ralph L. Triplett, 3 leaves, printed

Powell Family - see Leith Mountain settlement, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Powell/ Leith Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Pugh, Ellis Family genealogical material, 1 leaf, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Purtlebaugh Family – Notes and Correspondence, unnumbered leaves

Queen Family genealogical material, 1 leaf, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Richards Family – Genealogical notes and records compiled by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript/manuscript

Rogers Family genealogical material, 7 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Shane, William (1826-1896) – William Shane by Wilmer Kerns, n.d., 2 leaves. Printed

Shanholtz Family Records (1869-1892) – 6 leaves, manuscript/printed

Shinholt Family – Shinholt, Samuel H., Supporting research for the DAR by Wilmer Kerns, 7 leaves, typescript

"Showalter Family Antecedents," by Wilmer Kerns, revised June 4, 1997, 9 leaves, typescript, published in the West Virginia Advocate 
DO NOT PUBLISH WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE OWNER

Sine, Reverend Christy, Saga of and historical records of Hampshire County, 21 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Slane Family genealogical material, 6 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Slonaker Family genealogical material, 1 leaf, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Smith, Jeremiah, and other settlers, 28 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Smokey Hollow families, 8 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Sommerville Family - SEE McKee and Sommerville Families, Box 6

Stoker Family genealogical material, 7 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Streit Family genealogical material, 6 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Stump Family, 10 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Taylor, Sarah – tombstone,4 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Whitacre Family genealogical material, 5 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Whitacre, Addison (1842-1919) – Bible Record; 1 leaf, typescript

Wolford Family – Bible Records, Correspondence, Notes, 5 pages, 23 leaves, typescript and manuscript

Wolford Family genealogical material, 11 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Wright Family genealogical material, 9 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

BOX 8 - Kerns Family History

 “Kern Family History 1727-1970” by Rev. John D. Kern—1 item, 57 pages, printed

Kern, Adam Family, 2 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Kern, Adam Sr. of Kernstown – unnumbered leaves, printed/manuscript

Kern, Henry Family, 4 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Kern, Henry—Bible Record; 3 leaves, print (photocopy)

Kern, Valentine (1783-1846); unnumbered leaves, printed

Kerns, Aaron (1829-1880) – Account Book includes family records of Elisha Kerns and his wife Rachel Whitacre, 1 item, manuscript

Kerns Attic Letter – 1883, 2 leaves, manuscript

Kerns, Families of Fauquier Co., VA – unnumbered leaves, printed/typescript

Kerns, Francis (1853-1912) – Bible Records, 2 pages, manuscript

Kerns, George Sr.(1798-1952)—Bible Records for George Kerns Sr. and Casper Allemong; 4 pages, printed/manuscript – Bible Record with title page dated 1868 intact

Kerns, Gier—Letters to (dated May 13, 1894 and August 21, 1904); 2 leaves, manuscript

Kerns, Hiram Oscar—contains information on his life and death and also includes the correspondence and research notes by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/manuscript

Kern, Jacob, 2 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Kerns, Jacob and Susan of Berkeley Co., West Virginia—unnumbered leaves, printed

Kerns, James C. (1823-1898)—2 leaves, manuscript and photocopy of manuscript

Kerns, James—contains information on James Kerns as well as research notes and correspondence completed by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed

Kerns, John—contains information on John Kerns as well as research notes completed by Wilmer Kerns; unnumbered leaves, printed/manuscript

Kerns, Michael of Bedford Co., VA—unnumbered pages, printed

Kerns, Michael of Monongalia Co., West Virginia—unnumbered leaves, printed

Kerns, Nicholas (1693-1749); 12 leaves, typescript (photocopy) and manuscript

Kerns, Robert R.—Records of (1889-1902); 6 leaves, printed/manuscript

Kerns, Tamson—Account page from Dr. William B. Hollis’ medical account book, dated November 14, 1906; 1 leaf, printed (photocopy)

Kerns, Tamson – Records of 1880-1892, 2 leaves, printed, manuscript

Kerns, Wilmer, 3 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Kerns, Winton—WWII mileage rationing coupons; 3 items, printed

BOX 9 - Local History

Bloomery, West Virginia, 12 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Business – Shenandoah Valley National Bank letter to Mrs. Kerns, September 8, 1925, 1 leaf, typescript

Business – Swanson A. G., Auctioneer, Valley Auction House, 1929, 1 leaf, printed and manuscript

Business – The Evening Star (newspaper), 1917, subscription information and receipt, 2 leaves, printed

Business – Vest Pocket Directory of Winchester, VA, 1921, 1 item, printed

Church – Bethel Church-Invitation to attend the dedication (February 14, 1880); 1 item, manuscript

Church – Crooked Run Baptist Church Records, n.d. (later known as Union Baptist located in Hampshire County, WV, 9leaves, manuscript (photocopy)

Church – Crooked Run Primitive Baptist Church Records; no date, unnumbered leaves, manuscript

Church – Letter from Rev. S.J. Goode to Christian Friends on Sandy Ridge (1935); 3 leaves, manuscript

Church – Nelson’s Chapel Records Book, 1925-1928, Railroad Union Sabbath School (United Brethren Church), 3 items, manuscript

Church – Nelson’s Chapel (folder contains the following): 
-  “A Brief Statement on the History of Nelson’s Chapel, 1897-1928” by Wilmer L. Kerns,  n.d., 1 leaf, printed
- Nelson’s Chapel Reorganized, April 20, 1908, 2 items, 1 leaf, manuscript; 1 leaf,  manuscript (photocopy)
- Cover of Class book of Nelson’s Chapel, Frederick County, VA, n.d., 1 leaf, 2 pages, manuscript; 1 leaf, manuscript (photocopy)                    
- Charter members of Nelson’s Chapel, n.d., 2 items, 2 pages, manuscript; 1 leaf, manuscript (photocopy)                     - List of members of Nelson’s Chapel, 1918, 1 leaf, manuscript

Church – Old Stone Research Notes; unnumbered leaves, typescript

Church:  White Hall UMC, Frederick County, VA, unnumbered leaves, typewritten

Civil Rights – Living History: My Involvement in Civil Rights in the 1960s by Wilmer Kerns, 3 leaves, typescript

Early pioneers of old Virginia, 2 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Frederick County Rivers and Streams, 3 leaves – photocopy (printed)

Hampshire County physicians, 4 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Hampshire County pioneers, 3 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Hampshire County tax records, 4 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Hampton, Noah's mill, 2 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

"Here and There in Historical and Genealogical Research," 4 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Mill—Mill Branch Valley history - the German migration, 1782-1810, 6 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Mills—Mills of old Frederick County, 9 leaves, published in the West Virginia Advocate

Roads – Martinsburg to Winchester Turnpike, 1839, field surveys by Crozet, 3 leaves, printed (photocopy).
These maps are the property of the Library of Virginia and cannot be published without their permission.

Roads – Road Petitions – Frederick County, VA, 1785-1853, 28 leaves, manuscript (photocopy)

Roads – Turnpikes and Wagon Roads

School – Mount Carmel School, Gerrardstown District, Berkeley County, West Virginia, Record Book, 1895-1896, Robert B. Kerns, teacher, 1 item, printed and manuscript

School – Railroad (Union) #5 School, Cross Junction, Frederick County, Virginia, school contract, 1896-1897 with Robert B. Kerns

Survey – Fairfax Survey of the first settlers in Back Creek; unnumbered leaves, printed, no date

Williamson – Williamson, S. A. J. letter to Cordelia “Della” Dunlap, December 6, 1885, (S. A. J. Williamson was living in Union County, Ohio. Cordelia is his cousin. She later married Scott Strother), 1 page, manuscript  

BOX 10

Bageant, Sampson—Journal of (1827-1869); contains account information and family notes/information by Sampson Bageant, 1 item, unnumbered pages, manuscript

School – Pine Grove School teacher’s notes (1902), Morgan County, West Virginia; unnumbered leaves, typescript/manuscript

PHOTOGRAPHS: Photographs and other images belonging to this collection may be accessed online through http://handley.pastperfectonline.com/