Researched by Sharon Kouns
My working hypothesis is that the Lawrence Co. OH, Gallia Co. OH and Greenup/Boyd Co. KY KOUNS’ are all related as follows:
Jacob Swallow – Records of Augusta Co. VA by Chalkley, p 246;287: 2d Mar 1796 Jacob Swallow’s will – to brother, Peter KOUNTZ, tract whereon Philip Dull lives; to brother Peter KOUNTZ’s eldest son; to Mary that was formerly my wife, but now absconded and left my bed and board without any provacation; to sister Mary Smith; to brother and sister, vis: Paul KOUNTZ, William KOUNTZ, Polly Smith and Sarah Kerler. Exec. John and Wm. KOONTZ. Teste: J. Ray, Wm. Willson, Samuel McCorkell. Proved 27 Oct 1817 by William Wilson; Joseph Ray is since dead; Samuel McCorkle is out of Commonwealth. John KROUNTZ qualifies.
Page 225 by Chalkley – John Hughes vs. Jacob Swallow’s representatives – O.S. 306; N.S. 109-Bill, December 1819. In 1803 orator purchased tract in August on Piney Run from Jacob Swallow. It was conveyed 11th March, 1785 by John Tate to Thomas Stephenson, who died, intestate, and the land desceded to his three daughters, viz: Susannah, wife of John Cook; Mary, wife of Jacob Swallow; wife of William Hughes, mother of orator, who died, intestate, when orator was infant only 3 days old and he inherited 1/3 of her interest. Mrs. Swallow died without children. Jacob moved about the state, then went west and died, testate. Will in Augusta dated 27 October 1817. Paul KOONTZ lived in Maryland is now dead. William KOONTZ lives in Maryland. Polly Smith, wife of Jacob Smith, lives in Indiana. William KOONTZ (executor of Jacob Swallow) and Sarah Keller and her husband, Ludwick Keller, live in Rockingham. Samuel Gibson deposes 14 April 1821, at house of Thomas Brown in Augusta, he was born and raised in Pennsylania and resided near neighbors to Thomas Stevenson or Stinson and went to school there with his children; also knew him in Virginia after he moved. John Huse was recognized as Thomas’ grandson by his daughter Jane (?), who married William Huse. They were married in Pennsylvania. John is not the son of __________
Cooper, who married Rachel Stinson. The Coopers removed from this county 20-30 years ago. David Brand deposes, as above, John was son of Mrs. Mary Huse. Maj. William Wilson, ditto, was well acquainted with William Hughes, who said John was his son. Deed 25 March 1805, by Jacob Swallow and John Cook and Susannah, heirs of Thomas Stephenson, deceased, to John Hughes, their interest in tract on Pine Run, 200 acres.
From the above:
1. Jacob Swallow b. d. prior to 1796
m. Mary Stephenson/Stinson
2. Peter KOUNTZ
2-1 Peter’s oldest son
3. Mary KOUNTZ m. _____ Smith lived Indiana
4. Paul KOONTZ lived Maryland and died prior to 1796
5. John KOUNTZ
6. William KOUNTZ lived Maryland
lists William twice once living MD then again
living in Rockingham
7. Sarah KOUNTZ m. Ludwick Keller lived Rockingham
(Jacob Swallow, John Cook and Susannah, heirs of Thomas Stephenson – Susannah must have been a Stephenson that m. John Cook – how did Jacob Swallow fit in?)
William Wilson was teste. on will of Jacob Swallow – the Lawrence County line of Christian KOUNTZ had a daughter, Sarah b. 1790 that married a William Wilson. This William had to have been born ca 1773-5 and would have put him 15 or so years older than Sarah!
Peter & Christena _____ KOONTZ had a daughter, Catherine KOONTZ b. between 1764-71 Rockingham Co. VA who married 1 May 1785 Rockingham Co. VA to Adam Rickabaugh b. 03 Jan 1761 Shenandoah Co. VA d. 23 Jul 1836 Gallia Co. OH the s/o Henry and Magdalene (Lionberger) Rickabaugh. (See Rickabaugh family)
Peter KOONTZ, Sr. had issues:
Chapters
1. Philip KOONTZ b. ca 1752
2. Martin KOONTZ m. Christina ________
3. Jacob KOONTZ
4. Peter KOONTZ, Jr. b. ca 1750- 1769
5. Catherine KOONTZ m. Adam RICKABAUGH b. 03 Jan 1761 in Shenandoah Co. VA d. 23 Jun 1836 in Gallia Co. OH
1788 May 31 Philip COUNCE 5 horses one male over 16 in Rockingham Co. VA
1792 Aug 15 Philip COUNCE 3 horses 0 tithables Rockingham Co. VA.- This Philip was a brother to Jacob KOONTZ, Martin KOONTZ and Peter KOONTZ, Jr. of Rockingham Co. VA and sons of Peter KOONTZ, Sr. Jacob KOONTZ moved to Bourbon Co. KY
1792 list of tithables Rockingham Co. VA shows following:
1. Phil COUNZE 2. Peter COUNCE Sr. and son Phil
3. Peter COUNCE, Jr. 4. Martin COUNCE
Keezletown District: 5. John COUNCE (from Keyser family history)
Will of Philip KOONTZ – Shenandoah Co. VA dated 1833-1843 list beneficiaries as: Jacob KOONTZ and Elizabeth Carter.
Elizabeth KOONTZ m. 04 Feb 1814 Shenandoah Co. VA to Robert Carter (d/o Philip)
Robert Carter was administrator of estate of John L. KOONTZ who died in Gallia Co. OH. The accounting of this estate was filed 1862. A Lewis KOONTZ bought the majority of John L.’s estate.
Letter from Marie KOONTZ Arrington of Broadway, Virginia dated 27 June 1990 seeks info on John L. KOONTZ s/o Philip KOONTZ of Rockingham Co. Va. (proven by Philip’s estate settlement in Rockingham) had at least one son who grew to be an adult – Lewis KOONTZ b. ca 1813 m. Clarinda Yiney b. ca 1816 had issues: Pamelia b. ca 1837; Charlotte b. ca 1840; William b. ca 1842 4. Charles b. ca 1844; 5. John A. b. ca 1846; 6. Mary b. ca 1850; 7. Julia b. ca 1852 and 8. Eli b. ca 1856. All of the above dates are from Gallia Co. 1850-60 census and thus estimates. They moved to Lawrence Co. Ohio according to a researcher in Gallia at the historical society there.
From the above we gather that Philip in deed had another child, John L. KOONTZ
Philip KOONTZ
Shenandoah Co.VA
1. Jacob KOONTZ m. Maria Derting 06 Jun 1816^
2. Elizabeth KOONTZ m. Robert Carter 04 Feb 1814^
3. John L. KOONTZ
3. John L. KOONTZ s/o Philip KOONTZ of Rockingham Co. VA had at least one son:
3-1 Lewis KOONTZ b. ca 1813 m. Clarinda Yiney
3-1-1 Pamelia KOONTZ b. ca 1837
3-1-2 Charlotte KOONTZ b. ca 1840
3-1-3 William KOONTZ b. ca 1842
3-1-4 Charles KOONTZ b. ca 1844
3-1-5 John A. KOONTZ b. ca 1846
3-1-6 Mary KOONTZ b. ca 1850
3-1-7 Julia KOONTZ b. ca 1852
3-1-8 Eli KOONTZ b. ca 1856
4. Peter KOONTZ, Jr. the s/o Peter KOONTZ, Sr.
b. ca 1769
Peter KOONTZ, Jr. b. ca 1769 d. Rockingham Co. Va. prior to 1836. On Nov 26, 1836, Daniel COUNTS of Madison Co. OH and Peter P. KOONTZ of Rockingham Co., Va., deed to Joseph COUNTS of Ross Co., Oh., land in Rockingham Co. which Martin devised to this brothers, Philip, Jacob and Peter KOONTZ; it is stated that Peter P. was deeded the interest of Adam COUNTZ another of Peter’s children (Rockingham Co. D.B. 12.275). Peter KOONTZ’s eldest son Peter, Jr., was a tithable in his father’s family in 1788 (Wayland, “Virginia Valley Records,” p. 106) and an independent tithable in 1790 so have been born by 1769.
4-1 Philip KOONTZ b.15 Nov 1772 d. 08 Dec 1825
m1. Elizabeth KOONTZ (1778-1817) m. 1800
m2. Mary “Polly” Crumby married 28 Jun 1821
Rockingham Co.
(I think these marriages are wrong need to verify)
4-2 John KOONTZ
m. Catherine KOONTZ
(John’s will proved Shenandoah Co. Va 5 Mar 1805)
4-3 Daniel KOONTZ b. 11 Nov 1779 d. 22 Jan 1873
m. Elizabeth Walker
4-4 Adam KOONTZ
m. Caty Whitmier on 29 Jul 1808 Shenandoah Co.
4-5 Susan KOONTZ
m. Andrew Huling in 1792
4-6 Dinah KOONTZ
m. Benjamin Talisman
4-7 Elizabeth S. KOONTZ
m. George Fox
4-8 David KOONTZ b. 1805
4-9 Joseph KOONTZ
4-10 Daughter KOONTZ
m. Samuel Huling
4-1 Philip KOONTZ – s/o Peter KOONTZ – was b. 15 Nov 1772 Rockingham Co. Va. d. 08 Dec 1825 Rockingham Co. VA
m1. Elizabeth KOONTZ b. 21 Feb 1778 d. 05 Feb 1817
m2. Polly Crumby on 28 Jun 1821. Polly b. d. 07 Sep 1879 in Fort Scott, Kansas.
4-1-1 Mary KOONTZ b. 04 Oct 1799
m. William WOOD
4-1-2 Dianna KOONTZ b. 03 May 1801
m. Simeon ROACH
4-1-3 Peter Perry KOONTZ b. 01 Mar 1803
m. Elizabeth Ann LINCOLN
4-1-4 Christena KOONTZ b. 02 Oct 1806
never married
4-1-5 infant daughter b. 25 Nov 1807 d. same day
4-1-6 Phoebe KOONTZ b. 27 Jul 1809
m. Charles C. WOOD
4-1-7 Rueben KOONTZ b. 24 Mar 1812
d. 22 Feb 1842 (no issues)
4-1-8 Sabrina KOONTZ b. 01 Apr 1814
m. Weedville A. FREEMAN
4-1-9 Eli H. KOONTZ b. 12 Jan 1817
m. Harriet CONRAD
4-1-10 Wilson Asbury KOONTZ b. 13 Nov 1821
m1. Louisa KOONTZ d/o Dan’l & Eliz. KOONTZ
m2.
4-1-11 Elizabeth S. KOONTZ b. 1824
m. Abraham THOMPSON
4-1-1 Mary KOONTZ – d/o Philip KOONTZ – was b. 04 Oct 1799 and married 29 Mar 1827 Rockingham Co. VA to William WOOD b. 07 Aug 1804 VA d. 01 Jan 1880. William WOOD m2. Sarah Shiers on 16 Apr 1858. Mary KOONTZ WOOD must have died between 1853-1858. William WOOD and Mary had a total of 7 children, 4 boys and 3 girls. Three girls and youngest son died in Gallia Co. OH.
4-1-1-1 Lewis R. WOOD b. 17 May 1833 Gallia Co. Oh
4-1-1-2 Sylvester P. WOOD
4-1-1-3
4-1-1-4
4-1-1-5
4-1-1-6
4-1-1-7
4-1-1-1 Lewis R. WOOD b. 17 May 1833 Gallia Co. Oh m. 17 Apr 1856 Elizabeth BRANDBURY.
4-1-1-1-1 William P. WOOD b. 19 Jan 1857
d. 28 Feb 1877
4-1-1-1-2 Harrison H. WOOD b. 07 Mar 1859
4-1-1-1-3 Laura E. WOOD b. 30 Oct 1866
4-1-1-1-4 Flora M. WOOD b. 30 Oct 1866
4-1-1-1-5 Charles E. WOOD b. 11 Feb 1869
4-1-1-2 Sylvester P. WOOD – s/o Mary KOONTZ and William WOOD was m1. 22 Sept 1852 Elizabeth Bing b. 1830 the d/o Harrison WOOD and his 2nd wife, Mary (Mauk) Bing. Elizabeth was Harrison’s stepdaughter. Sylvester P. WOOD m2. 14 May 1871 Lucretia CAHOON.
4-1-1-2-1 Mary A. WOOD b. 28 Jun 1854
4-1-1-2-2 William L. WOOD b. 05 Nov 1856
4-1-1-2-3 Margaret E. WOOD b. 24 Jan 1859
d. 26 Mar 1867
4-1-1-2-4 Nanny P. WOOD b. 11 Aug 1861
d. 03 Jan 1880
4-1-1-2-5 Elmor E. WOOD b. 03 Jul 1864
4-1-1-2-6 Ida B. WOOD b. 02 Jul 1868
4-1-2 Diana KOONTZ – the d/o Phillip and Elizabeth or Mary was b. 03 May 1801 Rockingham Co. VA. Diana KOONTZ m. Simeon ROACH b. 1803 Berkely Co. VA
4-1-2-1 Eliza Roach
4-1-2-2 Amantha S. Roach
4-1-2-1 Eliza Roach – d/o Simeon and Diana (KOONTZ) Roach married 18 Dec 1857 to Henry BEARDSLEY b. 03 Feb 1821 the s/o Andrew J. (b. 20 Oct 1788) and Alice (NEWTON) BEARDSLEY b. 16 Aug 1788 d. 19 Jul 1850. Henry Beardsly settled in Gallia Co. OH in 1833.
4-1-2-1-1 Ruhama Beardsly b. 10 Jan 18__
4-1-2-1-2 Diana M. Beardsly b. 14 Mar 1860
d. 14 Jan 1881
4-1-2-1-3 Effie A. Beardsly b. 10 Feb 1863
m. 01 Jun 1887 Elmer E. RASE (ROSE)
by John Wesley McCormick
4-1-2-1-4 Frank L. Beardsly b. 21 May 1864
m. 16 Jun 1886 Eliza L. DOVE
by Richard Coulter
4-1-2-1-5 Nellie A. Beardsly b. 06 Sept 1866
m. 02 Dec 1891 George B. SAWYERS
by George Alten
4-1-2-1-6 Mary F. Beardsly b. 14 Mar 1870
08 Dec 1897 James B. McCORMICK
by John Wesley McCormick
4-1-2-1-7 Henry E. Beardsley b. 06 Nov 1873
m. 15 Jan 1896 Adda Anna WOOD
by G. H. Sollers
(Hattie E. Beardsley m. 20 Oct 1869 to Richard Priestly – not sure if she is one of the above)
4-1-2-2 Amantha S. Roach – the d/o Diana KOONTZ and Simeon Roach was b. 02 Jun 1839 Gallia Co. OH m. 08 Apr 1868 Gallia Co. OH to John H. WOOD b. 18 Feb 1831 d. 12 Feb 1877.
4-1-2-2-1 Harry A. WOOD b. 05 May 1869
4-1-2-2-2 Mary D. WOOD b. 27 Jul 1872
4-1-2-2-3 Carrie E. WOOD b. 21 Apr 1877
4-1-2-2-4 Nellie A. WOOD b. 28 Aug 1879
4-1-3 Peter Perry KOONTZ s/o Philip KOONTZ – was b. 01 Mar 1803. Peter Perry married Elizabeth Ann Lincoln. Among Jacob Lincoln’s children (Jacob was a brother to Abraham Lincoln’s grandfather) was a daughter Elizabeth, and a son John and a son David Lincoln. . . Jacob Lincoln acquired a tract of the original Harrison land from Col. John KOONTZ.
“Of the children of David Lincoln,” says an article in the Baltimore Sun. of February 13,1909, “three spent their entire lives in Rockingham County – Mrs. Peter Lincoln KOONTZ, of Athlone; . . .”
KOONTZ, Peter P.; June 12, 1861 My wife, Elizabeth Ann. My negroes not to be sold into the hands of traders unless it be for a fault. If I die before the house I have commenced is completed, my wife may finish it. My seven children, David Edwin, Reuben Franklin, Ann Eliza, Mary Elizabeth, Philip Peter, Wilson Eli, and William Abraham. My son David Edwin, having left home long before he was 21 against my will, and married without my consent has received his share in advance (to be considered). Witnesses, Jacob P. Rhodes, Henry Layman, Eli H. KOUNTZ. Proved Aug. 1861. John Cowan security on bond.
Rockingham Co. VA – Will of Peter P. KOONTZ, proved 1861 listed wife and 7 children. Testator was Eli H. KOONTZ (Eli H. was the s/o Philip, Eli H. was b. 12 Jan 1817)
4-1-3-1 David Edwin KOONTZ
4-1-3-2 Reuben Franklin KOONTZ
4-1-3-3 Ann Eliza KOONTZ
4-1-3-4 Mary Elizabeth KOONTZ
4-1-3-5 Philip Peter KOONTZ
4-1-3-6 Wilson Eli KOONTZ
4-1-3-7 William Abraham KOONTZ
4-1-9 Eli H. KOONTZ – the s/o Philip and Elizabeth or Mary was b. 12 Jan 1817. He married Harriet CONRAD.
4-1-9-1 Mary KOONTZ b. ca 1843
4-1-9-2 Peter KOONTZ b. ca 1845
4-1-9-3 John KOONTZ b. ca 1847
4-1-9-4 Caroline (Elizabeth) KOONTZ b. ca 1849
4-2 John KOONTZ – s/o Peter KOONTZ, Jr. m.1805 Catherine KOONTZ consent of Phil Kunts surety: Wm. Baty
John KOONTZ b. 1780 Catherine KOONTZ b. ca 1785
4-2-1 Catherine KOONTZ b. ca 1815
4-2-2 Joseph KOONTZ b. ca 1822
4-2-3 Christena KOONTZ b. ca 1812
4-2-4 Hannah KOONTZ
4-2-5 Mary KOONTZ
CHAPTER TWO
MARTIN KOONTZ
SON OF
PETER KOONTZ, SR.
Martin KOONTZ d. 1805 Rockingham Co. VA. His will dated 12 May 1805 and probated in June 1805 mentions his wife, Christena; Mary Bargle and Christian Whetabaker; and make Philip and Peter COUNTZ his executors (Wayland “Virginia Valley Records” p. 400)
wife: Christena ____________
1.1 Mary KOONTZ m. Henry Bargle
1.2 Daughter KOONTZ m. ______ Whetabaker
1.2.1 Christian Whetabaker
1.2.2 Barney Whetabaker
CHAPTER THREE
JACOB KOONTZ
SON OF PETER KOONTZ, SR.
Jacob KOONTZ of Bourbon Co. KY appointed his brother Philip KOONTZ in Rockingham Co. VA his attorney to receive his part of the estate of his brother Martin KOONTZ (Rockingham Co. D.B. 0000 p. 145)
CHAPTER FOUR
JOHN KOONTZ
John KOONTZ of Rockingham Co. VA – Will of John KOONTZ probated 02 Mar 1852 May Court 1852 W.B. “A”, p 219 mentions:
1. Hannah KOONTZ dec’d and her children
2. Christena KOONTZ and to her children
3. Catherine KOONTZ
4. Mary KOONTZ and her heirs
5. Joseph’s part placed in hands of Catherine
Nephew: Eli H. KOONTZ, executor
Eli H. KOONTZ b. 1817 was s/o Philip KOONTZ who would then be a brother to this John.
OK – I see now that you are the “other researcher” at http://www.miles-shute-kouns-families.com/Kouns/kouns_virginia_research.htm, where I read “Peter Counce, Jr. b. ca 1751 d. prior to 1836 married Catherine or Chris ?”. My ancestor is George Conrad Koontz, and we believe he is the son of Jacob Koontz b. 1797 and Anna/Nancy Cline b abt. 1803, and married in Rockingham in 1822.
I received the folowing from a Koontz genealogist: “I have found the TS of Jacob and it turns out he is the son of Peter Cuntze, Jr b. 1765 and he was the son of Peter Cuntze, Sr b. 1735 who settled in Rockingham County, VA. Marie Arrington worked on this lineage and she believed this lineage came out of Frederick County, Maryland. Marie passed away before she could publish her finding.”
The only thing clear to me about Peter Koontz Jr.s birth year is that it’s in the mid 1700’s ballpark, and nobody really knows when he was born. From the Revolutionary War testimonies I’ve read, it seems common for someone not to know exactly how old they are. Philip Koontz (1745-1843) thought he was 80 in his 1832 pension application and 95 in the 1840 census. Time flies.
There is a Rockingham marriage bond 2 Dec 1793 for Peter Coons and Elizabeth Ann Jones, d/o Eli Jones. Because of the number of DNA connections to Eli and Elizabeth, I believe this Peter is my ancestor. Eli’s 1806 will names his daughter “Elizabeth Koontz”, so the spellings are all over the place for this guy.
I also have DNA matches to Abraham Koontz, who is possibly Jacob’s brother.
If this is Peter Koontz Jr., which is our hypothesis, then we would assume that Elizabeth is his second wife, since the marriage is a little late for the earlier offspring, and Elizabeth too young.
Thank you!
Thank you for the clear structure of the information. I believe the calculation for “Peter KOONTZ, Jr. b. ca 1769” is probably underestimated, because he would need to be older than three in 1772 when son Philip was born. I don’t know when you wrote this, or if there’s been more research. Another researcher suggests Peter Jr. was born in 1751, which would make him a better age in 1772, but the source of the date is not provided. These are a difficult bunch with all of the Peters and Phillips and marrying first cousins, and there’s not much to work with.
Thanks!
Mark