Individual Details

Abraham Kern was a Dunkard Preacher. He lived for a time in Nicholas County KY where he met his wife Susan. They are buried Old Union Cemetery in Lawrence Co IN.

Abraham brought his family to Lawrence Co on a sled in the winter of 1815-1816. His first five children were born in Kentucky, the eldest barely eight when they moved. The sixth child, Ambrose, was either born just before the move or right after they arrived in Indiana.

The Williams and Adamson families arrived in the fall of 1817 to become Elder Kern's neighbors. Four of the Kerns married Williamses, two married Adamsons.

1840 Census. Lawrence Co IN
Abraham Kern lived next door to son-in-law John Adamson
He had in his household: 1m age 5-10, 2m 15-20, and himself age 50-60. There was a female age 10-15 and his wife, age 50-60.

Kern was known as the "marryin'est parson" in Indiana. For four decades his name fills the Lawrence Co marriage register. He founded a church on his own farm, giving the land for the church and cemetery. It was the Old Union Church - Dunkard at first, then New Light Baptist, finally becoming Campbellite Christian. Kern never received any payment for his forty years of active ministry.

Some link Abraham back to the following passengers on the ship Brittania, from Rotterdam: Elizabeth age 55, Catherine age 22, and Abraham, age 23. Elizabeth has been presumed to be the mother of Abraham, Catherine was his wife. On 21 Sep 1731, Abraham Kern took the Oath of Allegiance (see Pennsylvania Archives) - the day of the ship's arrival. Children of Abraham & Catherine are shown as Gertrude, Johannes, and William Mathias.
http://www.progenealogists.com/palproject/pa/1731brit.htm
To Lancaster Co, PA:
Elizabeth (Gruber) Kern, 55
Abraham, 28 (or 12)
Katherina (Muller), 22
Gertraud, 8
Johannes, 3

Others show Abraham's parents as Adam Kern and Katherine Ribelin - both born in North Carolina, 1762. Adam said to be the son of Conrad Kern, b. about 1736, Germany, and his wife Mary Magdalene Billings. This lineage seems to be the correct one given locations, etc.

Abraham and wife are buried Old Union Cemetery, Fayetteville, Lawrence Co, IN

Birth	24 Jun 1786	Rowan County, North Carolina
Marriage	Abt 1806	Susan Wilson
Death	25 Oct 1858	Lawrence County, Indiana
Burial		Old Union Cemetery, Fayetteville, Lawrence County, Indiana

Spouse	Susan Wilson (1785 - 1852)
Child	Fannie Kern (1808 - 1877)
Child	Lucy Kern (1810 - 1892)
Child	Abigail Kern (1811 - 1893)
Child	Elijah "Eli" Kern (1813 - 1856)
Child	Anna Kern (1815 - 1895)
Child	Ambrose Kern (1816 - )
Child	Albert Kern (1820 - 1896)
Child	John R. Kern (1822 - 1877)
Child	Louis David Kern (1825 - )
Child	Jane S. Kern (1828 - 1845)
Child	Andrew Jackson Kern (1829 - )