I've pretty much eliminated John Kohr of Lancaster Co., PA as the ancestor of the Cores of Monongalia Co., WV. I traced John Kohr and his brother to Washington Co., MD in the 1770's. Christian died in 1781, naming as heirs his son Christian, daughter Elizabeth, daughter Rosina, and widow Maria Barbara (we know from church records that Christian of Lancaster Co. married Maria Barbara Hauck). He named his brother John as executor(Washington Co., MD Wills Liber A, pp. 42-43). John Core's will, dated 13 February 1791, probated 12 March 1791, lists wife Catharina and children John, Catharina, Margaretha, Christian, Michael, and Christena as legatees. John Core [his son] and Jacob Hess, "a Mennonite" were named as executors of his estate. Witnesses present were Phillip Oster, Phillip Farber, and Frederick Welty (Washington Co., MD Wills Liber A, pp. 247-248). We know from the settlement of the estate of Christopher Noacre of Dauphin Co., PA that John Core was married to Catherine Noacre. My earliest easily confirmed ancestor in Monongalia Co. was Christopher Core. Family tradition says that his brother was Michael Core of Monongalia Co., who died in 1815. Family tradition about the father's name is sketchy, with some peole saying his name was John, but nobody knows for certain. No record of any early settler named John Core exists. Family tradition also list Henry and John Core as brothers to Christopher and Michael. Records for both of these individuals can be found in Fayette Co., PA, practically right across the border from Monongalia County. Since I've burst everybody's bubble and contradicted the theory that we are descended from John Kohr of Lancaster Co., PA, I have to provide an alternative theory, don't I? Let's hit the documents. One of the earliest remaining Monongalia Co. Core documents in existence is Michael Core's land patent for the ancestral property on Dunkard Creek. This patent was issued on 31 November 1785, and states that the property rights were assigneed by George Core, who settled the property in 1772. Who was George Core, where did he come from, and where did he go? The only other reference that I can find to a George Core of that era is in a tax list for Hampshire Co., (W)VA in 1775. Hey, didn't Henry Core state in his Rev. War pension application (No. W3336) that he was born in Hampshire County? I checked the land records for Hampshire Co., and found that George Core leased a tract form Lord Fairfax in 1775. The terms of the lease stated that the land was his for his natural life and the lives of three of his heirs. He listed "Michael Core Henry Core & John Core sons of the said George Core." He sold his interest in the lease to Andrew Pancake in 1777 (Hampshire County, WV Deed Book 3, pp. 154-155). Henry Core and John Core both lived in German Twp., Fayette Co., PA, and Michael Core of Monongalia Co. married the daughter of Jacob Rich, who was Henry's neighbor. A hardcore genealogist would say that I haven't provided anything beyond circumstantial evidence here, but I'd say that nobody has provided ANY evidence that John Kohr of Lancaster Co. had any relationship to the Cores of Monongalia County.