jackreid524 on Family Tree Circles

Mary "Polly" Kershner, who married my 4XG grandfather, Thomas Reid, in Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland in 1803, was the daughter of Michael Kershner and Anna Maria Engels. They were married in 1782, in Frederick County Maryland. Michael was born in 1760. He joined the Maryland Revolutionary forces when he was sixteen. He was a shoemaker in Cumberland, Maryland. Michael's parents where John Kershner and Anna Maria Hix. They were from Hagerstown, Maryland, and were married in 1758. John was the son of Johann George Kershner (born 1695 in Hessen, Germany) and Anna Catherina Fischer (born 1698). they married in 1722. Johann Konrad Kirschner, born in Hessen, Germany in 1669, was the father of Johann George. Maria Kniess, also born in 1669, was his mother. They were married in 1693, in Hessen, Germany. The father of Johann Konrad was Johann Kirschner who was born in Sachen-Anhalt, Germany, in 1638. His mother was Anna Elizabetha Ermolt, who was born in Hessen, Germany, in 1641. They were married in 1660. Peter Kirschner was born in Hessen, Germany, in 1621, and he married Anna Bauman in 1637. Anna was thirty years old when she and Peter were married (born in 1607)- he was only sixteen! Johann was born the next year. I will end this with Peter's parents: Ludwig Kirschner was born in Hessen, Germany, in 1590. He married Anna Fuchs (born 1585) in 1614. I have no mother for Ludwig, though I have his father as Enders Kirschner, born in 1570 in Bayern, Germany.
From these notes, it can be seen that the Kershner/Kirschner line is well documented. It's the Reid line that has me stumped.

My family tree (ancestry.com, myheritage.com) locates my 4XG Grandfather (Thomas Reid) in Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland. In 1803, he married Mary "Polly" Kershner. The 1810 US Census shows the family living on Mechanic Street. There are three children: one girl and two boys. There are also two males aged sixteen to twenty. (I have no idea who these boys might have been.) In 1819, Thomas died.
The 1820 US Census shows Mary living with her father (Michael Kershner). When Michael's will is probated, it names his Reid grandchildren: George M., Ann, Thomas H., Peter, James and Cecelia. In 1824, Mary married John Johnson (from Bedford County, Pennsylvania), having two more children by him: Emanuel and Samuel.
So my "brick wall", for over twenty years, has been finding the parents of Thomas.
Among the Scotch-Irish of this era, the first-born son was named after his Paternal great-grandfather and his grandfather. I believe Thomas's first born son did not survive his father. I believe George named his first born son in accordance with this custom and therefore reveals in this name, John Thomas Reid, the name of Thomas's father. But, I have no proof.

The "Brick Wall" still stands!