MORE:Francis Casteel, John Casteel and Edward Casteel - Washington Co PA

OUTSTANDING Casteel notes sent to me by John Varvel - These are working notes.

This attempt to develop an understanding of the early parts of the Casteel family story in America is
ongoing, and many questions regarding the basic structure of the first few Casteel generations remain
unanswered. I’m working on some “best guess” scenarios and trying to figure out which ones more closely fit what real records actually say, as well as provide plausible alternative explanations where appropriate.

My connection to the Casteel family comes from a marriage between Henry Varvel and Sarah Casteel in Woodford County, KY in 1801. Recorded along with the marriage bond is the consent of her father, John Casteel. But who was this John Casteel? I couldn’t find any other record of a John in Woodford County, nor any other Casteel old enough to be her father. However, further digging revealed that Henry’s Uncle Philip Varvel had served with a John Casteel in the Washington County, PA militia (1781-1782), and that his son John (Henry’s cousin) had married a daughter of that John Casteel. I believe now that a pretty strong case can be made that Sarah was probably also a daughter of this John Casteel. However, since there were so many Casteels spread across the frontier at that time, there will always be doubt until the structure of the whole family can be better understood. While not complete, I believe the progress we’ve made in modeling this extended Casteel family and their patterns of migration across the frontier supports our tentative conclusions.
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I. Captain Edmund du Castel, privateer & merchant of Philadelphia
The story of the Casteel family in America begins with an interesting character, Capt. Edmund du Casteel. The first record of him that I’m aware of is from Sep 10, 1683 when Edmund signed an oath of Allegience to the government of William Penn in Philadelphia.

On May 1, 1693 Edmund “du Castel” married Cristian Boone (both of Philadelphia). There’s a small list
(50 marriages) of early (1685-1693) Philadelphia marriages recorded by “the Registrar General of the
Province”, published in the Pennsylvania Archives Series 2, Vol. 8, p. viii (a preface to that volume). About half of these marriages are recorded as having taken place “at the meeting house” (Quaker), several took place in various homes, and several (including Edmund’s) don’t name a place.

Around this time it was a practice of some wealthy Philadelphians to outfit ships with guns and rum and send them to trade with pirates from Madagascar. These “privateers” often preyed upon Spanish and French (and sometimes English) ships approaching the port of Philadelphia. A 1697 report on the pirate problem named Edmund “Duke Castell” as one of them:
“That there were warrants out for apprehendingCharles Goss, Edmond Duke Castell, George Thompson, Adam Birth,and James Miller and Pyrates notwithstanding which they were publicly and dayly seen up and down the streets of Philadelphia without any notice taken of them”.(”Archives of Maryland,” vol. 23, page 161; Vol. 25, page 569.).

Edmund appears to have prospered, and was given a commission of the “Resolution” during Queen Anne’s War (1707) against France and Spain -
”1707- Nov. 9. Where as her Majesty on the 4 May 1702 declared war against the Kings of France and Spaine and whereas Capt. George Roach, John van Lawer and the Hurst Merchants hath equipped the sloop Resolution for a private man of war, Capt. Edmund Du Castell is commissioned Commander.” [”Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania,” vol. 6 page 287; original in Liber A.A.A. of Commission Office of Secretary of State, Trenton, NJ, pp 52-53; also in microfilm in college of W.P.A. Historical Records Survey for New Jersey]

Wills of Edmund and Christian
Edmund wrote his will in Apr 1702, before leaving for his war duty. He survived the conflict, but died a little more than a decade later,his will proved in early 1714:
Philadelphia ye Day of Aprill 1702 The Last Will and Testament of Edmond Du Castell being in health and perfect memory and extending to take a voyage to sea not knowing how it will please God to Dispose of me... give to my brother Abram Boone one Silver Spoon and unto Eve daughter to John and Mary Jordon (?) one Silver Spoon & unto Each and Every of my Brothers and Sisters . . . one Gold Ring . . . Item ... unto Christian Du Castell my well beloved Wife all my estate Both Real and personal in whatsoever part or parts of the World they they shall happen to be situate in & besides what shall happen to be in this province. (signed)[This will was proved Mar. 25, 1713-14 (Philadelphia Co. PA., Register of Wills Office Book C. p.373, shelf no. 285&1/2). ; photostatic copy in Hist. Soc. of PA., no 285&1/2). The accompanying inventory of his personal property lists it at L506 16s. 11d]

That same year, Edmund’s widow Christian wrote her own will, and had died by Nov, 1714.
       I Christian Du Castle . . . Widow. . . give Devise and bequeath Unto my Son Samuel My Silver Tankard, one Silver Porringer & Spoon and the Gold Ring with the Seal Also one feather Bed and Bolster & Curtains Valins and all other furniture belonging thereunto and one half of his fathers Wearing Apparell IT’ I give Devise and Bequeath unto my Edmond A Silver Porringer & Spoon and ye Black Trunk Also the other half of his fathers Apparell Also One feather Bed & Bolster with Curtains Vallins and all other furniture thereunto IT I give unto my Daughter
Christian my Best Cabinet and my Gold Chain or Neckless with my Gold Girdle Bustle & Gold Shoe Buckle ALSO a large Gold Ring and ye Silver Porringer marked CDC with the little Silver Spoon belonging to it And one other Silver Spoon Two Silver Salts Six small Silver Teaspoons and all my Wearing Apparell IT All ye rest and residue of my Effects. . . shall be equally divided between my three children above mentioned. . . And Lastly, I do Hereby        Appiont my loving Sister Wenetie Colett and my friend Edward Church . . . my Exectutors. . . for their trouble . . .give them the sum of five pounds.
       (signed) Christian Du Castle
       (wafer seal bearing indistinct impression) ”

…This will was dated Sept. 27, 1714, and proved Nov. 25, 1714. (Ibid.,Book D., page 13, Shelf no.16, 16B, 16C; photostatic copy in Hist. Soc. of PA. no. 16, 16B, 16C.By a writing dated Nov. 27, 1714, and witnessed by ”Samuel Du Castel” and Peter Evans, ”Weyntie Collett” renounced her right to serve as Executratrix under the will (Ibid., shelf no. 16c) There is a wax seal beside the signature of Weyntie Collett besring the impression of a woman’s head in profile. No later reference to Samuel Du Chastel has been found. The inventory of Christian Du Chastel’s estate (Ibid., shelf no. 16B) enumerated the articles of furniture in each room of the house. The personal estate totaled L489 2s. 2d. or something less than than that of her husband…”


2. Edmund II (c1695-c1743)

Edmund II’s birth year has been estimated around 1695, though there is no proof for this. This estimation rests on the assumptions that he was the son of Christian Boone who married Edmund I in May 1693, and that the way his mother’s 1714 will is written suggests that Edmund was probably younger than his brother Samuel. With these premises the earliest he could have been born would be c1695, though we could push this back a year or two if Edmund II was first born. However, it’s entirely possible that Edmund (and Samuel) were from an earlier marriage and thus could have been born any time before 1693, though it should be noted that there is no evidence of any previous marriages of Edmund I.

Prince Georges County, MD
Around the time of his parent’s deaths, Edmund left Philadelphia and started a new life as a planter on a farm in Prince Georges County, MD on a draught of Piscataway Creek. This land was patented on Dec 12, 1714 as “Casteel” [Deed Book Y, p.575], and the patent mentions that the tract had been granted to Edmond over a year earlier, on Oct 12, 1713. The patent and subsequent deed book entries describe this tract as being about 2 miles above the Mill dam of Henry Darnall, sharing borders with John Summer’s and Richard Corner’s plantations. According to the patent, this land had been granted 5 months before Edmund I’s will was probated in Philadelphia, and 11 months before his mothrr’s was even written. Since Edmund II may have only been about 18 at the time, it seems very possible that Edmund I started the process and Edmund II finished it.

The only Casteel found in Prince Georges County records prior to this time was in May, 1708, when a 14 year old named Thomas Bennett was bound to a Francis Casteel until he was 21. I have never seen another reference to this guy, but the name Francis is used in several branches of Edmund’s line suggesting that he may have been related to Edmund’s family in some way - possibly a son of Edmund I from a previous marriage, or maybe a younger brother or cousin or something. There is no evidence that this Francis stayed in Prince George’s, but his age makes him a rival candidate to be the father of the John and Joseph Casteel who show up in a 1733 PG tax list.

Prince Georges County land records for Edmund II Edmund II left Philadelphia for Piscataway Parish (Hundred), Prince George County, MD around the time of his mothers death. He purchased a tract of land there, granted on Oct 12 (Deed Book Y, p.575), surveyed on Dec 13, 1713, and finally patented under the name “Casteel” on Dec 10, 1714 (MD His. Soc. MS., Calvert Paper No. 882, p.16V).

Apr 25, 1719 (folio 142/714) Edmond Casteel (planter of Prince George’s County) sold to Jeremiah Perdue (of same) 100 acres, part of a tract called Casteele near Henry Darnall’s Mill Branch, bounded by John Summer’s plantation. Acknowledged by Johanna Castell,
wife of Edmond. Witnessed by Thomas Clagett, Patrick Hepburn.

Aug 3, 1721 (folio 189) Edmond Casteele (planter of Prince George’s County) sold to John Magruder 100 acres, part of a tract of land called Casteele located about 2 miles above Mr. Darnall’s mill dam, bounded by Richard Corner for 3,500 lbs of tobacco. Witnessed by William Mordant, Thomas Wilcoxon.

Jan 30, 1721/22 (folio 435) Edmund Casteele (planter of Prince George’s County) sold to John Magruder (merchant of same) 100 acres, part of a tract of land called Casteele for 5,483 lbs of tobacco. Acknowledged by Joanah Casteele, wife of Edmund. Witnessed by Joseph Belt, Thomas Sprigg.

Mar 24 1722/23 Edmund Castel witnessed the Will of John Cumberland, planter in Pr Geo Co, MD 30
April 1723. (Maryland Calendar of Wills) [JCB, XX-4, p 18]

Nov 29, 1742 (Liber Y, page 575) Edmond Casteel Sr. (planter) sold to Edmond Casteel Jr. 100 acres of tract of land called Casteel on a draft of the Piscataway about 2 miles above Darnall’s Mill Dam for 390 lbs of tobacco. Original tract granted to Edmond Casteel Sr. Oct 12, 1713 for 300 acres. Witnessed by Thomas Owen, Thomas Hawkins Jr. Transcription:

At the request of Edmund Casteel, Jr the following Deed was recorded the Twenty Nine Day of November one thousand seven hundred and forty-two. THIS INDENTURE made ___ day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty two BETWEEN        Edm’d Casteel Sr of Prince George’s County Planter of the one part and Edm’d Casteel Jr of the same County, planter on the other part.WITNESSETH that the said Edmund Casteel SR for and in Consideration of three hundred ninety pounds of Tobacco to him the said Edmond Casteel Sr paid the receipt whereof the said Edmond Casteel Sr Doth hereby Confess and acknowledge and the said Edmond Casteel Jr and his heirs thereof and from every part and Parcell thereof doth clearly and absolutely........... bargain and sell unto the said Edmond Casteel Jr his heirs and assigns forever one hundred acres of Land being part of the Tract or parcell of Land called Casteel Begining at a bound White Oak Standing upon one of the Draughts of Piscataway River and about two miles above Mr Darnalls Mill Dam.Original. Granted to the said Edmond Casteel Sr on the twelfth Day of October seventeen hundred and thirteen for three hundred acres together with all the buildings, Improvements, Profites, Comidities or advantage whatsoever to the said land belonging or in any wise appertaining or when now or hereafter have been refuse taken known and occupied used or enjoyed to or with the same as part and parcell thereof and also all the Estate Right Title or Interest Claim and Demand whatsoever of him the sid Edmond Casteel Sr as in and to the said Premises to Have and to hold the said Tract...............
IN WITNESS whereof the said Edmond Casteel SR hath hereunto Set his hand and Seal the day and Year first above written.Edmond X Casteel(Seal) Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of Thomas Owen, Jno Hawkins Jr Enrolled 29 Nov 1742 —[as you can see wife Johanna did not sign.It is thought that this would be about the time she could have died]. Recorded in Liber Y, Folio 575 - Land Record Office, Prince George’s County, MD [JCB, II-3, p 17]

His Family
While Edmund finalized the patent for his land in Prince Georges County in 1714, the next MD record he
shows up in is (strangely enough) from Anne Arundel County, All Hollows Parish, where an Edmund
Casteel and wife Mary Amos were baptizing their daughter Dinah on Aug 18, 1717 [JCB, II-1, p 15]. This is the only Casteel record I’ve seen from Anne Arundel County, where Edmund presumably lived for just a short time. Assuming that these two Edmunds are the same guy, his wife Mary Amos must have died because by the time Edmund sold a third of his PG tract in 1719 his wife is named Johanna (she is named again in 1722).

The only other known child of Edmund II is Edmund III. However, several other children are often attributed to him based on circumstantial evidence. Most often, John and Joseph. These two may very well be children of Edmund II, but they would have had to have been born pretty early or else Edmund II would have to have been older than we think (all three paid taxes in 1733). They certainly would have had to have been older than Edmund III. On the other hand, it is also possible that these two were sons of the Francis Casteel mentioned in PG in 1708, or even some other more distant relation. Given the interactions of their children, it’s clear they were related - it’s just not clear how.

Children of Edmund Casteel II with Mary Amos
1. (John?)
2. (Joseph?)
3. Dinah (bp: Aug 18, 1717 Ann Arundel, MD) with Johanna
4. Edmund III

Edmund II probably died c1743
Here is a transcription of the last known reference to Edmund II (his wife is presumed to have died before 1742):
1743 Nov Casteels in MD Petition, VIZ: To the Worshipfull Justice of Prince George’s County now inCourt the Petition of Edmund Casteel, most humbly shewith that yourPetitioner by old age and sickness has lost his Eyesight which unables him togitt his living.Therefore Prays of ye Worship would take into consideration to allow him by J County for a Maintainance what your Worship shall think fitand your Petitioner as is Duty bound shall ever pray.- Upon reading whichpetition and consideration thereof had it is ordered by the Court here thatthe Petitioner be allowed one hundred Pounds of Tobacco in the next CountyLevy for his support to next November Court. Prince George’s County - Nov Court - 1743CC- pg 129 JCB, XX-5 p 18

3. John and Joseph Casteel of Prince Georges County, MD

While many land and church records document parts of the Casteel family in early Prince Georges County, a systematic analysis of early tax records would add tremendously to our understanding of this family/families. Unfortunately, I haven’t found any published resources containing these lists (including at the LDS) and I don’t know if they’ve survived [We’ve got to eventually check on this…].
One such list is available (Calendar of Maryland State Papers #268 - The Black Book - Bk 11, 116), the list of taxables in Upper Piscattaway Hundred taken by John Hawkins,Jr, Constable, in 1733. In addition to Edmund Casteel (presumably Edmund II), a John and a Joseph Casteel are named. Who are these two? Could they be children of Edmund II? I’m not sure what the requirement for being on this list was. Did this list include all tithables (white males over 16), or just heads of households? [This is something else that can be checked…]. If all it means is that they were over 16 then they were born before c1717, and it’s possible they were early children of Edmund II. Since Edmund is known to have been married to a Mary Amos and baptized a daughter Dinah in neighboring Ann Arundel County in Aug 1717, they may have been earlier children of Edmund and Mary. However, as previously discussed, the best guess of a birth year for Edmund II is c1695, meaning he would have had to have started his family pretty young. Alternatively, if Edmund II had been a son from a previous marriage he could have been older, making the window of possible birth years of this John and Joseph much wider. It is worth noting here that Edmund III’s birth year has not been determined, though it has been reported that his daughter Lucy (who married Henry Athey c1752) was born c1733 [Captain George Athey & Decendants, by L. F. Athy], implying that Edmund III was also probably born by c1715 or even earlier. Since Edmund III is definitely Edmund II’s son, this supports the possibilities that 1) Edmund II was born before Edmund I married Christian Boone in 1693, or 2) that Edmund II was born after 1793, but just started his family very young. The fact that it was definitely Edmund II who received the land patent in 1714 also suggests Edmund II may have been older than we are estimating (Could one get a patent back then at 19?).

Despite these difficulties with the timing, it still seems like having John and Joseph be sons of Edmund II
makes the most sense.However, there are alternative possibilities. The only Casteel other than Edward II found in Prince Georges County records prior to 1733 was from May, 1708 when a 14 year old named Thomas Bennett was bound to a Francis Casteel until he was 21. I have never seen aother reference to this Francis and don’t know anything else about him, but the name Francis is used in several branches of Edmund’s line which suggests that he may have been related to Edmund’s family in some way - possibly a son of Edmund I from a previous marriage, or maybe a younger brother or cousin or something. While there is no evidence that this Francis stayed in Prince George’s, his age makes him a potential candidate to be the father of the John and Joseph Casteel. Less likely possibilities include the idea that they may have been sons of Edmund II’s brother Samuel (though he has the same timing problems as Edmund II), or some other more distant relative. Howver, it’s worth noting that there is no evidence that Samuel ever had
children (though the name does show up in subsequent generations).

A theory of the children of John and Joseph
We know the children of Edmund Casteel [3] from his will. In addition to these, there are a few other Casteels who remained at Piscataway, while several others headed west and interacted in some way with these descendents of Edmund [3]. Since the John and Joseph noted in the 1733 Piscataway tax list are the only male contemporaries of Edmund [3] that we know of, it seems reasonable to hypothesize that all of the next generation of Casteels not a son of Edmund [3] may be sons of either John or Joseph.

Next, if you assume that the elder John Casteel found in old Frederick, MD during the 1750’s was John [1], several likely children can be attributed to him. Most prominently John Jr., who shows up on those Frederick, MD records with him. Also, we know the French-Indian war era militia company of Capt. Moses Chapline was composed of neighbors of John Casteel who lived around Antietam Creek. The John Casteel on this list was most probably John Jr., and the Zachariah and Peter Casteel noted there are most likely to be his brothers. Also the Samuel Casteel who settles in what becomes Allegheny, PA (and who may be mentioned in Frederick, MD) is very likely a son of this John. Next, if we trust the Horn papers account, the John Casteel who settled in SW PA suring the 1760’s was the brother of the other early VA/PA settler Jacob Casteel. While on these lines, this Jacob is named in the VA militia with a Robert Casteel….

OK, going back to Piscataway, Prince George’s County, MD. There are two Casteel’s that cannot be
accounted for by the children of Edmund [3]. In 1776 a John and a Henry paid taxes there. John and his wife Rebecca had given birth to a son Henry in 1765 at Piscataway Parish, and an older Henry Casteel (b: c1732) died at Piscataway in 1779. The facts that these were the only two non-sons-of-Edmund [3] Casteel’s around and that John had named one of his sons Henry suggests that these two may have been brothers. Since John [1] already has a son named John, maybe this John (and thus Henry) were sons of Joseph. Additionally, several other Casteels are indirectly connected with descendents of these, and could have been children of Joseph or of John. Most prominent are the Joseph and William Casteel who seem to move through Virginia before settling at Greenbrier in the 1770’s and then moving to Russell County, VA in the 1790’s. Since he was Joseph’s namesake, perhaps they were both his sons.

John Casteel [1] (b: bef. 1712-1717; paid taxes 1733 PG; d: after 1762)
       1. John Casteel [2](b: bef. c1734)
              a. John Casteel [3] (b: 1760’s)
              b. Edward Casteel (b: 1760’s)
              c. Joseph (b: c1760’s)
       2. Zachariah (b: bef. c1740)
              a. Zachariah? (c1751) [was there two Zachariah’s or only one?]
       3. Peter (b: bef. c1740)
       4. Samuel (b: c1740)
              a. Joseph
              b. Martha
       5. Jacob (b: bef. c1750)
       6. Robert? (b: bef. c1754)

Joseph Casteel (b: bef. 1712-1717; named on 1733 tax list; bondsman 1745 PG)
1. Henry Casteel (b: c1732; m: Mary Ann; paid 1776 PG tax)
       a. Male (b: c1772)
       b. Male (b: c1774)
2. John Casteel (b: bef. c1745; m: Rebecca; paid 1776 PG tax;
       a. Henry Casteel (b: Aug 25, 1765 Piscataway Parish, PG)
3. Joseph Casteel? (Greenbrier, VA > Russell, VA)
4. William Casteel? (moved from Greenbrier to Knox, TN where he and family were massacred in
1795)


John Casteel Sr. and John Casteel Jr. of western Maryland

Sometime before 1752 there were a John Casteel and a John Casteel Jr. living out in western Maryland, where they appeared to have stayed at least a decade (from 1748-1776 all of western MD was Frederick county). I believe that this John Sr. is the most likely candidate to be the John Casteel noted in the 1733 Prince George’s County, MD tax list, and a strong case can be made that this John Jr. is the one who moved to the Monongahela valley near Redstone in southwest PA during the 1760’s.

1752/1753 Frederick County Court Records In a book of abstracted Frederick County land records I found the recorded judgements of dozens of cases that stretched out across 1752-1753 that name John Casteel and others later associated with him. These are not records of the cases themselves, only of the money transactions (fines) that resulted from them Referred to as “supersedeas”, these were recorded in with the deeds, and could result from either court fines (when the recipient was the sherrif) or as a result of a lawsuit (when the recipient was some plaintiff). The judgement against John Key was given to George Gordon (the current sheriff), and was thus the result of some court fine. The one against John Casteel (and several others that day) were given to a Josiah Beall

Esq. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen the actual court records, so I have no idea what these cases were about. Here are the two cases that mention John Casteel:

       1.1. Aug 17, 1752 - against John Key (bondsmen John Casteeland James Williamson) [BK B,p.601]
       2.2. Nov 20, 1753 John Casteel (bondsmen Moses Chapline, William Bowell) [BK E, p.314]

John Casteel was a bondsman for John Key, and Moses Chapline was a bondsman for John Casteel. On the same day (Nov 20, 1753) an identical judgement was brought against Thomas Lane. It’s worth noting that John (and Peter and Zachariah) Casteel, John Key, and Thomas Lane were all part of Moses Chapline’s company of the MD militia during the late 1750’s (see below).

In addition to these judgements found among the land records, I have found a book of excerpts from the court records [This was the life: Excerpts from the Judgement Records of Frederick county, MD 1748-1765, by Millard Milburn Rice, 1979]. Unfortunately, only some of the records were included and there is no mention of the cases identified above. However, there is a mention of a case from Mar, 1755 in which John Casteel Jr. was suing a Thomas Johnson Jr. for slander. After four continuances, the case was thrown out (explaining why this case is not found in the land records with the others). Another suit brought by John Casteel Jr. the following year was more successful, against a John Malone. It is likely that this John Malone is related to the Malone’s of Washington County, PA and the Malone’s who moved to Greene Co., TN and associated with the Casteels there.

       3. Jan 2, 1755 —John Casteel took in a stray horse [BK E, p.626]

       4. Jun 15, 1756 —John Casteel Jr. (plaintiff) against John Malone (bondsmen Thomas Tomkins,
              John Mead) [BK E, p.1072]


Land Records —Elk Ridge Mt, east of Antietam Creek (now Washington county, MD)
There are three land records involving our Casteel’s, all three of which seem to refer to the same 50 acre tract(patented under the name “Little Worth”) at the head of a spring on Elk Ridge Mt., east of the Great Antietam Creek (now Washington County, MD). In the first of these John Casteel Sr. sells the land to his son John Casteel Jr. in 1755. At this point, I don’t know when or how John Sr. acquired title to this property.

5.5. Mar 10, 1755 —John Casteel Sr. (farmer of FC)sold to John Casteel Jr. a tract near the head of a spring of Elk Ridge Mt. On the east side of the Great Antietam Creek called “little worth”. WifeElizabeth relinquished her dowry [BK E, p.655-667]
6. Feb 24, 1761 —John Casteel Jr. (farmer of FC) to John Casteel Sr. 50 acre tract on east side of Antietam Creek near Short Hill. Wife Elizabeth relinquished dowry. [BK F, p.1265-1267]
7.Aug 17, 1762 —John Casteel [Sr.] (of FC) sold to Jacob Rossell (of Berks, PA) 50 acres “

Little Worth” tract near a spring of Elk Ridge Mountain. Wife Elizabeth        relinquished dowry [BK H, p.80]
In the subsequent record John Jr. sold back the land to his father in 1761, six years after buying it, before apparently heading west. In 1761 John “Castell” was among the 39 residents of Old Town Hundred (about 50 miles further up the Potomac, just above where the South and North Branches converge) to pay taxes, along with the notable frontiersman Thomas Cresap (and Abraham Teagarden). It does not appear that John stayed in this immediate area very long (now Allegheny Co., MD) since he hadn’t shown up on any other records. This westward migration along what was by then known as Braddock’s Road points directly to where I believe this John headed next —the “Ten-Mile” area of the Monongahela valley.

Map 1 (not included in the post)

Militia service during the French —Indian War
Published in Maryland Historical Magazine (Vol. 9, p.356-359) are three pay rolls for Capt. Moses
Chapline’s militia company from western Maryland during the French-Indian War, which name a John
Casteel, Zachariah Casteel, and Peter Casteel, along with several other names of men that continued to associate with the Casteels in PA and TN during the years to come. Another volume of the same journal (Vol.7, p.267) provides a brief description of the relatively limited role of Maryland militia troops in that conflict, in which it is stated that the taking of Ft. DuQuesne (Ft. Pitt) in 1758“ended Maryland’s activities and interest in the war”. Thus these lists date from 1756-1758. If they were all 16 at the time, then they were born at least before c1740-42. Since fighting Indians was generally (though not always) a young mans game, the John named here is probably John Jr, who may have just been coming of age when he bought land from his father in 1755. It seems probable that Zachariah and Peter were also sons of John Sr., since no other Casteels are known to have been in the area at that time. Zachariah and Peter are not found in any MD land or deed records.

Transcription of pay rolls to Capt. Moses Chapline’s militia company

Where to after this? John Casteel [II] certainly left a trail pointing west when he left MD sometime in the early 1760’s. Even before the final end of the war in 1763, the floodgates of western settlements were opened. In 1761 he sold his farm back to his father (he had purchased it from him 6 years earlier). That same year he is found on the tax list of Old Town Hundred, about 50 miles to the west along what was by then known as Braddock’s Road. Old Town had been settled years earlier by Marylands most famous pioneer, Thomas Cresap. By 1761 Cresap’s Old Town bustled with travelers mostly heading out Braddock’s Road to Ft. Redstone and he Monongahela —and access to the West.

It seems extremely likely that this is the John Casteel that is found in Morgan twp, Washington County, PA c1767-c1783 and then Greene and Blount Counties, TN. What about John Casteel [I]? He also sold the Antietam farm the next year in 1762 and is not heard from again. It’s possible he moved west with his sons, or perhaps he died soon after…

Other Frederick County Casteels / Cassells There was also a Henry Cassell/Kassell, a German from PA, who took up land in Frederick in 1754 along Pipe Creek. He is mentioned in several of these records, appears to have died by 1761 leaving a widow Margaret and a grown son Jacob. This Jacob sold one of Henry’s tracts in 1761, signing the deed in

German script. The land of these Cassell’s was on the other side of the county from the land of John
Casteel mentioned above (in what is now Carroll County), so I think we can easily separate these two
families.

There is a reference to Shadrack Casteel (undoubtably son of Edmund III) in a 1764 judgement. Shadrack is known to have settled down in the Cumberland Valley of Bedford County, PA by at least the 1770’s, so it’s possible that he had already moved by 1764. It is certainly worth noting that the approximate location of his settlement is very close to the border with Frederick County, MD, a
nd not many miles from Old Town itself…. [see page on Shadrack Casteel’s line]

       8. 8. Aug 24, 1764 —Judgement against Shadrick Castil (Wm Blakely, Thomas Dean                      bondsmen) [BK J, p. 1345-1346]

One very interesting item is a court fine levied against a Joseph Hughes, with bondsman Samuel “Cassell”. While the spelling of his name may suggest he was a member of Henry Kassell’s family, Henry had no known son (or grandsons) named Samuel - so it is also possible that this was the Samuel Casteel who is later found just north of John Casteel - just south of Pittsburg in what is now Allegheny County, PA, by the mid-1770’s. I have always thought that their relative proximity out on the SW PA frontier suggested they may have been related (especially since we know the name Samuel was used by Edmund II’s brother). That Samuel Casteel was born c1740 (from age given in pension information), so this 1759 reference may actually be him.

       9. Nov 26, 1759 —Judgement (by George Gordon, sherrif) against Joseph Hughes,                      bondsman Samuel Cassell[BK F, p.890]

       Early Casteels in the western settlements on drains of the Monongahela

I. John Casteel [2]
Sometime around the mid to late 1760’s several Casteels pushed out across the Alleghenys and settled
along the waters of the Monongahela. The earliest accounts of their activities on the western waters come from the Horn Papers, a fascinating —though not altogether reliable* - source. Taken with caution, much of what Horn has to say about the Casteels seems to ring true, and is (for the most part) consistent with the available evidence. Horn claims that a John and Jacob Casteel were brothers who came up from Virginia and settled on Crooked Run in what is now Morgan twp., Greene Co., PA. They reportedly built a small fort there, and the Creek was renamed Casteel Run.

In 1772 a John Casteel paid taxes in Springhill twp, Bedford Co., PA -comprising now Washington and
Greene counties, including the area around South Ten-Mile Creek where Casteel Run was. This was also very near McCullough Town (which now longer exists), organized in 1778 on South Ten Mile Creek as an iron manufacturing center. Several dozen men were employed here between 1779 and 1783, though it quickly declined after that. John Casteel and family were among those who Horn claims worked at McCullough.

During the years 1781-1783 a John Casteel served twice as a “Wood Ranger” and twice in a company of Washington County, PA militia with Philip Varvel and William “Hartley”. Since John [2] would have been pretty old by then and I believe the 1783 Greene Co., TN tax lists shows that his son John Jr.was old enough in that year, I believe the John with the PA military service is actually John Casteel [3].

       1781-1783 Washington County, PA Militia - Benjamin Stits’ Company Class Role Benjamin Stits, Capt.; Elijah Mills, Lt.; William Lee, Ensign; 1rst Srg. Mathew Gray; 2nd Sgt. Joseph Mills; 3rd Sgt. James Bell Privates:


1st Class -
Phillip Varvell; John Gray; Robert Timmons; Jacob Rush; Rubin Ross; Paul Brown; Wm. Bonner
2nd Class-
Benjamin Ginnings; Ebenezer Brown; James Moris; John Mills; Jacob Smitie; Elijah Stits
3rd Class-
William Hartley; Silas Crane; Rubin Purkins; Samuel House; John Veach; Henry Ginings; Andrew Gray
4th Class-
Amos Leonard; John Raws; John Martin; Eleven Timons; John Makkinea;Elisha Purkens; James Guner
5th Class-
William Wright; Nathaniel Bell; William Rusk; Samuel Seals; James Parker; Thomas Weekley; John Casteel
6th Class-
Jacob Mills; Ziba Brown; Abner Brown; Ignasea Ross; Oldrage Chidester; John Oldrage
7th Class-
Joseph Steward; Isiah Hog; James Hook; Louis Martin; Jobe Walton; George Hoge;Davis Jennings; Cobus Linicom
8th Class-
Levi Harod; Abell Bell; Robert Ross; William Ross; Jams Seals; Realph Smith; David Geinings; Amus Lenard; Andrew Grey

Connecting this John with John Casteel [2] of Frederick County I believe the John described above is John Casteel [2], son of John Casteel [1] from Frederick County, MD.After selling his land back to his father in 1761, John [2] is found for the last time in Maryland records later that same year on the tax roles of Cresap’s “Old town” (now Allegheny Co) near the convergence of the North and South Branches of the Potomac. This settlement was about 50 miles west of Antietam on Braddock’s Road, which had been carved just a couple of years earlier out of an old Indian road and led straight to Ft. Redstone on the Monongahela, often serving as a stopping off point for travelers heading west. These were early days for settlement west of the Allegheny’s, which had been pretty successfully prohibited during the ravages of the war - but after the taking of Ft. Duquesne (Ft. Pitt) in 1758 most of the fight was over the Ohio and settlers from western parts of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania began to pour in.

More convinvingly, the continued relationships with several families from old Frederick, MD make a very compelling argument that this was the same guy.
- -
Zachariah Casteel. [Zachariah served in the c1757 MD militia with John and Peter Casteel > A younger Zachariah (son of the older one?) paid taxes from Bethlehem twp, Washington County,PA in 1783 along with Francis Casteel, John Varvel, John Varvel Jr > This Zachariah also moved
down to the “Lick Creek neighborhodd” in Greene Co., TN]
- -
Melone. [John Casteel Jr. won a Frederick Co., MD judgement in 1756 against a John Melone > There was a Melone in 1781 serving in the same Washington Co., PA militia company as Francis Casteel and John Varvel > There was an early Malone in the neighborhood in Greene
County which married in with several Casteels over the next two generations]
- -
Key, Robinette, Lane, Mitchell

Several other Casteels were also living in this general area at the same time, and I believe they were all related to each other. I already mentioned John Jr. [3], who I believe was the John with the Revolutionary militia service. In addition there was an Edward Casteel who served four tours of duty in the Washington County militia 1781-1783. Because of his later connections to John Casteel’s family in Blount, TN, I believe that this Edward was also probably a son of John [2].

Zachariah Casteel
. Zachariah paid taxes in 1783 from Bethlehem Twp, Washington County, PA. This is the same Zachariah who moved down to Greene, TN with the whole group. He was reportedly born c1751, a perfect age to be a son of the elder Zachariah. Zachariah moved down to Greene County, TN with the other Casteels in remained there until his death.

Francis Casteel. Francis was the youngest son of Edmund Casteel III. He signed a petition sometime between 1776-1780 to create a new state in western PA. He paid taxes in 1783 from Bethlehem Twp,Washington County, PA. I’m not sure when Francis left home at Piscataway in Prince Georges County or whether he came straight out to Ten-Mile. It’s important to note that Francis appeared to have had two brother-in-laws serve in the same militia company c1781 —James Mitchel and Henry Athey, as well as John Varvel. Francis also went to Greene County, TN briefly before settling down in Knox County, TN.

Ezekiel Rose’s Company Class Role Ezekiel Rose, Capt.; Jonathan Harnet, Lt.; David Ruble, Ens.; George Rigdent, 1st Srg.; Valentine Copen, 2nd Srg.; Valentine Kinder, 3rd Srg.; Daniel Currey, Clerk
       Privates:
       1st Class- Benjamin Huywood; Danel Fredrick; Isaac Melon; Jacob Kinder; John Petet; John Weir; Jacob Dieks; Morres Mitchel; William Millburn        
       2nd Class- Samuel Evans; Peter Wise; Fredrick Crow; William Pen; John Andres; Henry Cline; John Welch; Ritchard Welch; Jacob Hatter; Esrea Carry
       3rd Class- John Callendr; George Reed; John
Shidlar; Absolom Hegg; Danel Hartsaw; Robert Weir; John Maning, Francis Casteel; James Mitchal; Adam Hator
       4th Class- George Pricker; John Kenney; Marten Spoon; Jacob Lasley; William Stanley, Jonas Hatfeild; Robert Boothstump
       5th Class- Peter Kinder; Jacob Fredrick; Abraham Hartman; Christen Hartshaw; John Nofsinger; Solomon Lashley; Paul McCartney; John Varvel
       6th Class- Frances Teeter; Robert Callendr; John Hill; Thomas Bishop; Adam Wise; Hendry Wise; George Humbah; Robert Jackson
       7th Class- Henrey Athey; William Buckingham; James McKibens; Johnathan Ross; Jacob Wolf; Andrey Wise; Nathanel Redford
       8th Class- Darbey Shawkon; Joseph Hill; Joseph Cole; Henry Hardsaw; Thomas Hatfeild; Abrahm Arlywen

Jacob and Robert Casteel.
The other Casteel mentioned as a brother of John by Horn was Jacob, who supposedly settled by John on Casteel Run and built a fort there c1767. Furthermore, Horn lists both Jacob and John Casteel on the 1773 “Hardtman Poll” (covering area around Camp Catfish/ now Washington).
Despite these references from Horn, the only actual record about Jacob “Castell” is from his service in Capt.Morgan’s company of VA Militia out of Ft. Pitt during Dunsmore’s War in 1774 [Pittsburg Pay Rolls, p. 20, on microfilm at VA State Library].. Serving in this same company was a Robert “Castell”,as well as several Carters who later moved down to Greene County, TN:

The names of the soldiers on the pay rolls at Pittsburgh
1774 - Capt. ZACHQUIL MORGAN’s roll:
James Chew, Lt.; William John, Lt.; Robert Terrell, Lt.; Uriah Springer, Ens.; James Dunn, Sgt.; Isaac Prekit, Sgt.; William Robison, Sgt.; John Hord, Sgt.; Nehemiah Harp, Sgt.; Calder Hammond, Sgt.; William Moore, Sgt.; Evan Morgan; Josiah Pricket; John Ice; Gilbert Vandroft; John Beesely; Joseph Anderson; Jacob White; ISAAC LEMASTERS; BENJAMIN LEMASTER; Robert Hartness; Alexander Cleg; Peter McCune; Henry Runnan; Nehemiah Powers; Samuel Pindle; Thomas Dowthit; Abner Harp; Jacob Pricket; Jacob Pricket, Jr.; Andrew Ice; John Vendroff; Charles Snotgrass; William Ice; William Snotgrass; Thomas Scott; Charles Grigsby; Joseph Davison; John Davison; JOHN STACKHOUSE; Belteshezer Dragoe; Jeremiah Smith; MORGAN MORGAN; Samuel Smith; Thomas Pindle; Aaron Avery; John Pierpont; John Finch;Thomas Evans; LEVY CARTER; Jacob Strait; ROBERT CASTELL; JACOB CASTELL; John Logan; Thomas Herbert; CALEB CARTER; John Cline; JOSEPH CARTER; Edward Cuningham; John Jones; Thomas Price; Peter Parkison; John Tucker; William Tucker; Thomas Marifield; Richard Marifield; Samuel Marifield; John Tumbleston; Tegal Trader; John Woodfin; Benjamin Brownfield; James Trimble; Nathan Springer; Patrick Kellog; John Lefevers; John Hardin; Mark Hardin; Joseph Battin; Lewis Thomas; Joel Rees; Benjamin Hardin; James Current; George Askins; John Askins; RICHARD CARTER; Isaac Ellis; James Downing; Timothy Downing; Robert Downing; Major Powers; John McDonald; ISAAC STACKHOUSE; EDWARD HAYMOND; JOHN CARTER; WILLIAM HAYMOND; Philip Askins; Joseph Coon; Anthony Coon; Conrad Coon; Henry Linder; Arthur Trader; Charles Bennitt; Dennis Murphy; Daniel Stout; Thomas Stout; Benjamin Copland; Nathaniel Davison; Isaac Davison; Daniel Warner; Owen Davis; Andrew Ramsay; James Neal; Thomas Griggs; Ephraim Dragoe; Thomas Battin; Thomas Davie; Thomas John; George Tucker; John Morical; John Stradler; Rudolp Hiley;Isaiah Pricket; Coleman Brown; William Robinson, Sr.; Elias Pierce; Joseph Boltinghouse; ISAAC LEMASTER; Jacob Youngman; Abraham Sisco.

Horn further claimed that Robert Casteel were among those selected for Capt. Cresap’s rifle company of sharpshooters in 1775 at Ft. Teagarden, located a short way up the Monongahela (probably in now West Virginia). Zaquil Morgan, the captain of Jacob and Roberts militia unit, was the founder of Morgantown (now West Virginia) on the Monongahela, about 25 miles up (south) the Monongahela from Ten Mile Creek. The Carters in Morgan’s militia company were also known to be living in that area during that time, before moving down to Greene County, TN where they were neighbors with the Casteels down there. I believe that this suggests Jacob and Robert may have resided on the Virginia side of the border, explaining why they are not found in any Pennsylvania records. The Carter link connects both Jacob and Robert to John, if we accept Horn’s claim that Jacob and John were brothers, then perhaps Robert should be included too….

Samuel Casteel was born c1740 and lived just north of Washington County, in Allegheny County, south
of Pittsburg by the mid-1770’s (see below). His proximity to the “Ten-mile Casteels” and the fact that
Samuel was a family name of sorts strongly suggests that he was related in some way. In particular, this may have been the Samuel “Cassell” mentioned in the 1759 Frederick, MD court record, and he may have been another son of John [2].

Samuel left a Rev War pension application that is brimming with great information. First of all, in 1820 he
claimed to be 78 years old, with 5 children —3 boys and 2 girls (one boy aged 18 years lived with him) and was living in Mifflin Twp, Allegheny County (Mifflin is just SW across the river from Pittsburg). Heenlisted for service in the fall of 1776 in Allegheny County, and served successively as a private in Capt. Van Swearingen’s company, Colonels Mackey’s and Daniel Brodhead’s Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment. He was reportedly in the battles of Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown, “and many skirmishes”, and was discharged at Fort Pitt in 1783.

The fact that the pension application specifically mentioned that an
18 year old son was still living in 1820 with him suggests to me that he was probably his youngest son, b: c1802. Counting 2-3 years per child, he may have started having children in the late 1780’s or early 1790’s. Strange for a man to wait until 50 to have kids, but that’s what this seems to suggest. This is important because an 1786 Allegheny tax list names Samuel Casteel, and records him as a single man.

Samuel was given 100 acres of bounty land in PA, warrant #9221 issued on Aug 20, 1791.

Saumel was mentioned in at least three census’s-
1790 Allegheny Census - Casteel, Samuel (1 male 16+, 2 females)
1800 Allegheny Census - Casteel, Samuel (30001-11010-00) p.68
1810 Allegheny Census - Casteele, Samuel (St. Clair Twp) p.162

Importantly, the info on his kids here matches up pretty well with what is given in the pension application, and supports the idea that he started his family later than usual.

The only other male Casteel I could find in Allegheny County during this period was a Joseph Casteel, who I assumed was a son of Samuel - The Pittsburgh directory for 1815, containing the names, professions and residence of the heads of families and persons in business, in the borough of Pittsburgh (p.17) Joseph Casteel, Blacksmith, N side of High, Grants Hill.

From that other pension application of Martha (Casteel) Cameron, it appears that one of Samuel’s
daughters was probably Martha.She had been married to a George Cameron, who served during the War of 1812 out of St. Clair Township, Allegheny County, PA. They were married near McKeesport in
Washington County, PA on May 9, 1808. George Cameron died in 1864 in Jackson County, IO, and widow Martha was in Jones County, IO by 1874.
---------------------------------------------------------              Casteels in Greene County, TN
Greene, Tennessee’s third county, was established by the North Carolina general assembly on Apr 18, 1783 out of the western part of Washington County, including what is know Knox and Jefferson Counties. “The earliest settlement of the territory which became Greene County was in the late 1770’s when settlers pushed down the Nolichucky”….

Casteels from the Monongahela to Greene County, TN
During the 1780’s several Casteels moved to Greene County, and I believe a strong case can be made that all of them came from Washington County, PA. I think a John, Francis, and Zachariah Casteel disappearing in PA and then almost immediately showing up together in Greene County is too much of a coincidence not to be the same guys. Also, in the 1850 Greene census, Zachariah’s son John (then 80) said he was born in Pennsylvania.

The first Casteel record that has come to light so far from Greene County is a land grant to John Casteel Sr. for 311 acres on Puncheons Camp Creek made on Sep 27, 1783 (Greene County Deed Book G, p.97). Now, the timing sure is right for this to be the John Casteel from the Washington County, PA - but what really backs this up is a find (thanks Leoneita) that on said grant the tract is described as “beginning on a walnut in a conditional line between said Casteel and Phillip Varvel”!

This discovery that Philip Varvel had traveled down to Greene County with John Casteel before heading up to Woodford County, KY c1790 has helped answer several questions about Philip —
for example, he wasn’t listed on the 1785 tax list in Washington County, PA with his father and brother (John Jr.). More importantly, one of Philip’s children, John, later claimed on a census record to have been born in Tennessee c1786 (and was married to a girl from Tennessee), a fact that has long puzzled Varvel researchers. Anyway, I think the fact that this John Casteel was living next to Philip
Varvel is strong evidence that they came from the Monongahela area together (remember, they served in the militia together just the year before).

       John Casteel Sr. [2] and Jr.[3]
Two John Casteels paid taxes in 1783 in Greene County. I believe this John Casteel Sr. [2] was the same who was granted the land on Puncheons Camp Creek that same year, and who had recently moved there from Washington County, PA. I believe the John Casteel Jr. [3] was his son who served with Philip Varvel in the Washington County militia. Both of these John’s appear to have moved toBlount County sometime around 1795 [see Blount County page for more]

       Francis Casteel
A Francis Casteel was first named in Greene County as a defendant in a suit brought on 22 Aug 1784
(Greene Co. Court Minutes, p. 22). I believe this Francis also came from Washington County, PA and was the youngest son of Edmund Casteel [3] of Prince George’s County, MD. He also left Greene County and settled down in Knox County (probably by“Casteel Run”) by the 1790’s. [see Knox County page for more]

       William Casteel?
One transcribed source of the 1783 Greene tax list names a William Casteel, while another book I’ve seen does not name this William (everyone else on the list is the same). There was also a William Casteel named on the 1793 tax list. If the 1783 listing is also accurate, this William may have been another son of John Sr… On the other hand, there is an account of a massacre of a William Casteel “from Greenbrier” and family in 1795 in Knox County. This William could account for the 1793 Greene tax payer William, but not a 1783 one since he was in Virginia at that time.

       Zachariah Casteel (c1751? —1821)
Zachariah was probably born sometime around 1751. This date was given in the notes of Randy Wilhoit (Malone researcher) that you (Leslie) sent. While I don’t know where he got this from, it is consistent with the apparent fact that his first son was born c1770. If this date is correct, then this couldn’t be the Zachariah Casteel who was during French and Indian war (I read a little about the i
nvolvement of MD militia in that conflict, and it all occurred before Ft. Pitt was retaken in 1758).

Zachariah moved out to SW PA, and was named on the 1783 tax list of Washington County, PA (as was Francis Casteel). Before 1786 he moved to Greene County, TN where he settled near John Casteel. Zachariah is noted in Greene County records on a road crew in 1786 and on a jury in 1789. He appears to have remained on his land until his death in 1821 (when his will was probated).

Children of Zachariah and Elizabeth:
1. John was born c1770 in PA (taken from 1850 Greene census). He appears to have remained in Greene County his whole life. I believe this is the John Casteel mentioned on the 1805 Greene tax list, some court records of the 1720’s, a land grant from 1837, and the 1840 & 1850 census.
a. *Andrew (b: c1810 —living with father John in1850, probably more siblings)
b. Edward? [the Edward on the 1812 Greene tax list?]

2. Peter was born sometime during the 1770’s, married to Susanna Richardson on May 8, 1800. He also appears to have remained in Greene County his whole life, where he died in 1833. His will names his children:
       a. Daniel (b: 1800-1810)
       b. Edward
       c. John
       d. Washington
       e. Polly
       f. Johnathan
       g. Elizabeth
       h. Peter (b: 1810-1820)
       i. Edward
       j. David

3. Jeremiah was born c1786 in TN (taken from 1850 Greene census) and was married Feb 17, 1813 to Susanna Jones. He also appears to have spent his life in Greene County.
       a. *William (b: c1814)
        b. *Elizabeth (b: c1828)
       c. *Jeremiah (b: c1831)
       4. Rachel (m: 02/17/1798 in Greene Co. to Zachariah Melone)
       5. Naomi (m: 12/30/1797 in Greene Co. to Abner Ayers/Acres)
       6. Marjey (m: 08/08/1800 in Greene Co. to John Melone)
       7. Ruth (m: Brown)
       8. Mary
       9. Margaret (*m: 10/09/1821 in Washington Co. to Edward Malon)


The neighborhood around Lick Creek and associated families

Several of the other early families in the extended neighborhood around Lick/Puncheon Camp Creeks also appear to have come from the Monogahela area. For example, an archived post to the Casteel mailing list a couple of years ago attempted to trace the origins of many of the Casteel’s neighbors there in Green county. One of these neighbors, a John Malone, was said to have come from Washington County, PA. (There was an Isaac “Malon” who served in the PA militia company with Francis Casteel and John Varvel, and several Casteel-Malone marriages accoured over the subsequent 30 years)…. 1783) along with John Varvel, Francis Casteel, Henry Athey, Isaac Melon, and John and Robert Weir.

A James Mitchell is named as part of a road crew from Puncheon Camp to N. side of Lick Creek (Greene Co., TN) to county line towards Inman’s Mill in May, 1786 along with Lanty Armstrong, Jno. C_____[Casteel], Dutton Lane, Phillip Babb Senr., Peter King Senr., Jones Kendrick, John Wagner, Zachariah Casteel, Wm. Wilson, Archilbald McCurry, Thos. Wray

(James and Morris [who moved to Blount] Mitchell both served in Capt. Rose’s company of Washington
Co., PA militia (1781-1783) along with John Varvel, Francis Casteel, Henry Athey, Isaac Melon, and John and Robert Weir).
----------------------------------------------------------
Blount County, TN Casteels

I. The family of John Casteel Sr. from Greene County, TN Sometime between 1792 and 1795 John Casteel Sr. left Greene County and moved further southwest to the Tennessee River (then called the Holston) in what became Blount County at it’s formation in 1795. This move is clearly documented in two Greene County deeds- The first is of an Apr 30, 1792 transaction in which John Casteel (of Greene) sells part (100 acres) of his land on Puncheons Camp Creek, which is stated as being part of his original 1787 grant of 311 ½ acres. The second is from Jan 15, 1796, when John Casteel Sr., who is now described as living in Blount County, sells another 100 acres that was part of the same grant.

       1. 30 Apr 1792 John Casteel of Gr Co, NC to Edward Gray part of a grant of 311 1/2 acres gr to Casteel in 1787. Wit: James Anderson, John Kelfur [Greene DB 1, vol. 2, p. 274]
       2. 15 Jan 1796 John Casteel, Sr, of Blount Co to Jacob Gray 100 acres, part of a survey sd               Casteel had sur on Puncheon Camp Creek, patent 11 Sep 1787. Wit: William Whittenberger,        Abraham Whittenbarger [Greene DB 1, vol. 6, p. 28]

Were the other Casteels in Blount County at this time sons of John Sr? There were only a few other Casteels mentioned in early Blount county, all of whom may have been sons
of John Sr. The most likely of these is John Casteel Jr. (who is probably the same John Jr. mentioned on the 1783 Greene County tax list), and cases can also be made for Edward, Joseph, and daughter Liddy.

Proposed family model for John Casteel Sr.
1. John Casteel [3] (b: 1760’s; m: Jemima; d: 1840 St. Francis, AR)
       a. Henry (b: c1786 in TN; d: aft. 1850; m: Polly ?)
       b. John? (b: c1790; d:Bedford Co., TN?)
       c. Philip (b: 1781-1790)
       d. Patience (m: John Varvel)
       e. Nancy (m: Robert Haslip)
       f. Elizabeth (m: ? Gilbreath)

2. Edward (b: 1760’s; )
       a. Abraham (b. c.1781; m: 8/2/1818 to Mary Whittenberger in Blount) [found in DeKalb Co.,                       AL, in 1845]
       b. Willis (b. c.1783) [married Elizabeth Elliot in 1839, in McMinn Co., TN]       
       c. Nancy (b. c.1785)
       d. Barney (b. c.1787) [found in Monroe Co., TN in 1830; and Cherokee Co., NC, in 1840]
       e. Morris (b. c.1790) [found in Rhea Co., TN, in 1830; DeKalb Co., AL, in 1845; and Pontotoc                      Co., MS, in 1850 & 1860]
       f. Mary (b. c.1791)

3. Joseph (b: bef. 1771; witnessed Greene Co deed in 1792)
4. Liddy (m: Mar 5, 1800 in Blount, TN to Francis Pinno)
5. David? (b: c1771; moved to Woodford County,came back to TN and married Sarah Mitchell
1798 in Knox)


1. John Casteel [3].There are many references to a John Casteel in Blount County records, though it is difficult to distinguish between John Sr. and John Jr.. John Sr. would have already have been at least in his 60’s by the time he moved to Blount, and I tend to think that he may have died not too long after that and that most of these references to John refer to John Jr. First of all, John Casteel (Jr.) served in the Knox County regiment of the mounted militia in 1794 [that was the year before Blount was formed from Knox]. In the Blount County Court minutes (1795-1817) we find that a John was called for jury duty May 1796 16, Sep 1796; 17, Nov 1801; 18, Feb 1803; 19, Feb 1805; 21, 1806; 25, 1807; 26, Aug 1808; 27, Feb 1809 (with a Thomas 108 Casteel) 28, Oct 1814; 30, Sept 1815; 32, Dec 1815; 33. Also, John was late paying his taxes in 180424, and in Dec 1815 John was to be fined $5.00 for not attending court as a grand juror 34. In 1816 a suit brought against a man named Reuben Charles by John Casteel Sr. was discontinued, and John was ordered to cover Charles’ defense costs 35 [by this time John Jr. would be called John Sr.]. Also, John Casteel served in the militia
from 10 Jan 1814 to 10 May 1814 in Captain Edward Buckaman’s Co (Col.Bunch Regiment East TN
Militia).

We know that John settled down on the Tennessee River During the August 1800 session a deed of conveyance from James Lackey to John Casteel for 300 acres was acknowledged in open court 9. It is very likely that this is the same 305 acres that he received a grant for in 1808 (#172, BK 1, p.172). Almost 20 years later in 1825 John received 2 more grants for contiguous land for a total of 500 acres. We know that it was all the same John because this is stated explicitly in the deed records from 1828 when he sells all 500 acres to his neighbor Thomas Wyly [DB 4, p. 27, see below].Immediate neighbors included James Wyly, Samuel Wyly, and Samuel Douthet.

I believe this John Casteel moved to St. Francis County, AR between 1828-1830.

2. Edward/Edmund Casteel.
First of all, there are records of an Edward Casteel who served four tours of duty in the Washington County, PA militia 1781-1783 [PA Archives], the same time as John Casteel (probably Jr.). Importantly, no more records of an Edmond/Edward are found out in western PA, suggesting he either died or left around the same time the other Casteels came to Greene, TN. Since this PA Edward was serving in the militia in 1781 then he was born before 1765 (16 years old in 1781). This roughly matches up with the age of the McMinn County Edmond given in the 1830 census (age 60-70, born in the 1760’s). This is right within the time frame of possibility for him to be a son of John Sr., and he is already linked with John’s son John Jr. since they both served in the Washington County militia at the same time (*though in different companies).

If this was the same Edward who came to TN then the case is strengthened further. The first record of him in TN is for jury duty in Blount County in late 1795, exactly the time frame when we know John Sr. moved from Greene County, TN to Blount. Seems pretty straightforward? However, if this Edmund was an adult in the mid 1780’s-early 1790’s, why don’t we find him anywhere in the Greene County records from those years? I don’t know…

Anyway, he is well documented in Blount county (references on request), serving on juries in late 1795, late 1796, Sep 1797, Aug 1800, Nov 1801, 1802, May, Aug 1803 (with John), 1804, and Nov 1809. Edward was a commissioned ensign in the Blount County Militia in 1799. In Feb of 1800 Edward received a deed of conveyance for 50 acres from a John Johnston. May 1802 Edward was appointed as one of several “appraisers of property as the law directs”.In 1808 Edmund Casteel received a grant for 198.5 acres in “E district”, [BK 1, p. 171, grant #171] (at the same time as John Casteel received a grant for 305 acres in the same district). In 1815, Edward Casteel sold his land in three pieces - to David Dugan (100 acres), John Dugan and John Dugan Jr. (33 acres), and to William Savage (61 acres). I’m not aware of any other record of Edward in Blount County after 1815.

Next, on to Roane County, TN. Roane was formed in 1801, and bordered Blount on the west (Loudon was not created until after the civil war). Available County Court records 1801-1809 list no Casteels, and no Casteels are listed on the 1808 Roane tax list. However, during 1816-1818 Edward was once called for jury duty, and his name is mentioned several times in the county court minutes of 1819 and 1820. One of these references was the 1820 record of a deed for 200 acres to Edward Casteel, witnessed by a Henry Whittenbarger (one of Edward’s presumed sons Abram married a Mary Whittenberger in Blount county in 1818). Another interesting Roane County record is an 1820 suit by the state against a William Casteel, in which Barney Casteel is mentioned (not as a defendant, possibly a securitor). This is consistent with this Roane Edward being the same guy as Blount-McMinn Edward since Barney is another of his presumed sons. I haven’t seen any post-1820 Roane County records to see whether Edward is mentioned any more there, but he is not on the 1830 census there. Instead, I believe he moved to McMinn County, TN where he does show up on the census of 1830, and where he reportedly died the following year. Reported children of Edward:
       1. 1. Abraham (b. c.1781; m: 8/2/1818 to Mary Whittenberger in Blount) [found in DeKalb Co.,               AL, in 1845]
       2. 2. Willis (b. c.1783) [married Elizabeth Elliot in 1839, in McMinn Co., TN]
       3. 3. Nancy (b. c.1785)
       4. 4. Barney (b. c.1787) [found in Monroe Co., TN in 1830; and Cherokee Co., NC, in 1840]
       5. 5. Morris (b. c.1790) [found in Rhea Co., TN, in 1830; DeKalb Co., AL, in 1845; and
               Pontotoc Co., MS, in 1850 & 1860]
       6. 6. Mary (b. c.1791)

3. Joseph Casteel.
This is probably the same Joseph Casteel who witnessed the deed between Joseph Carter and Francis Casteel in 1792 in Green County. Joseph is only noted a few times in Blount county — first on an 1801 tax list (with no land). Next, he was found not guilty in a suit brought against him in Blount County by John Lowry in May, 1805. He received a grant (#1611) for 165 acres in Blount County in 1810 [BK 2, p.668], though he almost immediately sold this land (on Jun 9, 1810) to a William Turk, who is confusingly described as assignee of Peter Kee which seems to suggest that the original deal was between Joseph and Peter Kee, and that Kee sold his rights to Turk before the grant was official. Since Peter Key was also from Greene, this apparent association strengthens the idea that this Joseph is the same one that was named in Greene in 1792. I don’t know anything about what happened to this Joseph after he sold his land in 1810…

4. Thomas Casteel.
The only mention of Thomas in Blount I’ve seen is when he was called for jury duty in Feb, 1809, along with John Casteel. Since I think you had to be 21 to serve on a jury, this Thomas was born around or before 1788 —late enough to be part of the next generation (perhaps son of John Jr., Edward, or Joseph), though it is possible that he was a younger son of John Sr.

5. Philip Casteel.
This was very probably a son of John Jr. There are actually two
records of a Philip Casteel getting married in the Tennessee records —the first was in Roane County in 1806 to Betsey Robinett, presumably daughter of a neighbor of John and Edward Casteel’s, Moses Robinet. Since the Little Tennessee River formed the border between Blount
and Roane, this may have been just across the river). The second was Sep 29, 1818 when Philip Casteel married Charlotte Franks in Blount County. This Philip moved to St. Francis County, AR with John by 1830 [where he is on the census in 1830 and 1840] and seems to have died before 1850 [the 1850 St. Francis census lists Charlotte Casteel as a head of household two young “Franks” gi
rls in her household]. Since we know of no other Philip Casteel, I think it is more likely that there was only one and his first wife must have died.

6. Abednigo Casteel and sons James and Benjamin.
This is Abednigo Jr., (son of Abednigo, son of Edmund III) and his family who moved across the river sometime during the 1830’s. The first reference to an Abednigo in Blount county was in June 1805 when a suit brought upon George Atwell by Abednigo Casteel resulted in Atwell’s land being “exposed to sale as agreeable by law”. It’s not clear whether this is Abednigo Sr. (son of Edmund III) or his son Abednigo Jr., both of whom were living across the River in Knox County [both Abednigo’s paid taxes in Knox in 1806]. We know from a “Knox County Brands Registration Book” entry that Abednigo got permission in 1804 to erect a mill on his land on Stock Creek, and that the land grant issued to Abednigo Sr’s son Meshack Casteel in 1807 [#187] also places them on Stock Creek, which empties in Blount County, so they were all probably living very close to the border. interestingly, about a mile or two above the mouth of Stock Creek there is to this day a creek known as Casteel Run. Sometime between 1830 and 1840 Abednigo (Jr.) and his family moved across the border from Knox into Blount County. They are the only Casteels mentioned in the Blount County, census’s of 1840 and 1850 (none listed in 1830). I believe all of the family discussed above had already left the county by the time Abednigo moved there.
----------------------------------------------
II. Locating the Casteels in Blount County
There are a couple of rough ideas about neighborhoods that can be pulled from these deed records,
a few road crews named in the court records, and the 1801 tax list. One was the area around Lackey Creek (between Maryville and the Tennessee River, approximately area 1 on the map below) where Henry Whittenbarger Sr. lived, as well as his sons Henry Jr. and Matthew. Others who can be associated with this area include Joseph Casteel, Peter Key, John Cox, Samuel Roin, Josiah Patty, Martin Bonham, Martain Casteter, John Ragon, Jeremiah Hayes, George Moore, Jacob Coperburger, Thomas Eatherton, Edward Gourley, Samuel Saffell, John Johnson, Alexander Patterson and others. In 1821 Henry Whittenbarger donated 6 acres to be used by the Methodist Church (trustees - Samuel Saffel, Charles Warren, John Norwood, Henry Whittenburger Jr., Ambrose Cox, Benjamin Bonham, and Henry Whittenburger Sr.). Several of these men were among Captain Gallespie’s company in the 1801 tax list, including Henry Whittenbarger, Martin Castator, and our Joseph Casteel.

I believe that John and Edward’s original land may have been located in this vicinity. In Feb, 1800 Edward purchased 50 acres from a “John Johnston”. Part of the land on Lackey’s creek that Henry Whittenbarger lived on had originally been surveyed for a John Johnson. /similarly, in Aug, 1800 John Casteel bought 300 acres from James Lackey —I assume the namesake of the creek. Both of these tracts were purchased by deed and should be noted in the deed book. However, I have only seen the deeds from 1819. The only reason we know of these transactions is because they were record
ed in the court minutes, which did not specify any information about neighbors.

In contrast to these tracts purchased in 1800, both John and Edward were granted land in 1808 which appear to have been different tracts. Since these grants are numbered consecutively, I assume that they were probably next to each other. Also, since both John and Edward are listed in the 1801 tax list in Capt. Kelley’s company, it seems likely that they moved on shortly after buying that land in 1800. We know that Edwards land was later bordered by a James Greenway and a Robert Hughes, and by looking at other deeds that mention these two we can identify several neighbors of Greenway and Hughes including John and Henry Franks, Abraham Whittenbarger, Moses Robinett, John Bible, George Cook, and several others (most of whom are also on Capt. Kelley’s 1801 list). Most of these people, including I believe John and Edward, were living in the western part of the county, (in what is now Loudon) along what is now called the Little Tennessee River (but was then just called the Tennessee River), and a little bit eastward along what was then the Holston (now referred to asthe Tennessee River), including Hickory Valley [area 2 on the map below].

Finally, it should be noted on the map below that Francis and Abednigo Casteel and their families
were known to be living on Stock Creek, across the river in Knox County —only a few miles above where we are talking about. About a mile or two from the mouth of the creek is what is known to this day as Casteel Branch, undoubtably the spot of Abednigo’s settlement, and very
likely also Francis Casteel’s.

Map: Not shown here
-------------------------------------------------------
              Knox County, TN
Knox County was formed in 1792 from parts of Greene and Hawkins. Francis Casteel was already living in Knox county when it was formed, having moved from Greene County sometime after 1784. Several years later, by 1804, Francis’ brother Abednigo and his family moved down to Knox County from Virginia. The 1807 land grants (listed below) show that both families lived in the southern part of the County on Stock Creek, probably near the mouth by what is now called Casteel Branch [see map on Blount page]. This association between Abednigo (whose choice of names for his children of Meshack, Shadrack, and Abednigo definitely suggest he was the son of Edmund Casteel [3] of Prince Georges County, MD) and Francis (who can be traced back through Greene County, TN to Washington County, PA) helps support the overall model that all of these Casteels originally came from PG, MD.

Francis Casteel
Francis was born sometime during the 1750’s (estimated from age range given on 1830 census), and was probably the son of Edmund Casteel III (who named him in his 1772 will - Prince George Co., MD). The first mention of Francis Casteel in PA is from his signing a congressional petition to create a new state out of western PA sometime 1776-1780. The first tax list of Washington County in 1783 names Francis and charges him a tax on his 125 acre tract (Zachariah Casteel is also on this list with 65 acres). Francis is not found on the 1785 tax list nor in any PA record after 1783, suggesting that’s when he left.

Aug 22, 1784 Francis was a defendant in a case brought against him by a Jacob Carter in Greene County (a neighbor in Puncheon’s Camp Creek), and was ordered to pay a penny in damages. He soon moved to Knox County, where he paid taxes in 1806 (with a Shadrack, Meshack, and two Abednigo Casteel’s). Greene County Deed records show that he bought some land on Lick Creek in 1792 from Joseph Carter Sr., when Francis is named as being a former resident of Greene County, currently living south of the French Broad. He soon sold this land in 1796 (mentioned as a resident of Knox County. He is named on the 1830 Knox census, age 70-80. Francis died in Knox County in early 1733. His will, written on January 20th and probated that April (Knox Estate Book 5, p. 206-207) and subsequent estate administration are available [see below] and provide important information about his children.

Children of Francis and Mary
All of these children are named in Francis’ will. Son Isaac is only named as father of Francis and David, so I assume Isaac had already died. The three remaining sons are noted as being from Pike County, IL, and they sold the land they had been left and took their sisters back to IL with them.
       1. Abraham
       2. Isaac
       a. Francis (b: c1819 in Madison Co., IL)
       b. David (b: c1821)
       3. Jacob [b: 1797 in Knox Co., TN; m: 1818 Madison Co., IL to Sarah Nowlin; d: May 1860 San
              Bernandino, CA]
       4. Elijah
       5. Rebecca
       6. Mary
       7. Charity


Abednigo Casteel
Edmund Casteel [3] of Prince George’s Co., MD names Abednigo as one of his sons in his 1772 will, and his birth is estimated as c1746. I’m not aware of any actual Prince George’s County records of Abednigo, and it appears that he probably left for the Virginia frontier soon after reaching adulthood. There are several references to an Abednigo Casteel scattered across the
Virginia frontier over the next couple of decades, all of whom could be the same guy —
- -1778, 1779, 1780 paid tax in Henry County, VA
- -1787 paid tax in Amherst County, VA [*possibly a second Abednigo, son of William?]
- - Mar 17, 1795 possible daughter Elenor married to Joseph McFadden in Rockbridge County
- - Aug 21, 1795 daughter Elizabeth married to William Walker in Rockbridge County
- - 1796 listed as delinquent in taxes in NE district of Augusta County
- - 11 Dec 1798 - Nancy Casteel to Franceis Greenlee, witness - Abednego Casteel
- - 19 April 1798 - Mary Casteel to Edward Greenlee, witness Abednego Casteel

Interestingly, one last Abednigo reference is found in Virginia —an “Abednigo Caststeel” on a 1810
Grayson County, VA tax list. It’s not likely that this was either Abednigo from Knox County, suggesting
that there was yet another Abednigo out there that hasn’t been accounted for yet. Since we know nothing of this other Abednigo, it’s always possible that he accounts for some of the earlier Virginia Abednigo references….

Looking at the 1806 tax list of Knox County, TN we find several Casteels - Abednigo, Abednigo Jr.,
Shadrack, Meshack, and Francis. We know who this Francis was, and we know that he didn’t use any of those names for his sons. The fact that the other names compose a “set” suggests that what we probably have here is an elder Abednigo with three sons. Abednigo had another son named Daniel, who is also mentioned in those 1807 land grants. Abednigo Jr. and Daniel both married Hensley sisters, another family on Stock Creek

       Probable children of Abednigo Casteel
       1. Meshack.
       2. Shadrack
       3. Abednigo Jr.
       4. Daniel
       5. Elisabeth

The neighborhood on Stock Creek Early land grants (1807) of the area describe several neighbors living along Stock Creek, near the southern boundary of the county with Blount. Not far from the mouth of the creek is a drain that is still called Casteel Branch (Knox county).

Francis Casteel - granted 390 acres on Stock creek, adj. Daniel Casteel, Joseph Johnston (CC- Joseph
McFadgen, Peter Ragin)
Shadrack Casteel - granted 140 acres on Stock creek, adj. Jacob Hoosong, Mor, Givins, Mary Black (CC-
Abednigo Casteel, Thomas Anderson)
Meshack Casteel - granted 108 acres in Knox County,
adj. William Nelson (CC- George Hicks and Daniel
Casteel)

Jacob Hoosong —granted 130 acres in Knox County, adj. Shadrick Casteel, Reubin Tipton (CC- Jonathan Love, Abednigo Casteel) - This Jacob is probably the brother-in-law of Morris Mitchell, son of
the Jacob Hoosong who died in Amwell twp, Washington County, PA in 1803.
William Hensley —granted 159 acres on Stock Creek - probably father of the two sisters who married
Abednigo Jr. and Daniel Casteel.


Casteels in Roane County, TN

Roane County was formed in 1801 out of the western portion of Blount. I believe the boundary for many years (before the creation of Loudon County) was the Little Tennessee River. Several Casteel’s are noted in early Roane County records, and I believe they can all be accounted for and connected to the Casteel families of Blount County, who were living just across the river.

Available County Court records 1801-1809 list no Casteels, and no Casteels are listed on the 1808 Roane tax list. The first Casteel records in Roane are marriage records. The first one - Philip Casteel (on Feb 26, 1806 to Betsey, daughter of Moses Robinett) is likely to be the son of John [3] from Blount. If this is the same Philip, then this was his first wife and he married again a few years later in Blount before moving out to Arkansas with John.

The next two - John Casteel (to Jinny Lane on 9-23-1809) and Caleb Casteel (to Susanna Whittenbarger 1-2-1816) could also be sons of John [3]. Alternatively, it’s possible that one or both of these were sons of the Joseph of Blount County. Both the Whittenbargers and the Lanes (and the Robinetts mentioned above) had connections to this extended Casteel family.

Sometime after 1815 Edward Casteel moved from Blount County across the river into Roane County. In
1818 his daughter Mary was married to a Luke Lytle. During 1816-1818 Edward was once called for jury duty, and his name is mentioned several times in the county court minutes of 1819 and 1820. One of these references was the 1820 record of a deed for 200 acres to Edward Casteel, witnessed by a Henry Whittenbarger (one of Edward’s presumed sons Abram married a Mary Whittenberger in Blount county in 1818). Another involves his providing security for Mary Lytle, presumably his widowed daughter.Another interesting record is an 1820 suit by the state against a William [Willis?] Casteel, in which a Barney Casteel is mentioned (not as a defendant, possibly a securitor). This is consistent with this Roane Edward being the same guy as Blount-McMinn Edward since Barney is
another of his presumed sons. I haven’t seen any post-1820 Roane County records to see whether Edward is mentioned any more there, but he is not on the 1830 census there. Instead, I believe he moved to McMinn County, TN where he does show up on the census of 1830, and where he reportedly died the following year.
----------------------------------------------------------       Casteel’s of St. Francis County, Arkansas

John Casteel [3] from Blount County came to Arkansas c1828Sometime probably around 1828 John Casteel [3] from Blount County, TN moved to Arkansas, settling down about 20 miles west of the Mississippi near what would become Forrest City in St. Francis County
(see map below). According to Goodspeed’s history (1884) the first settlers came into St. Francis County starting around 1819 from TN and KY, and the “Castiles” are named as early pioneers.

The case connecting this John to the John Casteel [3] of Blount County is straightforward and convincing. For example, not only is John [3] the only John that we know of that was born in the 1760’s (taken from the 1830 census), but he sold his land in Blount in 1828 (the same year he moved to Arkansas), several neighbors of John’s from Blount moved to the same area at the same time (e.g. Henry Franks), and his daughter Patience married John Varvel (son of the Philip Varvel who was John [3]’s neighbor in Greene County, TN) who also came down to St. Francis County and lived among the Casteels for several years.

John is mentioned several times in early St. Francis County records. He purchased an 80 acre tract on Nov 10, 1830 [#3 on map below], and sometime before 1840 he acquired a 160 acre tract just south of there (both tracts are mentioned in his 1840 administration).He is named in the 1830 census as 60-70 years old (dating his birth to the 1760’s) with a wife the same age. In this census he is listed immediately after Philip Casteel, then Henry and Chisley Franks, (and a page after Moses Casteel and John Varvel).

By 1840 John died, survived by his wife Jemima and his several grown children. The administration of his estate was executed in 1840, as detailed below:
       To Henry Casteel, John Varvel, - right of his wife Patience Varvel, alias Patience Casteel; Robert Haslip, in right of his wife Nancy Haslip, alias Nancy Casteel; and Elizabeth Gilbreath, and to all whom it may concern.Take Notice That we, the undersigned Administrators of the estate of John Casteel, late of St Francis County, and State of Arkansas, deceased, will apply to the Probate Court of St Francis County, State of Arkansas, at the October term thereof next ensuing this date, for partition of the slaves and real estate belonging to the estate of the said John Casteel, late of said county, deceased:the negros of the following names, to wit:Tisby, Molly, Alexander, Adam, John, and Charlotte:the real estate is of the Half of the south-west quarter of section three of township four north in range three east, containing eighty (80) acres.Also, the south-east quarter of section fourteen (14) township four (4) in range three (3) east, containing one hundred and sixty (160) acres all in St Francis county and State aforesaid; - if it can be equitably done, and if not, that the said negroes and land besold, and the proceeds divided, as the law directs.John Casteel -        Phillip Casteel, Administrators of the Estate of John Casteel, deceased,

       Madison - August 5, 1840 - 32-6t
       Robert W Casteel, adm of the estate of John Casteel sr, dec’d, Court at MoutVernon - 1848
       [Casteel Research, Jean Brown, XVII-r, p 229]
John’s estate —6 slaves; 2 tracts of land: 80 acres - ½ of SW quarter of S3, T4N, R3E; 160 acres —SE quarter of S14, T4, R3E (both in St. Francis County)

John Casteel [3]’s wife Jemima John’s wife Jemima provides an interesting trail back to Wayne County, TN. Jemima is noted in the 1840 St. Francis County census (70-80 years old), and paid taxes there in 1843, the year she died. The following indenture is found in the Deed records of Wayne County, TN-
       Wayne County, TN Deeds This indenture that I, Jemima Casteel, of the County of St. Francis and State of Arkansas, for and in consideration of the affection and love that I have for my son, Henry Casteel, of the County of Wayne, in the State of Tennessee: he being my eldest son, have this day given him my Negro man Alexander, aged 29 years, for the consideration of my love as aforesaid, only that he is to remain with me and take care of me during my lifetime, and at my death to descend to my said son, Henry Casteel; his heirs and assignees for ever and I hereby bind myself, Executors and Administrators to warrant and defend the title of the said Negro man to my son as aforesaid forever after my death. In testimony wherof I have herewithto set my hand and seal this 19th day of Oct, 1842.Witnessed by Charley Frank, Preston H. Casteel
Recorded and signed Nov 1, 1843 in Wayne County, TN

       Children of John Casteel [3] and Jemima
       Still working on this…..
       John (b: 1761-1770; d: 1740)
       Henry (b: c1786 in TN; d: aft. 1850; m: Polly ?)
       John
       Philip (b: 1787-1790)
       Patience (m: John Varvel)
       Nancy (m: Robert Haslip)
       Elizabeth (m: ? Gilbreath)
       Sarah? (m: 1801 to Henry Varvel)
       Moses?
       Willis?