WILL: MD, Pr. Georges Co.; Orphan's Court, Liber T1, folio 48; dates 7 Apr 1772; pro. 24 Mar 1773
In the name of God Amen I Edmond Casteel of Prince George's County in the Province of maryland being of sound and perfect memory thanks to Almighty God for the same but calling to mind the uncertainty of this Transitory State and knowning that it is appointed for all Men to die Do make and Ordain this my las Will ___ Testament in manner and form following Viz: First I will that all my just Debts be well and truly paid and satisfied next I recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it; Next my Body to the earth to be Buried at he Discretion of my Executrix here-after named. And ;for what worldly Estate as hath pleased Almighty God to bless ame with in this life, I give and disopose of the same in manner and form following; that is to say I give and bequeath to my Son Shadrach Casteel all my wearing apparrel. I give and bequeath to my wife Rebecca Casteel all my personal Estate namely Part of a Tract of land called Casteel, part of Edmunds Frolich Enlarged and all my Goods and Personal Estate consisting of what kind or value soever during her Natural Life and then I give and bequeath all the remaining part of the above said Land: Item and goods to be sold and the money to be Equally Divided amongst my Several children as follows; Viz Shadrach Casteel, Abednego Casteel, Francis Casteel, Lucy Athey, Keziah Mitchell, Susannah Searce, Sarah Medly, Cassandra Casteel, Charity Casteel, and lasty I do hereby appointed Constitute make and ordain my Daughter Cassander Casteel whoe and sole Executrix of this my last Will and testament hereby Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament making void all other and former Wills or Testaments by me made. in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand affixed my Seal this Seventh day of April One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy two.
Signed Sealed and Acknowledged Edmond Casteel Seal
as his last Will and Testament before (sp)
James Moore Senr.
Samuel Moore
Zadock Moore
_______________________________________
Will of Edmond Casteel III
b: ca 1715 Pa.
will written 11 April 1772
d. 24 March 1773
Prince George's County, MD.
To son: Shadrack Casteel, personality. To wife: Rebeccah Casteel, all of my personal estate, part of tract Casstell, part of Edmond's Frolick enlarged, during life then the remaining part of my lands and goods to be acually divided amongst my children, Shadrack, Machack, Abednego, Francis Casteel, Lucy Athy, Kezia Mitchal, Susanah Scarce, Sarah Medley, Cassander Cassteel and Charity Cassteel. Daughter Cassrander Cassteel , excx.
Test: James Moore, Snr., Samuel Moore, Zadock Moore WILLS 39,f.464.
Inventory of Edmond Casteel, PG Co., 19 April 1773, Appraised by John Osbourn, James Moore, Sr. Kindred, Marchp Casteel, Charity Casteel. Sum of L26/11/8.
14 June 1773 Cassandre Casteel, Exce. Creditors, Peter Campbell for Classford and Co., Stephen West. INV. 114, f. 44.
The account of Cassandra Casteel, Excs. of Edmund Casteel P.G. Co., Sum of L26/11/8 18 May 1884 ACCTS 71, f 128 .
I am a descendant of Edmond Casteel through his daughter Susannah who married Nathan Scarce. I am also a descendant of Zadock Moore-one of the witnesses to this will. If you have information on Casteel, Scarce, Soper,
or Moore, I will appreciate hearing from you. M. Mathis mathis@web-access.net
BOSTON EVENING TRANSCRIPT (See full articles under Capt. Edmund Casteel)
Casteel Plantation
Edmond du Chastel, 2nd hereafter called Edmund Casteel, of "Casteel" plantation, St. John's or Piscataway Parish, Prince George County Maryland, removed from Philadelphia to Prince George County where he purchased the plantation which he patented under the name of "Casteel," Dec 10, 1714 (MD His.Soc. MS., Calvert Paper No. 882, page 167); the original grant having been dated Oct 12, 1713 (Prince George County , MD deeds book Y , page 575); and the survey, Dec 3, 1713. By subsequent purchases of adjoining lands he aquired a tract which he patented under the name of "Edmonds Frolic Enlarged" and later conveyed to his son Meshach Casteel (Ibid., Book TT, page 638; Ibid., Book JRM3, page 373). And in the year 1742 when his health was failing (Ibid., court minutes, book CC, page 129) and his wife Johanna (also called Hannah) had died (Ibid., court minutes, pages 109,608) he conveyed part of "Casteel" plantation to his son "Edmond Casteel Junr planter" (Ibid deeds, Book Y, page 575). The last references to Edmund Casteel, 2nd occur in November 1743; and to his wife, in 1733.
There is no will on record for either of them, and the deeds cited above prove the identity of only two of their children, Edmond and Meshach. Nevertheless the writer has found evidence which leads him to include John and Joseph among the children, although the evidence is only circumstantial. The "Maryland Historical Society Magazine," vol 9, pp275, 357-58, has published a roster of Maryland troops in French and Indian War , including the names of John, Zachariah and Peter Casteel. The children of Edmund and Johannah Casteel known with certainty are: 5. Edmond 3rd., who follows, 6. Meshach, who follows after his brother. And probably, 7. Joseph , who appears as a bondsman in a transaction dated August term, 1745 (Prince George Co. ct. minutes, Book DD, p. 196) 8. John, who married Rebeccah _________, by whom he had a son Henry Casteel baptized, Aug. 25, 1765. )MD Hist Soc. MS Piscataway Parish Register, Prince George Co. , MD., page 351). In 1773 John Casteel was living in ?Bedford Co. PA. near Shadrack Casteel ("Penna Achives," 3rd ser. vol. 22, p.44), and served in the Revolution in Washington Co. PA., militia (Ibid, 5th ser., vol. 4, pp. 394, 704 5. Edmund Casteel 3rd, of "Casteel" plantation, Piscataway Parish, Prince George Co. MD., died leaving a will dated April 7, 1772, and proved March 24, 1773 (Prince George Co., willsl Book T, No. 1, pages 48-49; Magurder, "Maryland Wills"), by which he gave to his wife Rebecca_____ a life estate in Casteel plantation and his personal estate and provided for the sale and distribution of the property in equal shares to his children, whom he names, at her death. His wearing apparel, perhaps including items inheirted from Capt. Edmond, he left to his son Shadrach. The inventory of his estate, made April 10, 1773 (Ibid., inventories, book T, No. 1, page 264), lists a large Black Box which may refer to the "Black Trunk" given by the will of Christian du Chastel to Edmond, 2nd.
The following children are named in Edmund Casteel's will: 9. Shadrach, who follows. 10. Abednego. 11. Francis. 12. Lucy the wife of ______ Athey. 13. Kezia, wife of (James ?) Mitchell, On August 30, 1771, Edmund Casteel, 3rd, conveyed to James Mitchell a part of "Casteel" plantation (Ibid., deeds Book AA, No. 2, page 291). 14. Susannah, wife of _______ Scace. 15. Sarah, wife of _______ Medley. 16. Cassandra, born Jan *, 1753 (MD hist. Soc. MS., Piscataway Parish Register ), who was sole exectrix under her father's will. 17. Charity
(to be continued)
Note 3001 Part 6 June 18, 1938
CASTEEL
( Continuing the record of the children of Edmund and Johannah Casteel.)
6. Meshach Casteel, of "Edmonds Frolic Enlarged",) St. John's or Piscataway Parish, Prince George county, MD., signed as the next of kin, the inventory of the estate of his brother Edmund Casteel, April 10, 1773; died prior to 1790, when his widow Catherine appears in the Federal census as the head of a family of eight. His widow, Catherine Casteel, placed a chattel mortgage on her Negroes March 31, 1791 (Ibid., deed, Book JJ, No. 2, page 478); sold her dower rights to "Edmond's Frolick Enlarged," July 27, 1796 (Ibid., Book IRM No. 4, page 527); and gave an additional deed to her interest in it Jan. 2, 1797 (Ibid., IRM, No. 5, page 116). Of their children the records mention specifically only the following: 18. Edmund, whose descent from Edmund Casteel, 2nd is recited in a deed given hereafter. 19. Rebecca, born Nov. 18, 1772 (MD hist Soc. MS Piscataway Parish Register ). 9. Shadrach Casteel , 3rd son of "Casteel" plantation purchased land from Rachel Watkins about 750 acres (Prince George County deeds Book PP, page 83) and resided there until his removal to Flintsone Creek, Cumberland Valley Township, Bedford County, PA., before 1773 (Pennsylvania Archives," 3d series, vol. 22, page 8). He died in Bedford County, PA., leaving a long and interesting will (Bedford county, PA., wills book ___, page___; abstract in "Proceedings of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania," vol. 10, page 165) dated Sept. 24, 1795, proved Dec. 10. 1795 by which he left his land to his son Archibald, and made bequests to the children mentioned below. He appointed his wife Laurena sole executratrix , but she resigned this right Dec. 10, 1795 "on accounts of infirmities of old age." Their children mentioned in the will , were: 20. Thomas, who follows 21. Archibald, who received his father's lands in Bedford County and in the Federal census of 1790 was the head of a family of five. He served in the Revolution in the same company with his brother Thomas ("Penna. Archives," 5th series, Vol. 5, page 110), in the Bedford County Militia. 22. Ezedock, who was also the head of a family in Bedford County for the census od 1790. 23. Jesse. 24. Elizabeth, mentioned in the wil as the wife of ___ Whitecar. 18. Edmund Casteel, of "Edmond's Frolick Enlarged," St John's or Piscataway Parish, Prince George County, MD., conveyed to Reed Magurder by a deed dated Feb. 1, 1795, "all that part of a tract or parcel of land called Casteels part of Edmunds Frolick enlarged lying and being of the county aforesaid heretofore conveyed by a certain Edmund Casteel deceased to his son Meshach Casteel Father to the present Edmund Casteel and Heir at law of said Meshach Casteel to whom the said land descended. . . (Prince George County Deeds, Book IRM, page 373).
The following records appear to refer to this Edmund Casteel, although the " Ducatel " references might conceivably refer to an emigre of the French Revolution, as a French statesman named " Duchatel" was executed in 1793.On May 28, 1795, Edmond Ducatel married Ann Pineau (MD Hist. Soc. MS. collection, Maryland Marriages 1777-1804," page 62); Rev. Francis Belson officiating. Pineau is the name of a family of Paris called "Pineauyde Viennay, Seigneurs de Luce (Mercure de France," May 10, 1739, page 1635; de la Chenaye-Debois, "Dictr. de la Noblesse" etc) . If Ann Pineau was a French woman the spelling of "Ducatel" might have been adopted at her suggestion by Edmund Casteel in order to indicate its French origin.
Next there is the story of Jules Timoleon Ducatel, born in Baltimore, June 6, 1796, died there April 23, 1849, whose father never named, is said to have been the leading Pharmacist of Baltimore. Jules T. Ducatel was educated at St. Mary's College, and later studied science in in Paris, finally returning to Baltimore to occupy a chair in the University of Maryland. He was a well known scientist an writer (Hyamson, Dict. of Univ. Biography," page 179; Nat. Encyc. of Am. Biog., Vol 4 page 544; Appleton's Cyclopedia of Am. Biog., 1887, Vol. 20 page 240).
Toison D'Or
(to be continued)
Note 3001 Part 7 June 25, 1938
CASTEEL
Delila, daughter of Edmund and Ann Casteel was born April 14, 1797 (MD. Hist. Soc., MS coll., "Reg. of St. John's or Piscataway Parish," Prince George County, MD."). On April 4, 1801, Edmund Casteel married Mary Hardy (Prince George County Marriage Records). On June 13, 1832, Edmond and Mary Casteel then living in Washington, D.C. according to the recital of the deed. conveyed to Ignatus L. Hardy the estate called "Forest" (Prince George County deeds Book A.B. No. 11, page 431).
An examination of the Washington City Directory discloses that he was listed as "Edward Casteel Gentleman" in the year 1834. It is scarely likely that this Edmund Casteel, Gent, is the same person who appears in the Baltimore Directory during the first quarter of the ninteenth century styled "Edme. Ducatel & sons, Pharmacists." Nevertheless this close resemblance in Christian and family names is an interesting coincidence and merits investigation. 20. Thomas Casteel of Cumberland Valley township, Bedford County, PA., born in Prince George County, MD., son of Shadrach and laurena
Casteel married ____ before 1779 ("Penna Archives," 3rd ser., vol. 22, p163) resided in Bedford County, PA., as late as 1790 when his family was listed in the Federal census as consisting of himself, four boys under 16, and two females. Both Thomas and his brother Archibald served as privates in Captain Evan Cessna's company of Bedford County militia during the Revolutionary War (Ibid 5th ser., Vol. 5, p. 110) and after the war they were in service in 1789 (Ibid 6th ser., Vol. 3 p. 27).
Before 1798 Thomas Casteel, following the example of the Friend Family, removed with his family to what is now Garrett County MD., and settled on the old Blooming Rose road near the McMullen farm about a mile and a half from Friendsville. In 1798 he appeared in the assessment list; and in the census of 1800 his was listed in this same neighborhood, Sandy Creek Hundred as the head of a family of ten. (Scharf. History of Western Maryland," Vol. 2 , page 1519. Charles E. Hoye, "Garrett County History of Casteel Family," in August 9, 1934, issue of "The Mountain Democrat," Os\akland, MD Ibid., First Assessment of what is now Garrett County ," reprinted from "Mountain Democrat") Thomas Casteel died before 1830, exact date unknown, and left among others, the following children: Thomas, born in Pennsylvania between 1770 and 1780, according to the Federal census of 1830 which lists him as head of a family. 26. Jeremiah, head of a family of nineteen persons in the Federal census of 1820 for Preston County, W. VA. 27. Shadrach who follows: 28. Nathaniel, who follows. 29. John.
Toison D'OR
(to be continued)
Note 3001 Part 8 (Final Article) July 2, 1938
CASTEEL
Shadrach Casteel, son of Thomas , was born in Bedfrod Co. PA., about 1780; spent his youth in Garrett Co. Md., where his father settled before 1798; and after 1820 removed to Preston Co., (W)VA., which adjoins Garrett, settling on the southside of Muddy Creek at the Methany Mill (C.E. Hoye, Garrett Co. History of The Casteel Family"' Oren F. Morton. "History of Preston Co., W. Va."; Federal and VA. census records. His children as given by the histories, were: Archibald, born about 1803 in Garrett County, married Susan De Witt, daughter of Peter and Rebecca De Witt of Preston County. 31. Elizabeth, born about 1805 in Garrett County , married Joseph De Witt, son of Peter and Rebecca De Witt born about 1803, died in 1865 in Garrett Co. (then Allegany Co.) leaving a will which names his widow; the names of all their children as heir-in-law appear on a deed executed about this time (Mrs. Wm. H. De Witt, (The De Witt Family", a reprint from "The Republican" Oakland, MD., 1937 gives the lineage correctly. Vol. VI. of "The Compendium of Am. Genealogy", page 398, contains two errors: it makes Joseph the son of Henry and Elizabeth Friend De Witt when trhe census and court records show the he was the son of Peter; and it give Shadrah Casteel the of Preston as "Shadrach du Castel, Jr." from Bedford Co., PA which incorrect because it assumes that he was the son of Shadrach. no. 9 above when he actually was the grandson. In other respects the De Witt lineage given by the Compendium appears to be quite accurate). 32. Meshach. 33. John. 34. Jeremiah. 35. Rebecca. 36. Thomas, born about 1814 in Garrettt County. married Huldah _____, and had five children according to the Census of 1850 for Garrett Co. 37. Nathaniel, born 1818, died 1893. 28. Nathaniel Casteel, son of THomas, was born about 1789 in Bedford County , PA., and died April 2, 1866, in Garrett County where he is buried with his wife in the Casteel grave yard, on a hill above the site of his home in Sang Run District, now on the Rhodeheaver farm. He married Jane McMullin who died March 30, 1870 in her 85th year.
