Person:Castleton Harper (1)

Source: Mark B. Arslan, Cary, North Carolina.

Castleton Harper lived in Albemarle County, Virginia when it was formed from Goochland and Louisa Counties in 1744. On February 28 of that year, he was sworn in as an undersheriff (deputy) for Joseph Thompson, the first Sheriff of Albemarle County. Castleton belonged to St. Ann(e)'s Parish and lived near the foot of the southwestern end of Carters Mountain where Sowell's Branch flows into the north fork of the Hardware River. (At the opposite end of Carters Mountain, about 10 miles to the northeast of Castleton Harper's home, lies the home of future President Thomas Jefferson at Monticello.)

Castleton's origins are not known, although some researchers have expressed an opinion that he was born around 1715 in Ireland. (I am still trying to find evidence of this.) There was a Henry Harper in St. Ann(e)'s Parish as early as 1763 who later moved to Amherst County, Virginia and (supposedly) died intestate sometime before 1768 (or maybe around 1782). Henry and Castleton's names were associated with the same deeds during the 1760s in Albemarle County, so perhaps they were brothers or close relatives.

Castleton and his wife Peggy were probably married in the mid-1740s in Albemarle County. (The only evidence of her given name is from a 1767 deed, in which she relinquished her right of dower. Her surname is not known.) They had at least seven children, whom they raised in Albemarle County.

At the time of the onset of the American Revolution, Castleton Harper (Sr.) and his sons Castleton, Jr. and Richard swore their oath of allegiance to Virginia. After the war (in the 1780s and 1790s), several of the children of Castleton (Sr.) and Rebecca migrated southward to Elbert County, Georgia and Abbeville District, South Carolina.

Castleton Harper, Sr., is believed to have remained in Albemarle County and died there around 1799.

History of Albemarle County, Virginia, Page 218

HARPER. Castleton Harper was a deputy of Joseph Thompson, the first Sheriff of the county. His home was on the north fork of Hardware, near the mouth of Sowell's Branch. His death occurred about 1799. His children were Richard, Castleton, Henry, Rebecca, the wife of Jeremiah Hamner, Mary, the wife of Reuben White, Jemima, the wife of Edward Lyon, and Ellinda, believed to have been the wife of Thomas Staples.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Guy L. Cole, Professional Genealogist, Orlando, Florida from Ruth Harper in 1989.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Letter from James E. Harper, Townville, South Carolina to Guy L. Cole, Orlando, Florida 22 August 1986.