Person:Joseph Casteel (3)

Will of Joseph Casteel

In the name of God Amen, I JOSEPH CASTEEL of the County of Russell and the State of Virginia, being sick and weak in body, but in sound mind of disposing memory of which I thank God and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and being desirous of disposing of such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with:

I give and bequeath the same in the following manner that is to say first. I give my body to the grave and my soul to God that gave it: next I give to my daughter JEAN (or JANE), my negro Girl named SARAH, at her marriage, or her mother's death; and my land to my son SAMUEL, to have all of my land at his mother's death, and all my other estate to MARGARET, my wife during her natural life, after all my just debts being first paid, and at her death all my other effects to be equally divided among my children and my son JOSEPH, to have part of the land where he now lives as long as he sees cause to live on it. And my negro girl named RACHEL, my wife to give to which of the children she shall think fit.

And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my friends JOHN McCLELLAN and MARGARET CASTEEL my executor and executrix of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other or former wills or testaments by me hereforto made.

In witness where of I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty seventh day of March one thousand eight hundred and three.

(signed) Joseph Casteel (His Mark)

[Russell County, Virginia Will Book 2, page 49].

Records in Virginia

November 3, 1799 Russell County, Virginia, Hiram Kilgore sold to Samuel Strong, 50 acres for 47 pounds, 10 shillings, apart of a survey of 720 acres granted to James Dasart (Dysart) on the 22nd of April, 1793 in Russell County between Obeys and Plank Camp Creeks both north branches of Copper Creek above Plank Camp Creek... to a conditional line made between John Casteel and Samuel Estep. Signed by Hiram Kilgore. Witnessed by Joseph Casteel, John Casteel and William Glenn. Proved by oaths of Joseph and John Casteel in the February Court Session of 1800 and of William Glenn in the March Court Session of 1800.1

1800, February Court Session Russell County, Virginia Court Order Book: 3-47 Samuel Strong and Hiram Kilgore. Proved by oaths of Joseph Casteel and John Casteel.

1800, March Court Session Russell County, Virginia Court Order Book: 3-50 Samuel Strong and Hiram Kilgore. Proved by oath of William Glenn.

January 1800: John McClellan and Joseph Casteel with Robert Kilgore and George Stacy to view road from Benjamine Fugate's old place to Joseph Casteel's and thence to James Davidson's.

August 3, 1802. - Russell County, Virginia Will Book 2, p 26

We the Jury being first duly sworn and charged to view the lands shown to us by JOSEPH CASTEEL whereon he proposes building a Mill and Dam for the working of the said Mill, do find that the land of HUGH McCLUNG will be damaged and we have located and circumscribed one acre thereof which is bounded as forthwhith to wit: Begining at a Mulberry Sapling on the north side of Copper Creek running south eight poles crossing said Creek to a Beech and a Stake thence east 20 poles to a sugartree and a stake on the Bank of s'd creek thence north eight poles crossing said creek to a stake then 20 poles to the begining and we do appraise the said Land to two dollars, and we do therefore assess no damage to the proprietors.

......And by erecting a Grist Mill at the place proposed by the JOSEPH CASTEEL, will endure to the advantage of the Community and we further say that no Masion House, offices, (civilcledge), Garden or Orchard will be overflowed nor Ordinary navigation obstructed nor in our opinion will the health of the neighborhood be annoyed by the stagnation of the water by raising a dam fifteen feet high.

Given under our hands and seals this 3rd day of August 1802. David Thompson, James Berton, Caulbert Fugate, Joseph Davidson, John Well, Champ Faris, William Howerton, Samuel Cornel, John Buster, JOHN McCLELLAN, James Osborn, William Wells.

September 23, 1803 - Russell County, Virginia. Hiram Kilgore sold to John Casteel, both of Russell County, Virginia. 100 shillings for 37 acres of land in Russell County. North Side of Obeys Creek. 700 acres granted unto James Dasart (Dysart). adjacent to the conditional lines thence of Samuel Strongs, Zeb Lovealls and Andrew McClellands (Father-in-law of John Casteel). Signed by Hiram Kilgore. Witnessed Samuel Strong, Margaret Casteel and Samuel Casteel. Acknowledged March Court 1804.

August 6, 1806 - Russell County, Virginia Court Order Book: 3-535 Samuel Strong and Nancy, his wife, vs. Margaret Casteel et al Chancery. On August 6, 1806 "At a Court continued and held for Russell County. Present John Tate, George Kindrick, Harry Smith, John Hamon. Gentlemen; John Casteel, Joseph Casteel, Samuel Strong and ,b>Nancy, his wife, William Glenn and Rosanna, his wife, William Casteel and Moeniy Casteel (the last two infants, under the age of 21 years) by John Casteel their brother and next of kin.. ... Plaintiff..} in Chancery. Against Margaret Casteel and John McClellan, Executrix and Executor of the Will of Joseph Casteel desc'd, and Samuel Casteel and Jenny Casteel... Defendants. The defendants not having filed their answers within three months after the plaintiffs had filed their bill having also been served with a subpoena at least three months before the said time for filing their answer upon the motion of the plaintiff by their counsel the court doth take their bill for confessed and will proceed at a future day to the decree the matters there of unless the said defendants on or before the first day of the court next after they shall have been served with a copy of this order show cause to the contrary.

October 6, 1806 - Russell County, Virginia, Court Session, Thomas Strong (this was Thomas Strong, Jr., brother of Samuel Strong and William Strong of Russell County, Virginia) was charged with Profane Swearing by Samuel Strong and John Casteel of the Grand Jury, and fined $1.60.5

July 8, 1808 - Russell County, Virginia: John McClellan and Ann, his wife, to Thomas Strong and Ann, his wife, all of Russell County, for $307, 80 acres in Russell County on the north side of Copper Creek, adjoining John McClellan, as part of Preston's 150 acre tract and part of 100 acres granted to John McClellan as the assignee of Robert Casteel, by patent of December 12, 1801. Witnessed Samuel Strong, William Fields and Samuel Casteel. [John McClellan witnessed another Land Deed with John and Joseph Casteel in Russell County, Virginia. John McClellan also witnessed and was executor of Joseph Casteel's Will on March 27, 1803 in Russell County, Virginia].

Margaret Casteel, widow of Joseph Casteel, Sr., is believed to have died about 1808 in Russell County, Virginia. On September 15, 1808, her son, Samuel Casteel, sold 39 acres of land he received after his mothers death, as specified in the Will of Joseph Casteel, Sr. in 1803. On September 15, 1808 Samuel Ewing of Russell County, Virginia and attorney for Hugh and Charles McClung of Pennsylvania and Tennessee... and Samuel Casteel... 39 acres of land on the waters of Copper Creek and on the north side of said creek... Beginning on the north bank of the same near a corner to John McClellands land... and running with his lines... passing his corner... on a line of said Casteels and with the same. Signed Samuel Ewing Attorney for Hugh Charles and McClung of Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Witnessed by Nathan Hobbs, Anjer Price and Obediah Fields. Recorded March 7, 1809.

March 24th, 1810 in Russell County Virginia; Reubin Mathews and his wife, Sary, to Samuel Strong, all of Russell County, for $ 400, 43 acres below the mouth of Gray's Creek, north branch of Copper Creek, including Bryans lower lick-logs, and bounded... Beginning in a holler on the west side of a branch... on the bank of the creek and up the same... mouth of Gray's Creek... crossing the creek... it begin 43 acres, which land was granted by the Commonwealth to James Desert on April 22, 1793. Signed by Reuben Mathews, Sarah Mathews. Witnessed: Teaque Quillen, Richard Gillum, and Jesse Gillum.8

October 8, 1810 - Russell County, Virginia. John Casteel, of Barren County, Kentucky, sold to Teaque Quillen (father-in-law of Mary Strong, the daughter of Thomas and Annie Fields- Strong), of Russell County, Virginia... $600 ... land in Russell County, Virginia... Beginning on the north side of Obeys Creek ... it being part of a tract of 700 acres granted to James Daysert (Dysart) running along several courses of said tract of land to the conditional lines thence of Samuel Strongs, Zeb Lovealls an Andrew McCelines (McClellands) containing 370 acres. Signed by John Casteel. Witnessed by Samuel Strong, Thomas Strong and James Quillen. Acknowledgment November 6, 1810 proved by Oaths of Samuel Strong and James Quillen. Recorded September 3, 1811... further proved by Oath of Thomas Strong and ordered to be recorded.9

October 14th, 1811, Russell County, Samuel Strong to William Cocks, both of Russell County, for $ 500, 50 acres between Obey's Creek and Plank Camp Creek, both north branches of Copper Creek, granted by the Commonwealth to James Desert, 720 acres on April 22, 1793, Beginning .... above Plank Camp Creek from thence running several courses of a conditional line made by John Casteel and Samuel Estep. Signed by Samuel Strong. Witnessed by John Alley, William Ray, and James Cocks.10 Note: The above 50 acres was the land that Samuel Strong had purchased from Hiram Kilgore on November 3, 1799.

1.   http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dstrong155/josephcasteelsr.html