Virginia 1745

Around 1745 Andreas Ludwig is 47 and he sells Hans Jost Snell 280 Stone Arabia acres and appears in Virginia soon after. By the summer of 1749 the family has over 700 acres in Hampshire County, VA.  Sons William H. Is 26, Johann Wilhelm is 23, Jacob is 15 and Johann David is 11 and Johannes Lewis is 5 years old.

My direct ancestor is Johann David 1734-1826 & Margaret Johnson Castleman 1737-1808 are Married 1757 in Frederick, VA

They had 10 children

Sarah Martha 1758-1790 - Married a Shepherd, Virginia

William Albert 1762-1832 - Buried at Runnymede. Lawyer, Judge, Delegate.

John Stephen 1766-1840 - Virginia

Mary Polly 1768-1859 - Tennessee

Stephen 1771-1797 - Mason Kentucky

James Daniel 1775-1840 - Larue, Kentucky

David Jr. 1776-1831 - Berryville, VA

Benjamin Thomas 1778-1838 - Hardin, Kentucky

Thomas Taylor Sr 1781-1833 - Frederick, VA

Mary Elizabeth 1784-1858 - Virginia - Married Jacob Shively

Key Events from 1748 to about 1890.

1748  4 year old brother of David, Johannes Lewis is in Hampshire County, VA

1749 17 August, Lot #28 300 acres & 23 August #29 404 acres on the “Great South Branch of the Potomac River” by Lord Fairfax to Andreas and William

1753 Lodowick is granted Lot# 49 a 1/2 acre Town lot and Commons Lot #48 of 5 acres in Winchester 

1753 15 May Jacob Location: Winchester. 1/2 acre being lot no. 155 in said town.

1753 15 May William Location: Winchester. a 1/2 acre being lot no. 103 in said town.

Source: Northern Neck Grants L, May 15, 1753, p. 2 (Reel 295).

1754 Jun 17 "Castlemans wagon" to be kept & used near Wills Creek & Redstone by Col. Washington's Regiment.

1755  2 Sept, Jacob Castleman is a member of the Militia of Frederick County. CCHA Proceedings, V 23, Page 2

1756 Castleman’s Ferry, was Snicker's Ferry at Snicker's Gap. 

1757 "Lewis" and others found in possession of “sundry goods” stolen from soldiers

On Virginia Tax List to pay 25 pounds of tobacco

Paid for use of horses by George Washington’s regiment

Ludwig charged with murdering James Haines, a soldier in Washington’s regiment. 

1759 Aug 17 David is 25 and leases Lot #29 404 acres for 5 shillings 

1759 July 18 Lot #28 lease to Jacob for 5 shillings from father Andreas Ludwig

1760 David buys Lot #29 for £70  

1760 Jacob buys Lot #28 plus 119 acres out of #29 for £70 from father Andreas Ludwig

1760  Jacob issued a warrant and survey to buy the 106 acres next to Lot #28 6 years later he buys it.

1761 Andreas is found in Bedford, PA with a new wife and their kids.

1762 May 31 David purchased 550 acres of land on south side of Bullskin, Frederick Co., Va.

1765  Johannes Lewis, 21, marries 15 year old Jemima Margaret Pearsall 1750-1828. This branch is fruitful and prospers. Relocates to Kentucky between 1777 and 1783. Romney, VA was also known as Pearsall because Jemima's father, Job Pearsall built a fort as protection against the Indians in 1754 on Lot 16 granted by Fairfax in 1749 containing 323 acres, including part of Indian Mound Cemetery. On May 14, 1756 Gen. Washington assigned 45 men and 5 officers, and later 94 soldiers to defend Pearsall's fort during the French and Indian war.

1766  11 Sep Jacob adds 106 acres Location: Hampshire County.

Description: 106 acres on the westwardly side of the South Branch opposite the Hanging Rocks.

Source: Northern Neck Grants N, 1766, p. 208 (Reel 295).

Original survey exists (LVA Accession LOI 108).

Source: Virginia State Land Office Northern Neck Surveys Reel No. 22

1772 April 6 David purchased 216 acres "Head Spring" farm, 

1774 Johannes Lewis has 150 acres in Hampshire

1776 First civil war aka the Revolution 

1782 38 year old Johann Lewis is still in Hampshire, VA

1786 42 year old Lewis gets another 150 acres on Patterson Creek in Hampshire County, VA

1785  Jacob sells all and relocates to Tennessee

1788 11 Jun Lewis gets 400 acres Location: Harrison County.

Description: 400 acres on the waters of the Brushey Fork of Finks Run a branch of Buckanan and waters of Stone Coal adjoining on west of land of Danl Fink.

Source: Land Office Grants No. 17, 1788, p. 170 (Reel 83).

1790 Johannes Lewis is at "Clear Creek" Woodford, Kentucky

1803-1830 Sons and Grandson's in VA assembly 1802 -1830: William 1801-02, 1808-09, 1809-10, 1810-11 (Frederick) 1838 (Clarke & Warren) William Jr. 1828-29, 1829-30, 1830-31 (Frederick) James 1846-47 (Warren & Clarke) M.R.P. 1863-65 (Clarke)

1808 12 Dec Castleman, David & Stubblefield, William: Petition: Deputy sheriff & guard of Frederick County ask for compensation in conveying Alexander Milton to the Lunatic Hospital in Williamsburg. Includes court record. DS David gets $50 and guard William gets $20, Legislative Petitions of the General Assembly, 1776-1865, Accession Number 36121, Box 81, Folder 80

1811 April 12 “Glen Owen” Plantation David sold all but his burying ground where Margaret already rests. David lives with his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Jacob Shively at Rose Hill farm until his death in 1826.

1828 Snicker's Gap Turnpike Company. In operation in 1828 with E. Milton as agent. Treadwell Smith (President), Heirome L. Opie, David Castleman and Charles McCormick.

1831 August 21  black preacher Nat Turner and about 60 other black men killed 58 white men, women and children 200 miles south of Berryville. This leads to heated debate in the Virginia House of Delegates. Three Castlemans served in that House since 1802 and William was an outspoken Jacksonian democrat in favor of states rights. Is it a coincidence that 52 year old Thomas Taylor Sr died in 1833? 70 year old Brother William Albert died in 1832? 55 year old David died "after a short illness" in 1831? 60 year old Benjamin Thomas died in 1838? 65 year old James Daniel died in 1840? 5 brothers in 7 years? 

1833 19 September Chas. M is one of twelve that sign a coroners inquisition regarding a death in White Post.

1835  James Castleman buys a Tavern on the west side of the river from Snicker's/Ware heirs. 

1838 Citizens of Warren county petition the State Delegates to reject the petitions of free Negros to remain in the Commonwealth. Sometimes referred to as “Applications to Remain”, these records are applications that formerly enslaved individuals submitted to state and local courts for permission to remain in Virginia with their free status. An early 1691 law required a formerly enslaved person to relocate outside the commonwealth within six months of emancipation. In 1782, Virginia law allowed enslavers to emancipate their enslaved people “by last will and testament or other instrument in writing sealed and witnessed to emancipate and set free his slave or slaves.” Realizing that many enslavers were taking advantage of this, the Virginia General Assembly reacted by trying to suppress the growing number of free Black and multiracial people in the commonwealth. They passed a law stating that all formerly enslaved people freed after May 1, 1806 who remained in Virginia more than twelve months could be put on trial by the state. After 1831, if these people were found guilty, they could be re-enslaved and sold by state officials. The proceeds from the sale went to the state treasury, and often, records of those sales can be found in the Public Claims records from the Auditor of Public Accounts. The act required individuals who wished to remain in the commonwealth to petition the state legislature. Beginning in 1837, formerly enslaved individuals could petition the local courts directly for permission. The law required them to place notice on the courthouse door for two months before a hearing. 

This helps explain why some of Thomas Taylor’s children were thinking about leaving Virginia around this time. David Frosts brother, Rev. Thomas Taylor Jr. married Laura Carlyle Little in 1838 in Virginia. 

David Frost's first marriage is in Louisiana 1841 to Mary Frances Freeman 1823 - 1854 from Alabama? Her father seems to be John B. Freeman born in Virginia in 1800. These dates narrow David's migration to Louisiana down to about 1840-1. By this time steamboats are crowding any navigable waterway. Regular horse drawn carriage service is available and there are even some railroads opening up travel like never before experienced. 

On the 1850 census we find 53 year old Joseph and 21 year old John in Warren, Mississippi. We believe Stephen, son of John Stephen is also in Mississippi based on numerous articles in local newspapers, Yazoo Whig, etc.

1850 Chas. M. Castleman is a Deputy Sheriff to T. Dixson in Alexandria. Serves warrants in a Freedom Suit for Sarah Watts that began in 1846 and resulted in a jury verdict for freedom. 

1851 Homicide trial of James and son Stephen, acquitted.

1852 1 Mar a petition by Richard Castleman, a free negro, for permission to remain in the Commonwealth have refused the said application in conformity with a general rule which they have made & from which they have in no case departed & will not depart whatever the merits of the case. That the said Richard Castleman is a man of excellent character is sober industrious thrifty honest very useful & a good example to such negroes as are not banished from the Commonwealth by law of the benefits derived from pursuing an upright course. That the said negro was emancipated by his master on account of his, the said negro's courage & prompt attitude in saving his said masters life on an occasion when he would otherwise have been certainly killed. That the above character accords with the opinion of the whole County of Warren & of many persons in the adjoining counties in whose employment he has been engaged. The petition is signed by the Episcopal "Meades" and dozens of others. 

1852 15 May a petition to increase rates 100% on the ferry at Shenandoah river. The rail line from Winchester to Harper's ferry had reduced traffic on Castleman's ferry such a rate increase was needed to sustain the operation. Filing is signed by "Col Jas Castleman" or possibly Jos and is shown as Joseph by this source: Legislative Petitions of the General Assembly, 1776-1865, Accession Number 36121, Box 57, Folder 52, Subject : Ferries/Packets

1854 19 Mar, James Castleman buried in family vault at "North Hill". Diary of Treadwell Smith CCHA Proceedings Vol 2, Pg 12

1857 Jos Castleman, Deputy Sheriff for Moses Russell serves witnesses for a freedom suit for "Violett,etc"

1857 2 May,  Mrs Elizabeth Shively buried in family burying ground on W. Knellers farm. Wickliffe. CCHA Proceedings Vol 2, Page 12. 

1859 Nov 12 "Jerry & Joe" slaves that belong to Frances McCormick lead a rebellion, burning 3 houses and 6 stacks of wheat and oats. One of the houses burned belongs to Albert Castleman and has a value of $1,500. Jerry is sentenced to hang but the sentence is commuted to "Life on the public works"

1860 William is one of four judges that find a slave named "Billy" guilty of stealing 500 lbs of meat from a smokehouse so they pay the owner $1,300 and sentence the slave to life on "public works".

1861 William A. Castleman is one of 16 justices "on the bench" when war broke out. On April 22 William votes unanimously to issue $10,000 in County Bonds for provisioning the troops.

1861 9 Oct Alfred Castleman is on ballot for commissioner of District 3 "Court House"

1862 Union forces occupy Winchester and shut down the two papers, "Republican" and "Virginian". Only one issue of the "Republican" was produced on May 23, 1862, two days before that unit withdrew from Winchester.

The following excerpts from Annals of Clarke County Vol IV

1869  19 Feb V1. Iss. 1 Clarke Courier "Public sale of 'household furniture' at 'North Hill' by Catherine Castleman, Castleman's Union Hotel mentioned.

1870  October flood of the Shenandoah devastates many along its banks.

1872  18 April Henry W. Castleman bought the  "Park Shepherd" farm.

1872  8 August George Castleman dies at "Primrose" near Castleman's ferry, age 88.

1873  27 Feb Alfred Castleman advertisies his farm in Long Marsh township about 110 yd from C. Town pike for rent.

1873  21 August, C.M. Castleman nominated for county office "Castleman's ferry"

1873 28 August, "Old Hotel" property bought by S.D. Castleman

1875  21 January, The estate of Wm. A. Castleman, bankrupt, near Shenandoah river sold to M. Pulliam - 200 acres at $24.50

1876  10 Feb. Mrs Ann R. Castleman advertised the opening of "Old Virginia" hotel in the brick house corner of Main St. & Charles Town Pike owned by late Col. Treadwell Smith.

1877  15 March Adv. for sale - "The Old Hotel" corner of Main and Millwood pike; Castleman's Ferry property and Ferry Franchise & Landing.

1877 12 April, "Glen Owen" 2 mi. S.E. of Berryville to Mrs Stribling.

1877  April 19, Old Hotel property sold to Messrs. Thompson and Ogden. Ferry franchise and other property at Castleman's Ferry to Decatur Osburn.

1877 29 Nov, "Glen Owen" s.e. of Berryville, Estate of Edq McCormick, sold to Province McCormick.

1878 17 Jan, Mrs. A.R. Castleman moved from building on the corner of Main St and the Charles Town road to the Old Hotel property, where she will continue to operate the "Virginia House".

1878 18 April, Mrs S.E.T. Stribling died. Mr. Leo Wheat purchased her farm 2 mi. east of Berryville for $19,000.

1879 18 Dec, John R. Castleman recently purchased 100 acres of land of Mr. Dorsey, adjoining his farm - $35 per acre.

1884 24 Jan, Wm A. Castleman, 72, died.

1885 7 May, C.M. Castleman purchased the North Hill property sold at public auction.

1886 8 July, All arrangements have been made for mining ore on the Karnegy tract of land, adjoining farm of Mr. Nick Moore. It was purchased several years ago by John R. Castleman of the heirs of Carter Shepherd and adjoins a tract from which Mr. Ahalt is now mining for iron ore.

1887 20 Jan, "Iron Ore from C.H. Castleman's farm at Castleman's Ferry" on exhibit at New Orleans Exposition.

1888 5 Jan, 140 acres of land east side of river, 1 1/2 mi. from Castleman's Ferry, adjoining lands of Littleton, McCleary & others adv. for sale by Margaret Ann Castleman who resided on same.