Genealogy
Obviously this is a work in progress. The above summary is amplified on individual pages linked in the menu under the little arrow pointing down and within the text in some cases.
20230316Fan+ChartG6QY-BD7.pdfThe chart above was generated March 16, 2023 in my account on https://www.familysearch.org which is a service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Living people are not shown in the interest of their privacy.
Brief timeline of German (Holy Roman Empire) lineage.
Johann Kasselmann born 1550 Hasenwinkel, Helmstedt, Niedersachsen, Germany, which was part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation. When he was 25 Andreas was born in Kassel, about 45 km south of Hasenwinkel.
Andreas Kasselmann 1575 in Kassel, Hessen, Germany. Death UNK Kassel, Biebergemünd, Main-Kinzig-Kreis, Hesse, Germany. When Andreas was 21 years old Johann Christian was born in Adelshofen, which is about 280km south of Kassel.
Johann Christian Kasselman 24 March 1596 (One “N” has been dropped from last name)
Adelshofen, Bezirksamt Eppingen, Kreis Heidelberg, Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire
Death 27 April 1680 Adelshofen, Unterschwarzach, Waldsee, Württemberg, German Empire. When Johann was 19 years old Johannes Hans was born in Adelshofen.
Johannes Hans Kasselmann 1615 Adelshofen, Eppingen, Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany (2 “N” at end of last name again)
Death 27 April 1680 Adelshofen, Eppingen, Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. When Johannes was 47 years old when Johann Dietrich was born in Adelshofen. At this point the family had been living in Adelshofen for over 60 years. Johann Dietrich would continue living there until 1708 when he was 46 years old, was married and had 6 children.
Leaving Germany bound for "Carolina" the land of milk and honey promised in the "Golden Book"
Johann Dietrich Casselman 13 November 1662 Adelshofen, Eppingen, Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany (Now one “N” and first letter changed to “C”, probably in England) Death 1744 Stone Arabia, Tryon, New York Colony, British Colonial America. He was 82 years old. He was a member of the Lutheran Church in Adelshofen, Germany and Lutheran Church in Stone Arabia, New York and West Camp, New York. Was member of the Palatines in Walworth, England. He was married to Anna Elizabeth (Rinder) in Germany.
Johann Dietrich's family is listed in the Adelshofen Germany Lutheran Church. The family went to England in 1709 because they are listed in the group of Palatines in Walworth England: Board of Trade, Miscellaneous. Vol 2 D.64: compiled 27 May 1709 by Mr. Tribbeko and Mr. Rupert, German Ministers. "Casselman, John 49, wife, sons 10, 3, daughters 19, 13, 1/2, Lutherans" The sons were Andreas Ludwig and Johann Dietrich and the daughters were Anna Elizabetha, Elisa Greta, and Anna. In 1710 the ration lists of Gov. Hunter lists the family living in West Camp, NY: Kasselman, Deitrich 1 1 0 2 0 0 4. (1 man, 1 lad 9-15, 2 women, 4 people total.) These are Hans Dietrich, Andreas Ludwig, Anna the wife, and Anna Elizabetha. The rest of their children died during the 5 months it took for the British ship to reach New York. These were Anna Barbara, age 12, Elisabeth Greta, age 14, Johann Dietrich, age 3, Anna, age 2. Children that survived the journey are: Andreas Ludwig, age 12 upon arrival, Anna Elisabeth, age 20 upon arrival.
The Simindinger List which was published in Germany in 1717 but was taken 1713 shows Deitrich and wife Anna living in Stuttgart (Weiserdrof), now the Schoharie NY area with two children (Johann Deitrich & John Wilhelm).
The family first traveled 500km (310 miles) to reach Rotterdam. If they had horse and wagon the journey took about 2 weeks if they were on foot quite possibly 3 or maybe even 4 weeks. Many families used sail boats on the Rhine which were subject to the winds and often stopped in ports along the way. After a time in Rotterdam they boarded a ferry that probably took them to Harwich, UK and then by land to London where they would eventually board the HMS Midfort bound for America in December 1709. There was a long delay before the voyage got underway while details of the contract to pay for their passage and sustenance upon arrival were discussed. The Atlantic crossing that typically took about eight weeks stretched out to five months and during this time about a third of the passengers died due to malnutrition and disease.
The HMS MIDFORT arrived in June 1710 with the passengers destined as indentured workers to make tar for the British Navy. The tar project was not successful and rations were stopped in 1712. In the middle of the winter 1712, many of the Palatines left for Schoharie Valley, NY. After building several villages and cultivating their farms, it became clear that there was a problem with the land titles. A period of riots, running the High Sheriff out of town on a rail and general disorders followed. As a compensation the Palatines were offered land in the Stone Arabia area. Some took the land offer, Hans Dietrich was one, some went to Pa. and some made arrangements to stay on the land in Schoharie, Christian was one. "Casselman Family Text 1985" CMMIS00013.1-2
Christian Casselman was a cousin to Dietrich that also migrated from Germany at this time and his descendants also have a very interesting history, which will be included as a separate chapter.
What caused this family of 8 that had been part of the same community for 3 generations, over 100 years, to pack up everything they owned and embark on this arduous journey? Some have said it was in response to land speculators brochures and perhaps that played a role, but more importantly it is important to understand the political, religious and natural environment to gain a better understanding of the events powerful enough to motivate such a dangerous and unknown journey. They had to be pretty desperate to give up everything to do this!
Andreas Ludwig Casselman, 6 November 1698 Adelshofen, Eppingen, Baden, Germany and was naturalized as a citizen of the British Colony America 17 January 1716 in Albany New York. Death September 1789 Bedford, Pennsylvania, United States
Andreas was 12 when the family arrived in America so was very likely involved in the lost cause of making pine tar for the the British navy.
Andreas was 21 years old when he married Margaretha Elisabeth Schafer, age 20, in 1719 in Schoharie Valley, New York. Margaretha birthed 14 children before she died at age 62 in 1761. There were 9 boys and 3 girls. 3 of the boys and 1 of the girls did not make it to their first birthday. The 2 other girls, Elizabeth & Sophia, share the same birth and death dates at age 12 (1732-1744).
Andreas and his father Hans Dietrich are found to be among the 127 original Stone Arabia Patent Holders with lots 23, 39 and a 28th of the undivided portion in 1723. But first they spent 13 agonizing years working for the British Empire on a failed pine tar project during which time they suffered hunger and privation of incredible proportion as the Governor wrongly punished them for the failure. The miscalculation by the Empire’s experts was that northern pine trees would produce pitch like southern pine and that turned out to be far from true. Nevertheless the Crown's servants persisted clinging to their hope to be justified for the investment, despite ongoing bad results.
Migrating to Virginia around 1756
When Johannes David Castleman Sr. was born in 1734, in Stone Arabia, Palatine, Montgomery, New York, United States, his father, Andreas Ludwig Casselmann, was 36 and his mother, Margaretha Elisabetha Schafer, was 35. He married Margaret Johnson in 1757, in Frederick, Virginia, British Colonial America. They were the parents of at least 7 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in Frederick, Virginia, British Colonial America for about 16 years and Frederick, Virginia, United States in 1782. He died on 13 February 1826, in Berryville, Clarke, Virginia, United States, at the age of 92, and was buried in Berryville, Clarke, Virginia, United States.
David came to Virginia from New York around 1756, according to a newspaper article reporting on the Castleman Ferry Bridge dedication. Winchester was a small military outpost then, garrisoned as a protection against marauding bands of Indians. Also, Washington (then a Colonel of Virginia Militia) was assembling there his troops and trains for expeditions westward against the French and Indians. March 12, 1759 David purchased 404 acres of land on the Great South Branch of the Potomac River from his father Ludwig, which had been granted to him by Lord Fairfax, and later sold 275 acres to William Calmes and leased the remainder acres to his brother, Jacob. May 31, 1762 he purchased 550 acres of land on south side of Bullskin, Frederick Co., Va, and later sold that land to John McCormack, 41 acres, and the difference to John Throckmorton. April 6, 1772 he purchased 216 acres of land and on April 12, 1811 sold all but 1/4 acres near the barn as a burying ground for $7,393.33 Near the entrance to his farm'Rose Hill' in Wickliffe Virginia stood the Wickliffe Episcopal Church, where he worshiped. The original building had been constructed in 1790 on land he had donated . David resided at 'Rose Hill' along with his daughter Mary Elizabeth and her husband Jacob Shively until his death at age 91. Buried at Glen Owen Farm, 3 miles east of Berryville, Clarke Co. Virginia. His will was dated December 19, 1822 and was probated March 6, 1826. His appraisement was listed at $3,655.62 and owning 116 1/2 acres of land in Frederick County (which later became Clarke County) Virginia.
1744 David is a child of Ludwig in the Lutheran congregation at Stone Arabia NY. Ludwig and his family left NY about 1745 and were in Frederick Co., VA before 1748. ___First record of David: 12 Mar 1759 "Ludwick Castleman of Hampshire Co. VA" leased to David Castleman of Frederick Co. for 5 shillings; Lot # 29 of 404 acres on Great South Branch of Potomac River, from Lord Fairfax 17 Aug 1749. Sold & recorded 12 March 1760 to David Castleman for £70. (Hampshire County VA Deed Book 1, pp. 27-29.). Of Ludwig's children, David was the only one to stay in Frederick Co., VA and surrounding area. David is credited as a Patriot of the revolutionary war by DAR # A020248 as “Furnished Supplies” and one source credits him as a provider of horses to General Washington’s army. That war ended September 3, 1783 and David was 49 years old.
David Castleman 1734 - 13 Feb 1826 Burial, Berryville, Clarke, Virginia, United States of America, Glen Owens Farm Burying Ground (Runnymeade Farm?)
When Thomas Taylor Castleman Sr. was born on 22 October 1781, in Frederick, Virginia, United States, his father, Johannes David Castleman Sr., was 47 and his mother, Margaret Johnson, was 42. He married Hannah Bushrod Frost on 24 February 1807, in Frederick, Virginia, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 2 daughters. He died on 11 February 1833, in Frederick, Virginia, United States, at the age of 51.
Marriage #1 to Hannah Bushrod Frost on 25 Feb 1807, who died circa 1826 (she was the daughter of Amos and Elizabeth Taylor Frost. Marriage #2 to Martha P. Stubblefield. Thomas Taylor lived at "Llewellyn" was a Captain in VA Militia in 1809 children: Charles, Thomas, David, Lewis, Hannah.
The Castleman family prospered over the next two generations owning a Ferry crossing of the Shenandoah river, a steam boat company, a small mill and multiple farms in the area. At least three Castlemans served in the Virginia House of Delegates. Brothers, cousins and uncles fought each other in both civil wars, the first for independence from Britain or in defense of the Crown, and the second in defense of the Confederacy or with the northern Federalists. Some branches of the tree continued to prosper, some lost everything when they chose the losing side. The loyalists that fled to Canada and the branches that went west to Pennsylvania and Kentucky may have thrived better than our branch that went south to Virginia and then much further south to Louisiana.
There are about 60 Castleman graves in the Berryville area, more than 50 are in Green Hill cemetery.
4 side monument of Castleman graves
4 side monument of Castleman graves
Twins
Seems to be the newest, 2017
Green Hill Cemetery Part 1
Green Hill Cemetery Part 2
David Frost Castleman was born on October 3, 1815 in Frederick, Virginia and died at the age of 69 in 1884 in Carroll, Louisiana.
200 miles south of Berryville on August 21, 1831 Nat Turner and about 60 other black men killed 58 white men, women and children. The incident sparked intense debate in the Virginia House of Delegates and the Castleman family were prominent members of the community. David Sr. dies in 1831, William Albert dies in 1832, Thomas Taylor Sr. dies in 1833, Benjamin Thomas dies in 1838 and James Daniel dies in 1840. Five male Castlemans dying over the course of seven years may have been the reason David Frost and Rev. Thomas Taylor Jr. migrated over one thousand miles south to Oak Grove Louisiana around this time.
Davids first marriage when he was 26 years old was to Mary Freeman in 1841, she was 18 and gave him 4 children before she died in 1854 at the age of 31. First born was a girl, Louisa Frances in 1842 - 1900, then Charles T. May 15, 1844 who died in the civil war at the age of 18 on March 4, 1862. Two more girls, Margaret J. 1846 and Hannah Elizabeth 1849-1938.
In the 1850 census David is found in Issaquena, Mississippi with Mary M from Alabama. The children are reported born in Louisiana (Louisa & Hannah) and Mississippi (Charles & Margaret). His occupation is given as ‘Overseer’ with no Real Estate owned.
Issaquena and Oak Grove are 27 miles apart in a straight line separated by the Mississippi River. A drive down hwy 61 to a crossing the river on Hwy 20 then through Lake Providence makes the distance 100 miles today.
His second marriage when he was 40 years old was to Eliza Ann Beard in 1855, born July 4, 1837 she was 18 and gave him 9 children before she died at age 65. Eliza outlived David by 18 years. The second boy from this marriage, George Herbert Castleman was born in 1860 and lived until 1941. This is my great grandfather.
In the 1860 census David is in Carrol county, LA with his Occupation given as ‘Farmer’ and has no Real Estate but does have ‘Personal Estate’ valued at $10,000. On the next ‘Dwelling’ and ‘Family’ visited are found Elisabeth A. Taylor, age 40 from Mississippi listed as a ‘Planter’ with $32,400 value of Real Estate and $45,000 value of ‘Personal Estate’ and in the same ‘Dwelling’ Nancy Beard, age 39, from Mississippi is also a ‘Planter’ with a ‘Personal Estate’ value of $6,000.
In 1860 David F Castleman's ‘Personal Estate’ was valued at $10,000.
In 1861 David F Castleman of Pecan Grove, Carroll, LA is found in The Planters Directory on page 530 of Gardner’s New Orleans Directory. Also listed is a J Castleman of Warrenton, Hinds, Miss
On Feb 7, 1861 Davids brother, Rev. Thomas Taylor Castleman, Jr dies and is buried in Rodney, Jefferson County, Mississippi. TT was born in 1813 in Clarke County VA. Notably his death is about 4 weeks after Secession and less than 3 months after Lincoln was elected.
When George Herbert Castleman was born on 2 February 1860, in Oak Grove, West Carroll, Louisiana, United States, his father, David Frost Castleman, was 44 and his mother, Eliza Ann Beard, was 22. He married Mary Mae Reneau on 25 September 1883, in West Carroll, Louisiana, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 2 daughters. He lived in West Carroll, Louisiana, United States for about 20 years and Ward Four, West Carroll, Louisiana, United States for about 30 years. He died on 17 March 1941, in Oak Grove, West Carroll, Louisiana, United States, at the age of 81, and was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Oak Grove, Lincoln, Louisiana, United States.
On the 1900 US Census George is 40 years old, gives his occupation as “Farmer” and reports that he owns his farm with no mortgage. He is married to 24 year old Clara (second wife) and children in his household are Fredrick age 14, b1886, Earvin age 12, b1888, Reinia age 10, b1890, and an infant.
On the same page 63 year old Emma Castleman is a widow that gives her occupation as farmer and owns a farm with no mortgage. 15 year old William Renneau is listed as her adopted son and 9 year old Ethel Cheathem is her granddaughter.
On the 1910 US Census George is 50 years old and is still a farmer that owns his farm with no mortgage. George Jr. is 9, Mildred is 5 and Elon is 2. Clara is not listed in his household. Fredrick, Earvin and Reina would be 24, 22 and 20 years old and seem to have left the household. Could it be they were no longer interested in the drudgery of farming?
On the next line we find 23 year old Thomas L Castleman listed as a Head of household with his sister 20 year old Laura A. also living there. His occupation is given as ‘Logging’ and he works in a Saw Mill. These must be offspring of the Rev. Thomas T that died in 1862 in Mississippi that have come to stay with family?
In 1915 Earvin marries Annie Thompson. These are Tim’s grandparents. Brother Fred marries Pearl Hurley the year after.
In the 1920 US Census George is 60, widowed and still owns his farm with no mortgage. George Jr is 18 years old and Mildred is 15.
Earvin is 31, Annie is 23 and daughter Ervina is 4 months old. His occupation is given as Clerk in a Dry Good Store so it is clear he has stopped working the family farm.
On the 1940 US Census George Sr is 80 years old and is living with his daughter Elon and her husband Ben McCasland who is a Millwright in a lumber yard. Earvin is now 52 and Annie is 43 Children in their household are Ervina age 20, Gloria age 17, Kenneth age 15, June age 12, Mary Ann age 10 and the youngest Donald S, Tim’s father, is age 7. His occupation is Ice Salesman for 52 hours weekly. He lists 0 for income from Wages or Salary and answers Yes he received income from other than wages or salary, so it seems this was his independent business. Later we see he adds coal to his offering. Ervin died at age 63 in 1952, 6 years before Tim was born. Don played football at LSU and quit to join the Air Force, an eternal disappointment to his family because he returned to California to marry Bobbie on November 24, 1957 who was pregnant with Tim, born 8 months and 11 days later.
Obviously this is a work in progress. The above summary is amplified on individual pages linked in the menu under the little arrow pointing down and within the text in some cases.