Just in case someone new has joined the lists and may have an interest in
the Thomas Casteel family of Garrett County, MD, I'd like to post my
connections to this family.
William WILLISON, my GGG Grandfather, was born at Fort Cumberland in 1759,
the second child of Jeremiah Willison and Sarah DeAth.
William married Elizabeth Farmer of Bedford County, PA. One of their
children was:
Jeremiah Willison of William who married Elsie CASTEEL, supposedly the
daughter of Thomas Casteel.
The Willisons lived on both sides of the Mason Dixon Line in 1842, at the
time William died.
I also know that the Casteels lived close by as Archibald Casteel witnessed
the will of Jonathan Hamilton of Beans Cove, Bedford Co. Pa., just north of
the MD/PA line, in November of 1842.
So, I'm guessing this is where William Willison's son, Jeremiah, met up
with Elsie Casteel. The following is from the 1810 census of Allegany
County, MD. No other Jeremiah Willison fits the ages listed in the census.
So we have Jeremiah and Elsie near Flintstone in 1810.
Jeremiah had two daughters, Dorcas and Rebecca Willison. Dorcas married
Israel Friend of what is now Garrett County. Rebecca married James Friend
who may be Israel's brother.
Now we know Jeremiah's daughters were in Garrett County by 1827 when Dorcas
was married.
In 1820 though, Jeremiah and his family were living in Fayette County, PA,
in George Twp, near the Maryland/WV borders. And this is an area where
Israel and Dorcas lived.
So, does anyone have more information on this Casteel family and what may
have happened to Jeremiah and Elsie after 1820? We've researched all nearby
counties in WV and PA and in Maryland, with no success.
Thanks for any help.
Connie Beachy
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