Edmond Casteel was in Blount County Tn., from 1799 to 1805. From 1805 to
1829 he was in Roane Co., Tn. By tax records he moved in 1829 to McMinn
County. He was married twice, but we do not know the names of his first
wife. The second was an Elizabeth who he married c. 1828.
1830 Census of McMinn Co.,
Edmund Casteel
1 male 60/70 females; 3 females 1- 0/5, 1 - 10/15 1 -15/20
Alex'd (I take this to be Alexander)
3 males 1 - 20/30, 1 - 5/10 1- 0/5, 2 females 1 - 20/30, 1- 0/5.
Alex is on the tax list along with Elijah Casteel and Edward Casteel. --
1829 and 1830
Alex, Elijah, Barney - Casteel tax list 1831
Elijah and Barney Casteel 1832
Alexander and Barney Casteel 1836
From a Chancery court suite failed 25 May 1855 (abstract)
Complaint of L.M. Stansbury and wife Melissa Standsbury formerly Melissa
Casteel, citizen of Roane Co., Tn., and James Casteel a citizen of Anderson
Co., Tn, married to Luticia Messamore; VS. Pearson Elliott, John Harrell,
Barney and Morris Casteel, John Jackson and wife Mary..
James S.and Melissa were infants when their father died, and attained their
majority only within the last two years; in an amended petition the
following people were added as heirs; Abraham Casteel, Willis Casteel, and
Nancy Casteel - citizens of McMinn Co.
In 1855 the following allegations were made. Complainants charged that
Edmond Casteel made a will which was stolen from Hezakiah Randolph, who had
the will for safe keeping and that said will gave his land to the two
children by Elizabeth. That their older brother sold the land to Elliott
and Harrell, and they and John Jack, William Martin, Pleasant Stubblefield,
claim the land Edmond deeded part of his land in his will for a meeting
house and grave yard.
In 1855 Harrell and Elliott, charge that James S. Casteel is of mixed
blood, a son of a colored man, and not of sound mind. That Elliott, never
owned any of the Casteel land, but owns land which has come through
ownership of Joseph J. Elliott, Burrough Bucker, Levi B. Hunt and Hezekiah
Randolph, who was granted the land.
In 1857, witnessed William C. Randolph, age thirty, seven, deposes that he
is the son of Hezekiah Randolph, who died July 1856; that the land is owned
by Harrell, and ALEXANDER Casteel lives upon it; but it has changed hands
several times; that he saw the will of Edmond, which was stolen from his
father.
In 1857, witness Elizabeth Case, age 84, deposed at the house of Matthew
Daugherty, that Edmond died, "the day the sun was in the clips"; that she
was there when the will was made; that she heard of the misconduct of
Elizabeth Casteel and Rollins, a colored man, and that she was at Casteels
one day, when the old man waked up and asked his granddaughter where
Elizabeth was, and the girl said, " she was hunting a goose, and the old
man said - gander."
In 1857 witnessed Jonathan Kelly, age 78; John Elliott, age 80; Nathan
Kelly Sr., age 69; and Edward Manery, age 70; deposed as to the intimacy,
both before and after Edmund's death, of Edmund's wife Elizabeth with
Rollins Carter, whose mother was a colored woman.
Chancery court records, McMinn Co. - bill filed 18 April 1870. Madison
Casteel and others VS Sterling P. CAMP.
Humbly complaining your orator and others: Madison Casteel; Joseph
Casteel; Lewis Erwin and his wife Sarah Erwin; James B. Ricks and his wife
Amanda M. Ricks all citizens of McMinn Co., That ALEXANDER Casteel, late of
McMinn Co., died, departed this life intestate about three years ago. He
left your orator Madison and others, Sarah Erwin wife of Lewis Erwin;
Amanda M. Ricks, wife of Christopher Ricks; and Elizabeth Brown, wife of
James Brown; his only children and heirs at law. Some forty years before
his death he entered into a contract with John Camp, since deceased, in
which it was agreed that the said Camp should purchase as their joint
account about 500 acres of land. He and the said Camp agreeing to be
interested therein.......to the purchase....... Camp made the purchase and
took title in his own name, but he and your Complainant's ancestor, soon
afterwards each entered upon and improved their respective portions in
Severity. The portion assigned to the ancestor of your complaint was
estimated contain 100 acres more or less. The said ALEXANDER Casteel
entered upon enjoyed the exclusive and .........of said land for more than
thirty consecutive years, next before his death, all the time claiming
......and exercising acts of ownership over the ....to the? John Camp died
intestate about thirty years since and without having conveyed said land by
any writing to the said Alexander Casteel. He left Sterling P. Camp now of
Illinois; T.B. Camp; B.B. Camp; Mary Knox wife of James Know; C.T.
Caldwell; wife of D.M. Caldwell; M.J. Billingsly, wife of Alfred
Billingsly; all of Bradley County, Tennessee, his only heirs at law. All of
them disclaim any title to said land, or any part of it. It appears that
the land was deeded to Joseph Casteel. In Case # 2992 Joseph Casteel vs.
Madison Casteel, Sarah and Lewis Erwin, A.M., James B., Paralee R. and C.C.
Ricks, Elizabeth and James Brown. Filed 13 May 1871 - evidently to clear
the title.
It looks as though John Camp died about 1840 and Alexander took over or
remained on the property with his wife and family.
There were several families living in McMinn Co., Tn., Census of 1862 finds,
Alexander Casteel age 60
Susan 58
James S. 22
Mary M. 20
Rachael P. 18
Pleasant Cagle 19
M.M. Casteel his wife and five children.
A.W. Casteel (male) 40
Barney C. 15
John A. 10
Charles J. 7
I do not know the exact relationship of your ALEXANDER to the above
families, but I believe that he is a blood relative.