Note 3001 Part 6
June 18, 1938
CASTEEL
( Continuing the record of the children of Edmund and Johannah
Casteel.)
6. Meshach Casteel, of "Edmonds Frolic Enlarged",) St. John's or
Piscataway Parish, Prince George county, MD., signed as the next of
kin, the inventory of the estate of his brother Edmund Casteel, April
10, 1773; died prior to 1790, when his widow Catherine appears in the
Federal census as the head of a family of eight. His widow, Catherine
Casteel, placed a chattel mortgage on her Negroes March 31, 1791
(Ibid., deed, Book JJ, No. 2, page 478); sold her dower rights to
"Edmond's Frolick Enlarged," July 27, 1796 (Ibid., Book IRM No. 4 ,
page 527); and gave an additional deed to her interest in it Jan. 2,
1797 (Ibid., IRM, No. 5, page 116). Of their children the records
mention specifically only the following: 18. Edmund, whose descent
from Edmund Casteel, 2nd is recited in a deed given hereafter. 19.
Rebecca, born Nov. 18, 1772 (MD hist Soc. MS Piscataway Parish
Register ). 9. Shadrach Casteel , 3rd son of "Casteel" plantation
purchased land from Rachel Watkins about 750 acres (Prince George
County deeds Book PP, page 83) and resided there until his removal to
Flintsone Creek, Cumberland Valley Township, Bedford County, PA.,
before 1773 (Pennsylvania Archives," 3d series, vol. 22, page 8). He
died in Bedford County, PA., leaving a long and interesting will
(Bedford county, PA., wills book ___, page___; abstract in
"Proceedings of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania," vol. 10,
page 165) dated Sept. 24, 1795, proved Dec. 10. 1795 by which he left
his land to his son Archibald, and made bequests to the children
mentioned below. He appointed his wife Laurena sole executratrix , but
she resigned this right Dec. 10, 1795 "on accounts of infirmities of
old age." Their children mentioned in the will , were: 20. Thomas, who
follows 21. Archibald, who received his father's lands in Bedford
County and in the Federal census of 1790 was the head of a family of
five. He served in the Revolution in the same company with his brother
Thomas ("Penna. Archives," 5th series, Vol. 5, page 110), in the
Bedford County Militia. 22. Ezedock, who was also the head of a family
in Bedford County for the census od 1790. 23. Jesse. 24. Elizabeth,
mentioned in the wil as the wife of ___ Whitecar. 18. Edmund Casteel,
of "Edmond's Frolick Enlarged," St John's or Piscataway Parish,
Prince George County, MD., conveyed to Reed Magurder by a deed dated
Feb. 1, 1795, "all that part of a tract or parcel of land called
Casteels part of Edmunds Frolick enlarged lying and being of the
county aforesaid heretofore conveyed by a certain Edmund Casteel
deceased to his son Meshach Casteel Father to the present Edmund
Casteel and Heir at law of said Meshach Casteel to whom the said
land descended. . . (Prince George County Deeds, Book IRM, page 373).
The following records appear to refer to this Edmund Casteel,
although the " Ducatel " references might conceivably refer to an
emigre of the French Revolution, as a French statesman named "
Duchatel" was executed in 1793.On May 28, 1795, Edmond Ducatel married
Ann Pineau (MD Hist. Soc. MS. collection, Maryland Marriages
1777-1804," page 62); Rev. Francis Belson officiating. Pineau is the
name of a family of Paris called "Pineauyde Viennay, Seigneurs de Luce
(Mercure de France," May 10, 1739, page 1635; de la Chenaye-Debois,
"Dictr. de la Noblesse" etc) . If Ann Pineau was a French woman the
spelling of "Ducatel" might have been adopted at her suggestion by
Edmund Casteel in order to indicate its French origin.
Next there is the story of Jules Timoleon Ducatel, born in
Baltimore, June 6, 1796, died there April 23, 1849, whose father never
named, is said to have been the leading Pharmacist of Baltimore.
Jules T. Ducatel was educated at St. Mary's College, and later studied
science in in Paris, finally returning to Baltimore to occupy a chair
in the University of Maryland. He was a well known scientist an writer
(Hyamson, Dict. of Univ. Biography," page 179; Nat. Encyc. of Am.
Biog., Vol 4 page 544; Appleton's Cyclopedia of Am. Biog., 1887, Vol.
20 page 240).
Toison D'Or
(to be continued)