Note 3001 Part 5
June 11, 1938
CASTEEL
Before proceeding to the next generation of this family which
dropped the prefix "du" from the name and adopted the spelling
"Castel" or "Casteel," a few words of explanation of the history of
the name are appropriate. The name means "of the Castle" and has been
spellled with many variations. The Dutch and Flemish form is "van den
Casteel" ; The French , "du Chastel" or "du Chatel." In
Flanders
however, the Flemish tongue showed its influence upon the French form
which was "dou Castiel" in 1296, "dou Chastiel" in 1732 and "du
Kastiel." Two dozen variations in spelling are given for the word
"Chasteau" including those mentioned above, by La Curne de
Sainte-Palaye in his "Dictionaire Historique de l'Anccien Langue
Francais." In one of the earliest spellings of Capt. du Chastel's name
on record in Philadelphia; it appears as "Edmond Du Castel" Deed Book
E. no. 2, L.A. , p,171) which is a more perfect French spelling than
some of the later examples.
Captain Edmond Du Chastel had by his wife Christian Bonde the
following children : 2. Edmond, who follows . 3. Samuel of whom
nothing is known beyond what can be learned fron his mother's will, 4.
Christian who married, April 17, 1720, James Allen, at Christ Church,
Philadelphia ("Pennsylvania Archives," 2nd ser., vol 8, p. 43).
Casteel Plantation
Edmond du Chastel, 2nd hereafter called Edmund Casteel, of
"Casteel" plantation, St. John's or Piscataway Parish, Prince George
County Maryland, removed from Philadelphia to Prince George County
where he purchased the plantation which he patented under the name of
"Casteel," Dec 10, 1714 (MD His.Soc. MS., Calvert Paper No. 882, page
167); the original grant having been dated Oct 12, 1713 (Prince George
County , MD deeds book Y , page 575); and the survey, Dec 3, 1713. By
subsequent purchases of adjoining lands he aquired a tract which he
patented under the name of "Edmonds Frolic Enlarged" and later
conveyed to his son Meshach Casteel (Ibid., Book TT, page 638; Ibid.,
Book JRM3, page 373). And in the year 1742 when his health was failing
(Ibid., court minutes, book CC, page 129) and his wife Johanna (also
called Hannah) had died (Ibid., court minutes, pages 109,608) he
conveyed part of "Casteel" plantation to his son "Edmond Casteel Junr
planter" (Ibid deeds, Book Y, page 575). The last references to Edmund
Casteel, 2nd occur in November 1743; and to his wife, in1733.
There is no will on record for either of them, and the deeds cited
above prove the identity of only two of their children, Edmond and
Meshach. Nevertheless the writer has found evidence which leads him to
include John and Joseph among the children, although the evidence is
only circumstantial. The "Maryland Historical Society Magazine," vol
9, pp275, 357-58, has published a roster of Maryland troops in French
and Indian War , including the names of John, Zachariah and Peter
Casteel. The children of Edmund and Johannah Casteel known with
certainty are: 5. Edmond 3rd., who follows, 6. Meshach, who follows
after his brother. And probably, 7. Joseph , who appears as a bondsman
in a transaction dated August term, 1745 (Prince George Co. ct.
minutes, Book DD, p. 196) 8. John, who married Rebeccah _________, by
whom he had ason Henry Casteel baptized, Aug. 25, 1765. )MD Hist Soc.
MS Piscataway Parish Register, Prince George Co. , MD., page 351). In
1773 John Casteel was living in ?Bedford Co. PA. near Shadrack Casteel
("Penna Achives," 3rd ser. vol. 22, p.44), and served in the
Revolution in Washington Co. PA., militia (Ibid, 5th ser., vol. 4, pp.
394, 704
5. Edmund Casteel 3rd, of "Casteel" plantation, Piscataway Parish,
Prince George Co. MD., died leaving a will dated April 7, 1772, and
proved March 24, 1773 (Prince George Co., willsl Book T, No. 1, pages
48-49; Magurder, "Maryland Wills"), by which he gave to his wife
Rebecca_____ a life estate in Casteel plantation and his personal
estate and provided for the sale and distribution of the property in
equal shares to his children, whom he names, at her death . His
wearing apparel, perhaps including items inheirted from Capt. Edmond,
he left to his son Shadrach. The inventory of his estate, made April
10, 1773 (Ibid., inventories, book T, No. 1, page 264), lists a large
Black Box which may refer to the "Black Trunk" given by the will of
Christian du Chastel to Edmond, 2nd.
The following children are named in Edmund Casteel's will: 9.
Shadrach, who follows. 10. Abednego. 11. Francis. 12. Lucy the wife of
______ Athey. 13. Kezia, wife of (James ? ) Mitchell, On August 30,
1771, Edmund Casteel, 3rd, conveyed to James Mitchell a part of
"Casteel" plantation (Ibid., deeds Book AA, No. 2, page 291). 14.
Susannah, wife of _______ Scace. 15. Sarah, wife of _______ Medley.
16. Cassandra, born Jan *, 1753 (MD hist. Soc. MS., Piscataway Parish
Register ), who was sole exectrix under her father's will. 17. Charity
(to be continued)