Information from William Harper Wright: His Ancestry and Descendants and Allied Lines of Stone's River, Tennessee. Compiled by Mildred S. Wright.

John Castleman appears on the 1787 tax list of Davidson county; on the 1812 Militia list of Davidson County in the same company as John Jr., Joseph, David, Henry, and Benjamin; and on the 1820 census of Davidson county, as a male over 45, 2 males 26/45 in the household, and a wife over 45.
John died, and his will is recorded as of August 13, 1821. His will identifies his wife, Martha, son Andrew to be looked after during his lifetime, daughter Margaret GREEN and son, Benjamin.

Will of John Castleman Davidson County, Tennessee Will
Book 8, page 15 recorded August
13, 1821
I, John Castleman of the County of Davidson, State of Tennessee, being weak in body but sound and perfect memory, Blessed be God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say, First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Martha Castleman, one feather bed and furniture and a sufficiency of cooking utensils and cupboard ware for her necessary use also three cows and calves, two ewes and lambs and also her maintainance of the land as long as she lives, also 10 young hogs. I do also give and bequeath to my son Benjamen Castleman the one half of all the land that I own and also one feather bed and furniture.

I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Margaret Greens heirs that is the lawful heir or heirs of her body the other half of the land that I own. For the above bequeathed land my son and my daughter Benjaman and Margaret is to take good care and maintainance of my son Andrew Castleman an ideott as long as he lives and lastly as to the rest residue and remainders of my personal estate goods and chattels of what kind and nature soever must be sold and all my just debts paid and if any remainder to be equally divided amongst my children and I also leave my son Benjaman Castleman and Isaiah Green my executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25 day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty-One.

Signed sealed published and declared by John X Castleman
The above named John Castleman to be his
last will and testament in the presence of
us who have subscribed our names as witness
Sam Steele Thomas Spurg Campbell Hays


Benjaman Castleman wrote his parents from New Orleans. The letter is still in possession of descendants, and a copy of portions given to me (creases from age have obliterated parts). Benjamen's spelling was quaint, but his handwriting was clear and unusually legible for that time.

To. Mr. John Castleman, State of Tennessee, Davidson County near Clover Botom
"Father and mother sister and brothers I have thought it my duty to right to you that I am well John & Joseph are like wise well and all the neighbors boys is well. And I think it time to name my rout I have had since I left home first to Pencicola there we had no fight of consequence only four killed and a few wounded and from thence to New Orleans thare we met with the approach of a seven thousand British about six miles below the town on the night of the 23rd Dec. We had a very hard fight as I should call it…. of the British and lost but few men and retreated back about two miles and did encamp raised up breast works for defence and we still had our pickets and there a firing at each other and on the 25th cannonading took place and Every day till new years day then they advanced up in about a half mile and then began a cannonading theare was about forty men out of Coffee brigade and out of the first Regement and I was one to support 3 pieces of cannon which was mounted on the levy it was in very dangerous place theare I saw 3 men with theare side and thighs shot off heavy cannonading from that time till aid Christmas then they maid a change on our breastworks…"



Information from William Harper Wright: His Ancestry and Descendants and Allied Lines of Stone's River, Tennessee. Compiled by Mildred S. Wright
Lyman Draper, an early historian, collected material from Andrew Castleman, intending to write a history. His manuscripts, original notes, etc, are deposited with the State Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin. I have drawn on the microfilm copy of 32S- Tennessee for this chapter.

Andrew Castleman (descendant of Jacob Castleman) recounts the skirmish at Hays Station as follows (32S324): "Several years after Jacob Castleman moved into the country from Harrodsburg in the fall of 1782, that Joseph Castleman his son, was mortally wounded near Hay's Station, and got into the station on his horse but soon died. At the same time, his cousin, John Castleman, while on foot, was wounded in his back, and was near being scalped by the Indians but he was kept safe by having his gun loaded and waving it before him, and his son, William, treed and reserved his fire to protect his father until several ran from Hay's Station to their relief. In this devoting himself to the safety of his father, William Castleman was himself mortally wounded. The three had gone out from the station to cut some oats near by (July 1st 1793)." and continues
"Sometime after- fall of 1793- this John Castleman, after he had recovered, went out hunting with another cousin, Jacob Castleman, Jr. and Andrew Castleman, John Smith and others.. to get a winter's supply of meat. John and Jacob went on the waters of Round Lick Creek (in what is now the upper part of Wilson County) were fired upon and Jacob Castleman killed…Andrew, Benjamen and John Castleman.. went out from Nashville to see what had become of Jacob Castleman and found him dead. The Indian had splintered up his knee, but finding his case hopeless, had cut his own throat."


More About John Castleman and Martha:
Marriage: Abt. 1770, VA or PA.

Children of John Castleman and Martha are:
+John Castleman, b. 1773, Westmoreland Co., PA, d. Abt. 1855, Davidson Co., TN.
David Castleman, b. Bef. 1778, PA, d. January 1846, Dickson Co., TN.
Jake Castleman, b. Bef. 1778, PA, d. date unknown.
Andrew Castleman, b. Bef. 1778, PA, d. Aft. 1821, TN.
William Castleman, b., PA, d. July 01, 1793, Davidson Co., TN.
Henry Castleman, b. Abt. 1786, Davidson Co., TN, d. March 18, 1849, Davidson Co., TN.
Benjamin Castleman, b. Abt. 1789, Davidson Co., TN, d. September 1869, Davidson Co., TN.
Joseph Castleman, b. Bef. 1792, Davidson Co., TN, d. date unknown.
Margaret Castleman, b. 1795, Davidson Co., TN, d. Aft. 1860, Davidson Co., TN.

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Notes for John Castleman:
Name: John Castleman
Born: 1747 Frederick Co.,VA
Died: 1821 Nashville,Tennessee
BIOGRAPHY: Descendants say John, Sr is a son of William & Anna Margaret(Salzman) Casselman and was born soon after they left Stone Arabia, NY and arrived in Frederick Co., VA - no proof has been found. He IS a grandson of Ludwig, as it is proven that John is a nephew of Jacob(Ludwig's son) in the Journals of historian Lyman C. Draper during hisMarch 1844 visit to Nashville and talks with Andrew Castleman(1764-1844), a proven son of Jacob (1728-1803).
An exact transcript - all punctuation is Draper's excepting * where his initials LC were inserted:
"Several years after Jacob Castleman (the father of Andrew, Abram*) moved into the country from Harrodsburg in the fall of 1782, that Joseph Castleman, his son, was mortally wounded near Hay's Station & got into the station on his horse, but soon died. At the same time his cousin John Castleman, while on foot, was wounded in his back, & near being scalped by the Indians, but they were kept off by Castleman having his gun loaded& waiving it before him, & his son William treed & reserved his fire to protect his father until several ran out from Hays' Station to their relief. In thus devoting himself to the safety of his father, WmCastleman was himself mortally wounded, & soon died. The three had gone out from the Station to cut some ots near by - (July 1st,'93.)
Some time after - fall of '93 - this John Castleman, after he had recovered, went out hunting with another cousin, Jacob Castleman, jr -Andrew Castleman, John Smith, & some four others - left Nashville on a bear hunt, to get a winter's supply of meat. When out, they divided their party; John & Jacob Castleman, Smith & another went on the waters ofRound Lick Creek (in what is now the upper part of Wilson County) - were fired on & Jacob Castleman killed. Smith shot the Indian that killed Castleman - or rather mortally wounded him (the Indian) shattering one of his knees..."
(State Historical Society of Wisconsin: Draper: Series 32 Vol S Pages324-326.)
~~~~ Relationship summary;
Andrew & Abram are sons of Jacob.
Joseph (killed 1 July 1793) is a son of Jacob and a cousin of John [which makes John the nephew of Jacob].
William (killed 1 July 1793) is a son of John.
Jacob, Jr (killed fall of 1793) is a cousin of John [which makes Jacob Jr the nephew of Jacob].
Note: The above attacks of 1793 are mentioned in most early TN histories but with different versions as to who was killed and who was wounded. I believe that Andrew's account to Draper is the only reliable source since they are his close relatives. John is called "Hans" in some reports.
~~VIRGINIA~~~
John was raised on the bank of South Branch of Potomac River in FrederickCo., VA >1753 Hampshire Co., VA, where his father William, grandfatherLudwig and uncle Jacob had received grants from Thomas-Lord Fairfax. No marriage record for John has been found so it is unknown if he married inVA, or after he moved to PA with his father and family.
~~PENNSYLVANIA and/or VIRGINIA ~~ western part of PA also claimed by VA until final boundary settled in 1784.
Exactly when John's family moved to PA is unknown. In 1761-62 his grandfather Ludwig, at age 64, had acquired land four miles north of FortBedford. It is possible that John & his father's family went there to help Ludwig clear his land before moving further west to the frontier.
___1773 John is on list of Taxables in Tyrone Twp, Bedford Co. PA in theDistrict of Andrew Lynn - as are William Castleman & William Castleman, a single man. (PA Archives. Series 3 Vol 22 p. 51.)
___6 Dec 1774 - 25 Feb 1775 Jno. Castleman was appointed a Constable by Yohogania District Court of West Augusta, VA. (Crumrine, Boyd. (1882).History of Washington County, Pennsylvania. p. 214.) Same location was claimed 1771 by PA as Tyrone Township, Bedford Co. > 1773 as WestmorelandCo.
___25 Oct 1776 John, an Ensign in 3rd Battalion of Col. Edward Cook, LtCol. James Marshal, Maj. Andrew Lynn, in Westmoreland Co. PA. (PAArchives. Series 6 Vol 2 p. 279.)
___2 Apr 1778 John, a 2nd Lt. in 4th Battalion, 8th Company of Capt.James Marshal in Westmoreland Co. PA. (PA Archives. Series 6 Vol 2p.286.)
___14-24 Sep 1782 John listed in a draft for Capt. Andrew Lynn's Companyin Westmoreland Co. PA. (PA Archives. Series 3 Vol 23 p. 359.)
___Jan 1783 John Casilman, John Castleman (duplicate?), William Castleman, Sr. and Henry Castleman are among inhabitant-petitioners Westof Laurel Hill Mountains to The Continental Congress asking for a new state to resolve boundary dispute between PA & VA. ( Papers of theContinental Congress at National Archives, Washington, D.C.: (Microfilm)Series M247 Roll 62 Item 48 Page 251.) Signatures are not by individuals- appear to be by militia companies.
___1783 on Returns of Rostraver Township, Westmoreland Co. PA: __acres, 2horses, 4 cattle, 6 sheep, 8 White Inhabitants. (PA Archives. Series 3Vol 22 p. 370.)
___Apr 1784 John was paid £1.18.6 for 1782 militia service inWestmoreland Co. PA. (PA Archives. Series 6 Vol 2 p. 352.) Other mentions of John relating to military service 1778-1783 in PA Archives. Series 3Vol 23 p. 226; p. 282; p. 314; p. 326: in Series 5 Vol 4 p. 432; p. 737.
~~~WEST OF OHIO RIVER~~~ >> Northwest Territory >> 1803 Ohio
___11 Apr 1785 John & Jacob Castleman & Andrew Casselman (original signatures) are among petitioners on the Western side of the Ohio to theContinental Congress as regards their houses being burned and having to remove from that area. (Papers of the Continental Congress at NationalArchives, Washington, D.C.: (Microfilm) Series M247 Roll 51 Item 41 Vol 7Page 320.)
~~~TENNESSEE~~~ Davidson Co., NC >> Mero District, Territory South of theOhio >> 1796 TN.
___18 Sep 1786 John & Andrew Castleman were Chain Carriers for the Survey of the NC Grant of 640 acres on Stoners Lick Creek in Davidson Co. forJacob Castleman, assignee of Pvt. William Price. (TN Grants: NC Book A-1p. 290.) This is the elder Jacob (1728-1803).
___1787 John paid one Poll Tax as free white male over 21 in Davidson Co.NC(TN).
___2 July 1790 Martha Castleman recanted things she had said aboutMr/Mrs[?] Mulherrin as groundless and said in heat of passion. (DavidsonCo. TN Will Book 1 p. 172.) Also recorded in Davidson Co. Court MinuteBook of 13 Oct 1790, where Martha is called "wife of John".
___1 July 1793 During an Indian attack John was wounded and his sonWilliam was killed near Hays' Station as Andrew told Lyman C. Draper.
___1794 Privates JOHN, SR, John, Jr, David and Andrew Casselman/Castleman served in Isaac Roberts' Regiment; Militia of the Territory South of theOhio. (Record group 94 in the Adjutant General's Office in Washington,DC.) Note: men born 1735-1778.
___1796 "John Cassellman, Senr." one of commissioners to layout a road from Nashville to the south side Cumberland River across from mouth ofDrake's Cr. (Davidson Co. Court Minutes of 14 July 1796). In 1797 John was made overseer of the part of this road from Archibald Buchanan'sBottom to Jesse Glasgow's Ferry. (Davidson Co. Court Minutes of 10 July1797.) Note: Archibald Buchanan was the first settler & owner of theoriginal land called the Clover Bottom on W bank of Stones River across from the mouth of Stoners Creek.
___1798-1802 John is mentioned several times as being on the jury in theDavidson Co. Court Minutes.
___1799 relating to execution of a covenant Sam'l Hays made to Jno Cassellman for a conveyance of land - deposition of Andrew Hays to betaken. (scraps of notes at end of Davidson Co. Court Minutes of Apr1799.) And again; Deposition of Andrew Hays, in Kentucky, to be taken relative to execution of a covenant from Samuel Hays to John Cassellman.(Davidson Co. Court Minutes of 8 Jul 1799.) Note: Nothing more found regarding this covenant in the Court Minutes or Deed Books. Samuel Hays was killed by Indians in Feb 1793 near his Fort on Stoners Creek/StonersLick Creek - the same place John Castleman was wounded & his son William killed on 1 Jul 1793. It was about 12 miles NE of Nashville & several miles SE of what would later become Andrew Jackson's last home, TheHermitage. John and his family lived in this area until he moved south about 6 miles to his 1815 Grant in the Suggs Creek/Stewarts Ferry Roadarea.
___1803 Jno Casselman is one of commissioners appointed to divide lands among the male heirs of "Jacob Casselman, Junr". (Davidson Co. CourtMinutes of 11 Apr 1803.) Note: Son of the elder Jacob, this Jacob died1791, 2 grants in Wilson Co., male heirs were sons - Benjamin, Jacob &Joseph.
___1805 John, Sr, for himself & 2 others, on list of taxable males 21 &over in Davidson Co., TN. Also listed together were John & David Castleman as 2 polls.
___Aug 1808 John, Sr (& Henry) buyer at Estate sale of Wm. Stuart, dec'd.(Davidson Co.TN Will Book 4 p. 13.)
___1812 John, Sr. on list of free white males 21 & over eligible to vote in Davidson Co. TN, living in militia district of Captain Wm Creel - as are John, David, Henry, Joseph & Benjamin Castleman. (Davidson Co. CourtMinutes of Aug 1812.)
___4 Jan 1815 John, Sr., assignee of Joseph Baker, received Grant #6474of 152+ acres of 160 acres entered Mar 1807, surveyed 22 Aug 1814 as 152acres 50 poles in Davidson Co. (TN General Grant Book I p. 22.)
___1820 census of Davidson Co., TN: John Castleman, Sr - male 45+, 1female 45+, 2 males 26-45.
___25 Apr 1821 John's Will was written and signed with his mark.Mentioned are; wife Martha, son Benjamin, daughter Margaret Green, and son Andrew, an idiot. It was probated in the County Court of July 1821and recorded 13 Aug 1821 (Davidson Co. TN Will Book 8 p. 15.) The inventory of John's estate was taken 12 Oct 1821 by Adm. Absalom Gleaves, recorded 15 Nov 1821 (Davidson Co. TN Will Book 8 p.36.) Sale of estate items on 22 July 1822 was recorded 6 Sep 1822 (Davidson Co.TN Will Book 8p.137.) Settlement was recorded 6 June 1824 (Davidson Co. TN Will Book 8p.330.)
___Some of John's land may have been sold to pay taxes. In the newspaper,KNOXVILLE REGISTER, issue of 3 July 1821; The Davidson Co. Sheriff reported delinquent taxes for 1820: John Casselman owed on 271 acres onStones River - the land to be sold to pay the tax. Note: Have not located deeds to account for all John's land.
___No tombstones marked the graves of John & Martha among thirty graves removed from his original land to Mt. Juliet Cemetery in Wilson Co.,TN.Land can be located on later maps as N of Stewarts Ferry Pike, bounded onthe S by 113 acres of John, Jr, on SE corner crossed by Suggs Creek, on Eby the Davidson-Wilson Co. line, on the N by Alvin Sperry Road, and is same land John gave to his son Benjamin and daughter Margaret's body-heirs in his Will. Most is now under waters of Percy Priest Lake.
Proven children of John, Sr. are; William (killed 1793), Andrew,Benjamin, and Margaret Castleman Green.

Probable sons are; John, Jr., David, Henry, and Joseph.

Posted by Donna Lish OBrien on Ancestry

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ENGLISH IMMIGRANT ANCESTOR

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