Jacob CASTLE {M} =

Jacob CASTLE:

Excerpt of article "In and Around the State of Cumberland: Jadon Talks about Pioneer Life of 1700's" by Jadon Gibson from THE POWELL VALLEY TIMES, December 5, 1990:
"One of the early settlers along the wagon road to the western wilderness was Jacob Castle. He had the westernmost settlement prior to 1750.
"In 1746, he traded a rusty musket and butcher knife to the Indians for a small tract of land on the Clinch River. It later became a part of Saltville, Virginia.
"Castle was a longhunter who lived for months in the woods and traded deerskins and animal pelts.
"He would leave home in the fall and disappear for months dressed in a deerskin hunting shirt, beaver cap, buckskin moccasins and leggings. The tail of the beaver cap would hang to the nape of his neck.
"He took a hatchet, knife, shot pouch and provisions such as meal, salt, jerked beef and pemmican in a sling over his shoulder.
"He carried a long-barrelled rifle commonly made by Germanic gunsmiths in eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland and along the western trail. Originally it was called the Pennsylvania rifle but later became more famous as the Kentucky Hunter's Rifle.
"The wagon road later became part of the Wilderness Road. Travelers would go for miles and days without seeing but little evidence of civilization. Occasionally there would be a log hut along the rugged land of cliffs and forest in southwest Virginia.
"In 1769, other pioneers cleared patches of land at Castle's Woods and moved in as squatters. Threats from Indians compelled them to live close together.
"The Loyal Land Company owned so much land at the time that emigrants would build a cabin and set up housekeeping without the formality of buying or renting. If the land was poor or the area proved unsafe they would move on. Otherwise they would stay until confronted by the owner and forced to buy."
The article goes on to described Daniel Boone's association with the people from Castle's Woods, the forts of the area, Indian attacks and pioneer customs.
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The following was taken from the internet: http://members.tripod.com/keithnichols/castle.html

Much has been written and speculated about Jacob Castle and the Castle family. I do not pretend to have all the information but I will list what I feel is relevant to historical research. I will have to rely on some traditional information and theories. I will indicate what is fact and what is theory.

Jacob Castle was probably of German stock, most likely Palatinate. The first record I find of Jacob Castle is when he arrived in Pennsylvania aboard the ship Robert and Alice from Rotterdam on September 11, 1738. He was listed as Jacob Kensell. Also aboard the ship was Joseph Kensell, probably a brother.

On June 25, 1740, Jacob Cassell purchased 200 acres of land from Jacob Stover in Orange County, VA for 40 pounds current money (Orange Co., VA Deed Book 4, pages 47-48). On June 26, 1740, Jacob Cassel sold 75 acres to Jacob Coger for 17 pounds Pennsylvania money (Orange Co., VA Deed Book 4, pages 52-54). On September 23, 1742, Jacob Castle leased 125 acres in Orange County to Elizabeth Downs for 5 pounds current money (Orange Co., VA Deed Book 8, pages 228-230). This document goes on to say that the 125 acres is the remaining part of the original 200 acres purchased from Jacob Stover after having sold 75 acres to Jacob Coger.

On November 27, 1740, the estate of Jacob Stover, deceased, was sold (Orange Co., VA Will Book 1, pages 202-206). Some of the purchasers were:

Jacob Stover [Jr.]

Capt. Patten

Jacob Castle, who purchased one heifer, one sorrel mare, and a Negro wench


On March 26, 1741, Jacob Stover [Jr.], Henry Downs, Gent., and Jacob Castle entered into bond unto Thomas Chew, Gent., for 500 pounds (Orange Co., VA Will Book 1, pages 140-141). Jacob Stover [Jr.] was administrator of the estate of Jacob Stover, deceased.

On May 30, 1741, Jacob Castle and Henry Downs, Gent., entered into bond unto Thomas Chew, justice, for 100 pounds (Orange Co., VA Will Book 2, pages 154-155). Jacob Castle was guardian of Abraham Stover, orphan of Jacob Stover.

Note: Orange County, VA consisted of all of southwest Virginia at the time of the above entries.

In Augusta Co., VA Court Order Book 1, page 130, is an entry for a road ordered from Adam Harmon's to the River and north branch of Roan Oak, Adam Harmon overseer, with the following workers: George Draper, Israel Lorton and son, George Hermon [Harmon], Thomas Looney, Jacob Hermon [Harmon] and three sons, Jacob Castle, John Lane, Valentine Harmon, Adren Moser, Humberston Lyon, James Skaggs, Humphrey Baker, John Davis, and Frederick Stering and two sons. The date is November 19, 1746.

In Augusta Co., VA Court Order Book 2, page 105, is an entry for Jacob Castle being charged by Adam Harmon with threatening to aid the French. Castle is ordered to be arrested and brought before a called court on the next Monday. The date is May 17, 1749.

In the same book, on page 130, Jacob Castle is acquitted of the charge of treason in going over to and assisting the Franch. The date is May 22, 1749.

In the same book, on page 371, is an entry for a road ordered from Ezekiel Calhoun's to Wood's River thence to top of ridge between Wood's River and the south fork of Roanoke. John McFarland and Joseph Crockett to be surveyors of former and William Crisp and William Pellam of latter part, with tithables, and the following: Henry Batton, Mordecai Early, John McFarland, Jacob Goldman, John Downing, John Goldman, Charles Sinclair, Nathaniel Wilshire, William Sayers, William Hamilton, Humbertson Lyon, Frederick Carlock, Robert Norris, James Miller, James Cave, Samuel Montgomerie, Steven Lyon, John Conley, Andrew Linam, James Willbey, Samuel Stanlick, James Maies, Robert McFarlin, James Harris, John Vance, John Stride, Robert Miller, Alexander Sayers, John Miller, Jacob Castle, Robert Alcorn, John Forman, and William Miller. The date is May 23, 1750.

In Augusta Co., VA Court Order Book 7, page 391, is an entry for John Weltshire, Alexander Sayers, and Jacob Castle to view and report the value of improvements by John Staunton on two tracts on the New River. The date is November 19, 1762.

Note: Augusta County, VA consisted of all of southwest Virginia at the time of the above entries.

The following excerpt is from the Pennsylvania Berichte, a Germantown newspaper, published January 6, 1750. It is a letter from Samuel Eckerlin to Alexander Mack, Jr.

"Upon this occasion I want to report to you about the great inundations which occurred on the 25th of August, a little past midnight, on the Roanoke and the area northeast of it. Our river as well as the Little River were also very high but nobody here suffered mentionable damage. On the Roanoke, however, and other nearby places there was much damage. At several spots entire hills were swept down and leveled and several tracts of bottom land, all inhabited, were filled with so much gravel and sand that they can no longer be lived on. This I have seen myself. Also, houses and barns were carried away and with them a great deal of the crop. The Roanoke was a mile wide at several places and the water rose to 15 feet above otherwise dry land. Since you are familiar with this area, I want to give you details about several places as follows: One mile below Tobias Breit a man and a child were drowned; a woman managed to save herself on a tree; livestock was practically all drowned because the water rose so suddenly and right at midnight that none could have been driven away. The house of Henrich Braun with whom we stayed has been torn up. Clad in nothing but their shirts they got away with their children, the water reaching up to their arms. His three cows in the field were carried 3 miles downstream by the waters where they gained firm land alive. Peter Kinter and his wife found a horrible end. They were not yet asleep but had been drinking together, were in good cheer and thought of no danger till the water suddenly rose up to the house and no more escape was possible. So they retreated to the attic. No sooner had they reached it than the water rose up to them. They placed boards on the collar beam and sat on them. When the water reached up to their arms and no more flight seemed possible, he lost heart and told his people: He believed that this was another deluge and the Last Judgment had come. He asked his wife to give him a kiss. As he grabbed her, both slid from the board and away with the waters. Those who were with them on the boards saw no more of them.

"Kassel's wife and children and their old mother were in the house at the same time. They all survived up on the collar beam save for a small child whom Peter Kinter's wife had on her lap. It drowned with them. After daybreak, the others found out that they had been carried with the upper part of the house for a mile into some woods. They found a rope and tied it to a tree so that they would not be carried any further until the waters subsided or someone would come to their rescue. After a few days, Peter Kinter's wife was found dead and naked hanging on a tree with one arm. And several days later he was also found. But he had no more head and only one arm. Maybe some wild animal had already feasted on him."

The "Kassel" mentioned above was probably Jacob Castle.

In December 1785, a group of inhabitants of extreme southwest Virginia petitioned the government to form the new county of Russell. Among those signing the petition were: Jacob Castle and Joseph Castle.

From Russell Co., VA Land Entry Book 1, Page 275: May 31, 1798 - Jacob Castle enters fifty acres of land on his own line by virtue of part of one land office treasury warrant No. 14,292 dated the 16th day of Sept. 1781 Beginning at Little Hollow & running with his line crossing his spring he now drinks out of, thence running toward Copper Creek for compliment.

From Russell Co., VA Law Order Book 1, Page 177: October Court 1789 - Ordered that Richard Thompson be summoned to attend at next court to settle with the court for his administration of the Estate of Thomas Roberts dec'd. Jacob Casel as above for the administration of the Estate of Joseph Casel dec'd.

From Russell Co., VA Law Order Book 1, Page 178: October 1789 - On motion of Jacob Casel and William Huston the said William Huston is appointed Administrator of the Estate of Joseph Casel decd in the Room of said Jacob Casel and it is ordered that he comply with the condition of the said Jacob Casel's Administration Bond and thereupon the said William Huston took the Oath of an Administrator.

Bazil Castle, who was born in Virginia circa 1760 and died in Kentucky, gave the following information in his pension statement on February 27, 1834, "Indian spying in western Virginia 1779-1780 under Colonel Preston, Capt. Lewis, Lt. Robinson at battle of Ruby Falls, Guilford Courthouse. April 1779 entered service as an Indian spy. September 1779 marched with whole company down Clinch River to Fort Blackmore, arriving there in late September. Served at Fort Blackmore till December. In February 1780 marched from Blackmore to Fort Hill. April 1780 discharged at Fort Hill. Fall 1780 remained at home with his mother while his father went to Kings Mountain with Campbell and other Virginia men. His father, Jacob Castle, was at the battle of Kings Mountain." It is unclear whether this is the Jacob mentioned above or his son, Jacob Jr.

Joseph Castle likely was a son of Jacob Castle. He married Eunice Powers in Wythe Co., VA in 1797. The minister's return was by Rev. John Stanger. Their children were: Sarah Castle Salyer, Joseph Castle, Jr., Jacob Castle, Hannah Castle Salyer, Lucinda Castle Salyer, Esther Castle Salyer, and Malinda Castle Salyer.

Sarah CASTLE {F} = Samuel SALYER¹ {M} > Family

Married BEF 1806

Sarah CASTLE:

Born ABT 1788


Samuel SALYER:

Born ABT 1787, Rutherford Co, NC
Died 15 November 1876, Scott Co, VA
Samuel, Sr. was born about 1787 on Boren's Creek of Rutherford County, North Carolina. He married Sarah Castle, daughter of Joseph Castle, the Indian trader. They lived about two miles southeast of present-day Nickelsville, VA, in an area called "Salyertown". Samuel bought and sold a great deal of land in the Copper Creek area of Russell County.

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Children of Samuel Salyer and Sarah Castle are:
i. Delilah Salyer, born ca. 1806 in Russell Co., VA; died August 3, 1865 in Scott Co., VA; married Jacob Stapleton October 20, 1824 in Scott Co., VA.
ii. John Salyer, born ca. 1808; died in infancy.
iii. Elizabeth Salyer, born ca. 1810, died (?); married Thomas Stapleton February 10, 1825 in Scott Co., VA.
iv. Samuel Salyer , Jr., born December 1813; died January 10, 1910; married (1) Lydia Culbertson July 14, 1834 in Scott Co., VA; married (2) Causby Thacker.
v. Eli S. Salyer, born 1814 in Russell Co., VA; died (?); married Dulaney Jularry Nickels May 12, 1869 in Scott Co., VA, divorced October 10, 1871 in Scott Co., VA, remarried October 18, 1887 in Scott Co., VA, divorced again 1896 in Scott Co., VA.
vi. Nancy Salyer, born ca. 1816, died (?); married Arthur Wheatley June 12, 1833 in Scott Co., VA.
vii. Sarah Salyer, born ca. 1817, died (?); married John Salyer April 27, 1865 in Scott Co., VA.
viii. Lucinda Salyer, born 1818 in Scott Co., VA; died ca. 1893 in Scott Co., VA; married Allen Nickels June 2, 1832 in Scott Co., VA.
ix. James Salyer, born ca. 1821, died (?); married (1) Melinda Castle April 23, 1843 in Scott Co., VA; married (2) Matilda Jaynes.
x. Catherine Salyer, born ca. 1824; died August 20, 1859 in Hawkins Co., TN; married Henry Miller Dean December 21, 1852 in Scott Co., VA.
xi. Robert Shanklin Salyer, born July 20, 1825 in Scott Co., VA; died July 13, 1881 in Pike Co, KY; married (1) Anna Easterling October 4, 1867 in Russell Co., VA; married (2) Lydia Salyer.
xii. Rowan Salyer, born ca. 1828 in Scott Co., VA; died May 1, 1862 in Scott Co., VA; married Mary Evelyn Phillips March 15, 1855 in Russell Co., VA.
xiii. Anna Salyer, born ca. 1830; died 1914; married Henry Castle May 3, 1846 in Scott Co., VA.
Census Date: 1850
Census Place: Scott Co, VA
#483 SALYERS, Samuel 61 NC, Sarah 61, Roan 20.

Joseph CASTLE² {M} = Eunice POWERS {F} > Family

Married 1797, Wythe Co, VA

Joseph CASTLE:

All of Joseph's daughters married Salyers.

1 : "Keith Nickels http://www.mounet.com/~bluebird/"
2 : "Keith Nickels http://www.mounet.com/~bluebird/"