SHASTEEN GENEALOGY
Houston, TX  — Updated Feb 2014
Ray@Shasteen.com
Return to Genealogy Lead Page

1. Land Transaction Placements - On the google map, I think I am very close on the placement of the Shasteen transactions assuming the landmarks are still the same, which I am now pretty comfortable with.

a. Jesse and Elinor - 13 Apr 1789 50 Acres - Davies Creek pretty solid placement, Elinor Wade baptism church appears to be in what is now Nelson county and the 1787 Tax Roll A list is for Amherst Parish, which is now Nelson county (north of Amherst) and the Tax Roll B list for all the others is for Lexington Parish which is now present day Amherst. So Jesse land is pretty well placed.
b. Non 1812/1832 Shasteen (all) Albemarle/Amherst transactions - All of these are also pretty well placed based upon landmarks so I am also pretty comfortable with them, with the exception of:
24 Jan 1749 Eliz. & Jas Sharsted witness - placement based upon another researcher's note which I can't confirm - This is near the James River above Scotsville VA per note from Am Gen Society, The Fluvanna is now the Rivanna, and placed this marker by the dam as that is the most likely place for cliffs - More research needed on this property. Benj Mims property
c. The 1812/1832 Shasteen transactions have to be in that general area, the creek is pretty obvious, and a mill (saw or grist) would be probably near the mouth to accomodate water travel.
d. 1748 James Sharstead - witness  /  1 Apr 1749 - James Shastood 150 Acre land grant  / 6 Dec 1753 James Shasted adjacent / - These are quite descriptive, so I am convinced I am within a couple miles of their placement and likely closer.
e. Non Shasteen placements of land holdings to the east of Amherst, I have not researched as thoroughly. Think I am close though
f. Other land transactions, particularly Bedford area. These I need to pursue as I believe that to be a potential tie in area. I don't have access to them unless they are in the book references I have. DO YOU BY ANY CHANCE HAVE A LISTING OF THEM I CAN START WITH?

2. References - Would like a copy of the Allen article on Stephen if you have it. I knew nothing about his line at all before a month ago.
3. Corruption of the Chastain / Shasteen spelling. This I can really comment on. Chastain, Chasteen, Chastaine, Chastid, Chastine, Chastean, Chasten, Chaston, Chateen, Chestean, Shasteen, Schasteen, Sharsted, Sharteen, Shateen, Shatteen, Shashteen, Shastine, Shasted, Shastid, Shatten. I have seen all these used for Chastain and Shasteen. Some families in my unplaced Indiana Shasteens section had variations over several decades of the same family (think these are the Otter families for the most part). See below. In addition in my line the name varied widely, including the C and S variations.
I have done calligraphy and read a lot of the 1700=1850 writing which is very similar. The double ss looks to a novice like a double ff. The curly's on the caps look weird. The captial T and capital J can be confusing. Anyway the double ee can be misread as a u, ei, ie easily, and the n on the end by some of the writers can look like a d. So unless I see it, I take a pretty skeptical perspective on the truly odd variations.

I have also searched for some of the other outlying variations, particularly Shastid, Shasted, Shatten, Shashteen, Sharstead and have found nothing of relevance. Have not tried the C variations as much. Staton variations I have not seen that could logically be a Shasteen bastardization.
Lastly, regarding the name spelling, Gerry told me that Shasteen was the phonetic spelling in English of the French pronunciation of the name Chastaigne. My guess is that the literacy level of the english speaking writer hearing gruff Chastainge in a windy or noisy environment could easily result in Shastead, Shasted, Shastid. Where I have an issue is the r as in Sharstead and that disturbed me more as Chastaigne does not have an r sound in it. This I would attribute to a later transcription of the calligraphic writing and the age of the original document coupled with the pen strokes. I have seen cases where the ast looked like an art. But I can't get the arst explained, yet. Unfortunately, there several early arst variations.

So in summary here, I 'm not inclined to think the early deeds would be a non Chastain relative. I am more inclined to think it is from a Chastain that has not been attached in the early years, like Isaac or one of the other non tracked ones, or perhaps an "adopted" one - see below 

Another thought that might be a possibility is another name altogether, language differences taken into account, such as Christian being mistranslated into Chastain and on a long shot Shasteen depending on who is talking and who is listening. Altho, I do have some hearburn with Christian becoming either.

From my research files, weird name variations over time, mostly IN. Note these folks were probably illiterate and did not have a clue how to spell their name, just eking out a living from the dirt on the farm.
      |—Abner Chastain (b abt 1812 KY d 18__)
      |     |      1840 census Orange IN POSSIBLE Abner Shasteen male 1 20-30 (b 1810-1820) female 1 20-30 a
      |     |      1850 census Vernon, Washington, IN – Abner Chastine 38, Elizabeth 34,
      |     |      1860 census Vernon, Washington, IN – Abner Chastain 48, Elizabeth 43
      |     |      1870 census Vernon, Washington, IN – Abner Chastain 58, Elizabeth 54
      |     |      1880 census Campbellsburg, Washington, IN – Abner Chastain 68, Elizabeth 63, Roda Hangate 71 SIL
      |     |      m Elizabeth (b abt 1817)

      |—Amner Chastian
      |     |      1840 census Scott, IN - Same page with Robert Chastean (Chasteau), Valentin Chastean (Chasteau),, Harman (Chasteau), Wm Chastean (Chasteau), Nathanil Chastian and also found Benjam Chasteau in census (Sons of William Chastain “Little Otter” from Franklin Co VA?)

      |—Barnet Chastain (Son of William Chastain “Little Otter” from Franklin Co VA?)
      |     |      1820 census Washington Co IN Barnet Shasteen
      |     |      1830 census Washington Co IN Barnet Shasteen
      |     |      1840 census Vernon, Washington Co IN - Barnard Chastain on same page as Raney Chastain
            |—Barnet Chastain (b abt 1814) (assumed son of Barnet above)
            |      |     1850 census Vernon, Washington Co IN - Barnet Chastine 35,
            |      |     1860 census Vernon, Washington Co IN - Barnet Chastain 46 b
            |      |     1870 census Vernon, Washington Co IN - Barnett Chastain 54,
            |      |     1880 census Vernon, Washington Co IN - Barnett Chastain 66,

Rest of examples omitted, but avail

4. Ohio Bunch - I am convinced of the James / Phoebe relationship being the patriarch/matriarch of this group. Lived and breathed that migration from VA to Gallia to Ross to Henry / Defiance.

5. Regarding your question (ties James Buff to James JRiver, can you expand this a little further)  I really tied the James Buff to the James J River from the property tax rolls. Bear with me on the assumptions in this. 1787 1788 A puts Jesse up north and then 1785 to 1789 to 1790 tie Jesse to James Ped as brothers moving to KY based on some later research. That leaves James J River in 1790 -1793 and Buff in 1791-1792. Surmising here, if I were the tax collector in 1791 making my list from 1790 to go out and collect. I had used Ped and J River in 1790 (the year James Shastead got 60 a from James Nowland and was taxed on them) and needed to distinguish a new James in 1791, based on property location, I would have used Buff to refer to someone living near the Buffalo River, which puts us geographically to the earlier deeds. J River obviously would be designating someone closer to the river than Pedlar River, City, Mountain or Gap. There is a Gap over towards Tobacco Mtns, but the earlier deeds are between Tobacco Mtns and Buff River. So my crazy thinking is don't use Ped as he left with Jesse, J River bought land in 1790 (Land tax rolls) and because I talked to him about his new place to put him on the 1790 rolls, I found out his old man lives back by Buff River where J River had lived in obscurity with him until he bought the land by the river. So now I add the old man in the mountains to the list. Buff can't be Ped because he left. J River has to be the mill owner on Otter Creek, the land purchase raising the question of where did you come from, the old man in the mountains by the buff river, ok, will add him also in 1791. Then in 1793, why was Buff no longer there? My guess is that he died, but perhaps they had some sort of don't tax the old man rule when he hit 60 or so (would make dob 1733 which would still qualify him as father to the other three except for the two James names). Forgive the looseness of this, but that is basically 15 years of looking at this. The 20 Aug 1748 deed, I looked at the spelling of Sharstead and am convinced the Davis spelling of Shasted is incorrect (presumptive and egotistical I know). The 24 Jan 1749 deed I have not seen, Eliz & Jas Sharsted, so I can't critique it yet. The 1 Apr 1749 James Shastood document I also have not seen, but can see how the double ee could be seen as a double oo. The 11 Nov 1751 Sharstead, James Jr I saw but did not at the time question the variation in the spelling, but the reference clearly is to the same man. The designation as Jr in my notes I have not found elsewhere, so this is another I would like to see again, both for the Jr and for the spelling.

6. The Isaac Bandwagon and name birthdate assumptions placements - Could not agree with you more here.  If by Stephen you mean Estienne (Stephen) Chastain (pg 11) (b 09 Nov 1737)  I totally agree. My notes say d 1805, but nothing else. Likely placement of these Shasteens in apparent holes in Pierre's descendants birth dates. Here are some I question, and they are marked on my lineage pages for each http://shasteen.com/genealogy/UNPLACED_SHASTEEN_CHASTAIN_NAMES.htm

 a. Pierre b 1659 - apparently well documented, but there is a 3 year gap from birth of Mary Magdalaine 1720 and Anne death in Apr 1723 at estimated age of 48. This would be old for childbearing, but many other assumptions seem to have been made about late childbirth. Do you know circumstances of Anne death? Childbirth in that time was a common cause.

 b. Son Jean b 1694 - You mentioned Isaac, and Estienne (Stephen). Also consider:

1. Jean b 1694 - first dau 1715 would make Jean 21, then John Jr b 1721, Jean would have been 27. In those days that is somewhat old for first and second child. First marriage to Marianne 1713 Jean w/h/b 19, first child in 1715 would have left room for an earlier birth. Marriage two in 1726 to Charlotte, Jean w/h/b 32 and Charlotte 27, next child in one year makes sense. But Charlotte lived to 1775 age 76 with last child 1743-44 she w/h/b 45. Could have had another child before 50 in 1749 when Jean w/h/b 55

2. Jean b 1694 son John (Jean) b 1721 - First child Mary b 1754 when he was 33 after he had been married for 2 years. That is late for that era. Possibility of an unfound son and/or first marriage from the time he was 18 (1739) until his first marriage in 1752 when he was 31. He would have been old enough to have been that soldier on the muster rolls in 1746/47 at the age of 16 and fathered a couple kids before his first known marriage. Additionally potential for additional children after 1743 possible, not unreasonable for Charlotte to have had last child up to 45 or so in 1745-46. 

c. Pierre b 1707 - gap between birth of children Judith 1734 and James 1740 - 6 years - could have been another child as 6 years is a spread for then. Also agree with William b 1744 and others, looks to me like this could have been one of those placements of convenience. Plus the Shasteen name issue with them in Bedford/Franklin is there. And there are those deeds for a James that I have not yet tied into the William line or others:

November 18, 1773, James Chasteen of Bedford County purchased 151 acres on the south side of the Otter River from George Walton of Prince Edward County, VA. Compiler note: This was about four years before John Chastain purchased land in Bedford County in 1777.
February 15, 1778, James sold 15 acres to Ann Witt, it being part of 150 acres on which James now lived and
which was conveyed to him by George Walton. It should be noted that John Chastain had a sister, Mary, who had married Benjamin Witt.

 d. Rene b 1713 - James b 1727 Could be early son of this Rene or possibly was Isaac’s first name James – no other James in this line?

James /Jesse / James could be son?s of Isaac - but birth dates complicate this somewhat.

Lot of years between  Rene's children  Ren Jr 1741 and Lydia 1767- James/Jesse could fit here also b circa 1755-1761

e. Stephen b 1670-1761 - first child 1692 Stephen 22. Second marriage when Stephen 56 to Martha Du Puy 1726 (1680-1740) first child Mary 1726, unknown male 1728, Estienne 1729. What happened to the males, last born when Martha 49 and Stephen 59. These ages are pushing physical reality, though not impossible. More significantly,

 f. The name James - how was the French version translated in those days: Jacques is the French equivalent of James, ultimately originating from the name Jacob. As a first name, Jacques is often phonetically converted to English as Jacob, Jake, or Jack,  but the last is not an accurate translation (Jack, from Jankin, is strictly a diminutive of John. Note that on Ancestry.com family trees, Pierre Chastain b 1659 France is referred to also as:  Dr. Pierre "Peter" Chastain, Dr Pierre Jacob Chasteen, Dr. Pierre Peter Jacob Chastain, Capt. Pierre "Peter" James Chastain, Capt Pierre Jacob Chastain and finally on this pass, Doctor Pierre Louis Chastain. These variations just expand my dislike of the name James!

This I think could be an issue with the Jas & Elizabeth witness deed. Jean or Jacques from a French guy to an English guy could have become James. Problem is I can't find anyone in the time frame that was married to an Elizabeth. For that reason, my best guess is this was our James Buff.

g. Likely placement of these Shasteens in apparent holes in Pierre's descendants birth dates. Here are some I question, and they are marked on my lineage pages for each http://shasteen.com/genealogy/UNPLACED_SHASTEEN_CHASTAIN_NAMES.htm

h. Still the possibility after all of this of the "adoption". I just can't see one james father with two James sons unless one of them was a take in or a "bastard" as that of Judith Chastain (pg 11) (b 1703)

7. James Buff and early military references. This more than anything points to James Sharstead/Shasted/whatever being a Chastain. Varied references to the name spelling is one thing but it pins the birth date as circa 1746/7 minus 16 = 1733/34 as his latest birth. This fits with the 1748-50 land/witness deeds nicely. Also provides a placement for James/Jesse brothers or James River to have a place to go, one with James Buff into Pierre's line somewhere (or another Chastain) and one into existing slots in Pierre's line. 

a. FROM THE CHESTNUT TREE, Vol. XIV, #3, p. 21 ("Virginia Colonial Soldiers" by Lloyd DeWitt Bockstuck)
-Muster rolls of a company of Foot officers, Capt. Beverly Robinson raised in the Colony of Virginia in 1746 for an expedition against Canada during King George's War 1739-1748.
-Originals in the Public Record Office, London Company 5/1338
-James Chastain/Chastaine/Chastine enlisted 28 Jun 1746
-Shown on returns: 25 Aug - 24 Oct 1746, 25 Oct - 24 Dec 1746, 25 Dec 1746 - 23 Feb 1747, 25 Jun -25 Aug 1747, 25 Aug 1747- 25 Oct - 25  No 1747
SOURCE: BL

b. Possibly the James Chastain (also Chastaine and Chastine) in the Muster Rolls of a Company of Foot of Capt. Beverly Robinson raised in the Colony of Virginia in 1746 for an expedition against Canada. The company was part of a larger force under the command of George Clinton, Captain General and Commander in Chief of the Province of New Yourk. Lieutenant Joseph Harmer was left sick at New Yourk and Ensign John Sloss was not returned. The original records are in the Public Record Office, London, CO5/1338. during King George's War 1739-1748: (Originals in Public Record Office, London. co 5/1338). ...enlisted 28 June 1746 and is (shown on returns for periods 14 June 1746-24 August 1746, 25 August-24 October 1746, 25 October-24 December 1746, 25 December 1746-23 February 1747, 24 February-24 April 1747, skip two months, 25 June-24 August 1747, 25 August-25 October 1747 and 25 October-24 November 1747.)
SOURCE:  TCT July 1989 page 21 submission by Violet Cook and ancestry.com

c. "It seems possible that the father of the Shasteens who migrated to Ohio was James Chasteen, Sr., born not later than 1730 because he is listed eight times, from June, 1746 through November, 1747, on the Muster Roll of the Virginia Militia. To have been a member of the Militia, he would have to been born not later than 1730 since the minimum age for service was 16. He seems to have lived throughout his life in Amherst and Rockbridge Counties, Virginia. It is well to note that the different spellings of Shasteen were used at random.

One speculation is that James Chasteen could be the son of Pierre "Peter" Chastain who was born in France in 1663 and died in Virginia in 1761. Several other descendants were told that the family was of Irish origin. Many Irish immigrants settled in the Shenandoah Valley. SOURCE:  Chapter 8 of Martha Gerber Rittenger book – Schlager/Slager Family History 

8. Property Tax rolls and Land tax records (Partitions) - I looked at these in the early 90's at the library and made notes but could not get good copies. Would like to see them again, as well as the tax rolls. Binns has a deal where you can sign up for $40 or so for a year and see all the tax rolls, or buy them for a bit more on dvd. I'm thinking of doing this, one so I can check out the other counties and the holdings and variations in the name spelling and two would hope they get the land tax rolls. Somehow in 1790 Land tax, James got 60 acres from James Nowland and paid the taxes on 60 where Nowland was reduced from 100 to 60. Think this is probably the Otter Creek property and accounts for the variation in the acres purchased and the acres sold, but that is another story for later. Anyway, don't understand why there was not a corresponding land sale transaction

9. William's sons...connections with the Cannady family - I am unaware of that connection. Could you be more specific so I can check into it. Assume this is Peter Jr's son William b 1744?

10. exempt from taxes in the 1790's - I am not familiar with the law back then, do you have any sort of source for age exemption from tax liability as that could be an isssue with James buff when he fell off the personal tax rolls 1793 or so. Assumed there might be something like that, but have not been able to find any sort of age/disability comments elsewhere. Googling it yields:

a. http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/guides/rn17_tithables.htm towards the bottom talks about in 1782 tithables and personal property tax list for a county and how the lists might have different names, i.e., a person might be on one and not another.  Nothing about age though. Research note 3 links to:

b. http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/guides/rn3_persprop.pdf  which is good info, but nothing again on age/disability exclusion

c. Side note - Have noticed that the 1780 tax roll categories are inconsistent year to year with what I have and what I have found explained. My headings seem to match, but the order varies year to year and county to county, frequently with columns omitted in the 1780-1790 or so period when the taxing was getting organized. (Guess mssg by horse not as fast as via email!) 

11. Back to James "Buff".... would be highly unlikely that the birth was not recorded...Unless he is the same as Peter, Jean's son and used James instead of his baptism name???  If he is Peter's son, then what of Rev. James (and maybe Martha Chastain Edens, etc.) are they Rene's??   - See 6 above also for details by line. Am going to have to relook at this as it is not real clear to me at the moment.

a. Birth not recorded, I would question. Some woman posted in a Shasteen thread on Ancestry that she had put up this gravestone picture as part of a project and anyone could use it. Checking, I found a Jesse David Shasteen (1896-1973) in Jesse's line that was the son of Samuel David Shasteen (1870-1961) and Sarah Josehpene Cotton (1874-1940). Per TX death certificates, his and a couple of his brothers, they were sons of Samuel David Shasteen and Josie Cotton. In my looking on Ancestry and in my records, there are either two families in this name sequence or they moved around in the same year or someone else gave info, because all the trees show Josie D F Shasteen b 15 Oct 1896 with no death, yet I have found what appears to be the same family with Josie being Jesse/Jesie variations, one a female, one a male, in the same census year, with parents and siblings lining up to be about the same. Gave me a headache so I quit looking for now.

b. Unless he is the same as Peter, Jean's son and used James instead of his baptism name???  If he is Peter's son, -  Think you are saying Jean's son Pierre (Peter) b 1728 using Peter not Pierre to distinguish himself from Pierre Sr. If you meant that John Jr b 1721 might have gone by James to distinguish himself from his father Jean, I have had the same thought. See above.

c. If he is Peter's son, then what of Rev. James (and maybe Martha Chastain Edens, etc.) are they Rene's?? -  A bit puzzled here to, do you mean Peter 1707 son James b 1740?

d. Placements, see 12 b below also. - Although wills are a good means of naming offspring, late wills omit deceased children and back then, perhaps grandchildren of deceased children as they were involved in remarriages. I realize that some latitude and assumption must be used in most cases that far back, but I don't know the details of the thought process vs evidence on the placements in Pierre's lineage as it had not really been an issue for me til this three James era on the James River circa 1780-1790 or so. You will have to be the lead on the reevaluation of placements even if you provide me with a lot of the questions you have about them as I just don't have the background knowledge of time that you and XXX have with the Pierre lineage. 

12. Oddities -

a. Likelihood of "adoption" - In those days with the death rate, apparently the second wives first marriage children assumed the last name of her second husband. Do you know how thoroughly this has been checked?  Example: 10 Mar 1747 - Albemarle - CO-345 - Shatteen, Reny guard. of  James Sublett - Source: Vir. Chastains pg 133, book 43, 1750?) - This could be a potential James probably born circa 1732-1745.

b. Placement of some of the lines on logic - Don't know, but suspect based on what I have seen over the years, that some of the placements under Pierre's lineage have been built logically perhaps, but perhaps with pre assumed objectives. I don't say this critically as objectively, as I and others have attempted to do essentially the same with these four men. Perhaps a prior "assumption" should be reconsidered and rejected to place these guys in the position alternatively.  

13. Summary for now. This has taken the better part of a day, but a year ago it would have taken two weeks. Good I got into it a bit before you responded. I remember a lot more after re doing the web info into a more organized fashion in preparation for this kind of research/inquiry into all these lines. The google map info has been the most successful in new perspectives thus far as I feel pretty good about having nailed that Amherst County stuff as best as it can be nailed. Will continue to stumble around on this, but have to squeeze in some car work, house work, yard work and taxes soon or I will be in deep do-do.
When you feel like it, let me know your next batch of thoughts and maybe we'll get lucky. Was thinking if I find the answer, I might put it in a time capsule for ten years or so! :)
Ray

From: Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2014 11:59 PM
To: ray@shasteen.com Cc: Subject: Re: Shasteen lineage

First, I'm speechless on the work you've put in this and the organization of the files, easy to follow and I'm actually now getting comfortable with the VA county formations, one of my stumbling blocks in attempting a study of the early families in VA.  I think this is the best effort anyone has undertaken on sorting out the residences, properties, etc. of the Chastain families there and I'm sorry but do not know of anyone who has any compiled info on specific land holdings.   

The land transactions you mentioned below in Bedford County seem to be those of Rev. James Chastain, close to property of James and Martha Chastain Edens...all down to SC and TN by the first census.  As to other sources, those you mentioned are about it besides Cameron Allen's articles on Pierre, Sr. and Stephen with that pertaining to Pierre being pretty much duplicated in First Five Generations.  I do, and Bob probably does too, have all the old Chestnut Tree's and I need to pull and review some of those for anything that might be useful in light of the new data that you've compiled.

As to the Ohio bunch, I had longed believed that James and Phoebe were the progenitors of this group...it seems that you have substantiated my believe tying the evidence together, and doing a dang good job of it.  I still don't know what to make of the older James, Buff, and if he can be linked to the earlier James Shastead/Shastid...if these records are of a Chastain or a Shastid/etc.  And, I suppose that's a key to me, was the 1740 something James really a Chastain or was he really a Shasted??  The few times that I've tried to decipher this, I always first tried to make a fit in the Chastain lineages but didn't explore the alternative of the name not being a corruption and Shastead is a pretty corrupt version of Chastain/Shasteen.  Now, that doesn't mean that I think James "Buff" wasn't a Chastain, just was he the same fellow of the Shastead records.  Has anyone explored lineages of the surname Shasted/Shastead/Shastid in VA?  I'm still a little confused on the deed that you believe ties James Buff to James JRiver, can you expand this a little further?

As to James and Jesse...maybe your continuing work will shed more light on them...I just never got on the Isaac bandwagon, just absolutely no connection with any data that I've had at hand.  Why not Jean's son Stephen, know about as much about him as we do Isaac.  To me, it's more logical that they are William's sons...connections with the Cannady family, common early spelling of Shasteen in William's line, names handed down, etc.  I mentioned this to Gene Cook at a PCFA reunion, why he didn't include them in William's line?  He looked puzzled for a moment and finally said "I don't know"!  I think that William was older than we/Gene attributed, we basically lumped all of Peter, Jr.'s sons as being born in the mid 1740's, some of these fellows had to be born in the 1730's and I think William was one of those.  He was exempt from taxes in the 1790's but this could have been because of something other than age but really think age was a factor and usually that meant 60 plus in years. I would like to see and document the marriage record for Isaac, but that still doesn't change my opinion that he is not the best father candidate for Jesse and James.  

Back to James "Buff", even if he isn't the Shastead of the early records, he would have to have been born no later than 1740 and probably in the mid to late 1730's.  So, we are still looking at the same men in the Chastain lineages for his father.  And of Pierre's three sons, only Peter would be possible as both Jean and Rene's children are very well documented through 1740, think it would be highly unlikely that the birth was not recorded...Unless he is the same as Peter, Jean's son and used James instead of his baptism name???  If he is Peter's son, then what of Rev. James (and maybe Martha Chastain Edens, etc.) are they Rene's?? 

I'm still looking over your pages, just very impressed with this and the county formation is making sense to me now that I have a picture! 

From: Ray Shasteen To: Cc:  Sent: Monday, March 03, 2014 3:36 PM Subject: RE: Shasteen lineage

Been working on landmark and property locations for the early Shasteen / Chastain families and documenting the information on web pages to use to post on my google map (My Google Map below) using gps and best guess placement.

Thought you might take a look and see if it looks like I am heading in the right direction or you have any suggestions.

It worked for xxx a week or so back and he does not have a google account, and a friend of mine pulled it up and mentioned it took a couple minutes to load.

Still spending my time looking primarily for a place for the James Shasteen / Chasteen b before circa 1727-1730 (1748 deed witness -21 = 1727) (1746 War records -16 = 1730). Figure if that nut is cracked, it may open something up for the James/brother Jesse, and James otherwise unplaced in my hunt.

 Also,
1. Do you know if any Chastain researchers have been able to successfully locate specific land holdings and if so, where I could get that information?
2.  Do you have any suggestions to published research I should consider other than these I have listed below. I am not that familiar with the Chastain lines and have been trying to get up to speed.

Pierre Chastain and His Descendants - Volume I First Five Generations in America copyright 1995, 358 pages, PCFA Chastain Vol 1, Little Otter, and

Little Otter to Lost River, A History of the Chastain Family of Washington County, Indiana by Claude E Cook, copyright 1979, 278 pages

Virginia Chastains Genealogy & Family History - Lowell B. Chastain, 1983   

Bob's (thank you) generous contribution of his Notes on Pierre, his three sons, Stephen, and some of the unplaced Chastains.

3. Regarding several land transactions in Bedford Co for James Chastain and Shasteen, one researcher attributed a couple to James Shasteen that married Nancy Kennedy. However, it appears to me that they may be for Pierre Jr's son James b 1740 that moved to Pendleton Co SC. Do you know if those transactions have been attributed? (See   Maps - VA_Shasteen Loc.htm and scroll down to Bedford Items)

Naturally, I have so far not found any significant clues, just now know I know much less than I thought I might know by now! :)  

Links
In case link below fails in email - http://shasteen.com/genealogy/Maps.htm-

Shasteen Research Maps - pertinent section at top
** Maps - VA_Shasteen Loc.htm — Overview maps of key VA counties with pertinent deed and landmark GPS references 
          To determine relationships between early Shasteen /Chastain families
** Maps_VA_Shasteen_Loc_Amherst_SW_TAB.doc — Objective is to estimate location of early Shasteen land transactions and landmarks 
          on a detail map of southwest Amherst County, VA. Word doc file for technical reasons
** MAPS_VA_Shasteen_Loc_GEN.doc — Objective is to locate present day approximate locations of Shasteen/Chastain families and holdings 
          on a 1790 key counties in VA. Word doc file for technical reasons
** MAPS_VA_Shasteen_Loc_SE_US.doc — Objective is to visually map the early migration of Shasteen/Chastain first and second 
          generation dispersion from VA to determine likely geographic locations of possible interaction. Word doc file for technical reasons
** My Google Map — Objective is to locate approximate landmarks pertinent to early Shasteen/Chastain land holdings 
     In case link fails in email - https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zZyAhcXlp3mM.k_-tlaMmORzM

From: Sent: Sunday, February 9, 2014 10:59 AM To: ray@shasteen.com Cc: Subject: Re: Shasteen lineage

Yes, yes, yes...I would like to get back to trying to figure this out but it literally makes my head hurt.  I just briefly reviewed your attachment and looks like you have made some progress in sorting these lines out.  My problem, and it appears that you have a better feel, in my attempts to sort is the geography of Virginia, I am very ignorant and because my interest was in the lines that relocated into the deep south (and it caused headaches as well) I just never got a good feel for counties being formed, shifting, etc.  And in my opinion, geography goes hand in hand with chronology.

I remember the same men that you and XXX mentioned as possibilities for progenitors of these lines, there's not many from the "known" list so do we actually have the pecking order correct?  Have we made incorrect assumptions and placements?  I really think we will have to question the current placement of lineages, especially the loose assignments to Pierre, Jr.'s line.  Let me look over some of my old stuff on this, where I attempted to "organize" and "study" your file a little more as well and get back. 

From: Ray To: Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2014 12:11 PM Subject: FW: Shasteen lineage

Don't know if you remember me, but we talked back in 2008 about the unplaced Shasteen lines from which I descended that are frequently confused with the brothers James (Pedlar) m Nancy Kennedy and Jesse m Eleanor Wade Coffee. I have been stuck at this same point for 20 yrs or so and wanted to ask if you would be interested in pursuing or assisting me in pursuing placement of these men - for my benefit obviously, but also many others, as if this nut can be cracked and any of them tied into the existing Pierre lines, many in the family would be very pleased. Over the years I have worked on this with Gerry Buland, Frank Ellison, Bob Leishman, Joy Gallagher and others, but to no avail, yet. 

In the attached file, my line is off James (J River) m Phoebe Pagett and all three men were in parts of the Amherst Co VA personal property Tax Rolls 1785 - 1812, along with an older James (Buff)  on these rolls in 1791 and 1792. I have enclosed the file (and following email trail that I sent to Bob) for you to take a look at (be sure to use print layout mode as they are landscape files) and have included the way I have titled them on the top of page one parenthetically above. The way the file is set up, those in red to the right, (Robert, James, William, Edmond, and John) are all sons of James (J River). (Note, I personally did the research on the tax rolls on microfilm)

The question I have labored with is how can James (Buff) be the father of both of James' (Pedlar and J River)? Bob told me he had thought he had tied James (Pedlar) and brother Jesse into Isaac Chastain b 15 Mar 1734, of which little has been found. This would then leave the question, where do James (Buff) and James (J River) fit? In the file under the names I have included actual and speculated info about dob, dod, spouses, spouses dob dod for reference. The estimated dob for James (Buff) at 1727 is based on the assumption that he is the James Sharstead that witnessed the Aug 1748 deed in the schedule on page 4 (source I believe is the book Little Otter to Lost River by Claude Cook copyright 1979, 278 pages) who to my knowledge has not been identified as to family connections. I feel that identifying him and his relationship to the James/Jesse and my James lines and Pierre's line is the key to cracking the nut.

This leaves the following questions:

1. Would you be interested in pursuing or assisting me in pursuing the identities of these men?

2. All of the research I have compiled, I would like to put into hands that would be able to use it in the future and wonder if you would be a good place I could deposit the electronic files for future reference? There are four primary files.

            (1) A .doc file with all of my information in it on all lines, about 200 landscape pages with census info, comments, obits etc.

            (2) A PAF/Gedcom file on James (J River - my line) that contains a lot of my research info

            (3) A first PAF/Gedcom file on James (Pedlar) and a second on Jesse, brother of James (Pedlar) that contain info that I have gleaned from other sources that is short on documentation, but I believe reasonably accurate. I do believe that others have more complete files, but don't know if you have them.

From: Ray Shasteen Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2014 10:39 AM To: Subject: RE: Shasteen lineage

 Added some deed research to this file, you might want to delete the other one. Yours is the same as the first two pages of this one, which is then followed by the Virginia Deed work I have accumulated (from other sources, not personal research for the most part). Anyway, take a look at the Aug 1748 transaction on page 4, James Sharstead witness sale of 580 A from  John Thrasher to James Smith.

To my knowledge, this James has not been identified. If transaction was 1748, this James would have had to have been born before 1730 (18 yrs old) and I would think 1727 (21 yrs old). This is where I got my estimated b date for James Sr Buff in the fourth column on page one. b 1727 would have made him 64 when he showed up on the 1791 tax rolls and a likely candidate for father of either of the other younger men -  James b 1755 Jesse b 1761 James J River b pre 1761 (calculated by backing up from 1798 minus 16 as two males over 16 show up on the tax rolls = 1782 at age of first son - 21 est age of first son's birth = 1761)  He probably died aft 1814 which would give him a life span of about 53 minimum.

That then leaves this question about Isaac Chastain b 15 Mar 1734 fathering these men. That would make him a contemporary of James Sr Buff est 1727-1815 or so. If you place James and Jesse under Isaac, James J River under James Buff, who do you place James Buff under. And if you reverse that you still have the issue of James Buff who I have assumed is James Sharstead, the witness of the deed. This is what I have been rolling over in my mind for the last 20 some odd years, and why I would like to have access to the most likely file of early Chastains to attempt to find something in the already credible research that would permit development some sort of theory to place these guys. I have started with Shirley's page linked off PCFA http://myplace.frontier.com/~sackew/pierre.html but it does not have the underlying research that supports the conclusions.

One possibility that I previously mentioned is the "adoption" of another's children that might lead to having two James as sons in the same family, as perhaps James Robinson, son of Susanna Chastain b 1705 and James Robinson 1705-1748. If elder died in 1748, might another Chastain "adopted" his son and lent him his name? Anyway, this is a stretch.

The overall quandry is who is James Sharstead witness to the deed and where can he be placed.

From: Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2014 8:55 PM To: ray@shasteen.com Subject: Re: Shasteen lineage

You are so right!  I don't know why I was thinking James Chastain and Nancy Kennedy.  I have your line in a separate file and it starts with James Chastain and Phoebe Pagett. It will take me a while to study your tax charts etc.  So no, I have not found anything further on your line.  Your James Shasteen seems to be closely related to James and Jesse Shasteen.  So what I found connecting them to Isaac Chastain and Charlotte Judith Sutton may not be correct.  I was so in hopes that the Rev War James and his brother Jesse problem had been solved.  There are so many descendants in that group it makes your head swim. I think you need to contact XXX and see what he knows about your James Shasteen and Phoebe Pagett.  Good luck.

I had some bad luck last February.  My computer died and I bought a new one and it bombed 3 times.  I was able to save my family tree maker files on the first two but a broken disc player ruined my back up disc and I Iost everything.  So I had to start from scratch re-entering the Chastain files in the Family Tree Maker.  I am now up to the 6th generation, so I still have a long way to go

From: Ray Shasteen <ray@shasteen.com> To: Sent: Sat, Feb 1, 2014 4:48 pm Subject: RE: Shasteen lineage

Hey, good to hear from you. But you have me in the wrong line.

James "Pedlar" (1761 d 2 Feb 1841) m Nancy Kennedy and brother Jesse (1750/1760 d 1841) m Ellenor Wade we have good lines on out of Amherst circa 1785

My James "J River" (pre 1761-1813/19) m Phoebe Pagett.

At same time, an older James "Buff" (est 1727 d est 1793) was there and I suspect he was either father of my line or the James/Jesse line. Have sent you a doc file with my personal property tax analysis and some deed research you might want to take t look at.

Problem to solve is how was James Buff related to James Pedlar and James River in those records from 1785 to 1790. If James m Kennedy (Pedlar) goes to Isaac, that leaves James Buff as the father of my James JRiver and you have another older James Buff that needs to be tied into a Chastain. 

Anyway, just a thought. Let me know what you think about the Tax file I attached. Have a similar file for some deed work of that period

From: Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2014 2:38 PM To: ray@shasteen.com Subject: Re: Shasteen lineage

Ray, it is great to hear from you again.  I have all your work in a separate file cabinet as yet, but I have made the decision to place your James Chastain and Nancy Kennedy as the sons of Isaac Chastain and Charlotte Judith Sutton.  For many years we did not know the name of Isaac's wife.  Just lately I found he married Charlotte Judith Sutton.  This information came from Turcany/Bentz-Sutton/Guess Family Tree via Ancestry.com.  ... I feel this is the only parentage that makes sense. .
I don't have any specific sources on how they came to this conclusion, but it makes sense to me.  I think the clue was to find the wife of Isaac Chastain. I am anxious to see if you may agree with me.

From: Ray Shasteen <ray@shasteen.com> Sent: Sat, Feb 1, 2014 1:38 pm Subject: Shasteen lineage

Been a few years, but thought I would check in with you and see if you all had placed my line yet? :)
Been going back thru my notes and came across some on Frank Ellison. Knew he passed away, but don't remember the year - would you happen to know? Drop me a note when you can and take care, that snow may be heading your way

Ray

Early Additional Reference Sources for this Research

Miscellaneous Maps, Census Pages, Tax Roll Pages for  this Research

Double click to open full size or use your browser functions to view larger version.
The 1790b pg 12 and 13 and 1800b pg 16 and 20 Amherst County Personal Property tax rolls were used to substitute for the lost 1790 & 1800 Virginia Federal Census. These four pages were a part of what was reviewed to document the Shasteens in Amherst County from 1785-1813. All rolls were reviewd by me from 1785-1833. Additionally, property tax rolls were reviewed for the same period to attempt to determine the transaction path of Shasteen owned property. An open area of research involves further deed examination and analysis. I managed to acquire all the 1790 a and b pages for Amherst Co, VA. Contact me if you would like copies.
1810 Census for Amherst County VA and the 1810 Census for Rockbridge County.

Other Old Virginia Maps for this Research

This 1755 map probably best shows the geographic significance of "Pedlar" (Pedlar River, Pedlar Mills city) "Buff" (Buffalo River) and "J River" used on the personal property tax rolls.

Also of interest in the deed analysis are the Tobacco Row Mountains.

Note the location of the city of Amherst in relationship to the Buffaloe River and Stoney Creek.

Also these really close ups from the Civil War Period
Amherst County, Civil War Maps
 

This 1877 map shows an updated version of the same geographic references, plus includes Otter Creek. Note the pink shading for Amherst, - the western border with Rockbridge essentially follows the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range.

One of my many pondering points is the reference to a mill and the land being on both sides of Otter Creek mentioned in one of the land sale deeds and the fact that in 1810, the family appeared to be living in both Amherst (James) and Rockbridge (Robert) yet the land sales were not initiated until 1811 or 1812. This could indicate the beginning of the migration to Ohio, or that the property was significantly north of the James River. There are references to Pedlar in detailed Rockbridge County maps up near the Robertsons Gap area.

Note also that this map refers to the Forks of Buffalo and New Glasco Depot on the rail line NE of Amherst

See also these really close ups from the Civil War Period
Amherst County, Civil War Maps

Amherst Co., Virginia - Tax List for Lexington Parish/District - 1800 - Column One – White males over the age of twenty-one - Column Two – Horses owned - Column Three – Slaves over the age of sixteen - Column Four – Slaves between the age of twelve and sixteen - Shastead, James 2-1-0-0 - Source http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaamhers/tax/Amherst_tax_1800.html NOW A DEAD LINK, unable to re find, maybe in error?

From the Alexander Brown papers in the Special Collections Department, Swem Library, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA - The List contains the following numbers: (This is the way Brown wrote his key) - 1. Of those who had interests in Old Albemarle prior to 1761, nearly 2000 and is nearly complete a. a. - This document is a key that Alexander Brown made to some sources that he was using in the late 19th century. The current location of many of these sources is unknown. Some of the records were public, some may have been documents that he owned or to which he had access at that time.
The Alexander Brown document has value because it may provide a researcher with a clue to use in his genealogy research but the researcher will need to do his own investigation into extant records. Source http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaamhers/docs/EarlySettlers.html NOW A DEAD LINK
Shasted James a.

St. Luke's Church Pedlar Mills, VA - (Copied from http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaamhers/docs/StLukesHistory.html)
The history of St. Luke's Church at Pedlar Mills goes far back into the beginnings of this commonwealth.
In 1778, Amherst Parish had included the Episcopal Churches of Nelson County before the two counties of Amherst and Nelson were formed. The churches of Amherst County were then taken into "Lexington Parish" (named for the first battle of the Revolution, fought at Lexington, Massachusetts) with the Reverend John Buchanan as its first minister.
There is a note in the parish registry that Major Josiah Ellis was appointed to receive subscriptions from the parishioners of "Pedlar Church" in 1799.
The original St. Luke's Church is described as a small frame building upon the upper part of Pedlar River.
St. Luke's for a time eked out a rather precarious existence. However, again in the parish records we find a notation in 1800 of a 'subscription being on foot for raising a sum of money for the particular purpose of repairing Pedlar Church'. Josiah Richard Ellis, a Great-grandson of the first mentioned Major Ellis, writes in a history of St. Luke's that after a meeting held in an old tobacco barn in 1826, it was decided by friends of the church that the wooden chapel should be replaced by a brick church. This was done early in the 1830s under the ministry of Reverend Silas Freeman.
The church was largely supported by John and Richard S. Ellis (Believe this is Richard Shelton Ellis 1775-1846), brothers and merchants at Pedlar Mills, who were instrumental figures in the building of the old brick church. After the War Between the States, the Reverend Robert J. McBride came as Deacon to Lexington Parish and became deeply interested in rebuilding the now-antiquated brick building of St. Luke's. The old church was torn down and rebuilt of the same brick under his administration probably about 1871 or 1872.
On May 11, 1876, St. Luke's was consecrated by The Right Reverend Francis M. Whittle, Assistant Bishop of Virginia. The sentence of consecration, written and signed in his own bold hand, is now pasted in the front of the parish register.
From the dawn of the century down to about 1921, however, there seems to be little record of the activities of St. Luke's. In April 1921 the Reverend Josiah Richard Ellis, Grandson and Grand-Nephew of John and Richard S. Ellis who built the original brick church, took charge of Amherst Parish and conducted services at St. Luke's. During his ministry, about 1926, the portico, with its tall white columns, was added to the church building.
Today, its congregation is considerably reduced in size, and services are held only several times a year.
Contributed by: Ken Dunlap (I am a descendant of Charles ELLIS, son of John ELLIS, and Charles' wife Susannah HARDING ELLIS. The Ellis family removed from Tuckahoe, in Henrico Co., to the Pedlar River in Amherst Co.(Albemarle at that time)abt 1754. Many of the Ellis family were buried in the family burying ground at "Red Hill" on Pedlar River between 1755-1830. I'd like to find the exact location of Red Hill, and locate the cemetery there, if it still exists. Also the  home, (designated as a State Landmark in Amherst County is located) of CHARLES ELLIS, b abt 1719 & wife, SUSANNAH HARDING ELLIS. They built it on the Pedlar River and it is called "Red Hill" - W of Pedlar Mills on VA 647, Pedlar Mills - St. Luke's , Pedlar Mills Province III Diocese Southwestern Virginia P.O. Box 688, Madison Heights, VA   24572, Clergy: Thomas Wallace, Senior Warden Primary Phone: 434-845-3446 ) Also http://members.aol.com/stlukesamherstva/ NOW A DEAD LINK
More may be learned by pursuing the Church / Cemetery angle in Amherst and Rockbridge counties, VA.