This section is for information I have and additional sources of information I have found on these two men and their families. I have attempted to not duplicate for now the research that is intertwined into the other pages. Perhaps at a later date I will attempt to clean this up.

James and Jesse Shasteen appeared on the personal property tax rolls of Madison Co KY in 1791 and 1792 respectively.
James moved to Madison Co KY October 1791 per pension records.
I would like to think that the fact they left and James Buff appeared for two additional years in Amherst is and indication that he was not their father.

See Shasteen Migration Routes for Maps

Summary of James Chasteen Revolutionary War Pension Request — Submitted by Joe W. Hardiman

(RDS Notes: Per original docs, appears to have enlisted in 1777 or 1778 in Fluvanna Co which was formed in 1777, and been discharged in 1780 or 1781, then reenlisted for 18 months and was discharged in 1782. Age of Elizabeth indicates birth in 1785, three years before marriage in 1788, indicating they may have been in Amherst and living together when James showed up on tax rolls in Amherst in 1785)

September 7, 1818 - Madison County, KY
James Chasteen signed a Revolutionary War Pension request form stating that he had served in the Virginia Continental line for three years in Col. Francis Taylor's Regiment. A few months after his discharge James then enlisted for 18 months in Col. Armand's Corp of Horse. James stated that he was at the capture of Corn Wallas at York, and received his second discharge the next day.

William Abney, about 61 years old, signed a statement on James Chasteen's Pension Request stating that he had served in the same Regiment with James Chasteen and saw him receive his discharge at the end of the siege of York.

James Clark, Circuit Judge, signed statements by James Chasteen and William Abney

David Irwin, Clerk of Court, signed a statement verifying the signature of James Clark.

September 8, 1819 - Madison County, KY
James Clark, Circuit Judge, signed a statement attesting to the character of William Abney and declared that William Abney is a man of good character for truth and honesty.

October 25, 1819 - Washington City, D.C.
Certificate of Eligibility (#15411) for Revolutionary War service issued to James Chasteen at the rate of $96 per annum to commence 7 September 1818. Certificate issued to Joseph Clark for James Chasteen with back pay included in the amount of $143.48.

March 13, 1821 - Madison County, KY
James Chasteen appeared in Circuit Court stating that he is about sixty years of age. He further stated that he enlisted in the service of the United States under Captain John Roberts for a term of 3 years in Col. Francis Taylor's regiment belonging to the Virginia Line. After serving his term of three years and receiving his discharge he enlisted a second time for one year and six months in the Horse Company commanded by Captain Robert Kirk, in the Regiment commanded by Col Armond. He was at the battle of the Siege of York the time the Americans captured Cornwallace and received a second discharge. James further stated that he did not conceal any property or securities on debts owed him in order to obtain his pension.

His assets as listed:

Two Horses worth $50 no more
Three head of cattle no more
Fifteen head of hogs and no more
Farming utensils $5
Household furniture $20
Debts owed $10.25

James stated that he had five children namely Elizabeth 25, John 23, Polly 22, Jese 21, Nancy 18. His wife Nancy is about 65 years old.

James Clarke, Circuit Judge, signed the statement of James Chasteen.

September 5, 1821 - Madison County, KY
David Irwin, Clerk of Court copied the court procedures of March 13, 1821 and signed a statement that in the opinion of the court James Chasteen's total property value is $115.25 cents.

December ??, 1842 - Madison County, KY
Thompson Burnam swears before Thomas J Broniston that he knew Nancy Chastun and James Chastun as husband and wife for thirty years.

January 2, 1843 - Madison County, KY
Thomas Ballew signed a statement before Samuel Estill, Justice of the Peace, that he had known Nancy Chastain and her husband James for 28 or 30 years and knows that they lived together as husband and wife and they he knew them to be respected and orderly members of the Baptist Church.

Samuel Estill, Justice of the Peace, signed a statement that Thomas Ballew is a respectable person of good character as a Minister of the Gospel.

January 5 1843 - Madison, KY
David Irwin, Clerk of Court certifies the signature of Thomas J Broniston.

October 31, 1843 - Rockcastle County, KY
Nancy Chastun (the way the ee's are written in this document they all appear as a u) about 87 years old appeared before James D Ballard, Justice of the Peace, stating that she is the widow of James Chastun and is seeking a Revolutionary War widows pension. She also stated that they were married in 1783 or 1784 in Virginia. James Chastun died the 28th day of February 1841. She remains the widow of James Chastun. She also stated that she is not able to attend open court owing to her old age and weekneed of body and some distance to the court house and bad rodes and wants appointed Chastun H Trabue her attorney to receive he certificate from the pension agent. (Nancy Shasteen is how her name was spelled on this letter so she could make her mark.)

James D Ballard, Justice of the Peace, signed the letter and then wrote and signed a statement that is was personally acquainted with Nancy Shastun and that she is a lady of respectability and that her statement is to be believed and the he knows that she is the widow of James Chastun.

October 31, 1843 - Rockcastle County, KY
John Chasteen appeared before James D Ballard, Justice of the Peace, and stated that he was the third child of James and Nancy Chasteen, and that he is about fifty-two years of age and that the eldest child is named Elizabeth and that she is about 59 years old. He further stated that he heard his father say about their marriage that they were married in 1783 or 1784 and they lived together as husband and wife until his father died the last day of February 1841. He further stated that he mother has remained a widow.

James D Ballard signed John Chasteen's statement and declared that John is a man of good character standing and that he is a man of truth and is to be believed.

October 31, 1843 - Rockcastle County, KY
Elizabeth Durham about 59 years old signed a statement before James D Ballard that she is the oldest child of James and Nancy Chasteen and that her mother is still a widow. She believes that they were married in 1783 or 1784 and that they lived together as husband and wife until his death 28 February 1841.

James D Ballard signed Elizabeth Durham's statement and made a statement of his own that Elizabeth and John Chasteen were of good character and were to be believed.

November 3, 1843 - Rockcastle County, KY
James Terrill, Clerk of Court, certifies J D Ballard has power of attorney and that his signature is good on documents of October 31, 1843.

November 25, 1843 - Rockcastle County, KY
Nancy Chasteen appeared before James D Ballard and stated that she is still the widow of James Chasteen. She was born in Albemarle County, Virginia and moved to Amhurst County, Virginia when she was two years old where she was raised. That in the month of October 1785 she was married to James Chasteen in Amhurst County, Virginia by a Methodist preacher by the name of Davidson and the name of the man who gave the license was William Loving. Her father told her that she was nearly twenty six years old when she was married, but except for this she does not know how old she now is. She and her husband moved to Kentucky in the month of October 1791 and her oldest child is 55 or 56 years old. She had two children before she moved to Kentucky who are now still living, and she had four since three of which are still living. They settled in Madison County in the part which became Rockcastle County until her husband died February 27, 1841. She is seeking a widows pension for her husbands war service. Her maiden name is Nancy Kennedy.

James D Ballard signed her statement.

James Terrill, Clerk of Court, certifies the signature of James D Ballard.
John Chasteen appeared before James D Ballard and stated that he is the son of James and Nancy Chasteen and is in 51st year and that his mother is still a widow and that he has two older sisters and the oldest must be about 55 or 56.

William Abney appeared before James D Ballard and stated he had been in the same regiment with James Chasteen and knew him to be receiving a pension and that he was not at the wedding but knew that James and Nancy Chasteen were married in Virginia about 1785 and lived as husband and wife for about 57 years until his death February 27, 1841.

James D Ballard signed William Abney's statement.

James Terrill certified the signature of James D Ballard.

November 27,1843 - Rockcastle County, KY
James Terrill, Clerk of Court, attests that the request for a pension for Mrs Nancy Shasteen has been submitted in open court by James D Ballard and that full thought and faith be given for her as though her statements had been made in open court.

December 19, 1843 - Frankfurt, KY
C. H. Trabue letter to pension board with declaration of Nancy Chasteen. (C. H. Trabue was Chasteen Haskins Trabue an attorney in Frankfurt, KY).

July 5, 1844 - Rockcastle County, KY
Nancy Chastain appeared before Justice of Peace James L Sayers and stated that she is the widow of James Chasteen and that she seeks benefits through a widow's pension.

James L Sayers signed Nancy Chastain's statement and also wrote a statement that he is personally acquainted with her and that she is of good character and is still a widow.

James Terrill, Clerk of Court, wrote a statement that James L Sayers is a Justice of the Peace and that it is his signature on the document for Nancy Chasteen.

July 10, 1844 - Washington City, D.C.
Certificate of Pension issued for Nancy Chasteen, widow of James Chasteen, to her attorney C. H. Trabue Frankfurt, KY.

January 30, 1845 - Rockcastle County, KY
Nancy Chasteen sworn statement to James D Ballard, Justice of the Peace, stating that she is the widow of James Chasteen a soldier of the Virginia Continental Line and that she has not remarried and that any amount due her should be forwarded to her attorney C.H. Trabue or S. F. J. Trabue and that she wishes that they alone continue to act on her behalf.

James D Ballard signs Nancy Chasteen's statement.

January 31, 1845 - Rockcastle County, KY
James Terrill, Clerk of Court, certifies that James D Ballard is a Justice of the Peace and that it is his signature on the document of Nancy Chasteen dated January 30, 1845.

April 16, 1845 - Washington City, D.C.
Certificate of Pension issued for Nancy Chasteen in the amount of 80 dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836. Certificate issued to her attorney C. H. Trabue, Frankfurt, KY in the amount of $400.00.

July 31, 1848 - Rockcastle County, KY
Nancy Chasteen aged 92 appeared before James D Ballard, Justice of the Peace, stating that she believed her pension should be at the rate of $96 per annum instead of the rate approved of $80 per annum and that C. H. Trabue alone is authorized to act on her behalf in this matter. She also states that she is still the widow of James Chasteen.

James D Ballard signed the statement of Nancy Chasteen and wrote a statement that she was personally known to him and that he knows she is the widow of James Chasteen and that she has authorized the power of attorney.

September 4, 1848 - Rockcastle County, KY
James Terrill, Clerk of Court, signed a statement that James D Ballard is a Justice of the Peace and that it is his signature on the July 31, 1848 letter for Nancy Chasteen.

December 13, 1848 - Washington City, D.C.
Certificate of Pension issued for Nancy Chasteen for 80 dollars per year to commence on the 4th day of March 1848.

July 6, 1849 - Rockcastle County, KY
James Terrill affirms that Nancy Chasteen is still a widow through a written statement to the pension office.

July 19, 1855 - Rockcastle County, KY
Letter to Pension Board in Washington D.C.

(These letters were filed under the Rev. War Pension file of Francis Ramsey)

Frances Ramsey a Revolutionary War soldier drew a pension about which his two surviving children requested that Alfred Smith write a letter requesting information on whether or not Frances Ramsey was a Drum Major, and is a Drum Major a commissioned officer, and if so was Francis and his widow supposed to have received a higher amount on their pensions? Is there an amount due to his heirs and if so how much and how do they get it?

The heirs of James Chasteen learned Calvary soldiers were to have received a higher rate in their pension, and requested from the Pension Board a review of his record, and if he and his widow was due back pay how were they to receive it. Nancy Chasteen "died two or three years ago probably in 1849" according to this letter of July 19, 1855.

Alfred Smith wrote letters for the families of Francis Ramsey and James Chasteen with these questions as stated above for July 19, 1855 to the pension board in Washington D.C.

May 15, 1927 - Washington D.C. to Bondurant, Iowa
Mrs M L Ingle letter from Wars section Washington D.C. giving her abstract from James Chasteen files signed by Winfield Scott Commissioner. (Her letter requesting the abstract was not in the file.)
END

James Shasteen Timeline by Darrell Miller obtained April 2008 — (now dec'd)

Thought I would send you a time-line for James Chasteen that I have accumulated.  I believe it will discount the theory that this James married Phoebe Padgett. My James never wound up in Ross County, Oh. 

James' brother Jesse married Elinor Wade and died in Franklin Co. TN abt 1841.

1773-  Deed Records of Bedford County, VA.  
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.  (RDS Note - Based on est dob 1759/61, this would have been when James was 14/12 - so would assume a different James, more likely James the preacher (b 1740/50) possible son of Peter b 1707)

1777- Brothers James and Jesse [Shasten] Chasteen enlisted in Fluvanna County, VA. in 1777 and served 18 months under Captain Holeman Rice and Colonel Francis Taylor. He later served 18 months in a later enlistment in Captain Robert Kirk's Company in Armond's Corps of Horse and was discharged the day after Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown at which he was present. 

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. (RDS Note - William Witt b 1675 son Benjamin Witt  m Marianne Mary Ann Chastain b abt 1715 d bef 1791 whose father was Jean Adam Chastain b 1690 AND dau Sarah Witt m John Cannady/Kennedy whose dau Nancy m James Shasteen.  Ann may have been Benjamin Witt's {b 1712/14 d 1760/70} widow.  According to another source Ann Mills Witt (1740-1816 was the widow of Lewis Witt son of Benjamin Witt and Mary Ann Chastain Witt and was this Ann Witt in the land purchase.   This would have been just before his revolutionary war service 1777/8 to 1782)

James Chasteen was a private in the 10th Va Regiment, Continental Line-    W. 2917  Virginia 

September 18, 1779- James sold 50 acres on the south side of the Otter River to Lettice Brown of  Bedford County.

October of 1791 James and his brother Jesse moved to Madison County, KY.

Nov 30, 1792 (James Shaten) 1 wt male >21 1 blk male <16 3 horses  17 cattle
Apr 21, 1796  1 wt male>21 1 blk male 6 horses & mules 33 cattle
Jun  1799   (James Shasteen)  wt male 1>21 1<16, 1 horse
Jun11, 1800 (James Shatten)  Same as 1799

May 21, 1801 through Aug 9, 1809
59ac 3rd rate land on Otter Creek, Madison Co. KY 1 wt male>21     3 horses
1811       170ac 2nd rate land on Station Camp Creek, Madison Co., KY 1 wt male <21,  4 horses
1812 No lands listed- 1 wt male <21, 9 horses (Lawsuit in Estill Co., re land transfer to a second buyer)
1813 No listing
1814 1 wt male <21  6 horses vet exempt value $100
1815 John Shatteen -19th reg in Kindred's Company
1816 James (no listing)
1817 James Shatteen 19th Reg under McAlexander, 1 wt Male <21, 3 horses, Tot Value $90, vet exmpt.
1818 (same as 1817)
1819 No record for James or John.
1820 James Shatteen 19th Reg under McAlexander, 1 wt Male <21, 2 horses, Tot Value $20, vet exmpt
1821 James Shatteen,  19th Reg under Fish, 50 ac 3rd rate land on Brush Creek, RCK 6
 1 wt- male <21,   1 horse val. $70.00
1822 James Shatteen- 19th Reg under Haggard- I wt male<21, 2 horses,  T val $40.00
1823 James Shatteen- 19th reg under Quest- 1 wt male <21, 1 horse,  T Val $ 25.00

1810 Madison County, KY Census

James Chastain, Page 204, No Township Listed
3 males to age 10
2 males age 10 to 16
1 male age 45 and up
1 female to age 10
1 female age 10 to 16
1 female age 45 and up

His widow, Nancy Chasteen, whose maiden name was Nancy Kennedy, filed her claim for widow's pension date of November, 1842, while residing in the county of Rockcastle, State of KY. They were married in the county of Albemarle, state of Virginia, October, 1785. 

The affidavit of a fellow soldier, by the name of William Abney, was made in the County of Rockcastle, State of Kentucky date of November 30, 1842.

7 Sept, 1818. Madison County, KY. James Chasteen of said county, aged 57, declares  he was enlisted for three years in Fluvanna Co., VA., in 1777 or 1778 by Capt. Holman Rice and Ens. Nicholas Meriwether in the regiment of Col. Francis Taylor until 1780 or 1781 when he was discharged at Winchester, VA (RDS Independent City in present day Frederick Co VA). He was at York when Cornwallis was taken.

7 Sept, 1818. Madison County, KY. William (X) Abney declares he was a soldier and knows James Chasteen served in the regiment of Col. Francis Taylor for the three years. He saw Chasteen get his discharge.

He owns two horses, three head of cattle, fifteen head of hogs, farming utensils and household furniture.
He has a wife and five children, Elizabeth, about 25, John, about 23, Polly, about 22, Jesse, about 21, Nancy, about 18, all married and living apart from their father. His wife Nancy is about 65 and is not able to maintain herself.

 13 March 1821. Madison County, KY. James Chasteen of said county, aged about 60, declares he served three years in the company of Capt. Holeman Rice in the regiment of Col. Francis Taylor. After  he obtained his discharge he enlisted for one year and six months in the horse company of Capt. Robert Kirk in the regiment of Col. Armong.  During his last enlistment he was at the siege of YORK.

 END