CHAPTER THREE
SAMUEL STRONG (a2d5)
Between 1810-1812, the Strong and Casteel families appear to have moved together from
Russell County, Virginia to Barren County (Monroe County), Kentucky.
John Casteel,
Joseph Casteel,
Jenny Casteel, children of
Joseph and
Margaret Casteel, and
Samuel
Strong appear to be living in Barren County, Kentucky by 1812. At this time it is unknown
what happened to Samuel Strong's first wife,
Nancy Casteel-Strong. The last known record
that mentions Samuel and Nancy Strong was recorded in Russell County Law Order Book 4
in 1811, page 334. On March 3, 1812 in Russell County, Virginia a record of the land
transaction between Samuel Strong and Nancy, his wife, to John Knipp. After this record
Samuel Strong was in Barren County , Kentucky with his brother-in-laws, John Casteel and
Joseph Casteel.
Then on July 28, 1812
Samuel Strong married to his second wife,
Jean "Jenny" Casteel,
in Barren County, Kentucky. They were married by John Mulkey, a Baptist minister who was
one of the founders of the Mill Creek (Old Mulkey) Baptist Church in Tompkinsville, now
Monroe County, Kentucky, and the bond was made by
John Casteel.1 When Samuel
Strong and Jenny Casteel were married in 1812, the Mill Creek (Old Mulkey) Church in
Tompkinsville, Kentucky was then in Barren County, Kentucky. Both Samuel Strong and
Joseph Casteel (Jr.) were members of the Mill Creek (Old Mulkey) Baptist Church in
Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky. Samuel Strong formally requested to join the church
in 1829. Samuel Strong was excluded from the church November 3, 1840. Joseph Casteel
joined the church in July of 1841 but left the church in October of 1842.
Jean "Jenny" Casteel was born between 1780-1795 in Virginia and was the daughter of
Joseph and
Margaret Casteel, Sr. of Russell County, Virginia.2 Jean "Jenny" Casteel's
father,
Joseph Casteel, Sr., was born prior to 17503 possibly in Greenbriar County, Virginia.4
Joseph Casteel and Robert Casteel were first listed in the Russell County, Virginia Tax List
from 1796 until 1802. Joseph Casteel, Sr. appears to have died in the year 1803 and was
survived by his wife,
Margaret McClellan-Casteel, sons,
Samuel Casteel and
Joseph Casteel, Jr.,
and daughter,
Jean "Jenny" Casteel. However other children may have been
John Casteel,
Nancy Casteel,
Rosanna Casteel,
William Casteel and
Moeniy Casteel.5
Samuel Casteel, the son of Joseph Casteel, Sr., was born about 1775 in Virginia. Samuel
Casteel is believed to have married
Agness Fields, the daughter of
William and
Sarah
Fields.6
William Fields was the Uncle of
Annie Fields-Strong, who married
Thomas
Strong (a2d4). Samuel Casteel died around 1815 in Scott County, Virginia.
After Samuel Casteel's death
Agness Fields-Casteel married
James Gillum on December
13, 1815 in Scott County, Virginia. In 1853 James Gillum possibly abandoned Agness and her
children and moved to Carter County, Kentucky, where he may have married Charity Bogges.
In the
Scott County, Virginia Deed Book 2, pages 182-183, on August 10, 1831, James
Gillum, and Agness his wife, who was
Agness Casteel, wife and widow of
Samuel
Casteel: Hiram Lawson and Sally, his wife who was
Sally Casteel, daughter and heir of
Samuel Casteel, dec'd:
Obediah Casteel and
William Joseph Casteel, sons and heirs of
Samuel Casteel, all of Scott County, Virginia, sell to
John Strong, land which is part of a
tract granted to
John Wood in 1795 and conveyed by
John and
Nancy Wood to
Joseph
Casteel, dec'd 29 July 1797 in Russell County, Virginia and which was bequeathed to
Samuel
Casteel, by his father,
Joseph Casteel dec'd: also on record in Russell County containing 40
acres. Signed and witnessed by:
James and
Agness Gillam,
Hiram and
Sally Lawson,
Obediah Casteel and
William Casteel.
Joseph Casteel, Jr., the son of
Joseph Casteel, Sr. and
Margaret McClellan-Casteel was born about
1776 in Virginia. Joseph Casteel moved to Barren County (now Monroe County), Kentucky
with
John Casteel, Sr.,
John Casteel, Jr. and
Samuel Strong (a2d5) between 1812-1814.
Joseph Casteel, Jr. and his descendants later resided in Jackson County (now Clay County),
Tennessee.
Barbara Yarberry, who wrote a book about the Casteel Family, lists
John Casteel as
another son of
Joseph Casteel, Sr. and
Margaret Casteel of Russell County, Virginia.
According to Yarberry, this
John Casteel was believed to have been born about 1778 in
Pennsylvania. John married
Elizabeth Ann McClellan.
Elizabeth McClellan was the daughter
of
Andrew McClellan and
Rebecca Robinson. This
John Casteel is believed to have been
the
John Casteel who purchased 370 acres from
Hiram Kilgore on September 23, 1803.
This land was adjacent to the conditional lines of
Samuel Strong (a2d5),
Zeb Lovealls and
Andrew McClellands.7
John Casteel then appears to have sold this land on October 8, 1810 to Teaque Quillen.
On October 8, 1810 John Casteel, of Barren County, Kentucky, sold to Teaque Quillen of
Russell County, Virginia... $600 ... land in Russell County, Virginia... Beginning on the north
side of Obeys Creek ... it being part of a tract of 700 acres granted to
James Daysert
(Dysart) running along several courses of said tract of land to the conditional lines thence of
Samuel Strongs,
Zeb Lovealls and
Andrew McCelines (McClellands) containing 370
acres. Signed by
John Casteel. Witnessed by
Samuel Strong,
Thomas Strong and
James
Quillen. Acknowledgment November 6, 1810 proved by Oaths of
Samuel Strong and
James Quillen. Recorded September 3, 1811... further proved by Oath of
Thomas Strong
and order to be recorded.8
Note: The fact that this deed makes mention that
John Casteel was living in Barren County,
Kentucky in 1808 helps establish that
Samuel Strong (a2d5) followed the Casteel family to
Barren County, Kentucky from Russell County, Virginia.
John Casteel then moved to Barren County (now Monroe County), Kentucky with his
brother
Joseph Casteel.
John Casteel sold his land in Barren County (now Monroe County),
Kentucky to
Samuel Strong (a2d5) and then moved to Rhea County, Tennessee. John
Casteel died around 1840 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
Margaret Casteel, widow of
Joseph Casteel, Sr., is believed to have died about 1808 in
Russell County, Virginia. On September 15, 1808, her son,
Samuel Casteel, sold 39 acres of
land he received after his mothers death, as specified in the Will of
Joseph Casteel, Sr. in
1803. On September 15, 1808
Samuel Ewing of Russell County, Virginia and attorney for
Hugh and Charles McClung of Pennsylvania and Tennessee... and
Samuel Casteel... 39
acres of land on the waters of Copper Creek and on the north side of said creek... Beginning on
the north bank of the same near a corner to
John McClellands land... and running with his
lines... passing his corner... on a line of said Casteels and with the same. Signed Samuel
Ewing Attorney for Hugh Charles and McClung of Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Witnessed
by Nathan Hobbs, Anjer Price and
Obediah Fields. Recorded March 7, 1809.9
The first reason we know that
Jean "Jenny" Casteel was the daughter of
Joseph and
Margaret Casteel comes from the recorded Will of
Joseph Casteel which was made on
March 27, 1803 and recorded in Russell County Will Book 2, page 49.
Russell County, Virginia. March 27, 1803
Will Book 2, page 49
"In the name of God Amen, I JOSEPH CASTEEL of the County of Russell and the
State of Virginia, being sick and weak in body, but in sound mind of disposing
memory of which I thank God and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and
being desirous of disposing of such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me
with: I give and bequeath the same in the following manner that is to say first. I give
my body to the grave and my soul to God that gave it: next I give to my daughter
JEAN (or JANE), my negro Girl named SARAH, at her marriage, or her mother's
death; and my land to my son SAMUEL, to have all of my land at his mother's death,
and all my other estate to MARGARET, my wife during her natural life, after all my
just debts being first paid, and at her death all my other effects to be equally divided
among my children and my son JOSEPH, to have part of the land where he now lives
as long as he sees cause to live on it. And my negro girl named RACHEL, my wife to
give to which of the children she shall think fit.
And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my friends JOHN McCLELLAN and
MARGARET CASTEEL my executor and executrix of this my last will and testament,
hereby revoking all other or former wills or testaments by me hereforto made. In
witness where of I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty seventh
day of March one thousand eight hundred and three.
his
JOSEPH x CASTEEL
mark
Note: John McClellan sold
Thomas Strong (a2d4) and his wife,
Ann (Fields), 80 acres in
Russell County, Virginia. This sale was witnessed by
Samuel Strong,
William Fields and
Samuel Casteel. It also mentions
Robert Casteel. This
John McClellan also witnessed
another Land Deed with
John and
Joseph Casteel in Russell County, Virginia. This land was
adjacent to the property of
Samuel Strong (a2d5).
The second reason we know that
Jean "Jenny" Casteel was the daughter of
Joseph and
Margaret Casteel comes from the 1806
Russell County, Virginia Court Order Book: 3-535
Samuel Strong and
Nancy, his wife vs.
Margaret Casteel et al Chancery. On August 6,
1806 "At a Court continued and held for Russell County. Present John Tate, George Kindrick,
Harry Smith, John Hamon. Gentlemen;
John Casteel,
Joseph Casteel,
Samuel Strong and
Nancy, his wife, William Glenn and Rosanna, his wife,
William Casteel and
Moeniy
Casteel (the last two infants, under the age of 21 years) by
John Casteel their brother and
next of kin... Plaintiff..} in Chancery. Against
Margaret Casteel and
John McClellan,
Executrix and Executor of the Will of
Joseph Casteel desc'd, and
Samuel Casteel and
Jenny Casteel... Defendants. The defendants not having filed their answers within three months
after the plaintiffs had filed their bill having also been served with a subpoena at least three
months before the said time for filing their answer upon the motion of the plaintiff by their
counsel the court doth take their bill for confessed and will proceed at a future day to the decree
the matters there of unless the said defendants on or before the first day of the court next after
they shall have been served with a copy of this order show cause to the contrary."
Between 1812-1814
Samuel Strong appears on a few records in both Russell County,
Virginia and Barren County (Monroe County), Kentucky. At first this overlap in the records of
these two Counties' makes it appear that there might be two
Samuel Strongs. However this is
easily explained by the fact that these records are "Proof of Deeds" where the witnesses must
appeared before the Court to give their oaths as witnesses of the land transactions.
Looking at the Russell County Court Records on February 4, 1812, Samuel Strong to
William Cocks, and on March 3, 1812,
Samuel Strong and
Nancy, his wife to
John Knipp,
these are both "Proof of Deeds" indicating that
Samuel Strong had already sold his lands in
Russell County (Scott County), Virginia. And the witnesses' oaths were being approved by the
Court. And since
Samuel Strong still owned land in Russell County, Virginia when the petition to
form Scott County from part of Russell County, Virginia was being taken, this would explain
why his name was on this record.
Additionally, the records between
Samuel Strong and those of the
Casteel families are enough
to rule out the possibility of two
Samuel Strongs. We see the close association between
Samuel
Strong,
John Casteel,
Joseph Casteel, Sr.,
Margaret Casteel,
Jean "Jenny" Casteel,
and the
Fields,
McClellans,
Quillens and
Kilgores. One of the best pieces of evidence for
this association is the land record between
Teaque Quillen and
John Casteel. This record
shows that
John Casteel was living in Barren County (Monroe County), Kentucky by 1808 and had sold his land in Russell County (Scott County),
Virginia, that was located next to
Samuel Strong, to
Teaque Quillen. Then in 1812
John
Casteel sold
Samuel Strong 80 acres of land in Barren County (Monroe County), Kentucky.
And
Samuel Strong married
Jean "Jenny" Casteel, the daughter of
Joseph Casteel, Sr.
As we already know,
Samuel Strong is believed to have moved from Rockingham County,
North Carolina to Russell County (Scott County), Virginia around 1795. Then between 1810-
1812 Samuel moved from Russell County (Scott County), Virginia to Barren County (now
Monroe County), Kentucky. The below Tax Records for
Samuel Strong (a2d5) from 1796 to
1843 shows Samuel Strong's move from Cooper Creek in Russell County (Scott County),
Virginia to Line Creek in Barren County (now Monroe County), Kentucky. As a note, Scott
County, Virginia was formed from part of Russell County, Virginia in 1814 and Monroe
County, Kentucky was created from part of Barren County and Cumberland County, Kentucky
in 1820.
Russell County, Virginia Tax Records
Russell County, Personal Property, Lower District:
1794 William Strong
1795 William Strong
1796 William Strong and Samuel Strong
1797 No listing
Barren County, Kentucky Tax List
Barren County Tithable List
1810 No Strong's listed.
1811 No Strong's listed.
1812 Samuel Strong, 1 over 21, 2 horses
1813 Samuel Strong, 80 acres Line Creek, 1 over 21, 2 horses, Means Co.
1814 Samuel Strong, 80 acres Line Creek, 1 over 21, 1 horse, Means Co.
1815 Samuel Strong, 100 acres Mill Creek, 10 acres Mill Creek, 1 over 21, 1 horse.
1816 Samuel Strong, 100 acres Line Creek, 1 over 21, 3 horses, Mean Comp.
1817 Samuel Strong, 100 acres Line Creek, Mean Comp.
1819 Samuel Strong, 100 acres Line Creek, Jackson Co.
Monroe County, Kentucky Tax List
Monroe County, Kentucky Tithable List
1820 Samuel Strong, 100 acres Line Creek, 10 acres Line Creek.
1821 Samuel Strong, 100 acres Line Creek, 10 acres Line Creek.
1822 Samuel Strong and Joseph Strong.
1823 Samuel Strong and Joseph Strong.
1824 Samuel Strong and Joseph Strong.
1825 Samuel Strong and Joseph Strong.
1826 Samuel Strong and Joseph Strong.
1827 Samuel Strong and Thomas Strong.
1828 Samuel Strong and Thomas Strong.
1829 Samuel Strong and Thomas Strong.
1830 Samuel Strong and Thomas Strong.
1831 Samuel Strong and Thomas Strong.
1832 Missing
1833 thru 1836 Samuel Strong, 100 acres Line Creek, 10 acres Line Creek.
1840 Samuel Strong, 110 acres Line Creek, value $400, 1 w/m + 21, 4 horses, 10 cattle
1841 Samuel Strong and William Strong.
1842 Samuel Strong and William Strong.
1843 Samuel Strong, William Strong and Scott Strong.
Note: After 1843 no Strong families were listed on any Monroe County Tax lists or Census
Records.
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