Revolutionary War Pension Application of Zadock Casteel

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Bedford, Pennsylvania, United States
Surname/tag: Casteel

Rev. War Pension file R1795. Entered the Rev. War at Bedford, PA, about 2.5 years before the end of the war. Served under Capt. Boyd as part of the "Wood Rangers."

1778 Cumberland Valley Twp, Bedford Co, PA Tax List has Zedock Casteel as a young man.

1779 Cumberland Valley Twp, Bedford Co, PA Tax List has Zadock Casteel as a single freeman.

1790 Census of Bedford Co, PA, has Ezedoch Casteel, 1 male 16+, 1male -16, 3 females.

1800 Census of Bedford, PA.

He moved to Allegany Co, Maryland prior to 1810, as he appears on the census there in 1820 and 1820. In 1822 he moved to Preston Co, Virginia.

Sometime between 1834-1839, he moved to Monroe County, Ohio.

Revolutionary War Pension Application of Zadock Casteel [1]State of Virginia County of Preston Ss On this 23d day of May in the year 1834 personally appeared before me William Glover a Justice of the peace in and for said County of Preston and state of Virginia Zadock Casteel resident of said County of Preston and state of Virginia aged Eighty years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed the 7th of June 1832 That he entered the service of the united states under the following named officers and served as herein stated towit, that he was drafted for three months and served under the following officers Capt William Fesue in Col Woods regiment and the names of my other officers I do not recollect some time in the summer or fall of 1776 in the Town of Bedford he joined his company he then lived in the County of Bedford in the state of Pennsylvania and he marched from Bedford to Trenton Philadelphia Prinston [sic: Princeton] and Brunswick where his time expired as he had served three months, but he again volunteered his service to serve three months longer which was in the fall of the same year under the same officers and he remained some time in Brunswick and from thence to Morristown where his time expired and he received a discharge from Col. Woods which was in the winter season. that he was in the battles of Trenton and Prenston and he then returned home, and some time in the year 1778 in the spring he was a gain drafted for six months under the following officers Captain [John] Boyd. Lieutenant Johnson [Richard Johnston] and Ensign Mains and was stationed at a fort in the Town of Bedford for the purpose of protecting said Town and neighbourhood from the Indians who had been veary troublesome to the whites and while he was stationed there there was six Indians came near town and attempted to take a white boy of said Town while taking a horse to water but the boy made his escape and we persued them for three or four days but was not able to overtake them, and I remained at said fort untill fall when my time had expired and I received a discharge from my Captain and I returned home and in the spring of the year 1780 my brother Thomas Casteel was drafted for six months who was married and had a family and did not like to leave home and he hired me to served in his place and I was again stationed at said Fort under Capt Boyd Lieutenant Johnson and Ensign Mains for the purpose of protecting said Town and country as aforesaid and we marched from said fort in company with Capt Dunlaps company of regular troops to a place called Franks Town [Frankstown near present Hollidaysburg] at the foot of the Laurel hill it being an oald Indian town [Assunepachla] here we erected a block house, and we heard of the Indians being near said Town & we marched out to attact them. and we had not marched far before we fell in with them and had an engagement which resulted in our total defeat and massicree of the most of our troops [Battle of Frankstown, said to have occurred 3 Jun 1781] & our Captain was taken prisoner and afterwards exchanged, and our Ensign Mains was shot through his rist which prevented him from using his arm. and there were not more than nine or ten in our company but what was killed wounded or take prisoners. and Captain Dunlap was also taken prisoner and I understood that he was killed and the small remnants of our companies returned to Bedford. and late in the fall my time expired and I received a discharge from Lieutenant Johnson – and during the fall I again volunteered or was drafted I do not reccollect which under the said Johnson who acted as Captain and the remnant of our company was ordered to Little York Pa. for the purpose of guarding the Brittish prisoners where we remained all winter and in the spring we returned to Bedford and my time expired as I was only drafted to serve three months, & I received a discharge from said Johnson. I was in the service in all one year and nine months and all of his discharges has been lost & from oald age he cannot reccollect all the names of his officers. and from the same cause he cannot give the precise time of my service. he was borned in said County of Bedford Pa. on 17th of January 1754 my age was written in his fathers bill [Bible] which his brother got. he was living in said County of Bedford when called into the service and continued to reside in said County untill the year 1798 when he removed to Allegany County Md. where he continued to reside untill the year 1822 when he removed to this County and where he has remained ever since. that he is known in his present neighbourgood by Col. Benjamin Shaw. Col. James McGrew. Gustavus Cresap & others who can testify as to his veracity and their belief of his service. he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declarles his name is not on the pension roll or agency of any state Sworn and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid Zadock hisXmark Casteel

[The following report is by US District Attorney Washington G. Singleton who investigated hundreds of pension applications from present West Virginia. For details see my appendix to the pension application of David W. Sleeth S6111. Singleton wrote on this report “Not entitled.”] Zadoc Casteel. Applicant.

I called on this old man August 5, 1834. found him in bed exceedingly feeble worn out with age & infirmity – I endeavoured but in vain to procure from him some Intelligent statement of his Revolutionary Services – he could give no satisfactory statement either as to dates – when the service was done, under whom he served, nor the names of his officers, or his companion soldiers – but in general terms insisted that he was a soldier for one year and nine months – and that there living witnesses by whom he could prove it – John Springer aged 70 years a man of character and a relative of Casteel informed me that he has known Castell all his life – he never heard him speak of his services until after the passage of the Pension Law. and that he does not believe he ever served one hour, – under all the circumstances, I Respectfully suggest whether proof ought not to be required. W. G Singleton/ Nov. 25 1834

The State of Ohio Harrison County SS On this twenty ninth day of February AD 1836, before me Wm. Arnold, a Justice of the peace within and for said County, personally appeared Moses Beeman [Moses Beemen, pension application S2970] of said Harrison County, who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that in the month of August 1782, he entered the service of the United States as an enlisted solder; that he enlisted during the revolutionary war and served in captain John Boyd’s compay (called the Bedford rangers) and received his discharge on the 4th July 1783. And this deponant further says, that when he entered the service as aforesaid he found Zadock Casteel in the service, in the above mentioned Company, and that this deponant was at or during the time of his service as aforesaid informed by said Casteel and others, then in the service, that said Casteel had enlisted during the War, and had entered the service about twelve months previous to this deponants entering the service; that during the Eleven months that deponant was in the service, as above stated, to wit, from August 1782 untill July 1783, the said Zadock Casteel and this deponnt belonged to the same mess and were generally together, except when the one or the other were on furlow; that at the present said Zadock Casteel resides in Monroe County State of Ohio, and has resided there for the term of four months, that for the term of eight or nine years previously thereto he resided in Preston County State of Virginia, and that previous to that time he resided in Allegheney County State o Maryland, and further this deponant saith not.

State of Ohio Monroe County Ss Be it known that on the 31st day of January 1839 personally appeared before me the Subscriber an associate judge in and for the County aforesaid Zadock Casteel a resedent of union Township in said County who on his oath deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positivley as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades as a private in John Boyds Company of Bedford Rangers… two years and three months from the four part of May 1781 to fore part of august 1783 Zadock hisXmark Casteel

State of Ohio Knox County SS be it knoin that on the 11th day of February 1839 personally appeard before me the subscriber an acting Justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid Moses Beemin a resident of Jefferson Township in said county who on his Oath deposeth and saith that he was acquainted with Zadock Casteel a resident of Union Township in Monroe County and State aforesaid and from the best of his recollection the said Zadock Casteel served as a private not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grads as a privat in John Boyds company of Bedford Rangers in Pensylvania two years or upwards from the four part of May 1781 to the four part of August 1783

Woodsfield Ohio Feb 18th 1839 Dear Sir Enclosed you will find an amended declaration of Zadock Casteel and also the deposition of Moses Beeman he made the amended Declaration before me he states positively that he enlisted during the war and was not in any other compay but that of the Bedford Rangers the deposition of the witness corresponds this statement also I do not see how his former Declaration could aledge towers of 3 & 6 months in the Militia there must be a mistake some how and I believe it has not been on the part of Caseel the person drawing the declaration must have committed this error for I questioned him particularly on this point haveing your Letter with me he affirms that he never served in the militia nor did he ever knowingly make such a declaraiton I do hope you will favour his case. Moses Beeman joined the Company after Casteel Shortly Jer Hollister

War Dept, Pen Office/ June 21, 1839 Sir [Jeremiah Hollister] The amended declaration of Zadock Casteel and the testimony in his case have been ex’d & filed. He alleges to have served from 1781 to 1783 in Captain Boyd’s company of Bedford Rangers. That officer was a militia officer, and the actual service performed under him by order of competent authority did not amount to six months the length of time required under act 7 June ‘31. The claim has therefore been rejected

State of Ohio } Monroe County } Ss On this first day of June 1841 Personally appeared before me Hugh Hybrant, a Justice of the peace in and for said County Zadok Casteel, a resident of Monroe County, Ohio, aged about ninety years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, & served as herein stated (Viz) He entered the service according to the best of his recollection two years & six months before the close of the Revolutionary war, under Captain Boyd, (first name not recollected) of the wood Rangers, in Bedford, Pennsylvania, about two weeks afterwards he was in an engagement under Captain Boyd, against the Indians, at or near a place called Frankstown; Indians victorious, Captain Boyd was made a prisoner of war, Captain Dunlap commanding another company was killed in this engagement. The Command of our company then devolved on Lieutenant Johnston & served under him till the Close of the war, pursuing the Indians up & down Juniata River, & through different parts of Pennsylvania, but was in no particular engagement. The wood Rangers belonged to one particular Regiment & therefore he states he was not acquaint with the regimental officers, states that his business was to fight the Indians & guard the frontiers. He states that he has no papers or documentary evidence, & knows of no witness to support his claim.

The following questions were propounded to him, (viz) 1. Where & in what year were you born? Answer in Prince George’s County, Md. His age was recorded in the family bible; but it cannot be got as it belongs to a Sister that cannot be found; but he states he was about 26 years of age at the declaration of Independence. 2. Where where you living when called into service? Answer. In Bedford, Bedford Co. Pa. 3. Where have you lived since the war, & where do you now live? Answer in Pennsylvania, Maryland Virginia, & now in Monroe County Ohio. 4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute. Answer a volunteer. 5. Did you ever Receive a regular discharge from the service, by whom was it given. Answer Yes given by Leutenant Johnson. But it is now lost. 6. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood. Answer John Keller, John Casner, John Byres, William Davidson, Hugh Wybrant Esqr., Philip McWilliams, Samuel Anderson, Daniel Pettay & a great many others. 7. Can these men testify to your character for truth and veracity. Answer They can. To their belief that you were a Revolutionary Soldier. Yes. 8. Are you able to go before the proper Court of the County. Answer I am not, from bodily infirmity. 9. Did you ever apply for a pension before? Answer I did, but failed because the writings were not specific. 10. Do you hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, Answer I do. Sworn to & subscribed before me the day and year afore said Zadok hisXmark Casteel

I Zadok Casteel of Monroe County Ohio, do hereby declare that I enlisted in Captain John Boyds company of Rangers, raised in Bedford County Pennsylvania to serve during the revolutionary war, in the Spring of the year, & about two weeks after I enlisted Captain Boyd was taken prisoner by the Indians & the command of the company devolved upon Lieut. Richard Johnston; the battle in which Captain Boyd was taken prisoner was fought near a place called Franktown. After this battle our company returned to Bedford & remained in that section of country untill the following January when we marched to Franktown to guard prisoner, & returned to Bedford in March. Soon after our return we marched to Franktown under Lieut. Johnston, & built a block house, & returned to Bedford for winter quarters; the following Spring we marched again to our block house, & reconnitered up & down the waters of the Juniatta river, and was finally discharged at the close of the Revolutionary war in 1783 & not in ‘82, as I learn it is stated in my former declaration. The above declaration is correct according to the best of my recollection. Witness my hand & seal this 25th day of October 1841 Zadok hisXmark Casteel

NOTES: On 30 Oct 1841 a certificate was issued to Zadock Casteel for a pension of $40 per year beginning on 4 March 1831, for one year of service. His claim was approved on the strength of Moses Beemen’s statement and copies of documents certified on 28 Aug 1841 and abstracted as follows: Act of the General Assembly dated 21 Feb 1780 authorizing four companies for frontier service Act of the Council in Philadelphia on 9 Feb 1781 appointing John Boyd Captain and Richard Johnston Lieutenant of the company raised in Bedford County. Authority from the Council on 19 Nov 1781 for Col. Lewis Farmer to buy clothing for Boyd’s company. Order by the Council on 20 Nov 1781 for Boyd’s company to “march to Yorktown there to assist the military prisoners until the twenty-fifth of February next, and for the men raised for seven months to be discharged. Consideration by the Council on 2 Jan 1783 of the petitions of Capt. Thomas Stokely and John Boyd for money and clothing. “A monthly return of Captain John Boyd’s Company of Rangers of Bedford County in the service of the State of Pennsylvania for the month of February 1783" with the following data” Commissioned officers: 1 Captain, 1 Lieutenant, 1 Ensign Noncommissioned officers: 4 Sergeants, no Fifer, 1 Drummer Rank and file: 31 present fit for duty, 0 on command, 0 on furlough, 0 dead, 0 deserted, 0 discharged, 2 recruited Total 36 “The Capt and one private prisoners of War on parole” (signed) Richard Johnston

Letters dated 16 April 1840 and 4 Jan 1841 refer to a son of Zadock and Sarah Casteel named Jeremiah Casteel, who died in Carlisle PA about 1811, for whom a pension was claimed for unspecified service. On 5 Feb 1846 Sarah Casteel, 93, applied for a pension stating that she married Zadock Casteel in Bedford County in the spring of 1773 (at age 20), and he died on 11 Jan 1844. She also stated that she was married several years before she had any children, that she had five children, and that Loiza, the fourth child, 56, was the only one living. This statement was certified by this fourth child, Louisa Atha, who stated that she was born on 16 June 1790, and that she had a sister named Lucy who was four years and four months older, who “went to parts unknown” and was unheard of since. She also stated that there had been a brother born between this sister and herself, as well as a child about three years older than Lucy who died in infancy. A letter dated 30 Oct 1846 states that Sarah Casteel was born Sarah Athy, daughter of Owen Athy, and that she and her husband had been “a Township charge” until he received a pension, after which they lived comfortably until his death. Sarah Casteel’s claim for a pension was denied for lack of documentary evidence or a witness to the marriage.[2]