Sussman-Laabs

Notes for: Robert Shasteen b 1775-1784 est 1782

Marriage Information: 1804 In Rockbridge County, Virginia records appears the following: "Robert Chastain to marry Nancy Caskey, daughter of Archibald Caskey, deceased. Date of Bond February 7, 1804. Married by Samuel Houston, Pastor of the High Bridge Presbyterian Church. Surety Joseph Grigsby.” [Source: The Chestnut Tree, Vol. II, #3, p. 25; Rockbridge Co. VA Courthouse, Marriage Bond Book 1, p. 94 - Source: Virginia Chastains, Lowell Chastain; Rockbridge Co., VA Marriage Bond Book 1, p. 94]

Census Information: Analysis of which names might fit which census persons, compared to Allen projection based on Ross Co., OH marriages (See Research File) 1810 Rockbridge Co., VA 1810, Robert Shasteen and Edmond Shasteen appear on the Rockbridge County, Virginia person property tax records. In 1811, James Shasteen appears. Since the Shasteens paid personal property taxes in both Amherst and Rockbridge Counties, they may have farmed land which lay in both counties, possibly on the border. After 1817, there are no Shasteen names appearing in the Rockbridge. (Per Rittinger chapter 8) 1814 - Robert a native of Virginia per ASHORC pg 918, "Robert Shasteen brought his family to Ohio in 1814, when his son James was seven years of age. They settled in Ross County, and ...James Shasteen grew up in the county, and after reaching manhood engaged in farming." 1819, the personal property tax roll of Gallia County, Ohio records Robert Shasteen, John [James] Shasteen, and William Shasteen. The 1820 {Ross Co} Census shows households of Robert Chasteen, John Chasteen, Abraham Shasteen [Disproven by looking at census copy by RDS], and James Chasteen living in Union Township, Ross County. (Per Rittinger chapter 8) {RDS note - in 1818 all five brothers were on the personal property tax rolls. James and Edmond must have left for Ross/Henry}

Brief history of Ohio Township, Gallia Co., OH from the History of Gallia County published by H. H. Hardesty & Co. in the year 1882. This township has the longest river frontage of any in the county, the Ohio river margin extending nearly eleven miles, the entire extent of its eastern and southern boundary. The soil is fertile and well adapted to the growth of most all kinds of grain. There are sixteen full sections, and eleven fractional sections of land, the latter bordering upon th Ohio river.The township was organized November 6, 1804 and the first meeting was held February 18, 1805 for election purposes. By the census of 1880 it had a population of l,429. In the year 1800, George and John Waugh first came, settled at the mouth of Swan creek. The names of Timothy Hobbs, E. Belomy, David Blake and Daniel Campbell are also given as among the early settlers. A man named Yount built the first cabin, but the first house of any note was built by John Sloan. In 1803 Thomas Hannan erected a grist mill on Swan creek, built of logs and containing one run of stones. The first postoffices established in the township were Swan creek, Alexander Campbell, postmaster, and South Newcastle, kept by George House. The present offices are Bush's Mill and Swan Creek. Elder John Lee, of the Baptist church held services at Hobbs school house. The first church organization was the Methodist Episcopal which was established in 1831. Among the first members were Mrs. Henry Hannan, James Guthrie, Mrs. George Campbell, J. King and wife, E. King and wife, and Mrs. Henry Campbell.

1819 Williams Bros. History of Ross and Highland Counties quote on page 262: "William Shasteen removed from Rockbridge Co., VA., and settled on the Ohio River below Gallipolis, (county seat of Gallia Co, OH located in the extreme southern border of Ohio about 40% of the way west from the east border) ) where he remained two years. In 1819 he moved to Ross Co., and settled in Union (Township), on the place now owned by Jacob Slager, then owned by Ezekiel Thompson. He died here in about 1853. His son, William, born in Virginia in 1814, has resided in the vicinity since his settlement in 1819." No William has been located in that time frame in Ross Co. (There is a William that settled briefly near Edmund in Henry Co per the 1830 and 1840 census, but no indication that he was in Ross Co.) Allen in TCT article speculated that this was Robert the father and William the son. This makes sense, but there is the possibility that it was William the father and William the son, with Robert being a brother of William, either the father or the son.

1820 Union Twp., Ross Co., OH census 1820 census Union Twp., Ross Co., OH - (pg 242 8/11 John & Robert adjacent with James at bottom of page) June 9, 1827 the heirs of Allison Clark Looker sold a tract of 30 acres on the waters of Crooked Creek in Pike County (South of Ross) to Edward Shasteen. At the May Term of the Court of Common Pleas of Ross County in 1828 John Swindler recovered a judgement against William Shasteen, James Shasteen, and Edmund Shasteen for the sum of $165.30 in action on the case. Thereupon, John Tarlton, Sheriff of Ross County, levied on the 30 acre tract of Edmund Shasteen lying on the waters of Crooked Creek, and on September 29, 1828 the Sheriff sold the tract to John Swindler. It appears that Edward/Edmund Shasteen and William Shasteen then left, appearing in the 1830 Census of Henry County, later known as Defiance County, Ohio. James dies or disappears prior to the 1830 Census, leaving his widow and children. (Per Rittinger chapter 8)

1830 census Union Twp., Ross Co., OH - Nancy Shasteen males 1 5-10, 2 15-20, 1 20-30, females 1 <5, 1 5-10, 1 40-50 1840 census Union Twp., Ross Co., OH - Nancy Shasteen males 2 20-30 (Edward 20 & Robert 28-30), females 1 10-15 (fits 1830 unknown), 2 15-20(could be dau Nancy 16 and Edward wife 18-20), 1 50-60 (Nancy-mother) 1850 census Canton, Fulton Co., IL page 275 line 36 James Beaver 29, Nancy 26, Azaria 6, Edward 5 b OH, Milton 4/12 b IL and Nancy Shasteen 50 born Penn 1850 census Fulton Co., Illinois - Nancy as a widow of Robert, moved with her daugher Nancy and her daughter’s husband James Beaver (children Azaria, Edward, and Milton) and her son Edward Shasteen with his wife Caroline (children Clarissa, Henry and Elizabeth). The census shows her age at 50 and birthplace as PA. Age is inconsistent with birth of children and more significantly with marriage date of 1804. Either a different Nancy Shasteen or a date error of about 10 years minimum 1850 census Fulton Co IL to be correct Nancy wife of Robert was 50 means born in 1800 but married in 1804. Either different Nancy or age error. Penn interesting. 1860 and 1870 census Nancy not found

Other information:

Robert a native of Virginia per ASHORC pg 918, "Robert Shasteen brought his family to Ohio in 1814, when his son James was seven years of age. They settled in Ross County, and ...James Shasteen grew up in the county, and after reaching manhood engaged in farming."

TCT 07-1989 article, per history of Ross and Highland Counties, Ohio, speculation is that this is the William that "removed from Rockbridge Co., VA, and settled on the Ohio River below Gallipolis, where he remained two years. In 1819 he moved to Ross Co., and settled in Union Township, on the place now owned by Jacob Slager, then owned by Ezekiel Thompson. He died here about 1853. His son, William, born in Virginia in 1814, has resided in the vicinity since his settlement in 1819. (Tthere is/was a Highland Co in both OH, 1805, and VA, 1847, assume the history refers to OH.)

FROM THE GALLIPOLIS GAZETTE, April 9, 1819 - LIST OF LETTERS Remaining in the Post Office at Gallipolis, Ohio, on the first day of April, 1819, which if not taken out before the 1st day of July next, will be returned to the General Post Office as dead letters. Persons calling for the following letters, will please mention they are advertised. - Robert Shasteen - [This would seem to indicate the family was in Gallipolis in he 1819 time frame - perhaps on their way to Ross County for the 1820 census ]

FROM THE GALLIA GAZETTE, ca April 21, 1820* - Transcribed and submitted by Deanna Partlow, 4/22/01 - LIST OF LETTERS - Remaining in the Post Office at Gallipolis, Ohio, on the first day of April, 1820, which if not redeemed before the 1st of July next, will be sent to the General Post-Office, as dead letters. William Shasteen (2) , Ephraim Hobbs (assume the same one that married Sarah Shasteen, probable daughter of Robert, 18 Jan 1827 in Ross Co?)

Gallipolis: Named for the French Five Hundred settlers. The word means "French City" from the Latin "Gaul" and the Greek "polis" which means city. It was settled in 1790 and its post office opened in 1794