Captain Christopher Greenup Castleman and the burning of the BEN SHERROD on MAY 8, 1837.

The Ben Sherrod was racing the Prarie when a fire broke out. Eventually a keg of whiskey exploded, then her boilers exploded and a bit later 40 barrels of gun powder blew up.

Here are two different accounts of the Burning of the Ben Sherrod.

1. BURNING OF THE BEN SHERROD, MAY 8, 1837

2. Free Ebook which features an account of the loss of the Ben Sherrod by a passenger.  

Alfred Castleman (1795-1880)

Alfred Castleman (1795-1880) was the father of Osborne David Castleman (1826-1903)

Alfred Castleman married Margaret Lucinder Milton on September 29, 1825, in Frederick, Virginia. 

Alfred and Margaret had 9 children.

1. Osborne David Castleman
2. Nathaniel Green Castleman
3. William Alfred Castleman
4. Mann R Page Castleman
5. Mary Elizabeth Castleman Fletcher
6. Edward Prebble Castleman
7. Portia Roumania Castleman Dorsey
8. John Randolph Castleman
9. Charles Fremont Castleman

Alfred died on April 22, 1880, of an aneurysm in Battletown, Clarke, Virginia. He lived to be 84 years old.

At the age of 19, Alfred Castleman served in the War of 1812 in Captain Taylor's Regiment. He was a surveyor and a farmer and grew up living at the Runnymeade Farm in Berryville, Virginia. Alfred married his wife Margaret Lucinder Milton on September 29, 1825.

Many of his sons served in the military. His son, Nathaniel G. Castleman, served in the Spanish-American War in 1846 and later for the Union Army during the Civil War. William Alfred Castleman died at the Battle of Antietam in Sharpsburg, Maryland. Edward also died during the war when he was thrown from a horse. Edward served underneath "Stonewall Jackson" and fought in the First Battle of Bull Run. He later deserted and joined another company.

Mann R Page Castleman and John Randolph Castleman also served during the Civil War but fortunately survived. John Randolph Castleman served underneath Mosby in the 43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry.

John Randolph Castleman is number 75

William Castleman Sr. (1762-1832)

William Castleman Sr. (1762-1832) was the father of Alfred Castleman (1795-1880)

William Castleman Sr. (son of Johannes David Castleman and Margaret Johnson) was born November 27, 1762 in Frederick County (now Clarke Co.), Virginia, and died March 07, 1832 in Runnymede, Frederick, Virginia. He married (1) Massey Osborn on January 01, 1784 in Runnymede, Frederick, Virginia, daughter of Nicholas Osborn and Mollie Massey. He married (2) Juliet Beatty on April 03, 1824.

Burial: Unknown, Runnymede, Frederick, Virginia.

William was a Captain in the Virginia Militia and served in the Virginia Assembly 1801/1802 & 1808/1811¹. His son William Castleman Jr. served from 1828-1831. He was a Justice of the Frederick County Court 1804/1808. He Purchased Runnymede in Frederick Co., VA², in 1784.
William was a farmer, who grew tobacco. According to census records he was a slave owner.

Children of William Castleman Sr. and Massey Osborn are:

1. Alfred Castleman, b. December 22, 1795, Runnymede, Frederick, Virginia, d. 1880, Runnymede Farm, Frederick, Virginia.
2. William Castleman Jr., b. March 11, 1787, Runnymede Farm, Frederick, Virginia, d. April 03, 1842.
3. Margaret Castleman, b. November 05, 1790, d. October 31, 1824.
4. David Castleman, b. October 17, 1793, Virginia, d. November 25, 1814.

Footnotes
1. Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
2. Frederick Co., VA is now Hampshire Co., WV