Sylvanus Castleman of Fayette County

Footprints Of Fayette

Fayette County is one of the most historic counties in Texas. In this weekly feature from the County Historical Commission, a rotating group of writers looks back at local history.

Sylvanus Castleman and Elizabeth Lucas married in Davidson County, Tennessee in 1803 and their first five children, Nancy, Andrew, Sarah, Elizabeth and Lavinia were born there.

During the War of 1812, Sylvanus served as a Mounted Ranger in the Tennessee Militia. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Missouri where two more children, Benjamin and Jacob, were born. While in Missouri, Sylvanus became acquainted with Moses Austin who in 1819 was developing a plan to settle an American colony of 300 families in Spanish Texas. Austin and two American companions went to San Antonio to present the colonization proposal to the Spanish governor who endorsed it on December 26, 1820. Sylvanus Castleman may have been one of Austin’s traveling companions or he may have already been in Texas because as Moses Austin was about to return to Missouri to settle his affairs he sent a letter to his friend, Baron de Bastrop, mentioning that he had been at Mr. Castleman’s in January 1821.

Moses Austin died in Missouri on June 10, 1821 and his son Stephen F. Austin carried out his colonization plan. In March 1822, Sylvanus paid Austin for surveying his land and securing a title for it in the Province of Texas.

The rest of the Castleman family joined Sylvanus on the Colorado River prior to March 1823. The last Castleman child, son John, was born in Texas.

On July 7, 1824 Castleman officially received title to several tracts of land as a member of Austin’s “Old Three Hundred” colony, but he lived on his one-half league (2,214 acres) located on the west side of the Colorado River in a big bend about six miles above present day La Grange.

The Castleman homestead was a popular place for travelers and visitors passing through the area. Baron de Bastrop and Stephen F. Austin were frequent visitors and while they were in residence their letters were headlined with the notation: “From Castleman’s on the Colorado.”

The Castleman homestead was also a popular place for the Indians to harass and rob. They stole all of the horses and robbed their home taking the family quilts, bedding, clothing and table furniture. Castleman thought peace could be made with them until they assaulted his family. Sylvanus and his eldest son, Andrew were taken captive while working in the field and Andrew’s wife Nancy was frightened out of the house and fled to the river bottom carrying her three week old daughter Milly in her arms. The Indians took the tiny infant and began passing her around while Nancy begged them not to hurt her. When the savages threatened to drown the baby in the river Nancy began screaming hysterically. This shocked and impressed the Indians and they gave the baby back to her. With the help of a small boy who could speak their language Nancy was able to convince the Indians to release her husband and his father. From then on Sylvanus and his sons eagerly joined other settlers in chasing and killing the savages.

Sylvanus was a farmer and stock raiser as well as a “Politico”, having been elected Alcalde (judge) of the colony on January 26, 1824.

It is believed that Sylvanus Castleman died sometime in 1831. According to some reports, he “became deranged and committed suicide” by slitting his own throat. It was also noted that he was “esteemed as one of the best of men”. At any rate, Sylvanus was dead before March 10, 1832 when it was announced by his widow that he was deceased and all moveable property would be sold at his residence. His burial place is unknown.

Andrew Castleman died alongside Aylett C. Buckner at the Battle of Velasco in June 1832. His widow, Nancy, remarried and the baby girl, who had been dangled over the river by the Indians, grew up and had a family of her own.

Nancy and Lavinia Castleman married brothers John and Arter Crownover. They were brothers to Mary Crownover Rabb. With these marriages two of the first families of the Fayette County area were linked.

Sarah Castleman married Alexander Brown and moved to Blanco County.

Jacob Castleman served in the Texas army during the San Jacinto Campaign in 1836. He married Sophronia Harrell Lyons. They are both buried in the Castleman family burial ground just east of present day Flatonia.

The fate of Benjamin Castleman is unknown. John Castleman, the only child born in Texas, died in 1848 in Grimes County.

Elizabeth Lucas Castleman died in 1858 and is buried in the family cemetery near Flatonia.