Individual Details

James Castellaw's name first appears in North Carolina records in 1718 when he witnessed the will of Henry Woodnot of Chowan Precinct on 29 Dec. 1718. In 1719, he obtained a warrant for 640 acres in Bertie Precinct. (Note: Bertie Co. was formed from Chowan Co. in 1722.) There is a deed in the records at Windsor, NC, dated 1 Feb. 1723/24, to Thomas Williamson, in which he mentions "Sarah, wife of said James", and she gave dower. James Castellaw served as a Justice of the Peace for Bertie for many years and was a Commissioner for the county. Treasurer of Bertie Co., NC, 1734. James died in 1749 and Sarah died after August 1749 when she became the executrix for the will of her son, William. (Harris 6)
One of the most distinguished early families in Cashy (also written as "Cashie," and Kesiah.") in Bertie Co. was that of James Castellaw and wife, Sarah. Henry Gustin, James Milliken and James Castellaw were partners doing business at Casia & Roanoke in 1727 (NCHGR 304). James became active in politics. He was elected as a member of the Colonial Assembiy in the Lower House in 1726, and in the Upper House in 1731, and served for 14 years until 1745. In addition, he found Mme to serve as one of c'His Majesty's Justices" from 1739- 1746, and be elected as Public Treasurer of Bertie in 1739. A very active man in Colonial politics, there are records of many Bills, Committees, and Acts attributed to him in the Colonial Records. He was instrumental in the placing of the public buildings at Cashy, and the actual construction of same. He started construction of the water mill that operated for nearly 200 years. His two sons, Thomas and John, sold part of the family holdings after his death, with Thomas moving to Duplin County to look after part of the family lands there, and John remaining to become the ancestor of most of Bertie's "Castelloe" families. James died between February 1748 and August 1749. (Thompson)
In his article about Cashy, Thompson says that in the 1730's Cashy had as neighboring landowners, Thomas Whitmel, who became Sheriff in 1745 and member of the Assembly from 1754 to 1759; James Castellaw, Lawyer. Treasurer of Bertie in 1735, and member of the Assembly from 1731 to 1746; and Nathaniel Hill, whose father was a member of the Assembly from 1731 to 1733. Castellaw was a prosperous merchant havihg taken in partners at "Cashy" before 1727. Whitmel was equally prosperous as a businessman in the same area.
When the area was divided and a new Courthouse authorized, a group of landowners from the Cashy area led by Thomas Whitmel, James McDowall, and James Castellaw - all Court Justices - filed a petition with a later court held in February 1742 asking that the court house site selection should not be settled as previously. The controversy raged for over a year until Governor Gabriel John- son signed into law an act "That the Court House, Prison, and Stocks shall be built between Cashy Bridge and Will's Quarter Bridge, in the said County, and that all Court shall be there held for the said County." Much of the effort behind this act must be credited to James Castellaw, one of the first Treasurers of Bertie, and at this time, respected member of the General Assembly, and owner ofthe land on which the Court was to be placed.
The Act of the General Assembly charged the Justices of Bertie County to purchase one acre between said bridges; and thus, James Castellaw issued a deed to the Justices of Bertie County for one acre on the North side of Cashy and South side of Will's guar- ter "(Whereon the Prison, Court House and Stocks are to be built"
James McDowell and James Castellaw were awarded the contract for the public buildings, and on November 13, 1744, asked the Court for final inspection on the Prison. This was done; and after several changes, it was accepted by Bertie as the "Public Goal" of the County on Friday morning, February 15, 1745.

At a Court held at the Court house at Casby Bridge Feb. 14, 1748-9. Present Justices Castellaw, John Harrell, Geo. Patterson and Needham Bryan (NCHGR 632)..


James Castellaw is the first Castellaw that came to the Colonies (we think). It has not been substantiated that this James was the same James Castellaw who settled in Bertie Co., NC Colonies. But we believe that it may be him. He was thought to be born 1685 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. That James Castellaw went to the University of Glasgow and then emigrated to the Colonies in the early 1700's. He was an attorney and involved in the politics of that time. He was also land wealthy. He married Sarah Williams of Isle of Wight Co., VA about 1712. They had 7 children: Bethiah H., Thomas, Katherine, William, John, James and Sarah Castellaw. This Sarah married Jesse Francis Barfield. I am descended from Sarah's brother James Castellaw. (Cheryl Castilaw H.)

James' father was Thomas CASTELLAW/CASTELLOW also from Paisley, Scotland.

Birth	6 Nov 1685	Scotland, Renfrewshire, Paisley
Baptism	8 Nov 1685	Scotland
Marriage	Abt 1712	Sara Williams
Death	1749	Bertie, North Carolina, British America

Spouse	Sara Williams ( - 1749)
Child	Bethiah H. Castellaw (1715 - 1805)
Child	Thomas Castellaw (1720 - 1790)
Child	Katherine Castellaw (1723 - )
Child	William Castellaw (1724 - 1749)
Child	John Castellaw (1727 - 1813)
Child	James Castellaw Jr. (1735 - 1785)
Child	Sarah Castellaw (1738 - 1818)

Father

Thomas Castellaw ( - )

Notes