|
The Castor's were originally from Kaldenkirchen, Germany. It started out Cuester or Kuester, then Kuster when Paulus Kuster moved to Germantown, Pa in the early 1700's, then his grandson, Conrad Custard moved to the mountains of Virginia (Rockingham Co). Then Benjamin Custard moved to what he thought was West Augusta Co, VA, but later turned out to be Allegheny Co, PA and is now in Washington Co, Pa. (Right on the boarder between the two counties.) Then his son, Edward changed it to Castor and moved to Hancock Co, Ohio.
Benjamin moved to Allegheny Co, PA from Augusta and Rockingham Counties in Virginia. The Ohio Company expanded Augusta County to become the District of West Augusta, Virginia. Benjamin Custard then came to this area, now known as Yohogania county, with a land grant. He received his land patent from Virginia in the middle 1700’s. This operation was known as The Ohio company. George Washington and his brother Lawrence were stockholders in the company and it is why George Washington came here in 1754 with soldiers to move the French out of the Forks of the Ohio, as Pittsburgh was known so that they could settle farmers here, conduct trade with the Indians and control access to the western frontier for the commonwealth of Virginia. When Pennsylvania took over the area from Virginia in the mid 1780’s everyone with Virginia patents went up to Fort Cox by Stone Chapel to have Pennsylvania recognize their claim. They made some small adjustments. Custard lost 8 acres. Yohogania county disappeared as an administrative entity, and became known as The Lost county. Lived in Allegheny Co, PA2. This area of Pennsylvania was originally known as West Augusta County, Virginia. Custard’s Delight was in Nottingham Township. He served in the Frontier Rangers from 1776 to 1778. He was a member of Morgan’s Rifle Regiment of the Continental Troops during the Revolutionary War. He was on the muster rolls from Dec. 1777 to June of 1779 and had the rank of Sgt.
Benjamin was the executor of Job Robin’s will proven 15 Aug 1777. He filed the accounts in 1792. He was appointed constable on 29 September 1778. He enlisted 18 March 1782 in the 2nd Battalion of the Washington County, Pa. Militia in Captain William Bruces's Company and is shown on the rolls of the Militia on 22 June 1782 and 7 July 1784. He was granted 350 acres of land by Virginia for settling. This was revoked when the boundary dispute between Virginia and Pennsylvania was settled in Pennsylvania's favor, but Pennsylvania then granted Benjamin 333 acres on 15 Sep 1784. He received his final patent for the land 25 April 1788 and called his land Custard's Delight. It was 4 miles east of Finleyville near the Monongahela River on Peter's Creek. Benjamin was a farmer and a cattle drover. He was a wood carver and made fine, hand carved furniture and violins. In 1797, Benjamin and Ruth sold 52+ acres of Custard's Delight to their son in law, Sampson Piersol for 50 pounds. Benjamin's dwelling was valued at $10 in 1798 according to the tax rolls. 1800 census of PA, Benjamin and Jacob Caster living in Allegheny Co. Both on page 89.
According to a plat map of the Jefferson Hills area of Allegheny Co, Pa Benjamin Custard’s 333 acres was surveyed May 13, 1785 in pursuance of Virginia Certificate patented April 16, 1785 to same on Warrant to accept dated April 8, 1788. The land was named “Custard’s Delight.” The owner has seen the original land grant to the property. It is written on sheepskin. A Castor descendant in the area owns it. Homes on Custard's Delight still exist and are being restored.
His will is recorded in Allegheny Co, Pa Will Book No 3 Page 119. It is dated 23 Jan 1823 and is witnessed by Samuel Heath, Samuel Lytle, and Abraham Lytle. It was filed for probate on 25 Jan 1826 by his widow, Ruth and Samuel Heath who were executors.
|
