Rev. Rene Chastain Jr.

birth date could be the 28th and the baptism could be the 30th...need to check it out

Find a Grave

Birth: Jun. 30, 1741 Virginia, USA Death: 1823 Buckingham County Virginia, USA

Rene Chastain was born June 30 (or 28), 1741 in Virginia, a third generation American colonist. His father was Rene Chastain, Sr., one of three sons of Pierre Chastain, the immigrant, who survived to adulthood in the colonies. It is from these three brothers that most of us Chastains, Chasteens, Chesteens, Chastines, and perhaps Shasteens descend. Rene's mother was Judith Martin Gevedon, daughter of John and Margaret Martin, and widow of Thomas Gevedon before marrying Rene Chastain, Sr. in 1732.

When Rene, Jr. was quite young, he accompanied his parents as they moved deeper into the Virginia wilderness into what would become Buckingham County. In that situation, Rene had no formal schooling, but as one writer notes: "Though his education was much neglected, his morals were of the most unimpeachable character" [Taylor].

Rene Chastain, Sr. left Virginia in the late 1700s in a migration that resulted in the establishment of the Thomas County Chastains in South Georgia, but his son, Rene, Jr., remained behind in Virginia. On October 1, 1760, when he was 19 years old, Rene Chastain, Jr. married Anne Faure, daughter of Jacques Faure and Anne Bondurant. Rene and Anne had six children, all born in Buckingham County, Virginia: Magdalene Sallie (1761), Stephen (1764), Lydia (1767), Martin (1768), Elijah (1775), and Rhoda (1776).

Rev. Rene died in 1823, at 82 years old. His death was reported as the decease of "The Rev. Rainey Chastein" in the Richmond, Virginia Family Visitor of November 22, 1823. Taylor states in Virginia Baptist Ministers, "After an illness of five weeks, he calmly resigned himself to death, in the 83rd year of his age." Anne died in 1826. Both are said to be buried in the Buckingham Baptist Church cemetery, apparently in unmarked graves. but Cook (Little Otter, page 23), says Rene "is reported to have been buried in the cemetery of New Canton Baptist Church near Buckingham."

Because it is said that Rev. Rene had little access to formal education in the area where he was raised, and emphasis is drawn to his being a hard-working farmer all his life, without much financial support from his church, one could conclude that he was a poor, ignorant farmer who preached on the side. Such is far from the case. Rene maintained a diary that shows him to be quite literate, though his spelling is sometimes non-standard, a common trait among the literate of the day. This is in contrast to his cousin, Rev. John, who sometimes signed with his mark.

The diary shows him to be more than just a simple farmer-preacher. He was a tailor as well, and derived continual income from that work. Most popular among the custom items he provided were broadcloth coats, broadcloth britches, and leather britches (he dressed the leather himself from deer skins). He also made silk waistcoats (vests), silk handkerchiefs, full suits, fur hats, and shoes. Rene was also a property owner. 1782 records show him with 300 acres, two slaves, six horses, and twelve cattle. He owned a mill as well, for which he sometimes hired others to manage for him.

Burial: Buckingham Baptist Church Cemetery New Canton Buckingham County Virginia, USA

Rev. Rene Chastain, Jr. was instrumental in constituting the Buckingham Baptist Church and was its first pastor for 53 years which was as long as he lived after he became pastor.