Pierre's Sword

Sketch of Dr. Pierre Chastain's sword by Michael Jones, Virginia

The sword of Pierre Chastain was passed down to Pierre's oldest son Jean Adam Chastain.

Jean Adam, in turn, gave the sword to his son, John Chastain, Jr. The sword made the move with John, Jr. and his family from Cumberland County to Bedford County, Virginia in about 1777.

John Jr.'s daughter, Edith, married Zachariah Wheat, a large land owner of Bedford County in the Blue Ridge Mountians. Edith died prior to Zachariah but he willed the sword to their son, Hazeal Wheat, who also inherited the farm.

Hazeal's son, Ortho W. Wheat, next owned the sword and he passed it on to his son, Hugh Wheat.

Hugh Wheat did not have children but prior to his death he gave the sword to his niece, Ann Arsell Wheat, now Mrs. Dallas W. Hunter, who is the present owner of Pierre's sword.

Mrs. Hunter had the sword examined by the Curator of Military Weapons at The Smithsonian Institute. The arms expert certified that the weapon had been made prior to 1700, that the handle was original but the original blade had been replaced with one a little wider.

Mrs. Hunter told her children that she would pass the sword to the first of her grandchildren who was given the name Chastain. Thus, Mrs. Hunter's grandson, Andrew Chastain Hunter, will inherit this most prized family possession, the personal sword of his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, Pierre Chastain!