A group project sponsored by the Pierre Chastain Family Association (PCFA). PCFA was founded in 1975 and dedicated to the collection of genealogical data regarding Chastain families in America, specifically descendants of the French Huguenot immigrant Pierre Chastain who settled in the Huguenot colony at Manakin, Virginia in 1700. Pierre, was born 1659 in Charost, the ancient Province of Berri, France and after removing from France circa 1690 he resided in Switzerland, The Netherlands, and Britain before his migration to Virginia. He is known to have family that remained in France. It is thought that most people with the surname Chastain, and it's common spelling variations in America, recorded on the first United States census are descendants of Pierre Chastain. A number of Pierre's descendants are well established, many others are not. For example we only have circumstantial evidence at best for the children/sons assigned to Peter Chastain, Jr., and it gets more complicated with other "lost families" as we move into the early 1800's. We hope through the use of Y-DNA analysis we can collaborate those documented lineages and establish genetic ties with those who are presently not genealogically connected via legal records. The project is specifically interested in males with paper lineages to a Chastain or common spelling variation (Chastain, Chasteen, Chastine, Chesteen, Shasteen, Shastine, Shatteen, and potentially Shastid/Shastead) ancestor who had geographical ties to Virginia and from there to Kentucky, Indiana, North and South Carolina and Georgia in the 1700's and early 1800's and spreading westward from those locations. However, the project is open to all Chastain and Chastain surname spelling variations regardless of origin. We encourage descendants of Chastain families known to have immigrated after Pierre's family and those who remained in Europe to the present day to participate in the group. And, we also solicit donations to help persons participate. The Pierre Chastain Family Association has been a big benefactor and we have several individuals who have either directly sponsored individual tests or have contributed funds for general use. You can direct funds to be used for certain lineages (ex: "Descendants of Rev. John Chastain's sons not currently represented") or specific individuals during the donation process. We encourage female Chastain's to participate by sponsoring their fathers, brothers, uncles, or male line cousins. Please consider sponsoring and making testing more affordable by contributing to the group project fund link at the bottom of the left column.