Hershell Thad Cathey

Hershell Thad Cathey 

Born:  November 12, 1929, Anderson, S.C.

Father:  William Brantley Cathey

Mother:  Sallie Flower

Married: Betty Ann Williams

Children: Teresa (Terry) Ann Cathey  (B. San Antonio, Texas)

                  Bruce Randall (Cotton) Cathey (B. Rantoul, Illinois)

Retired Master Sergeant USAF

Retired Computer Programmer and Specialist.

Active Church and Missions man.

Died August 14, 2006, Anderson S. C.   

 Burial: New Prospect Church, Anderson, S.C.  4:00 PM, August 16,2006.

Wriitten text by Reverend Stu Butler from Video Tribute at his Funeral on August 16, 2006.

Hershell Thad Cathey

        1929-2006

 “A life lived well”

On the one hand, this is a difficult moment.Difficult becaue of the reality of the situation. On the other hand it is an easy moment. Easy to celebrate a life well lived by Hershell Thad Cathey. A life well livedfor 76 years.

 

In these few moments that we have today, I would like to talk about a man Thad Cathey. Some called him Thad, some called him Dad, some called him D daddy. We all called him Christian.

 

Thad Cathey was a Christian Man.

He was the epitome dome of the word Christian, Christ like. He was a godly man. He was a blamesless man. Thad was around church growing up. He was a stone’s throw of this church building. He even married a fine Christian woman , Betty Ann. However, none of this made him a Christian…. Out in Texas, newly married and a young father of his first born Terri he knew that he had a responsibility. The greatest responsibility that anyone faces…. to surrender his life to the Lord. He made a decision….A decision to take Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. That is how we know that he is in Heaven today.

 

 

A Family Man

Thad was a Family Man.

Thad and Betty celebrated their 50 wedding anniversary. Thad was definitely a family man. Perhaps the loss of his motherat a young age taught him early on to love and cherish each moment. A loving grandmother and stepmother helped him to be a loving family man. He loved and was loved by his extended family. His home was opened to family and he and Betty cared for extended family members on more than one occasion.

 

Thad Cathey will live on through his family. In his son, Cotton, we see Thad’s smile. In his daughter Terri, we see his gentle smile in his daughter Amanda, we see his missionary heart. In his grandson Brandon, we see his military service. In Betty we see Thad Cathey, because they are one, just as god ordained it to be.

 

A Mission’s Man

Near and dear to my heart, Thad was a missions man. Thad understood the great commission to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all people. Thad served His Lord on sort term missionary to Spain, Puerto Rico, Idaho, West Virginia, Hurricane Hugo victims and Brazil. It was on a mission trip to Brazil that I ( the writer of this text) came to know Thad. At first he told me that he was not planning to go. Then he said that he thought his health would allow ti, and after all, he had his personal nurse Betty. What a blessing that trip was.

Tad had served others in a variety of ways, including Anderson Interfaith Ministries. Betty served for years on the missions committee of this church and we got Thad as a bonus member of that committee. He served the ministry of the Elisha House, bring food to work crews back in the beginning. I remember him delivering new beds there a couple of years ago in his old blue pickup. He was always helping out – he even provided to the Elisha House his special recipe to eliminate fire ants.

 

Master Sergeant Cathey was a Military Man.

Mr. Cathey served his country for 22 years in the United States Air Force. He protected and defended the land of the free and home of the brave. His service took him around the world to Tripoli, Korea, the Azores, Texas, Illinois, SC, and Georgia (the writer did not mention the Occupation of Japan or Lebanon).

 

A Church Man.

After becoming a Christian, he wasted no time in becoming an active member of a local church. Wherever their travels took them, Thad and Betty were always a part of a local church. When they returned to Anderson after serving in the Air Force, they came and planted their lives at New Prospect Church. Thad had taught 6th grade Sunday school for 16 years. That is worthy of a medal in and of itself. He encouraged his students to memorize Bible Verses and hide God’s Word in their heart. Thad and betty had served as youth choir sponsors and went on choir tours with youth. Thad served where needed, when he was needed. His love for photography and video inspired him to begin the video ministry of the Church. He led the efforts to build camera platforms in the auditorium and expand the video room to be able to broadcast on Cable *. Perhaps his finest talent was to touch the world with the gospel through the video ministry. Video tapes of the singing Christmas tree and special events have gone out all around Anderson County, the State and even to Germany, Brazil and other countries.

 

An Active Man.

Thad ran on two speeds, Drive and overdrive. There was no Park on his gearshift. He and Betty loved to be with friends. They traveled to all 50 states, went on two cruises and took motorcycle trips to the mountains. Thad knew how to have Fun. He took flying lessons and learned how to pilot a plane, went whitewater rafting, flew in a hot air balloon and many other adventures. All while wearing that big Cathey smile. He loved to work on his house and in his Yard. He had a green thumb and could plant a leaf and make it grow. He repaired things and refilled his own ink cartridges for his printer. He was on the worldwide web and sent encouraging email regularly.

A servant Man

Thad understood well the teaching of Jesus on being a servant. Jesus said that he came to serve and not be served. Jesus was Thad’s role model and that was what made Thad our hero. Thad never complained in his last days. He was always smiling always joyful. The glass was  more than half full for Thad Cathey. He served behind the scenes: He never called attention to himself. He sometimes came to the chuch office as often as the staff.

 

Jesus said in John 4:34: My food is to do the will of him and finish his work, Thad finished his work.

He invested his time and talents, and treasure in eternal things and the Kingdom of God.

For this reason Thad Cathey lives. He lives eternally in heaven. He lives on in our hearts, in our memories and in our lives.

Now appropriately as a tribute to this great man we will view a video to help us relive some of the memories.

 

After the video the song amazing Grace was played by Bagpipes as the recessional moved from the Church to the Church Graveyard. The Sun was shining as the last words were spoken followed by Miltary rites by the American Legion and the marine Corps league.

 

The Reverend Tom Turner presided over the service with scripture and remarks. The music I Can only Imagine was sung with Amanda Miller and Lauren Parnell  signing(sign Language)the music.

Dr. Tony Smith gave more scripture and remarks. Then Rev. Stu baker gave the eulogy of the above text.

The Pall Barriers were the video Crew: Ken Davies, Dennis Dempsy,dwanye Fennell, Ricky ray, Steve Stovall, Mickey Strawhorn.

William Brantley Cathey

George Cathey RN=5355  Ann Price

William Cathey                 Rebecca Holeman

William Cathey                 Elizabeth Bryson

James Cathey                  Emily(Emaline) Brown

William Corn Cathey       Josephine Crow

John Virgil Cathey          Victoria Josephine Matheson                                                                                                     

 William Brantley Cathey

 

 

 

 

John Virgil Cathey and family moved to Anderson, South Carolina between 1903 and 1906. My father was born on January 28, 1909. He was born in his parents’ house. This was the normal practice in the South. I do not know if a midwife or doctor was present.  My father was named William Brantley Cathey.  The house was across from Oakwood Baptist Church.  The pastor or preacher was Reverend E. Chaffer White.  Reverend White was his Uncle by marriage to his Aunt Mamie. Chaffer was a mill boy who felt the call to go into ministry. He taught Sunday school, and when at work, he kept a small Bible under his seat so he could read during breaks. In 1917, Chaffer left the pew for the pulpit. Brantley as he was known would attend Oakwood Baptist and be baptized there. His brother Cecil and family attended there also. Both would hold their membership there until later in life. They would commute from their outlying farms to worship on most Sunday mornings until their later years when they would transfer their memberships to their churches in their community.

I know very little about his father or my grandfather. I assume that his father worked at a textile mill. The area he lived had several textile mills in walking distance. His mother Vic shortened from Victoria was a homemaker.  The family was not rich, because I remember him saying he would paint with shoe polish his skin where the skin showed through the holes of his socks. This made the holes less notable in church. You always wore your best to Church on Sunday morning.

Brantley was the youngest of his brothers and sisters. I do not much of his early childhood.  He made a lot of his own toys. He was a natural born tinker. He was very good at figuring out puzzles. He completed grammar school up to at least the seventh grade. He was self educated. If you talked with him you think he was college educated. As a young man he brought physical culture books and practiced exercises, health, and nutrition.  To Lois he was city slicker. Growing up he would spend his Saturday’s days at the movie theatre unlike her who was a farm girl. He surrounded himself with books many on how to do or technical.  On Sunday he would read.  Sunday was a special day in the South.  The day of rest no one worked unless it was required. His boyhood vacations consisted of catching the train probably in Hartwell where his Grandparents lived and traveling the rails to Nacoochee Valley and spending time with relatives, playing, fishing in The Chattahoochee close to Helen and Roberts Town

He began work at an approximate age of 14. He worked in the textile or cotton mill. He had a knack for fixing things, which would lead to his occupation as a Loom Fixer.

During the time after school and his marriage To Sally Fowler, he went to Atlanta and stayed with his Uncle Andy’s family in Atlanta and sold magazines for a while before returning home.  While there he was there he made friends with his cousin Willis Cathey.  I would meet Willis and his family in the mid Sixties.  In his late teen and early twenties he worked in one of the textile mills. He married Sally Fowler.

Brantley’s brothers and sisters:  Fannie Lee Cathey was his oldest of the children and only sister.  Fannie Lee and Brother Carey Andrew Cathey were born in Banks County, Georgia. His brother Cecil Clayton Cathey was born in Anderson in July 19, 1906 after the family moved to South Carolina.  The baby that was born between Cecil and Brantley was born and died on the same day on December 23, 1907.

Brantley married Sally Lou Fowler in the late 1920’s. Herschel Thad was Brantley’s first born. He was born on November12, 1929. Sally’s Death:  Tragically Sally Lou Fowler died on July 29, 1930 of T.B. This disease was epidemic in the late 20’ and early thirties.

Married Lois. Brantley married Lois Frances Rowland in the early thirties. Brantley’s third wife Gladys introduced them. Brantley’s second born and Lois first born Thurman Eugene was born on Feb.28, 1932.

Union involvement:  During the early thirties he joined a union in one of the textile mills. He was the treasurer.  The mill management on finding this brought him into their office.   He could renounce the union and keep his job.  Not giving into the demands, He said that the union was good for people.   He was fired and had to move from the company owned house. These were the days of the mill, company owned store and houses. Afterward perhaps because of the hardships his family endured he never joined a union again.

Carpenter and fitter: He took work as carpenter and latter became a steam fitter at Abney Mill. The mill shop foreman said to others watch this man, he carries his hammer like a carpenter.  A natural tinker he would do well. He would take those carpenter skills to build a house for his mother and sister Fannie Lee on Lois’s Farm.  He was continually upgrading the family home. When he finally retired people sought him out for renovation and finished carpenter. One of the unusual things he built a double pulpit for church.  He remarked:  “I guess they be ready if the Church splits right down the middle.”  Brantley was known for his humor, teasing and positivity.

Little Texas:  With the loss of the mill house, Brantley rented two rooms from the bootlegger in little Texas by the railroad. He brought with him Lois, Thad and the new baby Thurman.  He had purchased a washing machine and a radio.  He wrote Sears and Roebuck with his loss of his job he would be delayed in paying for them. Sears and Roebuck wrote that the firing should not have been. Sears and Roebuck was in Chicago, life was not the same there.  In those days radios were rare. There were very few broadcast stations. Once he moved in the neighbors would come on the weekend nights and sit on the porch and listen to that radio. Time was toughs, but they struggled. Lois worked at Twinney Mill. Twinney Mill paid in Silver Dollars. So in Anderson to use Silver dollars meant you worked at Twinney Mill. With the baby there was a need for milk. Brantley went to Georgia and from one of the relatives he borrowed a cow. Later he would return the cow because feed for the cow was so expensive. He acquired a goat. Thurman would not drink the goat milk. So Brantley got a milk bottle from Erskine Dairy which was owned by Bub Erskine who later became the Sheriff.  Brantley would fill the milk bottle with goat milk every day.  Thurman drank a lot of Goat’s milk from that bottle.  Lois wanted to rear her family on her farm away from the town.

Lois’s Farm: Lois wanted to rear her family on her farm away from the town. The farm that William and Lois purchased was in the Centerville Township of Anderson County. The farm was located southeast at the intersection of Old Centerville Road and Keasler Road. It was purchased in later 1930’s. It was purchased from the Harbin family. It was sold to divide the estate to the heirs. The down payment was borrowed from her father Isham Rowland. Lois wanted to raise the Cathey children (Thad and Thurman) on a farm away from the idleness of the city.  It comprised of a little more than 25 acres. The original house was a 4 room country house. I remember one of the family members saying that they would have to get up in the morning and nail boards back on the house, but there was a new barn. Brantley was not a farmer, but brought with him his reasoning and creativity.  He worked at Gluck Mill. In the beginning Thurman and Lois did most of the farm labor. Thad worked at Powell’s grocery store. In the late thirties a tragedy befell Lois‘s Rowland Family. Her mother had hit her head on the roof in a car and died.  Her father gave up keeping and house. Lois’s younger brothers with the exception of Bud the oldest came to live the Cathey Family. Her oldest sister Elise took in the younger sisters. Also Mr. Rowland lived with the Cathey for a time until he returned to Hart County, remarried and returned to farming. 

It was Lois dream that their sons would each have 5 acres fronting Centerville Road on which they would build their homes with the home place claiming the remaining acreage. Thurman on returning to Anderson after retiring from the Air Force built his house on the hill east of the Creek and did a little farming.  Lois deed 5 acres to Thurman to entice him to stay in Anderson rather than move back to Fort Walton Beach Florida When Mike accidentally died, he left a large sum of money. It was Mike’s wish that the farm remain as long as possible for the memory of Lois and Brantley. After Gladys’ death Thurman using some of that money to acquire the farm from his surviving brothers part of the estate.

The Welcome to Centerville. Brantley and Lois both worked in the textile mills.  The farmers did not readily accept them in the community perhaps because the distance between the farms or because their primary means of making a living was not farming. Thus their day to day was not involved in common pursuits.

One of the incidents that happen with another farmer just after the Cathey moved there. On his property south of the house was the large relative flat field. Brantley plowed or turned over.  The farmer came and said he had rented the field and had a planted lespedeza. Brantley was unaware of this because there was no such condition in the sale of the farm. The farmer was angry. They never came to an agreement. The farmer wanted full compensation for the harvested crop. Brantley offered to give some compensation. The farmer would not compromise in his anger. Brantley in his stand on principles finally ended by saying…”it can be decided by a jury of 12 men in a court of law.” Several other farmers would approach Brantley on behalf of the farmer. Brantley stood on his principle.

With the farm labor was needed.  He hired one of the Black (called colored then) tenant farmers to help him. Brantley paid him half of what he made per hour at the mill. Several of the farmers came to Brantley and told him That Brantley was paying the laborer more in a day than farmers paid him in a week. The laborer was getting lazy and would work for them. Brantley conceded not to hire him after that, stating he could not work a man and not pay him a decent wage. Later he would hire Tommy his grandson sometimes to do farm chores to help me and my brother Mike.

The Cathey family was always welcoming the new neighbors that came into the community to build their homes as the community grew.

Keasler Road It was located at the corner where Keasler Road intersected Centerville Road. Keasler branched off White Hall Road Ran through Keasler’s and Williams farms and was a boundary for Cathey’s farm on it West side. With the Avant’s Farm from the Cathey farm. Farmer Keasler worked with the high department on the way to define the road. It winds through the Keasler farm curving around the original house and barn which neither is in existence. The road after leaving Keasler farm dipped at midpoint of Fowler’s farm. Then the road rises to a crest of the hill where the Cathey farm’s  south fence line is or was and ran to intersect Old Centerville Road. Mr. Kessler placed the entire road on the Cathey farm either because Brantley did not make his living farming or because of an earlier dispute. The intersection at Centerville was dangerous because cars cresting the hill would gain or accelerate because the long straight section. Many drivers failed to see the stop sign where it intersected Old Centerville Road in a curve. Many drivers traveling the opposite direction would continue straight on Keasler Road instead of following the curve on Centerville Road.

The Cathey’s home: The Cathey’s house was next to  Keasler Road. The driveway which was off Keasler Road opened up to a barn yard court where the barn, shops, and garage was.  The Cathey’s House was a fancy wire fence enclosing three sides of the white wooden house with a gate to driveway, a gate to the barn yard, and a gate to the front lawn. The front of the house faced Centerville Road with a large front lawn.

Brantley‘s Pond

This was Brantley’s retreat and quiet place. The pond was located in bowl or depression on the eastern part of the farm. In the bowl was springs which furnished water for the formation of the beginning of a creek that would eventually flow to the Seneca River, then into the Savannah River until it reached the Atlantic Ocean. Indians camped on the hill around the springs. Their past present was indicated by the arrowheads that Thurman and Thad found.  The pond began with Thurman damming up the springs for a swimming hole. The pond caught on with Brantley who made the five acres surrounding it as a family Park.   With his steam fitting skill he built a system of piping for the pond. Before Lake Hartwell was built, relatives would come and picnic on the hot summer days.  They enjoyed the cool spring water of the pond which had been warmed by the sun. They feasted on watermelons which were thrown into the pond to chill them. The pond is now abandoned and grown over, but in it time it was a paradise with its perfection in the retirement years of Brantley. 

Gluck Mill: He worked as a loom fixer for Gluck Mills. .The Mill stayed even if the names of the owners changed over the years. He retired when he reached 62. He was restless after the six months of rainy weather. He went back to work this time with Cort Zipper Company until Lois retired.

The patents:  A natural born tinker and puzzle solver created several designs for textile machines and a clutch system. The clutch system was copied by Massey Ferguson. It was unique in that it allowed a tractor to rotate 180 degrees at the end of a cultivated row. His other patents were machine parts. A bobbin holder and spring box end for shuttles he pursued to manufacture and market them. He was successful, however the illness of my brother Mike to let this dream faded.

In the late thirties a tragedy befell Lois‘s Rowland Family. Her mother had hit her head on the roof of a car and died.  Her father gave up keeping and house. Lois’s younger brothers with the exception of Bud the oldest came to live the Cathey Family. Her oldest sister Elise took in the younger sisters. Also Mr. Rowland lived with the Cathey for a time until he returned to Hart County, remarried and returned to farming. 

Avant’s Farm: Hugh Avant‘s farm lay west across Keasler Road from the Cathey farm. Avant’s Farm was a large farm. Hugh was a grocery store owner in Anderson who decided to farm. He brought his farm shortly after Brantley and Lois brought their farm. Hugh was a Tinker and Joker like Brantley. Once he kidded Brantley.  “Here you are sitting under a shade tree reading the paper with all sons not farming. Here I am farming with six men on tractors.”

World War 2: With the outbreak of war, Lois’s brother Inman would be inducted in the Marine Corp and serve the Pacific campaigns against Japan. In early 1944 Brantley would be drafted. Refusing a work deferment he entered the Army Air Force.  He serves his time at the Yuma Arizona Air field. His specialty was electronics.  After the war he returned in a military jeep he purchased.  He liked the concept that would purchase a new 1949 jeep that would be fun for several generations.

Post World War: After Thad Graduated, Thad joined The Air Force and would begin his career. Thurman did not graduate from high school, but joined the Air Force also and almost 20 years later Thurman pasted his GED. Brantley liked the Air Force and would have stayed in as a regular, but farm and family called him home.  He remained with the Air Force Reserve. Yet his experience and love for the Air Force would inspire his two oldest sons to make careers and retired from the Air Force.

White City Park: In the sixties the Corp of Engineers would come and build Lake Hartwell between the farm and those mountains. The lake would swallow the bottoms of Three and Twenty Creek. Old Centerville road would be redirected and the old route would vanish underneath the lake as would all of White City Park except for about an acre. Rev. E.C. White built and established a park for the people: his gift to a community which is now under waters of Hartwell Lake. The park was special. For White City Park was a place unlike any other in the community, and maybe even in the state, where people could go and wade through creeks, have large gatherings under the cool night air and eat Sunday supper on the grounds. And for newlyweds, there was a small, one-bedroom cabin – aptly named the Honeymoon Cottage – perched near the edge of one of the three creeks running through the park. The crisp water of the Six and Twenty Creek cooling the waders of summer. Explorers both young and old crossed the walk bridge over the waters below to reach the gathering place. In 1945, White bought a 63-acre tract of land in the Centerville community and turned it into a park for everyone. The land was abandoned. In Anderson’s earliest days, the land was the site of the Centerville Township and was home to a store, a post office, a grist mill, several homes and other buildings. But by the mid-‘40s, there were only the ghosts of that once-promising town remaining. Now his vision and passion is no more because it rests just under the rippling waters of Hartwell Lake.

The second generations of sons: Brantley and Lois were not long empty nesters with the arrival of my brother William Michael Cathey on Jan 30. 1947. He arrived two days after Brantley’s birthday. Then the youngest son was born on July 6^th 1949. They wanted a Fourth of July birthday baby. Brantley and Lois drove over the bumpiest of roads to no avail. Garnett Milton arrived two days after the fourth.

Sergeant’s three Korean War:  Brantley had stayed in the reserves, when the Korean War erupted he was activated. During this time Thurman made sergeant. Coming home from Teas for a visit he, Thad, and Brantley posed for a photograph in their Air Force uniforms with their sergeant’s stripes. Thad was already in Japan for the occupation of Japan after World War Two, was in Korea shortly after the North Korean invasion of South Korea..

Return home:  With both oldest sons, her brothers gone, and Brantley Lois was left with two children alone on the farm. Brantley was forced to apply for a hardship discharge and returned to the farm.

The fifties:  The fifties was relative prosperous time. Both Brantley and Lois worked at the Gluck Mill/Wellington Mill. Brantley worked on the second shift and Lois worked on the third shift. This allowed one of them to be always at home for their sons. Many summer vacations were spent driving though America to visit his two oldest sons and families. Panama city, Florida, San Antonio, Texas, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chicago, Illinois, Rantoul, Illinois was some of the destinations. He was planning to trip to Hawaii to visit Thurman. He was called to a capital crime case which afterwards would lead to a nervous breakdown. That trip was canceled.

The Court case and breakdown: Brantley was called for a capital court case. The case was a Rape trial involving a local girl and a Clemson University student.  The case was dismissed after the jury reached a not guilty verdit. The alleged rape victim families blamed and threaten him believing him to being instrumental in the not guilty verdict.  After many sleepless nights, he suffered a mental breakdown. He was treated with chock treatments and recovered shortly after.  The year was 1959.

Mike’s illness. Mike had health issues. He suffered from ulcer colitis. After a summer trip in 1968 to visit Thurman, Mike’s colon ruptured and he underwent major surgery.

Retirement:  When Lois retired at age 62. Brantley retired again from Cort Zipper Company. In the early seventies both Thad and Thurman retired from the Air Force. Unfortunately Lois did not live long after her retirement. Lois Frances Rowland Cathey 66 died in Anderson, S. C.  On July 3, 1978

Married Gladys: After to Lois death, he grieved and was lonely. He wanted to give the farm up. Lois had given much direction in their lives. The brothers would not have it. An old friend Gladys came into Brantley’s life. They courted and married. Both were well to do. There was question whether Brantley and Gladys would live at her house in Hart County or on the farm. They decided to live on the farm. The brothers signed the parts of Lois farm back to Brantley. This was a wonderful and enjoyable time for them both. Gladys being childless was blessed and enjoyed her step grandchildren and great grandchildren especially Brandon and Amanda because of their young age.

New Prospect Church They regularly attended Oakwood Baptist Church in the City of Anderson. Thad would later join New Prospect after his marriage to Betty Ann Williams. Mike would join later as a teenager. After Brantley marriage to Gladys Cheek, he transferred his membership letter from Oakwood Baptist to New Prospect Baptist. Also Gladys transferred her letter from her Church in Georgia. As an active member of the new prospectors he and Gladys traveled to many places with the group. Brantley was a star in the prospectors’ skit performance. In the skit rheumatism he delighted the many audiences with his standing on his head and movements. His dedication to nutrition and exercise through his life keep him agile in his seventies and eighties.

After an illness with prostate cancer Brantley died at the Cathey family home in 1994 His funeral was at New prospect Baptist Church and burial was at old Silver brook Cemetery in Anderson, S.C.

 William Brantley Cathey  

Sally Lou Flower                Lois Frances Rowland      Gladys Cheek

Herschel Thad Cathey                        I        

                                                    Thurman Eugene Cathey

                                                    William Michael Cathey

                                                     Garnett Milton Cathey

 

 

John Virgil Cathey

John Virgil Cathey

John Virgil Cathey is my grandfather.

 John Virgil Cathey Born March 16,1882 Place: Nacooche Valley, Georgia. He was the son of William Corn Cathey and Josephine Crow. John married Victoria Josephine Matheson on May the 6th, 1900 at Maysville, Georgia daughter of William Marion Matheson and Mallissie Hampton. The marriage was preformed by Mr Wilson, Esquire with witness Dr. Cape Wilson and Oscar Marlow.

John Virgil Cathey and family moved to Anderson, South Carolina between 1903 and 1906. Their house was across from Oakwood Baptist Church on Rogers Street.  

He died on Feb 19, 1940 in Anderson. His tombstone is in the old Silver Brook Cementary in Anderson, S. C.

Children:

Fannie Lee Cathey: Born Feb16, 1901. Banks County, Georgia Died Anderson, S.C.

Carey Andrew Cathey: Born Feb16, June 10, 1903. Banks County, June 5th Died Anderson, S.C.

Georgia Cecil Clayton Cathey : Born Feb 16, 1906. Anderson, S.C. Died Anderson, S.C.

Infant Born Dec 23, 1907 Died: Dec 23, 1907 Anderson,S.C.

William Brantley Cathey Born Jan. 28, 1909  Died Anderson, S.C.

William Corn Cathey

William Corn(elius) Cathey
William Corn Cathey is my great grandfather.

William Corn Cathey was born on 29 Jan 1859 in Towns Co, GA. He died on 30 May 1927 at his home in Hart County in the Alford military district. His tombstone is in the old Silver Brook Cementary in Anderson, S. C. William married Josephine Crow, daughter of Sarah, at the home of Sarah King on 21 Mar 1880 in Clay Co, NC. Josephine was born in 1860/1861.  Josephine was half Cherokee. William occupation at the time listed at his death was textile.

 
 
Children:
.
John Virgil Cathey Born March 16,1882  Place: Nacooche Valley, Georgia. He died on Feb 19 1940 in Anderson, S.C

Claud Lee Cathey
 
Harry Lawton Cathey
 
Mamie Cathey White
 
Hattie Battle Grass
 
Edna Stone

William Corn and family left Nachoohee Valley after the year 1882 . The location was in the Peidmont  Area of Georgia in either Franklin, Hart, or Bank County.

On his death certificate his occupation was textile. His home was the township of Alford located a few miles outside of the city of Hartwell, Georgia.
 
Nachoochee Valley 

When the Nachoohee Valley area was acquired from the Cherokees in 1819, the first settlers were not far behind. The wealthest came with wagons and slaves to set up plantation-style farms along the Chattahoochee. Those of lesser means came as well, some on foot with perhaps a mule in tow to help carry their worldly goods, usually to settle in the smaller valleys and back in the mountain hollows. For nearly 20 years after the first pioneers arrived, the frontier was delayed in its westward rush by the Cherokees, who clung to their remaining lands just across the Blue Ridge and the Chestatee River until the Removal in 1838.

The families who came to the Helen valley brought children and had more even as they struggled to claim their fields from a vast mountain wilderness. The valley became home to spinning wheels and looms, a grist mill, and a blacksmith as over 30 youngsters ran along the banks of the Chattahoochee. The pioneers were still laboring to build churches, establish stores and a post office, and even a small school when word came that gold had been discovered on nearby Dukes Creek in about 1828 (the exact date is in some dispute).

During the fevered rush which followed, thousands of outsiders from all walks of life and various moral persuasions swarmed over the Dahlonega gold belt, which runs from the Helen area about 30 miles southwest to the Etowah River valley below the abandoned town of Auraria. Although the frenzied Gold Rush literally “panned out” in the 1830s, gold mining continued in some fashion for another century. The residents of the Helen valley dabbled in gold, which lay in deposits beneath their fields. At least one made a fortune from the sale of his farm, and a late arrival became the area’s most successful miner.

Most of the surface gold is depleted by 1838. About this time a gradual decrease of the population in the valley begins. In 1849 almost all the miners head west when word of another strike, in the gold fields of California, reaches Georgia. The population in the western end of the Sautee-Nacoochee Valley returns to what it had been in the days before the gold rush.

Hartwell, Georgia

Hartwell was a thriving town when William Corn Cathey’ and family moved into the area.  By 1883 the population had reached a population of 1000. Witham Cotton Mill construction was finished in 1884. A mill village developed on a sloping hill south of the mill complex. The mill village was made up of modest one story homes with front and rear porches. The population of Hartwell reached a high point during the twenties with a population of 2,323 people.

James Cathey

James Cathey

I am the 2 great grandson of James Cathey

 

 

James Cathey was born on 11 Mar 1812 in Haywood Co, NC. He died on 3 Feb 1887 in Towns Co, GA. James married Emily(Emaline) Brown on 25 May 1846 in Union Co, GA. Emily was born in 1827/1828 in NC.

They had the following children.

Julius Young Cathey was born on 17 Sep 1847 in Union Co, GA. He died on 22 Mar 1929 in Towns Co, GA. Julius married Rebecca L in 1870/1872 in Towns Co, GA. Rebecca was born in 1845/1846 in GA.

Rachel Elizabeth Jane Cathey was born on 29 Jun 1850 in Union Co, GA. She died on 3 Feb 1887.

Lucius Hillman Cathey was born on 9 Aug 1854 in Union Co, GA. She died on 21 Apr 1865 in Towns Co, GA.

William Corn Cathey was born on 29 Jan 1859 in Towns Co, GA. He died on 30 May 1927. His tombstone is in the old Silver Brook Commentary Anderson, S. C.  William married Josephine Crow, daughter of Sarah, at the home of Sarah King on 21 Mar 1880 in Clay Co, NC. Josephine was born in 1860/1861.
 

James was a farmer by occupation.  The original letter is in Photographs & Civil War
 Letters of Western Carolina University’s Hunter Library special collections, Cathey Family Civil War Letters.
 
James Cathey to Col. Cathey, November 12, 1863 
James Cathey, Hiwassee, Towns County, Georgia, to Col. Cathey, November 12, 1863.
James Cathey indicates that crops in his area have been ruined due to bad weather and 
asks Cathey’s assistance in locating corn for sale and land to rent.
 
 James Cathey to Col. Cathey, November 12, 1863  Dear Sir these [?] ar to inform you that we

ar all well hoping you ar all well times

ar hard her corn is ruined with the frost

so I do not sea how we ar to make out

for Bread I wish to no what would be

the chance to get corn in your settlement

or rather from you I have not got Bread

to do me on the account of the frost

I have tryed & can not by one bushel

so I have come apon the conclusion

if I can rent Land from you or in the

settlement a bout 20 or 25 Acres & get

corn & other grain suficient to do me

at a prise taht I can live at that I would

move to your section I think I can do on

from fifty to seventy five bushels from the

first of march you will please give me

the prise of corn wheat & ---- Rye in Confed

erat money if I can get corn I may move by

January so now if you can furnish mea

or it can be got let me no & at what

prise all so about Land & a House to live in

this Horable War & speculation has ruined

this country please answer mea by return

mail & if you have not got the corn so

you can furnish me sea what it can be

got at & I will furnish the money at any

time I am _____footed, James, Wm Cathys son

also write what you will sell flower

at the mill at by the Load

Repsectfullly

Jas. Cathey

Col Jos Cathey

N.B. I wish to no if thy can be about 2 cows

& calves bought & at what prise or cows that

will have calves by spring

direct to Hiwassee J.C. --

Towns County

g.a. 
 

									

William Cathey Jr. RN691

William Cathey Jr. RN691 in Cathey book

I am the 3 great grandson ofWiliam Cathey Jr

 

The following is from martygrany.com

·        28 Apr 2008 – Reformatted by Marty Grant

Special thanks to Lawrence Wood (deceased), Guy Davenport, Dottie Jackson and others for data shared on this family.

William Cathey was born 15 Apr 1782 (per his Family Bible). His birth place is somewhat interesting. His 1850 census entry gives his birth place as Virginia, though by all accounts, he ought to have been born in Burke (later Buncombe, now Haywood) Co, NC as that is where his parents were in that time-frame. However, since the 1850 census is the only primary record we have for his birth place, I’m going to leave it as Virginia, but with a question mark attached. His father was an officer during the Revolutionary War, and it is quite possible that while he was off involved in that, that his wife went to Virginia to visit relatives and had William Jr while there. There is also the possibility that the 1850 census record is in error.

William Cathey is a proven son of William Cathey and Rebecca Holeman. He was named in two deeds naming the heirs of old William.

William (Jr) would have been about 8 years old by the time of the 1790 census. His father William had 4 sons in the “under 16” age group (born ca 1774/90) with him in Burke County, North Carolina, one of them is certainly William Jr.

In 1791, Buncombe County was formed from a portion of Burke County, including where the Catheys resided.

For the 1800 census, William (Jr) would have been about 18 years old. His father William had two sons age 16-25 (born ca 1774/84) with him that year, one of them was certainly William Jr.

William Cathey Jr signed an 1806 Petition asking for the creation of a new county from western Buncombe County. This county (Haywood) was formed in 1808, and included the area where most of the Catheys lived.

Sometime between 1800 and 1809, William Cathey married Elizabeth Bryson, in either Buncombe or Haywood County. No marriage record has been found, but her great grandson James Harrison Cathey (1866-1929) wrote up a family history recorded in his Family Bible, and he mentioned her (he was 6 years old when she died) and he spoke of her being a Bryson and gave other information on her family. Elizabeth Bryson was born 3 Apr 1787 (per William Cathey Family Bible) in Rowan (now Iredell) Co, NC. She is a daughter of Andrew Bryson and Agness Naill

Other than James H. Cathey’s writings, I have seen no direct evidence that Elizabeth was a Bryson. The family bible record did not give her maiden name, nor a marriage date for her and William Cathey. However, I have no doubts that she was a Bryson. This is what he wrote about her. This was published in some book or newsletter, but I don’t know where, for I only have a photocopy of one page. An old letter dated 23 Jun 1958 from F. A. Cathey of Gastonia, NC to Mrs. Ann Deaver Johnston mentions this family bible, and says that he copied it from the original James H. Cathey Family Bible in the possession of Humphry Posey Cathey of Sylva, NC.

“My father’s grandmother on his father’s side was a Bryson. She was a brave, chaste, fullblooded Irishwoman. I remember distinctly in my childhood of sleeping with her at my grandfather’s house … Her father Andrew Bryson was a Revolutionary soldier. He was a most intense patriot, a man of great personal bravery. Of course he was a Whig of the most prominent views. He hated King George and the name Tory with an undying hatred. The Brysons were Protestants. The best I can say for the men who compass the immediate lines of my ancestry on the Bryson side is that they were and are whole soul, impetous, rugged and true Irishmen, the most guileless race of people on God’s great earth.”

They were listed on the 1810 census in Haywood County. There were three William’s listed. William Sr (his father), William Jr (his cousin William Cathey-1777) and this William Cathey. The census was alphabetical, so I can’t determine who were neighbors to who. William had one extra male and extra female with him, who could be siblings of his or of his wife.

1810 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1810 Haywood Co, NC pg 60 William Cathy 11010-10200

Analysis:

1 Male(s) 26-44       (1765-1784)     William CATHEY (1782) s/o William & Rebecca

1 Male(s) 10-15       (1794-1800)     Jacob CATHEY (1790/94) brother

1 Male(s) 0-9         (1800-1810)     Andrew Deaver CATHEY (1809) son

2 Female(s) 16-25     (1784-1794)     Elizabeth BRYSON Cathey (1787) wife

                                      Sister? (1784/94) –> gone by 1820

1 Female(s) 0-9       (1800-1810)     Daughter? (1800/10) –> gone by 1820

There are several deeds and other records found in Haywood County for the various William Catheys but it isn’t always easy to tell which is which. There was William Cathey Sr (1741-1812), William Cathey (1777-1864) and this William Cathey (1782-1850/60) under study here. They had no middle initials, so if they attempted to distinguish themselves, it was by “Sr” or “Jr” to reflect the elder and younger, but not to distinguish any particular relationship between themselves. For example, after the death of William Sr (1741-1812), the next William (1777) began using “Sr” and our William (1782) began using “Jr”. These two men were 2^nd cousins to one another.

William’s father William Cathey Sr died in 1812, and in three deeds William Sr gave 1/6th of his estate each to three of his sons, including William Cathey Jr (and also to James Cathey and Daniel Cathey). I don’t have the details of these deeds yet. (Haywood Co, NC Deed Book A page 255).

There was a William Cathey who served in the War of 1812 as a 1^st Major in the 7^th Regiment of Lincoln and Rutherford County, North Carolina. I don’t think that was this same William Cathey, but it could be.

In 1814 a deed was made from William Cathey Sr’s estate to William Cathey Jr. I don’t have the details yet. (Haywood Co, NC Deed Book A page 303).

William Cathey was listed on the 1820 census in Haywood County. Once again the census was alphabetical, so I can’t determine who his neighbors were.

1820 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1820 Haywood Co, NC pg 215 William Cathey 310010-00010

Analysis:

1 Male(s) 26-44       (1775-1794)     William CATHEY (1782) s/o William & Rebecca

1 Male(s) 10-15       (1804-1810)     Andrew Deaver CATHEY (1809) son

3 Male(s) 0-9         (1810-1820)     James CATHEY (1812) son

                                      William H. CATHEY (1815) son

                                      Samuel B. CATHEY (1818) son

1 Female(s) 26-44     (1775-1794)     Elizabeth BRYSON Cathey (1787) wife

William Cathey was listed on the 1830 census in Haywood County. He was just two houses from his brother James Cathey (1784) and he was about 15 houses from his cousin William Cathey (1777).

An undated deed (from 1826)shows all the heirs of William Cathey (Sr) selling a part of their inheritance to their brother Jacob Cathey. The deed was from Ann Allen of Alabama; George Cathey; the heirs of Daniel Cathey, deceased; Elizabeth Mahaffey wife of William Mahaffey; William Cathey; James Cathey; Sarah Robinson wife of Samuel Robinson; Margaret Campbell wife of Allen Campbell and Thomas Cathey, all of Haywood Co, NC to Jacob Cathey of Haywood, 37 acres on Main Fork Richland Creek. The signatures of the deed were the same as above, but also including Andrew Cathey, Violet Cathey and Jane Cathey, who were the heirs of Daniel Cathey, deceased. (Haywood Co, NC Deed Book B page 398).

Another deed dated 26 Jun 1827 was also from various heirs of William Cathey Sr: William Cathey; James Cathey; heirs of Daniel Cathey, deceased; Jacob Cathey and Thomas Cathey all of Haywood to Benjamin E. Hatfield, 160 acres. (Haywood Co, NC Deed Book B page 414).

1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1830 Haywood Co, NC pg 364 William Cathey 0012101000000-0100001000000

 

 

 

Analysis:

1 Male(s) 40-49        (1780-1790)    William CATHEY (1782) s/o William & Rebecca

1 Male(s) 20-29        (1800-1810)    Andrew Dever CATHEY (1809) son

2 Male(s) 15-19        (1810-1815)    James CATHEY (1812) son

                                      William H. CATHEY (1815) son

1 Male(s) 10-14        (1815-1820)    Samuel B. CATHEY (1818) son

1 Female(s) 40-49      (1780-1790)    Elizabeth BRYSON Cathey (1787) wife

1 Female(s) 5-9        (1820-1825)    Rebecca CATHEY (1820) daughter

In the mid to late 1830’s, William Cathey moved his family south west to Union County, Georgia settling near the Gum Log community, or just east of there, for they were in the section that later became Towns County (in 1856).

William Cathey was listed on the 1840 census in Union County, Georgia. He appears to have his son William H. Cathey and his family residing with them. They were next door to John Bryson (1800-1874)  who was Elizabeth Bryson Cathey’s cousin.

1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1840 Union Co, GA pg 12 William Cathey 0000400100000-1001100100000

Analysis:

1 Male(s) 50-59        (1780-1790)    William CATHEY (1782) s/o William & Rebecca

4 Male(s) 20-29        (1810-1820)    James CATHEY (1812) son

                                      William H. CATHEY (1815) son

                                      Samuel B. CATHEY (1818) son

                                      Son?, Son-in-law?

1 Female(s) 50-59      (1780-1790)    Elizabeth BRYSON Cathey (1787) wife

1 Female(s) 20-29      (1810-1820)    Matilda CARTER Cathey (1814) wife of Wm H.

1 Female(s) 15-19      (1820-1825)    Rebecca CATHEY (1820) daughter

1 Female(s) 0-4        (1835-1840)    Rebecca CATHEY (1838/39) d/o William H.

They were still in Union County, Georgia for the 1850 census, and residing with their son James Cathey. Their son Andrew D. Cathey was next door, and son William H. Cathey was just two houses away.

1850 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)

1850 UNION CO, GA Page   House/Family #  241/ 241 — 85TH DISTRICT Twp

 

CATHEY WILLIAM        68 M W FARMER                     VA           1781/1782

CATHEY ELIZABETH      63 F W                            NC           1786/1787

CATHEY JAMES          38 M W FARMER                     NC           1811/1812

 

CATHEY EMILY          22 F W                            NC           1827/1828

CATHEY JULIUS          2 M W                            GA           1847/1848

In 1856, Towns County was formed from the eastern portion of Union County. The Catheys fell into this new county, but just barely, for Gum Log Mountain was part of the boundary, and they seemed to be on the east side of the mountain somewhere.

William Cathey died sometime between 1850 and 1860 in Towns County, Georgia.

Elizabeth Bryson Cathey was listed on the 1860 census in Towns County residing with daughter Rebecca Cathey Parker.

1860 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)

1860 TOWNS CO, GA Page 130   House/Family #  113/ 113 —  Twp   P.O.

 

PARKER JOHN           35 M W FARMER                   100 NC         1824/1825

PARKER REBECCA        39 F W                              NC         1820/1821

PARKER WILLIAM        13 M W                              GA         1846/1847

PARKER ANDREW         10 M W                              GA         1849/1850

PARKER SAMUEL          8 M W                              GA         1851/1852

PARKER ELISABETH       6 F W                              GA         1853/1854

PARKER ALFRED          1 M W                              GA         1858/1859

CATHEY ELISABETH      70 F W                              SC         1789/1790

In the 1860’s, Elizabeth joined her son Andrew D. Cathey in Jackson County, North Carolina. He lived in the Quallatown region which is now found in both Jackson and Swain County, but then was completely in Jackson.

Elizabeth was listed on the 1870 census in Jackson Co, NC with her son Andrew D. Cathey.

1870 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)

1870 JACKSON CO, NC Page 267B  House/Family #   28/  28–QUALLATOWN Twp

 

CATHY ANDREW D        61 M W FARMER                 400   315 NC     1808/1809

CATHY MARY J          61 F W KEEPING HOUSE                    NC     1808/1809

CATHY REBECCA         25 F W WORKS AT HOME                    NC     1844/1845

CATHY MONTRAVILLE     19 M W WORKS ON FARM                    GA     1850/1851

CATHY MARCUSS L       15 M W WORKS ON FARM                    NC     1854/1855

CATHY ELIZABETH       83 F W AT HOME                          NC     1786/1787

According to some source (which I can’t locate), Elizabeth Bryson Cathey died ca 1872, either in Jackson County or in the newly formed Swain County (created in 1871).

Children of William Cathey and Elizabeth Bryson. William Cathey and wife Elizabeth Bryson had 5 children as proven by their family Bible, and confirmed by various other sources. I have a copy of the births from of a very old Bible which is apparently an original King James version which used the old style “s” which looked like an “f”, for example, the word “supply” was written “fupply”. The births were written in at the bottom of one of the pages, original spelling used:

William Cathey was born Aprile tha 15 1782

Elizabeth Cathey was born Aprile tha 3 1787

Andrew D. Cathey was born aprile tha 16 1809

James Cathey was born march tha 11 1812

William H. Cathey was born August that 22 1815

Samual B. Cathey was born September that 13 1818

Rebecky h. Cathey was born November tha 17 1820

 

 

Major William Cathey 411

Major William Cathey

RN=411 in Cathey book This information was created on  28 Apr 2008  by Marty Grant, a 6th great grandson of George Cathey with special thanks to Boyt Cathey for sharing information on this family. His lineage can be found on  martygrant.com. I am the 4th great grandson of George Cathey and Ann Price. NOTICE: For many years it has been thought, and generally accepted, that William Cathey who died in 1812 in Haywood Co., NC is the son of Andrew Cathey. Andrew had a son named William who was baptized on 26 Apr 1741 in Augusta Co., VA. New information has come to light that shows this is probably wrong and that William Cathey (d 1812) is a son of George Cathey (1735-1805) instead. Court records show that George Cathey died leaving many heirs and they were named regarding land in Wilson Co., TN. Among those heirs were a son William Cathey, already deceased by then, so his children were named. Those names match the children of our William Cathey (d 1812) to such an extent that it must indeed be the same William formerly thought to be Andrew’s son. William Cathey was born before 1755 per his age on the 1800 census (45 and up). The other William (son of Andrew) was born ca April 1741 for he was baptized on 26 Apr 1741 at the Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church in Augusta Co, VA. The baptismal record shows William as a child of Andrew Cathey.  As noted above, we no longer believe that William son of Andrew is the same William we are interested in. Therefore we have no exact birth date for our William. William is a son of George Cathey (1735-1805) and wife Ann Price. This is proven by a court case in Wilson Co., TN dated 1 May 1823 naming George’s heirs. William was listed as his son, but as being deceased, so his own children were named as being his heirs. Sometime prior to ca 1774, William Cathey married Rebecca — probably in Rowan or Burke County, North Carolina. Family tradition (or an earlier family researcher) stated that Rebecca’s maiden name was “Holeman“. To date, no researcher has been able to confirm this. There were Holemans in the area at the time, so it is certainly possible. A big problem is that we don’t know the origin of this theory or claim, for if it was Family Tradition, then it could certainly be accurate. However, many have speculated that it is a case of mistaken identity, for there is a different William Cathey who did marry a “Rebecca Holeman”, and this family is well documented. That William Cathey and wife Rebecca were of Shenandoah County, Virginia and was a son of a William Cathey and wife Elizabeth —. This William (Jr) married Rebecca Holeman in Shenandoah County before 1772, and she was a proven daughter of Daniel Holeman who died in 1772. I have not found much data on this other William Cathey and wife Rebecca Holeman of Shenandoah County, Virginia. The 1785 tax list for Shenandoah County shows both William Sr and William Jr living there at that time. It should be noted that William Sr was still there for the 1787 census, but William Jr was not. In any event, it deserves some additional research. So that leaves the question of our Rebecca’s maiden name wide open. Did an earlier researcher find this Shenandoah County couple and assume it was our William and Rebecca, and start that theory that ours was a “Holeman”, or is that the same couple as ours, or is ours a different couple. I’d like to get an answer to this question. The fact that our William and Rebecca named one of their sons “Daniel H. Cathey” is interesting. Could he be named after Daniel Holeman? The only provable facts we have on our Rebecca is that she was born ca 1750/55 (per census analysis). Almost all of Rebecca’s children named one of their own children “Rebecca”, but two of her sons (James and William Cathey) both named daughters “Rebecca H. Cathey”. What was the “H” middle initial for? Was it “Holeman”? It certainly works. In the 1770’s or before, William Cathey built “Cathey’s Fort” in what was then Burke County. This Fort is located in Turkey Cove which is north of Marion, NC in present McDowell County. On 23 Feb 1778, William Cathey received a State Land Grant of 100 acres on the North Fork of Catawba River in Burke County, adjoining George Cathey (his father?). On 8 Jul 1778, William Cathey received a State Land Grant of 640 acres on Turkey Cove in Burke County, the same land formerly entered (claimed) by George Cathey. William Cathey was listed on the 1790 census in Burke County, North Carolina in the 1st Company. His neighbors on either side were James McDowell and Andrew McClure. As best as I can tell, he seems to be in the Turkey Cove area of present McDowell County. 1790 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census) 1790 Burke Co, NC pg 106 William Cathey 3-4-5-0-3 Analysis: 3 Male(s) 16 and Up (before 1774)     William CATHEY (bef 1755)                                       Son? (bef 1774) –> gone by 1800                                       George CATHEY (1774) son –> hd 1800 4 Male(s) under 16    (1774/1790)     Daniel H. CATHEY (1774/84) son                                       William CATHEY (1782) son                                       James CATHEY (1784) son                                       Andrew D. CATHEY (1784/90) son 5 Female(s) any age (before 1790)     Rebecca HOLEMAN Cathey (1750/55) wife                                       Daughter? Sister? Sister-in-law? (bef 1755)                                       Ann CATHEY (bef 1790) dau –> m by 1800                                       Elizabeth CATHEY (1774/75) dau -> m by 1800                                       Margaret CATHEY (1789/90) daughter On 18 Oct 1797, William Cathey purchased 640 acres from John Carson in Buncombe County. The land was described as being on Richland’s Creek. This is probably about the time the Cathey’s moved to that area. This is present day Haywood County around the town of Waynesville. (Buncombe Co, NC Deed Book 4 page 262). Around this time (ca 1798), the other William Cathey (1777) came of age. That means that there may be some confusion in the records as to which William was which. Generally, William (bef 1755) used “Sr” and William (1777) used “Jr”, but not always. William Cathey was listed on the 1800 census in Buncombe County. This census was alphabetical, so I can’t determine who his neighbors were, but he was most certainly on Richlands Creek at that time. 1800 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census) 1800 Buncombe Co, NC pg 165 William Cathey 32201-11002-0-0 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 45 & up   (before 1755)     William CATHEY (bef 1755) 2 Male(s) 16-25       (1774-1784)     Daniel H. CATHEY (1774/84) son -> m by 1804                                       William CATHEY (1782) son –> m by 1808 2 Male(s) 10-15       (1784-1790)     James CATHEY (1784) son –> m by 1810                                       Andrew D. CATHEY (1774/84) son –> d 1808 3 Male(s) 0-9         (1790-1800)     Jacob CATHEY (1790/94) son                                       John CATHEY (1794/1800) son                                       Thomas CATHEY (1797) son 2 Female(s) 45 & up (before 1755)     Rebecca HOLEMAN Cathey (1750/55) wife                                       Sister? (bef 1755) -> gone by 1810 1 Female(s) 10-15     (1784-1790)     Margaret CATHEY (1789/90) daughter 1 Female(s) 0-9       (1790-1800)     Sarah CATHEY (1790/94) daughter On 17 Apr 1800, Richard Lewis sold William Cathey 640 acres on the Pigeon River. Richlands Creek flows into Pigeon River, so this is probably near where William lived. (Buncombe Co, NC Deed Book 5 page 230). On 28 Oct 1800, William Cathey sold 140 acres of his Pigeon River land to John Gooch. (Buncombe Co, NC Deed Book 7 page 357). On 1 Dec 1800, William Cathey Sr sold 3 acres of his Pigeon River land to Spencer Rice. (Buncombe Co, NC Deed Book 3 page 328). On 31 Dec 1800, William Cathey sold 73 acres of his Pigeon River land to his son-in-law William Meheffy (Mahaffey). (Buncombe Co, NC Deed Book 5 page 222). On 10 Oct 1802, William Cathey sold 230 acres of his Pigeon River land to Robert Gillespie. (Buncombe Co, NC Deed Book 4 page 689). On 13 Dec 1802, William Cathey sold 200 acres of his Richland Creek land to John Hide. (Buncombe Co, NC Deed Book 8 page 272). Around this time (c1803), William Cathey (1782) came of age, so that means there were now three adult men named William Cathey in the area, further complicating the public records. On 17 Jul 1804, Joseph Dobson sold 100 acres on Hominy Creek to William Cathey. I’m not sure if this is William (1741) or William (1777). or William (1782).  He sold this land less than a year later. (Buncombe Co, NC Deed Book 10 page 120). On 19 Jan 1805, William Cathey (whichever one) sold his 100 acres on Hominy Creek to George Hall. (Buncombe Co, NC Deed Book 10 page 50). On 13 May 1806, William Cathey Sr sold 7 acres of his Richland Creek land to William Allen. (Buncombe Co, NC Deed Book A page 468). On 5 Apr 1808, John McFarland sold 150 acres on Pigeon River to William Cathey et al. (This means there were others Grantees involved in the deed, but the abstract did not list them). I don’t know which William Cathey this was yet. (Buncombe Co, NC Deed Book B page 10). In 1808 Haywood County was created from western Buncombe, including Richland Creek and Pigeon River areas. William Cathey was listed on the 1810 census in Haywood County. Unfortunately, this census was alphabetical, but I’m sure he was at home on Richlands Creek. 1810 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census) 1810 Haywood Co, NC pg 61 William Cathy Sr 02101-00201 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 45 and up    (bef 1765)     William CATHEY (bef 1755) 1 Male(s) 16-25       (1784-1794)     Jacob CATHEY (1790/94) son 2 Male(s) 10-15       (1794-1800)     John CATHEY (1794/1800) son                                       Thomas CATHEY (1797) son 1 Female(s) 45 & up (before 1765)     Rebecca HOLEMAN Cathey (1750/55) wife 2 Female(s) 16-25     (1784-1794)     Margaret CATHEY (1789/90) daughter                                       Sarah CATHEY (1790/94) daughter An entry in the Family Bible shows that William Cathey died on 23 Dec 1812. An Inventory of his Estate was made in September 1813 by Rebecca Cathey and Thomas Love, Administrators. Several household items were mentioned including two “testaments” and one “Explanatory of a testament”, which of course is a Biblical commentary. I mention this because it is this Biblical commentary that the family record was written on. An Estate sale dated 23 Oct 1813 shows several familiar names purchasing estate items including: Rebecca Cathey (widow) John Bryson, Mimey Cathey (Jemima Cathey), and William Cathey. Rebecca Cathey was not listed on the 1820 census, but it appears she may have been home with her son Thomas Cathey, for he had two females with him aged 45 and up (born before 1775). One of them is certainly his widowed mother. In 1823 Robert Neill sued the estate of George Cathey (William’s father) over some property in Wilson Co., TN. The case named the heirs of George Cathey including son William Cathey who was also deceased by then. In the 1820’s, Rebecca and several of her children moved into neighboring Macon County settling on Tellico Creek or near there. This is just a mile or so south of the present Swain County line. Rebecca was listed as head of household on the 1830 census in Macon County.  She seems to have some possible grandsons with her, or other relatives. 1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census) 1830 Macon Co, NC pg 17 Rebecca Cathey 0002010000000-0000000001000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 30-39        (1790-1800)    Thomas CATHEY (1797) son 2 Male(s) 15-19        (1810-1815)    Grandson?                                       Grandson? 1 Female(s) 70-79      (1750-1760)    Rebecca HOLEMAN Cathey (c1741) wd/o William I did not find Rebecca on the 1840 census, nor did she seem to be listed at home with any of her children. This probably means that she died in the 1830-1840 time-frame, probably in Macon County, North Carolina. Special thanks to Lawrence Wood, deceased, Dottie Jackson and others for data shared on this family. Also thanks to Boyt Cathey and his book “The Cathey Family History and Genealogy, Volume I (1700-1900)”, 1993.

Children of William Cathey and Rebecca Holeman. William and Rebecca had 12 children. Most of them are proven by several deeds among the heirs dividing up William’s property. Some had died before then, but were named in the list of deaths in the Family Bible. The Bible record does not state that they were children of William and Rebecca, but it seems obvious that they were. Here is the entry from the bible showing the deaths. All of these (but William) is assumed to be a child of William and Rebecca: Andrew D. Cathey Departed this life Decr 1st 1808 Daniel H. Cathey Do Do Do Oct 30th 1810 William Cathey Do Do Do Decr 23rd 1812 John Cathey Do Do Do April 7th 1815 Sarah Cathey Do Do Do May 23rd 1817 George Cathey Do Do Do July 17th 1828 Jacob Cathey Do Do Do May 28th 1836 There are a series of deeds in 1814 from the estate of William Cathey to heirs: Jacob Cathey, James Cathey, William Cathey Jr and one to Andrew D. Cathey, Jane Cathey and Violet Cathey (heirs of Daniel H. Cathey). (Haywood Co, NC Deed Book A pages 254, 255, 255, 301, 302, 303, 309). The 1823 Court Case relating to the estate of George Cathey, deceased, names William Cathey as his heir, and since William was dead by then also, his children were named. The case didn’t mention all of them: 1 May 1823 Wilson Co., TN Robert Neill vs. George Cathey et al … Also Robert Gillespie and his wife Anne grand daughter of said George decd. by his son William Cathey and George Cathey, James Cathey, and Andrew Cathey and William Mahafy and his wife Betsey grand sons and daughter of said George deceased by his son William Cathey now decd. I’m not sure why the other children were left out, Daniel wasn’t mentioned for he was dead; William (Jr) wasn’t mentioned, but Andrew was, and he was already dead, and the youngest children weren’t mentioned either (Margaret, Sarah, Jacob, John and Thomas). Since the case was so far from home perhaps whoever prepared it was unaware of all of William’s children. The 1826 deed I mentioned names all of the living heirs at that time: Ann Allen, wife of — Allen of Alabama; George Cathey; heirs of Daniel Cathey, deceased; Elizabeth Mahaffey, wife of William Mahaffey; William Cathey; James Cathey; Sarah Robinson, wife of Samuel Robinson; Margaret Campbell wife of Allen Campbell; Thomas Cathey, all of Haywood County, to Jacob Cathey, of Haywood. The deed was signed by all of the above, and also by Andrew Cathey, Violet Cathey and Jane Cathey, who were the children of Daniel Cathey, deceased. (Haywood Co, NC Deed Book B page 398.). Another deed dated 26 Jun 1827 names some of the same heirs, but also lists Jacob Cathey as an heir, thus the two deeds proving the entire family that was living in that time period: William Cathey; James Cathey; heirs of Daniel Cathey, deceased; Jacob Cathey; Thomas Cathey, all of Haywood to Benjamin E. Hatfield… (Haywood Co, NC Deed Book B page 414.) 1.      Ann Cathey 2.      George Cathey (1774) 3.      Elizabeth Cathey (c1775) 4.      Daniel H. Cathey (1774/84) 5.      William Cathey (1782) 6.      James Cathey (1784) 7.      Andrew D. Cathey (1784/90) 8.      Margaret Cathey (c1790) 9.      Sarah Cathey (1790/94) 10.  Jacob Cathey (1790/94) 11.  John Cathey (1794/1800) 12.  Thomas Cathey (1797)

 

George Cathey RN=5355

George Cathey RN=5355 in Cathey book.

 

This information was created on  28 Apr 2008  by Marty Grant, a 7^th great grandson of George Cathey with special thanks to Boyt Cathey for sharing information on this family. His lineage can be found on  martygrant.com.

 

I am the 5^th great grandson of George Cathey and Ann Price.

George Cathey was probably born in the 1730’s. A birth date of 14 Sep 1735 is floating around for him, but where did it come from? What is the source for it? His birth place is listed as Dublin, Ireland by some, but again, what is the source for that?

If he was born in Dublin, then he probably isn’t related to the other Catheys in North Carolina for none of them came from Dublin as far as is known. I suspect he wasn’t born in Dublin at all, but probably in Northern Ireland or perhaps in Pennsylvania.

How is George related to the other Catheys of the United States? Since the name “George Cathey” is pretty common among the other Catheys it is difficult to know which George is being referred to on any particular record. What we do know for sure is that this George lived in NC\

and had land in TN and was dead before 1819.

The undocumented birth date and birth place is joined by another undocumented item: the name of his wife as Ann Price. Where did her name come from? I’ve found nothing so far to prove her name was Ann, much less Ann Price. However, that doesn’t mean it is incorrect. It must have come from somewhere!

As I mentioned earlier there were many George Catheys around in the 1700’s, so how can we know which record belongs to this George Cathey? I don’t think there is an easy way to do it other than to list all the records and eliminate those that are unlikely matches. Here is an outline of documented early George Catheys. The “RN” numbers are the ID numbers used in Boyt Cathey’s book and used by the Cathey Reunion Association:

•        RN=18 George Cathey (c1700 – ca 1765 NC), wife Jean (d 1777 Mecklenburg Co., NC).

•        RN=407 George Cathey (c1717 – bef 1790 NC), wife Margaret. Often referred to as George, Esquire.

•        RN=86 George Cathey (c1724 PA – 1801 Mecklenburg Co., NC), wife Frances Henry; he is a son of George Cathey (RN=18) and wife Jean.

•        RN=5355 George Cathey (1735), the one we are studying now, wife Ann Price. Parents unknown.

•        RN=134 George Cathey (c1743), son of Andrew Cathey (RN=84) and Martha of Mecklenburg Co., NC.

•        RN=?? George Cathey baptized 15 Nov 1747 Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church, Augusta Co., VA, a son of George Cathey (RN=407). Nothing else known of this George.

We know our George was in North Carolina at some point, but we don’t know when he arrived or where he lived early on. Anson County was formed in 1750 from Bladen; and Rowan County was formed in 1753 from Anson. These two counties were the homes of several Catheys. These counties were also carved up over the years into smaller counties.

Some Anson County deeds of interest from the book Anson Co, NC Deed Abstracts 1749-1766, Abstracts of Wills and Estates 1749-1795:

1.      24 Jun 1750 Earl of Granville to George Cathey, 312 acres on north side of James Cathey’s land. (Book B, page 174)

2.      6 Feb 1752 George Cathey and wife Jane of Anson County to John Lynn, 312 acres. (Book B page 178).

was filed against his estate:

Wilson Co., TN Robert Neill, Complt vs. George Cathey et al (long list of heirs).

William Neil, complainants father sometime in the month of Oct 1783 gave to George Cathey L65 10s, 6p to securing land in Western Country, now state of TN. Obtained 640a with William Campbell on 26 Jun 1795 grant was issued on south side of Cumberland River on Spencers Creek.

William Neil gave to his son John Niel the above tract who sold it to brother Robert Neill.

William Cathey and George Cathey, sons of George, and his executors, conveyed said land to John Neil. Violet Cathey on of the daughters of George Cathey, decd, and John Reed who married Esther another of the daughters, executed a deed of relinq.

 

Alexander Neil and James Neil, brothers to the complainant dated 24 Aug 1819 relinq all their rights to the land. Another deed of relinq dated 1 aug 1821 John Neil, James Neil, Sarah Neil, John Plumley, William Plumley, Archibald Plumley, Jacob Howes, Hannah Howes, Benjamin Howes, and William Howes.

“That George Cathey, Violet Cathey, Jane Adkins, Samuel Lusk and his wife Betsy, Benjamin Burgen and his wife Mary are the children & heirs of said George Cathey decd. that George Patton, John Logan and his wife Rebecca are grand children of said George Cathey Senr decd. by his daughter Margaret who intermarried with Elija Paton and who are both deceased. Also Robert Cain & Daniel Cain are grand children of said George decd by his daughter Elizabeth who intermarrired first with Robert Cain, also James Reed grand child of said George decd by his daughter Elizabeth by her second husband Robert Reed, the same Robert Cain, Robert Reed and Elizabeth being now all dead. Also Robert Patton and his wife Rebecca who is a daughter of said George decd. John Reed and his wife Esther, who is also a daughter of said George decd. Also Andrew Neil and his wife Mary the said Andrew being a son of William Neil decd. and his wife Mary a daughter of said George decd. Also Robert Gillespie and his wife Anne grand daughter of said George decd. by his son William Cathey and George Cathey, James Cathey, and Andrew Cathey and William Mahafy and his wife Betsey grand sons and daughter of said George deceased by his son William Cathey now decd.”

The above court case proves the family of George Cathey quite thoroughly, but of course it doesn’t answer some critical questions, such as when and where did George die, who was his wife, where did they come from, etc.

Children of George Cathey and Ann Price. The 1823 court case names nine children and numerous grandchildren. The age difference between the oldest and youngest children strongly suggests that George was married more than once.

+    M         i.    Major William Cathey was born before 1755. He died on 23 Dec         1812.

+    F          ii.    Elizabeth Cathey was born before 1755. She died in 1810/1820.

+    F         iii.    Rebecca Cathey was born before 1765.

+   F          iv.    Margaret Cathey was born in 1755/1765. She died on 13 Jan 1813.

+  F            v.    Mary Cathey.

+  F          vi.    Violet Cathey was born in 1761. She died on 28 Oct 1848.

+F           vii.    Esther Cathey was born on 8 Apr 1767. She died on 28 Sep 1840.

+F       viii.    Ann Cathey was born about 1773 in NC. She died in 1852 in Marshall  Co, TN. Ann married Alexander Neill, son of William Neill. Alexander died before May 1823.

+ M        ix.    George Cathey was born in Oct 1784. He died on 3 Dec 1866.