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RN=406 in Cathey book Special thanks to Lawrence Wood, deceased, 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.
The primary records on Andrew Cathey are very scarce. There was
another Andrew Cathey (c1722) roughly the same age, and there is quite a
possibility of confusion among their records.
Andrew Cathey was born ca 1720 or earlier. This is based on
the assumption that he was at least 21 years old when his first child
was born in 1741, of course he could have been a little older or a
little younger.
I don’t have any primary evidence, but it is generally thought that
Andrew Cathey was born in Ulster, Ireland. It seems very likely that he
immigrated to the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania / Cecil County,
Maryland border area with his parents while still very young.
Andrew Cathey is a proven son of
James Cathey and Ann —. The primary proof is that Andrew was named
as a son of James in James’ 1756 Will (Rowan Co, NC). Further proof is
found in a 1739 importation record where James Cathey imported himself,
his wife and several children (including Andrew) into Orange County,
Virginia.
Andrew’s parents left the PA/MD border region in 1739 and relocated
to Orange County, Virginia. This is proven by an "Importation Oath"
dated 28 Feb 1739 where:
"James Cathey, made oath that he imported
himself, Ann, his wife, William, Elizabeth, Andrew, George, Margaret and
Ann Cathey ...". (Orange Co, VA Record Book II page 109).
The record above does not explicitly state that William, et al were
children of James and Ann, but it is very likely, as those same names
were listed in James’ Will as his children.
They must have lived in the part of Orange County that had been set
off as Augusta County, but was still unorganized, so still considered
Orange County until 1745 when Augusta was officially organized. They
apparently lived on or near the Beverly Manor tract of land on Catheys
River. This river was named for one of the Cathey settlers, perhaps
William Cathey (Andrew’s brother) who owned land there. This is now
known as Middle River and is just west of Staunton, Virginia in present
Augusta County.
Andrew Cathey married someone before 1741, presumably in either
Orange or Augusta County, Virginia. I have not found any record of his
wife’s name. Some list her as "Rebecca", but I believe that is a result
of confusion between him and the other Andrew I mentioned before, for
that Andrew’s wife was named Rebecca.
Several of Andrew’s children were named in the Baptismal records of
the Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church starting with son William in 1741,
ending with Margaret in 1745. Unfortunately, Andrew’s wife was not
mentioned in these records.
Around this time (ca 1747-50), most of the Catheys left Augusta
County, Virginia and made the move to the North Carolina frontier
settling in what was then part of Bladen County. Their area became Anson
County in 1750, and in 1753 Rowan County was formed, leaving some of the
Catheys in old Anson (later Mecklenburg) and some in the new county of
Rowan, including our Andrew who lived in what is still Rowan County
today.
On 3 Apr 1754, the Colony of South Carolina granted 400 acres to
Andrew Cathey. The land (as described in a 1768 deed) was on Ninety-Six
Mile Creek in Berkeley County, bounded on all sides by Vacant land. At
that point in time, Berkeley was a huge county with indefinite borders,
but it was well into central and eastern South Carolina. I don’t know if
Andrew actually lived on this land or not. It seems to me that he owned
it but never moved there, but I could be wrong.
Andrew Cathey was named in 5 Dec 1756 Will of his father James
Cathey. He named Andrew and also mentioned Ann Cathey, daughter of "my
son Andrew". (Rowan Co, NC Will Book A page 50).
Andrew Cathey died sometime between 1756 and 27 Jan 1768, for on that
latter date, William Cathey, planter, "son and heir" of Andrew Cathey
sold Andrews 400 acres of South Carolina land to John Savage. (South
Carolina Deed Book I/3 page 388).
I do not know when Mrs. Cathey died, but I’ve found no records of her
at all, so she may have died before Andrew. |
