Dear Catchings' List Members---I hope some of you will remember me. I am
descended from Meredith Catchings Jr. by way of his oldest daughter,
Elizabeth, who was married to Henry "Little Henry" Garner". I am
attempting to apply for membership in the SAR based on the service of
Meredith Sr. My problem(s): (1) I have no firm proof of the name of
Meredith Jr.'s wife. I think her name was Nancy Burford, but I need
documentation. Also need dates of birth, place of birth and place and date
of marriage. (2) Ditto for Meredith Sr. I have information that he was
first married to Roda (Rhoda)-------. The book "The Catchings and Holiday
Families" on page 14 states: "The following are supposed to have been
brothers, and that their father was Meredith and their mother a Miss Scott
of England: 1. Benjamin Catching. 2. Philip Catching. 3. Joseph Catching.
4. Seymour Catching 5. Meredith Catching". I am inclined to speculate,
based on this information, that Meredith Sr.'s first wife was named Rhoda
Scott and that she was from England. There were many children and
grandchildren, etc., descended from the Catchings brothers named
Rhoda______. There is a perplexing problem here in that Anastasia Madden
Catchings, wife of Meredith Sr., states in her will; "First of all I
commend my body to the earth to be buried in a decent burial at the
discretion of my executor, first of all my loving son Meredith Catching my
negro man Mose and he is to pay son Isaac Wilkes two hundred and fifty
dollars". She goes on to name her other heirs: Daughter Nancy Mulkey,
grandson Richard Trale, son Richard Madden, grandson Denis Madden, Stacy
Fletcher and her, Anastasia's, daughter Caty Fletcher. From all of this I
gather the following: Meredith Catchings Jr., her executor, was her
stepson. She had sons named Isaac Wilkes and Richard Madden (Two previous
marriages). She had a daughter, Nancy, who married a man named Mulkey, she
had a nother daughter, apparently deceased, who had married a man named
Trale. Another daughter, still living, was married to a man named Fletcher.
I think that Meredith Catchings Jr. was not her son but was her stepson and
further that Meredith Jr.s' mother was Rhoda Scott. The will was signed on
March 6, 1807. I solicit your comments.
I also have a copy of Meredith Senior's Certificate of Service which states
" This is to certify that Meredith Catchings citizen has done his duty as a
soldier, etc. dated April 7, 1784 and signed by E. Clark, Col. Meredith Sr.
was given a warrant, #2755 , for 287 1/2 acres of land in Washington
County, Georgia as a bounty. I will be pleased to send anyone copies of
these documents or any others. Just send me an SASE. My address is below.
I would appreciate any help or comments you care to give. My best,
George Johnson
108 Bel Aire Drive
Winchester, TN 37398
931-962-2909