Hi Cousin: Thanks for the pastor's address and the information about the
Church. It has taken me a number of years to trace the family back to John
Cate. I knew that our family had lived in the Smokey Mountains early on but I
had no idea where. By taking every step and slowly running down every thing
that I could find I finally traced them back to Isaac Cate the son of John
Cate. Isaac Cate wed Susannah Manard and moved to Washington County Arkansas
by way of Alabama. I think it was in Washington County that their daughter
Martha "Patsy" Cate wed my second great-grandfather William Thomason.
I show that Isaac Cate was the Justice of the Peace for Arkansas County of
the Louisiana Territory from 1814 to 1819 and was the Election Judge of the
first state election in Clear Creek Township, Washington County Arkansas in
1836. He must have died about ten years later as his widow Susannah was
petitioning for her Dower Rights in 1846. In the 1850 Census of Mars Hill
Township Washington County Arkansas Susannah, 60, born NC, with $3,000 worth
of real-estate was head of household with her sons Ephraim, 40, born TN,
farmer, and James, 17, farmer, born Arkansas, attending school, living with
her. Next door was her son John Cate, 33, farmer, born AL; wife Comfort, 28,
born TN; neither could read or write; Children Susan, 9, AR; Mary, 8, AR;
Eliza, 6, AR; Marget, 5, AR; John, 4, AR; and Hannah 8/12 TX. This census was
taken 19 Oct 1815. I wonder what they were doing in Texas?
Well, this has gotten longer than I had planned. I think I will also send it
on to the Cate list as I included some information that I haven't posted
before.
So long for now, cousin and thanks again for the information.
Tom William Thomason
615 16th St., NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104
fax (505)2474822
phone (505)247-8311
TWThomason(a)aol.com