Thanks to Charlie Ward for the invitation to join the CATES page at
MyFamily.com. We are still trying to get the pass word and Username to
work. Must be typing something in wrong. Will try again.
To Bob Thompson, I need some times and places past your grandmother Lena
Nell Cate in order to see if I have anything on her line. Our name/lineage
has come down through SC>ALA>TX with the "s" on the end as CATES.
I (started by my wife)have 38 years of Cate/Cates genealogy research. Most
of that 38 years of research has been out in the "wilderness" before the
Internet. I only started searching the Internet in the late 90s and still am
quite computer illiterate.
I am seeking proof of the connection of my Joseph ca. 1708 and that of his
preceived father who I suspect to be Richard Nehimiah reported son of
William Abraham and brother to Robert Ezra of Devon, England. Also I am
seeking documented proof of the existance of these men past the "Wateree"
Joseph Cate in the SC Council Journals.
In 2000 Dr. Banks Cates, Jr. of Charlotte, NC sent me copies of a
considerable amount of his research in the VA, NC, & SC area. I am most
thankful for his generosity. His fine research set me off to confirm the
connection of Joseph of the Flat River with the other Cates of that area and
location, those being Benjamin, John, Robert, and Thomas. As you likely know
Dr. Cates offered the HYPOTHESIS those men along with William and Richard
were likely brothers. I was happy to accept that belief until I discovered
John, Joseph and Benjamin were ILLITERATE as were their children and Robert
and Thomas were LITERATE as well as their children. As you no doubt know
Dr. Cates portrayed all as sons of Robert the Shoemaker, now called Robert
Ezra. As noted on the Internet many people have accepted that HYPOTHESIS as
stated fact. Dr. Cates acknowledged his research supported my finding of
difference in literacy among the group. I have a copy of the land deed of
1765 where Joseph sold his property on the Wateree River in SC and he signed
said deed with his "mark". I also have a copy of the deed where John, still
on the Flat River, signed his property deed with his "mark" in 1759. I also
have the will of Robert in 1765 with his signature.
I am also seeking confirmation to the claimed lineage of John b. ca 1703 m
1721 Margery Lawerence that remained in VA and had a son Richard Mathais b.
1727 VA. This John has been connected as a son of Robert Ezra b. 1667. If
that is the case, and I believe it likely is, then John of the Flat River of
the similiar age cannot be a son of Robert also.
The established fact of the Cate families located in what was to become
Orange Co., NC in 1752 as having different literate backgrounds and there
being two different John Cate attributed to Robert Ezra gives one cause to
suspect there was another Cate Sr and I believe that likely was Richard
Nehemiah. The research, Ken Arnold of Florida, reporting on the sons of
William Abraham has not denied Richard Nehimiah had a family, only that he
has no documentation of such. I have not been able to contact Ken Arnold.
The illiterate sons Benjamin, John, and Joseph need a legitimate daddy and I
am trying to find them one.
By 1749 Joseph left his brother John on the Flat R. and settled on the
Wateree Cr. of the Wateree River in Craven Co., SC with a wife and 6
children as noted in the SC Council Journal of 1750. I believe I have
identified 3 of those children as Thomas, Robert, and sister, Sallie, who
married William Watson, Sr ca 1767.
As for my lineage I claim 1)Joseph b ca 1708, 2)Thomas b. ca 1735 NC d 1793
Edgefield Dist. SC, 3) Joseph b. ca 1760 SC d. 1812 Edgefield District, SC,
4) John b.ca.1785 Edgefield District, SC d. 1826 Butler Co., Ala. 5)Needham
b. Edgefield District, SC 1818, d. Lowndes Co. AL 1884, 6) Joseph Daniel b.
1861 Lowndes Co. AL d. 1937 Cherokee Co, TX, 7) John E. b. 1892 Angelina
Co., TX, d 1986 Cherokee Co., TX, 8)Dan B. b. 1935 Cherokee Co., TX. I
rest my case and look forward to a response from anyone. I have a lot more
on the Cates to share if anyone is interested. I have traced several
families from NC to TN, SC, GA, Ala., Ark. and TX.
Dan B. Cates, Rt. #2 Box 52-A, Alto, Texas 75925-9607 1-936-858-3801
.