Hi Folks,
I have been searching endlessly for years for the ancesters of my
gr gr grandfather, Wilson G. CATES b 1811 near Shelbyville, TN, and so far
I have found nothing.
According to the genealogy data that I have in letters and a
genealogy workup dated 1944 that has been passed around the family, says
that Robert D. CATES is the father of Wilson G. CATES. It further states
that Robert D. was born near Shelbyville, TN in 1778, now here is my delima
neither Shelbyville or the state of TN existed in 1778 as it was still the
frontier and Indian Territory of NC. I have been to the court house in
Bedford Co, and surrounding the counties and have not been able to find
any information.
But that is just part of the problem, Robert's father is supposed
to be James F. CATES born in Orange Co, NC date unknown, but it had to be
before or about the time Orange Co, NC was established in 1754, and James
F. CATES is supposed to be the son of Robert CATE, Jr.
Every year when I go to Hillsborough, NC to visit family I spend
some time digging through the Historic Records in the Old and New Court
Building (the original court house has been closed for years) in
Hillsborough, the Chatham Co Court House, Durham Co Court House, and the
Alamance Co Court House, and have only found one James F. CATES b 1867 and
there are several Robert D. CATES born after the 1790 census.
Then in September 1997, I received the CW Pension records for
Willson G. CATES with an afidavit written by his oldest son (J)Samuel, that
states that William A. CATES is Wilson's father. This is the first time I
have heard or read any reference to a William A. that was also born near
Shelbyville, TN.
I am at wits end and don't know where else to look. Some where
there is a missing person in the lineage, and I am questionable about
whether James F. CATES and Robert D. CATES really existed.
Is there anyone out there that can shed some light on where else to
look. What District of NC was the area near Shelbyville, TN in the mid to
late 1700's before statehood in 1796. Any ideas for research will be
greatly appreciated.
Have a nice day,
Don Stanton
TeeSquare(a)ecr.net