Dave et al,
The Mary who married Gideon Cate was Mary Dennis. The following is what
I received from Ron Crockett back in Apr of 1999:
"Mary White's maiden name was Mary Dennis. I do not know if she was
related to Mark Dennis , but I would expect so. I think I got that name
from a descendent of James. Her first husband was James Mitchell White.
Some of the Dennis family that married into the Crockett family was living in
Grainger Co. around 1802."
My file for Mary therefore looks like this and it appears to be
correct... if not, someone let me know.... a complex marriage situation to
input into the database to say the least. <<<Smile>>>
MARY DENNIS
First Generation
1. Mary1 Dennis was born in Tennessee circa 1825.
She married three times. She married James Mitchell White in Tennessee,
before 1848. James died before Jun 1860 in Tennessee.
Jun 1860 - 1860 Federal Census for McMinn County, Tennessee, Page 271,
Dwelling 140, Family 140 - Mary White, widow & weaver age 34, Sarah Jane
White age 12, Mary E. White age 9.
She married James Elder in McMinn County, Tennessee, 14 Apr 1864.
Cited on the marriage license as "Mrs. Mary White", it is reported that
she was a widow with 2 children. It is my contention and/or speculation that
she later married Gideon Cate. (AHB)
James was born circa 1805, in Jefferson County, Tennessee. James was the
son of Robert Elder and Sarah Moore. He married Sarah 'Sally' Womack in Rhea
County, Tennessee, 25 Aug 1826. Marriage bond issued on 25 Aug 1826 in Rhea
County, Tennessee and married on same date by Thomas Cox, J.P., Jacob
Wommack, bondsman.
James died 22 Sep 1866 in McMinn County, Tennessee, at 61 years of age.
His burial was after 22 Sep 1866 in Womac Cemetery, Calhoun, McMinn County,
Tennessee.
1830 Federal Census for Rhea County, Tennessee, Page 352 - James Elder
age 20-30, 1 male age 10-15, 1 male age under 5; 1 female age 20-30, 1 female
age under 5.
1836 - Meigs County is formed from Rhea County, Tennessee.
1836 - James Elder purchased Lot 44 in Decatur, Meigs County, Tennessee.
1860 - James Elder was a farmer with property worth over $10,000 in 1860.
According to the 1860 slave schedule, he had two slave houses and the
following slaves: 3 males and 6 females. (Lee M. Elder)
Jun 1860 - 1860 Federal Census for McMinn County, Tennessee, Page 272,
Dwelling 155, Family 155 - James Elder, farmer age 55, Sarah Elder age 52.
22 Sep 1866 - McMinn County, Tennessee, Will Book G, Page 203 - Inventory
and sale of the estate of James Elder by R. A. McAdoo, administrator.
Sep 1866 - McMinn County, Tennessee, Will Book G, Page 208 -
Commissioners S. S. Morgan, Stephen Hill and Silas Mynatt lay off years
support for widow and family of James Elder.
Aug to Nov 1866 - McMinn County, Tennessee Court Records, Book 9, Pages
292, 319, 325 & 338 - Petition for sale of land. R. A. McAdoo and S. W.
Royston, Administrators of the estate of James Elder vs. Nancy Stephenson,
Mary Dennis, Jacob, John, Daniel, Sarah W., Robert, Mark, Lou and Craton
Elder, the last seven being minors, Mary Elder appointed guardian of Craton
Elder, her own minor son (sic), Eliza C. Elder appointed guardian of Daniel,
John, Sarah, Robert, Loutisia and Mark Elder, her own minor heirs.
17 Aug 1867 - McMinn County, Tennessee, Will Book G, Page 215 -
Settlement and sale by administrator for the estate of James Elder.
14 Dec 1869 - McMinn County, Tennessee Court Records, Book 11, Page 174 -
Settlement of the estate of James Elder by administrators, payments of
various amounts to the following unidentified persons: Eliza C., Mary, Jacob,
J. F. and James Elder, Wm. Stephenson and wife, M. Dennis and wife, Eliza C.
Elder as guardian, James Stephenson and wife, James Dennis, M. Dennis and
Mary Elder as guardian.
She married Gideon Cate in McMinn County, Tennessee, 1 Feb 1871. Married
by S.H. Cate, Minister of the Gospel. McMinn County, Tennessee Marriage Book
G.
Gideon was born 19 Jan 1800, in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Gideon was
the son of John Cate Jr. and Mary Ann Koontz (Coons). He married Elizabeth
Stephenson in Jefferson County, Tennessee, 24 Dec 1820. Marriage bond No.
1500 issued on 23 Dec 1820 in Jefferson County, Tennessee, Elisha Cate,
bondsman. Married by his father, John Cate Jr. on 24 Dec 1820.
Gideon died 29 Jan 1878 in McMinn County, Tennessee, at 78 years of age.
His burial was after 29 Jan 1878 in Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, McMinn
County, Tennessee.
1829 McMinn County, Tennessee Tax List, Capt. Ewings Company - Gideon
Cate, no land listed, 1 white poll.
1830 Federal Census for McMinn County, Tennessee, Page 172 - Gideon Cate
age 30-40, 1 male age 5-10, 1 male age under 5, 1 female age 20-30, 1 female
age 5-10, 2 females age under 5.
1830 McMinn County, Tennessee Tax List, Capt. Ewings Company - Gideon
Cate, no land listed, 1 white poll.
31 May 1831 - McMinn County, Tennessee Deed Book B, Page 169 - Robert
Stephenson to Gideon Cate; $1,000 in part of said Cate's wife's legacy.
1832 - Gideon and Elizabeth Stephenson Cate were members of the Big
Spring Baptist Church in McMinn County, Tennessee.
16 Feb 1837 - Jefferson County, Tennessee Deed Index, Book U, Page 191 -
Warranty Deed from John Cate to Gideon Cate for 30 acres on Cedar Branch.
Registered 12 Mar 1838.
1840 Federal Census for McMinn County, Tennessee, Page 114 - Gideon Cate
age 30-40, 1 male age 15-20, 1 male age 10-15, 2 males age 5-10, 2 males age
under 5; 1 female age 30-40, 2 females age 15-20, 1 female age 10-15.
29 Nov 1848 - Jefferson County, Tennessee Deed Book 3, page 85 - Deed for
30 acres, containing a mill, from Gideon Cate of McMinn County, Tennessee and
William Cate of Washington County, Tennessee to Joseph Cate of Jefferson
County, Tennessee for the sum of $800. Land located in Jefferson County,
Tennessee on the waters of the Cedar Branch adjacent to Newman's line.
Witnesses: Claiborn Cate, Michael Cate and Thomas Cate. Registered 11 Feb
1852.
1860 Federal Census for Calhoun Township, McMinn County, Tennessee, Page
303, Dwelling 605, Family 605 - Gideon Cate, farmer age 60, Elizabeth Cate
age 54, U. J. R. Cate (male), school teacher age 20, Asberry M. Cate age 18,
E. L. Cate (female) age 10.
1870 Federal Census for the 12th District, McMinn County, Tennessee, Page
135, Dwelling N/A, Family 37 & 38 - Gideon Cate 74, Daniel Cate age 37, Lou?
Cate age 34, Lizzie Cate age 11, William Cate age 9, Riley Cate age 6.
1 Feb 1871 - McMinn County, Tennessee Deed Book P, Page 466 - Gideon Cate
& Mary Elder, marriage contract; Mary agrees to turn over her personal
property & proceeds or rents from her dower, but retains the dower, where she
now lives, in her own name; Gideon agrees to take into his family Craton
Elder, daughter of said Mary, support & educate her, & at her majority or
marriage to give her $300.
1 Jun 1880 - 1880 Federal Census for McMinn County, Tennessee, 12th
District, Page 372, Dwelling 15, Family 15 - Mary Cate, widow age 54, Cratie
Cate (Female) age 15, Daniel P. Cate, step son & farmer age 45, Frank
Henderson (African-American), servant age not stated.
Mary Dennis and James Mitchell White had the following children:
2 i. Sarah Jane2 White was born in Tennessee circa 1848.
3 ii. Mary E. White was born in Tennessee circa 1851.
Mary Dennis and James Elder had the following child:
4 iii. Craton 'Cratie' Elder Cate was born in Tennessee circa
1865.
Allan H. Baumbach
810 East Shady Way #309
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Al in IL