After finally reading Margaret Amundson's article in The Virginia
Genealogist, I see the first indication for a possible surname for Nicholas
Catlett's wife. This is other than that given by the Stubbs.
The Stubbs gave her name as Susannah Meriwether, daughter of David
Meriwether. The reasoning for their conjecture is that Thomas Meriwether
(s/o David) named his oldest daughter, Susannah, after his supposed sister.
However, Joe Oglesby (researcher of the Meriwether family) says that David
Meriwether did not have a sister named Susannah. Thus we have been without
a name for Nicholas's wife, unless we figure that the Meriwether
researchers just didn't have the right information.
IAC, Margaret Amundson notes in her article that Nicholas "executed several
deeds with a wife Elizabeth, who gave her mother, Joanna Mathews, her power
of attorney to relinquish her dower in June 1672." For this, Margaret
cites Sparacio, "Deed & Will Abstracts of (Old) Rappahannock County,
Virginia (Part I of 1672-1676)". Just before this, Margaret also cites
Sparacios with a deed signed by Nicholas' wife, Susannah. Stubbs also
noted this deed, but fail to note the deed signed for Elizabeth by her
mother, Joanna Mathews. While it is not likely, could the "Susannah deed"
be a mis-reading by both the Stubbs and the Sparacios and the actual name
be "Elizabeth" instead of "Susanna"? Are these deeds in the Library
of
Virginia where they may be viewed? Anyone where they can double-check this?
I don't know how the Sparacio's arranged their book of abstracts, although
I note that the citation for the 1671-2 deeds with Elizabeth gives page 15.
But, the earlier deed of 1668 is cited from p. 18 of the Sparacio book.
One would think that if a 1671-2 citation is on p. 18, then an earlier
dated deed would be shown on an earlier page. Nothing earth-shattering,
but interesting none the less.
Both Stubbs and Sparacio may be right. But this indicates that Susannah
died and Nicholas married again -- this time to Elizabeth (whose surname
may have been Mathews), daughter of Joanna Mathews. Anyone know anything
about them? Was Elizabeth's maiden name Mathews? Did Elizabeth also die
before Nicholas? She is apparently not named (which may or may not have
meaning) in court records where David Catlett indicates he is Nicholas's
son and heir.
Comments?
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Lee Hoffman/KY
E-mail: lhoffman(a)acm.org
My website: <
http://www.users.mis.net/~lhoffman>
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A user of the best genealogy program, The Master Genealogist (TMG)