From Revolutionary War Pension Application File of William Cato of Fairfield Co, SC
(Application filed by his daughter Francis Harrison)
Affidavit of Mary Pearson
State of South Carolina
Fairfield District
Before me an acting Magistrate personally appeared Mrs. Mary Pearson, who being duly sworn
as directed by law, saith on her oath that she was well acquainted with the (---) William
Cato Esqr, who resided in the house hold with the family of her deceased husband Phillip
Pearson in the year 1786; in which said year about the last of May, or first part of June,
the said William Cato Esqr intermarried with Susan G? Eccles, a young lady, sister in law?
to Capt? Coln? Clarence? Duskins? , who resided in the same vicinity with this deponent
and family. This deponent well remembers the circumstances of furnishing or lending her
riding Mare and leathers? laskey? for the use of the bride, on that necessity, to ride to
the Reverend Jacob Gibson?, who resided some five or six miles distant, when the aforesaid
William Cato, and Susan Eccles were married; this deponent providing a dinner for the
party, on their return at her own residence; The party returning under the reputation of
man !
and wife, resided for some time in the family of Philip Pearson, who had subsequently a
house built for Wm Cato on his own place, where himself and wife resided for some time.
The birth of their first children (a twin birth) was in the year 1787, which time is
indicated by a family record, of the birth of her second son, P.E. Pearson (May 7th 1786)
this deponent remembering well on a visit to the Cato family of suckling one of the twins,
Stephen F. Cato, before she weaned her second son, as above dated, who was about one month
old at the time of the marriage of Wm Cato and Susannah Eccles as aforesaid. Mr. Cato and
his wife, Susan, resided in the neighborhood of this deponent, and had born to them twelve
or thirteen children, and living together under the undisputed, and acknowledged
reputation of lawful man and wife for upwards of Forty years; till the time of his Death;
which is remembered by this Deponent, which is stated to the year 1829. This Deponent
further saith n!
ot.
signed Mary Pearson
Sworn to the 30th June 1849 by
Wm F. Pearson Magistrate Fairfield Distr So Carolina
I William F. Pearson, an acting Magistrate in the aforesaid District and State, do hereby
certify that Mary Pearson who made the within affidavit, is a person of sound mind, memory
and understanding, that the family record referd to in said affidavit is in the well known
hand writing of her late husband Philip Pearson, containing the marriage of Philip
Pearson, and Mary Butler, this Deponent, 1783, and the birth of their second son 1786; The
credibility of this testimony is certified, as also the contents of the Affidavit.
Given under my hand this 30th June 1849
Wm F Pearson