Hello everyone!
Found in NC:
A map showing Northampton Co in more detail, with added watercourses. It
shows that Beaverpond Creek, where William Cato had his land, is a branch
of Fountains Creek and is right on the NC and Va line. So is Jacks Swamp.
Made copies of all the deeds from Nohampton. They show one interesting
thing:
The William Cato who sells to John Cato, 1772 , 160 acres,
signature: William + Cato his mark, and a seal.
The William Cato who sells to John Haithcock, 18 Nov 1778, for L330, 160
acres, signature is: William Cato, and a seal. No mark.
This seems to imply that we are dealing with an older William Cato, with
two sons William and John, and possibly a son George Cato of Northampton.
This older William (who received as William CATOR the original grant for
320 acres in 1749 and is mentioned as an adjoining property holder in MANY
deeds from 1752 and on) MAY have died between 1772 and 1778, his land
falling to his oldest son, who would be William 2. Found no wills or
estate records.
I suppose it is possible that William X Cato learned to write between 1772
and 1778, but it just doesn't seem likely to me.
I checked "Minutes and Accounts/Records of the Poor and Vestry of St
Georges 1773-1814 " of Northampton Co and found reference to William Caton,
but I think it really is Wm CatoN. Have to check other records.
Found in " SC Memorials of Land Titles, 1774-1776"
part of a set, this was the only volume I could find at the library)
Daniel Heyward, 7 Nov 1774:238 acres in Granville County, Purrysburgh
Township. Bounded SE on Stephen CATOE; other sides vacant. Survey
certified 5 May 1773; granted 7 June 1774. Quit rent in two years.
Delivered 27 Dec 1774 to th memorialist by CJL. (ref Book 13-86:1)
I would like to check all of these books. Don't know what years they cover.
Re: William Brewer wills of NC. I looked at abstracts of every one
(according to work of major Brewer researcher Marvin T. Broyhill) and did
not find any Tabitha listed. Mr. Broyhill's Brewers are from NC, so his
work on the NC families is very comprehensive. Do need to spend a LOT more
time with his books, however. I did copy his listing of all the Brewer
wills in NC, and abstracts. But no luck for us re: Tabitha.
In fact, I did not find ANYTHING re: Henry and Tabitha in NC at all!
Librarian suggested that maybe he was a traveling preacher, and so did not
have a "home" per say, but stayed with different families! (Aaaaagh,
surely not!)
It is possible that Burrell is not the son of Henry, and so Henry was never
"on the waters of Drowning Creek" at all. I think we should make another
search through the Virginia records for any mention of Henry c 1771-1778.
I plan to go to Virginia just as soon as I can fit it in. Wanted to make
it this trip, but... it seems to me that when you walk into a Genealogy
Library, time begins to move at triple speed.
Will send more as I have a chance to sort and digest !
Cynthia