Folks,
This week I read the personal property tax lists for Greensville Co.,
Va. I think they have some value in determining the age of some
individuals as well as telling us some of their activities and deaths.
This is what these tax lists show for those who are not acquained
with them. They are available for all counties in Va. from about 1780
to 1850 and are better than census records.
Name of the Tax Payer
Name of the White Males over 21 yrs
# of white males 16-21 yrs.
# Blacks males over 16 yrs.
# Blacks males 12-16 yrs.
Horses, Mules
Carriages
There are too many columns to send on the internet but anyone who
wants a copy may post a request to me by E-mail with your address and
I will mail you a copy. Apparently not all tax assessors taxed the
16-21 yrs. olds., so they are not listed consistantly.
From these I haved surmised that John Cato Jr. (son of John Cato and
Elizabeth Nanny) was born in about 1770 (became 21 in 1791) and his
younger brother George was born in about 1777 (became 16 yrs. in
1793). Incidently I am increasingly becoming to think that John Jr.
was probably the father of George Edwin Cato of Wilson Co., Tn. I
think I will search more in the early records of that county. Jesse
Markle said that the father was born about 1770/2 and was a son of a
John. He said both were named John Henry but I tend to consider the
Henry part as at least uncertain. The one they know who died in the
Civil War was apparently named John Henry but I am not sure about the
earlier ones.
We also can tell when Daniel Cato Jr.died. He died between the 1792
and 1793 tax lists. Also his son Sterling became 21 in 1800 and his
son John became 21 in 1801.
Daniel Cato Sr. died after the 1796 tax and before the 1797 tax. His
will was proven in Sept. term of Court, 1797.
Roland Cato's son Robert became 16 yrs. in 1792 and is listed as
over 21 in 1800 (b. ca 1776)
John Cato, son of Daniel was alive in both the 1795 and 1796 tax
lists, yet was dead 1/11/1796 when his father made a deed to his
widow Elizabeth. He must have died very close to 1/11/1796. I found
that he made a will dated 12/27/1796, proven Jan. Court 1797. I did
not find mention of a son or of a granddaughter Susan. I think I
should reread that will. It is rather faded and hard to read. I will
let you know what I find. He named a wife Elizabeth, dau. Elizabeth
Shelton, dau. Lucy Hart, dau. Polly, William Smith (son-in-law,
husband of Sally) and grandson Harris Avent(? hard to read). Who was
he?
I have been looking at the deeds of Greensville.
Apparently John Cato Jr. sold out in Greensville Co. in 1800, (John
Cato and Harriet his wife to William Evans for $1000, 224 acres on
Fountain Ck., dated 12/22/1800. That is the last record for them.),
about the time that his brother George sold his inheritance in 1799.
If they went to Wilson Co., Tn., I should find some records there
soon thereafter.
Also the last record for Elizabeth Cato (widow of John Cato, son of
Daniel) was the sale of 181 œ acres of land for $181 to William
Harrison, dated 1/11/1808. This is when she made the move to Stewart
Co., Tn.
Henry Brackin Jr.