Bonnie,
Nehemiah Cato enlisted in Capt. Gray's Co. This Company was made up
of people from middle Tennesssee. It marched south down the Tombigee
River to Mobile. That is how Nehemiah was in the Sabine Frontier
fighting. He may have stayed awhile down there after his enlistment
was up.
I agree with you that the land that was granted to Nehemiah seems to
be the land that Needham Cato owned in 1859, on the south boundary of
the land that Amos Cato sold to James R. Elliott. On the other hand
the 1850 and the 1860 censuses are consistent in saying both Needham
(Nelson) and James Cato were born in SC. I continue to believe that
James, Needham and Ranson Cato were brothers, all sons of Sterling.
Both James and Needham were for awhile in Mo. There is only one
explanation I have as to the land situation. It is that Needham must
have bought Nehemiah's land from him or some intermediary. I think
you need to search for such a transaction.
You say that the oldest son of Needham was James, b. 1829 in Mo. No,
I think the oldest is Nelson, b. 1825 in Mo.
Henry