I am interested in the Cavitt, Cavett, Cavit, Cavet branches which
descend from Richard Cavitt (1711-1789) and Catherine Whitley through
their sons Moses (1742-1802) who married Agnes Meetch, Alexander
(1745-1793), Michael Whitley (1747-1821) and Richard (1749-1819). The
object of this query, however, is to determine whether there have been
any substantive findings in recent years about the identities of
Richard's siblings and father. When I last looked into the matter about
six years ago there were plenty of Cavitt footprints in the public
records of Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee but few
clues as to relationships. The most popular thesis at the time was that
seven Cavitt brothers: Alexander (b1705), Sheridan (b1710), Richard
(1711-1789) John (1713-1784), Michael (b1732), Moses (b1734) and Patrick
(1735-1835), and their father, Moses (b1684), came to Pennsylvania from
Scotland via Ireland. Purportedly, Alexander arrived in 1725 in
Philadelphia or Chester County and moved west into what became Lancaster
County. Sheridan and John are supposed to have followed in 1736 and in
1750 their father Moses came accompanied by son Richard and his family.
Also in the party were Moses' young sons Michael (b1732), Moses (b 1734)
and Patrick (1735-1835) ----- half-brothers of Alexander, Sheridan,
Richard and John. Over time, various of them pushed further west into
what became Cumberland and Allegheny counties.
Of the seven brothers, I have nothing on 1) Alexander, 2) Sheridan, 5)
Michael or 6) Moses.
3) Richard and Catherine Whitlely Cavitt, in whose four sons I indicated
particular interest, also had three other children: John (1736-1764),
Mary (1744-d before 1798) who married Andrew Clark, and George (1750-d
before 1798).
4) John is said to have married Catherine McKnight in Pennsylvania by
whom he had sons John, James and Thomas and daughters Lydia (Boggs),
Grizelle (McNutt), and Catherine (Wylie).
7) Patrick's children by his first wife are said to have included
William (dnm), Margery (m John McGinnis), John (m Fanny Ewing), Jean (m
John Purdy), Samue (m Nellie McLaren)l, Andrew, Michael, Moses and George
(1774-1857). By his second wife, Mary Porter, Patrick is said to have
sired Nancy (dnm), James (m Jean Crooks) and Richard .
Can anyone add to or correct any of the above? Jack Bryan