Moses Cavitt, son of (Father Unknown) and of (Mother Unknown), born about
1684 in prob. County Antrim, Ireland. He was married to (?).
The first couple of generations of the Cavitt family are questionable. The
names are recorded but it is unclear who belongs to which family. There are
three variant spellings generally divided up as follows: Cavet, seen first
in Pennsylvania; Cavett, the family who went south; and Cavitt, the family
who went west.
The family is probably descended from French Huegonauts who settled in
Ulster, Northern Ireland, and inter-married with Scots-Irish. The name
Cavet, according to the "Dictionary of Family Names" is French and means
cave dweller.
Because of religious, political and economical reasons, thousands of
Scots-Irish emigrated to America. The majority of them left their homeland
in 1718 and settled along the Susquehanna River in southeastern
Pennsylvania. At that time the area was part of Chester County, part of
which was later divided up into Lancaster and Dauphin counties.
Moses is believed to be the progenitor of the Cavitt family in America,
according to the book "Some Tracings of Cavett-Cavitt Family History" by
Ellen Burnett Cavitt.
This appears to be based on family tradition. Sources regarding the early
Cavitt family are scarce. According to "Notes and Queries Historical and
Genealogical" edited by William Egle, a Richard Cavitt had several children
whose names correspond to children of the Moses Cavitt who migrated to
Sullivan Co., TN. (Moses children's names per EBC). There are three death
dates in Lancaster Co., Penn., for the name Richard Cavitt, and there were
several generations of Cavitts with the names Moses and Richard, as well as
James and John.
Some of the birth years in EBC's book are not compatible with other sources.
It is possible that one or two generations are missed or mixed up.
There are so many John Cavitts that it is almost impossible to be sure which
one is which and whose wife is whose. From James Cavitt, Esq. down, the
information is acceptable.
I do appreciate EBCs description of the Cavitt traits: "Clan Cavitt were
doubly attractive, winsome, delightful and appealing, keeping their overt
self-assertion suppressed, out of kindness, so that it did not show itself
in abrasive disapproval of other folks in the world who were not of the same
mind and convictions.
EBC also quotes a family motto: "There are two ways to do anything, the
Cavitt way and the wrong way."
The following children of Moses are based on EBCs book. Accept them with
skepticism.
Children of Moses and (?) Cavitt were as follows:
11 Alexander Cavitt, born about 1705 in prob County Antrim, Ireland; died
1793 in Knoxville (Cavett Station.), TN; buried in mass grave at Mars Hill,
Cem. W. Knoxville, TN. Alexander Cavitt came from Ulster (Ireland) to
Pennsylvania about 1725. He was a Presbyterian Covenantor.
According to EBC he was massacred by Indians near Knoxville, Tenn., in 1793.
He would have been 92 years old at the time. Possible, but not likely. I
believe she's got the wrong Alexander Cavitt. Also note the age span of the
children the first one born 1705, the last 1735. Of course it's possible,
but something to consider.
12 Richard Cavitt, born about 1707. Richard Cavitt, born about 1707 in
Ireland; died 1757 in Paxtang TWP, Lancaster Co. PA. He was married about
1730, to Catherine Whitley. Richard is listed as a charter member of the
Paxtang Presbyterian Church, Lancaster Co., PA 1732. Richard received a
land patent in 1737. He and his brother John were still listed as Paxtang
Church records as members in 1754.
According to William Henry Egle's "Notes and Queries" (Vol 1 p90), all of
Richard's children, except John, "removed to Sullivan county in the
territory south of the river Ohio... in other words Kentucky.
Because of conflicting data, the children listed below are per Egle, there
may have also been a daughter who married a Col. McEwan, in addition to the
children listed below.
Children of Richard and Catherine (Whitley) Cavitt were as follows:
121 female Cavitt. Married a Col. McEwen.
122 George Cavitt.
123 Alexander Cavitt.
Alexander left Pennsylvania, migrating to (Davidson County, TN) what was
then western North Carolina.
He was a "Commissioner's Guard" in 1784. He was among those who organized
at Jonesboro in 1784 to form the new state of Tennessee. On 7 May 1789,
Alexander Cavitt's award of 640 acres on Heaton's Station Creek was one of
the first land warrants issued in that area. He lived near what is now
Knoxville, TN. He and 12 members of his family were massacred 25 Sep 1793
by a group of Indians who were with about 1,000 Creek and Cherokee. Cavett
Station was located where Walker Springs Road intersects with Broome Road
today (1983). The family was buried in a mass grave. A monument was
erected by the DAR in memory of the Cavitts at Mars Hill Cemetery on Broome
Road, West Knoxville. There is some speculation that one child survived the
massacre, but local historians insist that no one survived the attack.
124 Mary Cavitt. Married Andrew Clark.
125 Michael Whitley Cavitt. He migrated to Sumner Co., Tenn.
126 Richard Cavitt; died before 1790 in Paxtang Twp., Lancaster Co., PA.
127 Moses Cavitt, born about 1734 in Ireland; died 17 Oct 1780 in Battle of
King's Mountain., TN.
13 Sheridan Cavitt, born about 1710 in Ireland. Arrived America 1736, per
EBC.
14 John Cavitt, born about 1713 in Ireland; died 27 Apr 1784 in Paxtang
TWP., Lancaster Co., Penn. He was married about 1740, in PA to Catherine
McKnight. John is listed as charter member of Paxtang Presbyterian Church in
1732. He applied for and received a land grant of 100 acres in 1737. The
application states that the land adjoins land already owned by Richard
Cavitt in Paxtang Twp., Dauphin Co., Penn. This tends to support the theory
that he and John were brothers. Both paid taxes 7 Dec 1749 in North
Paxtang. He was a signer of the pastoral call to the Rev. John Elder 26 Sep
1754, along with Richard Cavitt, Andrew Moore, Thomas and David Forster, and
John, James and Robert Gilchrist.
John is listed in the 1770 Paxtang Assessment, along with James and William
McKnight.
It is believed that John's wife, Catherine, had lived with the Cavitt family
as a servant and who came to America as a young girl from Ireland.
A John Cavet, Freeholder of Paxtang Twp., Dauphin Co., was judged delinquent
17 Jun 1778.
John's will was probated 17 Aug 1784. Each of his daughters had a daughter
named Catherine. His executors were James Cavitt and John Gilchrist. He,
or at least a John Cavitt, took the Oath of Allegiance to the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania between I June and 26 March 1778 in Paxtang Twp., Lancaster
Co. Others on the list were James Boggs, Thomas Moore and Fred K., William
and John Forster.
Among those listed in the 10th Battalion, Lancaster County Militia in 1782
by Capt. George McMillan are: Robert Wylie, James Boggs, John Gilchrist Sr.,
Thomas and Robert Gilchrist, and Thomas and James Cavitt. They could have
been anywhere from 18-53 years old. In Dec. 1795, a John Cavet paid $30 for
the original lot No. 201 on Fourth St., McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
A John Cavet appeared on behalf of James Boggs 21 Jul 1778 for the Lancaster
Militia because Boggs had cut his foot and was not able to walk. According
to EBC, John, son of Moses, died in Augusta Co., Va.
Children of John and Catherine (Mc Knight) Cavitt were as follows:
141 Catherine Cavitt. Married Thomas Wylie. They had a daughter named
Catherine bef 1784.
142 Grizelle Cavitt. Grizellle married Samuel Humphreys 18 Apr 1768 at
Paxtang. The Rev. John Carper Stoever performed the ceremony. She
apparently married - Mc Nutt later. She had a daughter, Catherine bef 1784.
143 Lydia Cavitt. Lydia married to William Boggs. Executors of his estate,
probated 12 Apr 1782, were James Cavitt and James Boggs. After William's
death 13 Apr 1778, she married Joseph White.
Children of William and Lydia (Cavitt) Boggs were as follows: James Boggs;
Catherine Boggs born 8 Feb 1759 Paxtang Twp, Dauphin Co., PA died Apr 1843
married Richard Swan; Ann Boggs married Andrew Wiley; Margaret Boggs;
Elizabeth Boggs; William Boggs; Lydia Boggs; John Boggs.
144 James Cavitt, Esq., born 1742 - 1747 in Lancaster Co., PA; died 1798 in
Westmoreland Co., Penn.. He was married (1) 27 Apr 1769 Paxtang, , Lancaster
Co., PA, in the Presbyterian Church by the Rev. John Elder to Sarah (?) ;
and was married (2) after 1770, to Mary Forster, daughter of James Forster
and of Elizabeth Moore; and was married (3) after 1796, to Martha (?).
James' first marriage was recorded by the Rev. John Elder, but no wife's
name is listed. A Sarah Cavet d 15 Jun 1770, age 22, and was buried at Old
Paxtang Church Graveyard. It's possible she was James' first wife.
James and his brother John were on the tax list of Bedford Co., Penn., in
1772. In 1773, Bedford County was divided, creating Westmoreland County.
James and his brother, John, were early settlers in the Fort Pitt (now
Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania area. In 1773 there were only 79 families living
in Pitt Township, Westmoreland Co., Penn. (previously the western portion of
Bedford Co.), including John and James. This is the time period when
frontiersmen like Simon Kenton were exploring the Ohio River Valley and Fort
Pitt was very busy with soldiers and Indian affairs.
There were two blockhouses where settlers could run for shelter in case of
Indian attack.
The Governor of Pennsylvania named James Cavitt for nomination as justice to
the county courts 27 Feb 1773. James was a member of the Board of Trustees
appointed to choose a county seat and was one of the first county
commissioners. In this capacity, he served time in jail for opposing
Virginia's claim to land in Pennsylvania, during the border disputes between
Pennsylvania and Virginia, which lasted 1773-1775. He and two other
commissioners were jailed 25 Feb 1774 at Fort Pitt (or Staunton) and
remained there for three months. (Allan Eckert's book "The Frontiersmen"
page 88, refers to a battery of militia storming the Pennsylvania Court at
Hannastown, sending three justices to jail in Staunton, Va. - not positive
at this point if it is the same incident).
James' neighboring landowners on 8 Jul 1774 were William Elliot, Agnes
Irwin, William Lyon and James Porter, per deed abstracts from Westmoreland
County Book A-1.
On 11 Jul 1774, James was chosen to represent Westmoreland County,
Pennsylvania, as a delegate to the first Continental Congress in 1774 held
in Philadelphia. At the Continental Congress it was resolved to raise an
army, of which George Washington was chosen as commander-in-chief.
On 20 Mar 1776 James and Mary purchased a tract of 235 acres of land and
buildings on both sides of Turtle Creek, Pitt Twp., Westmoreland Co.,
adjoining land owned by his brother, John. (Survey No. 3439) (Deed Book D
p436, 22 Sep 1791).
There is some confusion about James' apparent dual residency or ownership of
land in both Lancaster and Westmoreland counties at the same time. Of
course, it is possible, but raises the question that there may have been
more than one James.
Another record dated 6 Feb 1776 shows, "James Cavet of Paxtang Twp., County
of Lancaster and Mary his wife," bought 300 acres of land from the state of
Pennsylvania on the south side of Brushy Run, Westmoreland Co. (Book B p84
15 May 1784)
A James Cavet signed the Oath of Allegiance in Hanover Twp., Dauphin Co.,
between 4 March 1778 and 1 May 1779.In 1782 he was taxed for three houses
and two head of cattle in Lancaster Co., and in 1785, he was taxed for 250
acres of land in Westmoreland Co. In 1783 he was listed as a tavern keeper
in Lancaster Co.In 1786 he was taxed for 197 acres of land in Dauphin Co.
There may be more than one James Cavitt.
Mary died in 1796. Many of their family members are buried at Long Run
Church Cemetery, one of the oldest churches in the area.
Evidence of third wife: James and Martha sold land to Mathias Ringle 9 Nov
1796, and in 1801, Martha Cavet, James Pinkerton and Andrew Findley,
administrators of the deceased James Cavet, produced their account of
administration.
James is listed as a patriot in the DAR Patriot books.
Children of James and Mary (Forster) Cavitt, Esq. were as follows: Elizabeth
Cavitt; Jesse Cavitt. A Jesse Cavitt is listed in the 1820 census of
Philadelphia, PA. May be this one.; John Cavitt, born 1778 in PA; died 1872
in PA; buried in Long Run Cemetery, PA. John was married (1) 1798 to Jane
Ann McKain (1776-1827); married (2) Elizabeth (?). (There are several John
Cavitts. Cannot be sure this is correct). John served as a private in the
lst Pennsylvania regiment in the War of 1812. He is buried at Long Run
Cemetery, Westmoreland Co., PA. (There are three John Cavetts and three
Elizabeth Cavitts buried t Long Run Cemetery.); James Forster and Mary.
15 Michael Cavitt, born about 1733 in Ireland. Arrived America 1750. A
Michael Cavitt bought and sold land in Gallitin, TN between 1793 and 1797.
16 Patrick Cavitt, born about 1735 in Ireland; died 1835 (100). Patrick came
to America when he was 15
years old. He resided in Allegheny Co., Penn. Patrick married twice, the
second wife being Mary Porter. (See DAR records). He probably had sons
George, Francis, Johnston and Thomas. EBC lists his sons as Andrew, James
and John. He served in the 3rd Co., 8th Battalion of Cumberland Co., Md.,
under Capt. James Poe, 23 Oct. 1777. Patrick is listed as a patriot in DAR
Patriot books.
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