Andrew Cathey (c1720) of Ulster, Ireland, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Augusta Co, VA and Rowan Co, NC

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        28 Apr 2008 Reformatted by Marty Grant.

Special thanks to Lawrence Wood, deceased, for data shared on this family. Also thanks to Boyt Cathey and his book "The Cathey Family History and Genealogy, Volume I (1700-1900)", 1993.

The primary records on Andrew Cathey are very scarce. There was another Andrew Cathey (c1722) roughly the same age, and there is quite a possibility of confusion among their records.

Andrew Cathey was born ca 1720 or earlier. This is based on the assumption that he was at least 21 years old when his first child was born in 1741, of course he could have been a little older or a little younger.

I dont have any primary evidence, but it is generally thought that Andrew Cathey was born in Ulster, Ireland. It seems very likely that he immigrated to the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania / Cecil County, Maryland border area with his parents while still very young.

Andrew Cathey is a proven son of James Cathey and Ann . The primary proof is that Andrew was named as a son of James in James 1756 Will (Rowan Co, NC). Further proof is found in a 1739 importation record where James Cathey imported himself, his wife and several children (including Andrew) into Orange County, Virginia.

Andrews parents left the PA/MD border region in 1739 and relocated to Orange County, Virginia. This is proven by an "Importation Oath" dated 28 Feb 1739 where:

"James Cathey, made oath that he imported himself, Ann, his wife, William, Elizabeth, Andrew, George, Margaret and Ann Cathey ...". (Orange Co, VA Record Book II page 109).

The record above does not explicitly state that William, et al were children of James and Ann, but it is very likely, as those same names were listed in James Will as his children.

They must have lived in the part of Orange County that had been set off as Augusta County, but was still unorganized, so still considered Orange County until 1745 when Augusta was officially organized. They apparently lived on or near the Beverly Manor tract of land on Catheys River. This river was named for one of the Cathey settlers, perhaps William Cathey (Andrews brother) who owned land there. This is now known as Middle River and is just west of Staunton, Virginia in present Augusta County.

Andrew Cathey married someone before 1741, presumably in either Orange or Augusta County, Virginia. I have not found any record of his wifes name. Some list her as "Rebecca", but I believe that is a result of confusion between him and the other Andrew I mentioned before, for that Andrews wife was named Rebecca.

Several of Andrews children were named in the Baptismal records of the Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church starting with son William in 1741, ending with Margaret in 1745. Unfortunately, Andrews wife was not mentioned in these records.

Around this time (ca 1747-50), most of the Catheys left Augusta County, Virginia and made the move to the North Carolina frontier settling in what was then part of Bladen County. Their area became Anson County in 1750, and in 1753 Rowan County was formed, leaving some of the Catheys in old Anson (later Mecklenburg) and some in the new county of Rowan, including our Andrew who lived in what is still Rowan County today.

On 3 Apr 1754, the Colony of South Carolina granted 400 acres to Andrew Cathey. The land (as described in a 1768 deed) was on Ninety-Six Mile Creek in Berkeley County, bounded on all sides by Vacant land. At that point in time, Berkeley was a huge county with indefinite borders, but it was well into central and eastern South Carolina. I dont know if Andrew actually lived on this land or not. It seems to me that he owned it but never moved there, but I could be wrong.

Andrew Cathey was named in 5 Dec 1756 Will of his father James Cathey. He named Andrew and also mentioned Ann Cathey, daughter of "my son Andrew". (Rowan Co, NC Will Book A page 50).

Andrew Cathey died sometime between 1756 and 27 Jan 1768, for on that latter date, William Cathey, planter, "son and heir" of Andrew Cathey sold Andrews 400 acres of South Carolina land to John Savage. (South Carolina Deed Book I/3 page 388).

I do not know when Mrs. Cathey died, but Ive found no records of her at all, so she may have died before Andrew.

1.      William Cathey (1741)

2.      Mary Cathey (1742)

3.      James Cathey (1744)

4.      Margaret Cathey (1745)

5.      Ann Cathey (c1747)

On 27 and 28 Jan 1768, William Cathey (also Carthey), planter of North Carolina (county not specified), son and heir of Andrew Carthey, sold 400 acres ton John Savage, Storekeeper of Ninety Six, SC. The land was described as being on 96 Mile Creek in Berkeley County, granted 3 Apr 1754 to Andrew Carthey, bounding on all sides by vacant land. William Cathey signed with a mark. Witnesses were William Campbell, James Cathey, and Anna Cathey. These last two are probably Williams siblings. (From "South Carolina Deed Abstracts 1719-1772, Vol. IV 1767-1773, Books I-3 - E-4" by Clara A. Langley, 1984).

It has long been thought that this is the same William Cathey who married Rebecca Holeman and who died 1812 in Haywood Co., NC. Recent research has shown that they are probably two different people with the one who died in 1812 not being the son of Andrew after all.

Since William who died in 1812 is not the same person as Andrews son, that leaves a big question. What happened to Andrews son William Cathey after 1768?

Other than her baptism, nothing else is definitely known of her.

The late Lawrence Wood speculated that this Mary is the same person as Mary, wife of Andrew Strain, for there was a tradition in his branch of Strains family that they were closely related to the Catheys, and he was never able to pin down the exact relationship. Mrs. Mary Strain was approximately the same age as Mary Cathey (1742), but other than several bits of circumstantial evidence, nothing has been found proving that Mrs. Strain and Mary Cathey were one and the same person. However it is worth pointing out the possibility, if only to get someone else to work on this problem.

James was listed as a witness to the deed dated 27 Jan 1768 where his brother William Cathey sold Andrew Catheys land in South Carolina.

This is the last record Ive found for this James Cathey.

Other than her baptism, nothing else is definitely known of her.

As I mentioned, Ann was named in her grandfather James Catheys Will dated 5 Dec 1756 as "Ann Cathey daughter to my son Andrew". He bequeathed her a three year old Heifer.

"Anna Cathey" witnessed the 27 Jan 1768 deed from her brother William Cathey to John Savage. She signed with a mark.

This is the last record I have for Ann. I dont know who she married, if anyone.

• See the Cathey Family Researchers List

First Generation

1.     Andrew Cathey was born about 1715 in Ulster, Ireland. He died in 1756/1768 in Berkeley Co, SC.

Andrew married ? about 1740 in Augusta Co, VA. ? was born about 1720. She died before 1768.

They had the following children.

                2    M         i.    William Cathey was born in Apr 1741 in Augusta Co, VA. He was christened on 26 Apr 1741 in Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church, Augusta Co, VA. He died after 1768 in NC.

                3    F          ii.    Mary Cathey was born in Jul 1742 in Augusta Co, VA. She was christened on 26 Jul 1742 in Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church, Augusta Co, VA.

                4    M       iii.    James Cathey was born in Apr 1744 in Augusta Co, VA. He was christened on 15 Apr 1744 in Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church, Augusta Co, VA. He died after 1768.

                5    F         iv.    Margaret Cathey was born in Nov 1745 in Augusta Co, VA. She was christened on 21 Nov 1745 in Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church, Augusta Co, VA.

                6    F          v.    Ann Cathey was born about 1747 in Bladen Co, NC (now Rowan Co, NC). She died after 1768.