John Cathey (c1718-1764) and Jean (—) of Ireland, VA (Augusta), NC (Anson, Rowan)

Marty and Karla Grant

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]

[Cathey Home] - [Table of Contents] - John Cathey (c1718-1764)

Jump to Children’s section | Jump to Family Group Sheet

John Cathey is my 7 times great grand uncle.

Special thanks to Boyt H. Cathey (1927-2011) (referred to herein as BHC). He included much information on John in his book Cathey Family History And Genealogy Volume I 1700-1900, 1993. The work of BHC as well as various articles and studies published in the Cathey Reunion Newsletters (1951-) were quite helpful.

Refer to this page for quick outline of the various 18^th century John Catheys.

John Cathey’s birth date isn’t known, but we can make some educated estimates. By my calculations he was before born ca 1718. I base this on his first public records and the approximate birth dates of his children. That doesn’t mean he was born in 1718, only that he was born no later than 1718. He could have been born five, ten or more years earlier.

John’s oldest son was born in 1740 (proven). If was assume John was at least 18 then, we can say he was born ca 1722 or earlier. That’s a good starting point. However, using this same logic, I also calculate his younger sister Elizabeth’s birth at before ca 1722 and younger brother Andrew at before ca 1723. Thus, we need to push John back a little to make them all fit properly. We could say ca 1720, but I use that date for his brother William, so if we assume John is older than William, then ca 1718 seems to work. BHC and others list John as born ca 1709 which is way too old in my opinion. A 1709 birth would make him around 31 when his first child was born in 1740. Not impossible, but not likely either. Furthermore, I calculated John’s father James as born before ca 1700, so that works well with John born ca 1718.

John Cathey is a proven son of James Cathey (c1700-1757) as named in James’s 1756 Will. James’s wife was Ann. We don’t know if she was his only wife, but if so, she was likely John’s mother. John did name one of his daughters Ann.

We assume that John was born in Ireland based upon a 1751 deed where he is listed as “lately from Ireland.” However, it’s entirely possible, if not probable, that he was born in Cecil Co., MD and lived there and in Chester Co., PA with his parents, then returned to Ireland at some point, perhaps to marry. We know he was not listed on the 1739/40 “importation” record that his father filed in Orange (Augusta) Co., VA court naming wife and children for the purpose of claiming a headright grant. John apparently arrived later, perhaps direct from Ireland. He was in Augusta Co., VA by 1744. Alternately, It has been suggested that perhaps John was left behind in Ireland when James came to America before 1720 and joined his father after reaching adulthood in the “mother country.” This could be true, but why would he be left behind while so young? Perhaps he remained behind with grandparents or other kin because he was sickly and they feared he wouldn’t survive the long ocean voyage to America. I prefer to think this isn’t the case, that he simply returned to Ireland as a teen, married, then came back to America with his new bride. We can’t prove either scenario with the limited records available.

John Cathey married Jean, (alternate version of “Jane”) sometime before ca 1740. If we assume she was at least 16 when her first child was born (1740), then she was born ca 1724 or earlier. Her maiden name isn’t known. They may have married in Ireland. If so, she was probably born there. One of their sons was named Hugh, which wasn’t a named used in the Catheys before then, so perhaps that’s a name from her side of the family?

John’s father James Cathey moved from Pennsylvania to the Shenandoah River Valley of Virginia by 1738, settling in what is now Augusta Co., VA but was then Orange. If John was with them in PA, he may have waited a couple of years before making the move. Perhaps it was then that he traveled back to Ireland instead of going to Virginia.

James’s land was near present day Staunton, Virginia in Augusta County. They lived near what is now known as Middle River but was then known as Cathey’s River (or Creek), named for him. The same year James had his land surveyed (1738), his son William Cathey purchased 466 acres from William Beverley within“Beverley Manor.” His land was in the general vicinity of the modern communities of Swoope and Trimbles Mill which is south east of Staunton. James lived north east of Staunton, I believe.

In 1740 John’s father James listed his family members that he brought with him to Virginia in order to claim a headright grant.

28 Feb 1739/40 Orange Co., VA Court Order Bk 2 p. 109

James Cathey made oath that he having (im)ported himself, Ann his wife, and his children William, Elizabeth, Andrew, George, Margaret and Ann at his own charge from Ireland to Philadelphia, and from there into this colony, and that this is the first time of proving his and their rights in order to obtain land.

John and family were in Augusta Co., VA by 30 Dec 1744, for on that date his daughter Jean was baptized. “John Cathy, a child baptized named Jean.” This was the only baptism listed for any of John’s children. He had older and younger children who weren’t listed, so probably baptized elsewhere. List of Baptisms by Rev. John Craig, Augusta County, Virginia, 1740-1749 (Familysearch.org)

It would seem that James Cathey and much of his immediate and extended family moved to North Carolina between 1747 and 1749. However, John and family remained in Virginia for a short while.

On 26 Dec 1751, John Cathey sold land he inherited from his brother William Cathey. “John Cathy and Jean his wife lately come from Ireland now in the County of Augusta intending to travel & settle in Carolina,” made a deed to Samuel Wallace of Augusta Co., VA for 5 shillings, 300 acres in Beverley Mannor (sic), both sides of Catheys Creek being a middle branch of Shanando (sic) river in Augusta. “Being part of a tract of four hundred & sixty six acres sold by William Beverley Esquire unto William Cathey as appears by Deeds of Lease & Release bearing date XXVII and XXVIII daye of September in the year of our Lord MDCCXXXVIII” (27 and 28 Sep 1738), “which by the Death of said William who died Intestate as it is said descended to the sd John Cathey his Eldest brother & heir at Law ...” The deed was signed by John Cathey. “Jan” Cathey made her mark. Witnesses were Alexander Blare (Blair), James Scott, Morrice Freel (his mark), Patrick Martin, Wm McPhetters and James Berry. On 27 Dec 1751, the release of the above deed was made, which was nearly identical, though now the consideration was for £50. Same signatures except “Jan” was now listed as “Jean” in the signature, and witnesses Alexander Blair was Blear and Morrice Freel was Morrice Ofreel. The deeds were proven in court on 20 May 1752 by oaths of witnesses Patrick Martin, Wm McFeeters and James Berry.

References for both deeds: Augusta Co., VA Deed Book 4, pp 241-247.

The above deed is quite interesting. One, it shows that William Cathey had died sometime prior to 1751. He died Intestate, meaning he didn’t leave a Will. If his brother John was his primary heir, that meant William had no wife or children to survive him. Furthermore, it lists John as his “eldest” brother. That doesn’t mean John was older than William, only that he was his oldest surviving brother. However, it’s generally thought John was older than William, but that might not be the case. Furthermore, in a technical sense, William’s father James should have been his primary heir since he was still living at the time. However, as he’d moved to North Carolina by then, John took on the role, probably with the blessing of the rest of the family, one assumes.

The deed also tells us that John was preparing to join James and the rest of the family in North Carolina. By 1751, the others had been in NC for two or more years.

The part of North Carolina they settled in was the frontier at the time and part of Bladen County. In 1750 it became Anson County. In 1753 Rowan County was formed from northern Anson. James and his possible brother George and some other relatives found themselves in Rowan while some of the others remained in Anson. Those in Anson at that time were mostly in the part that became Mecklenburg in 1762. John apparently joined his father in “Northern” Anson in what soon became Rowan County.

On 6 Dec 1756*, James Cathey made his Will in Rowan County. He described himself as “James Cathey of Rowan, Farmer, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind.” He named:

Ann Cathey my beloved wife ... half of the plantation that I now live on with half of the mill ... after her decease to my nephew John Brandon ...

To Margaret Cathey daughter of my son George ...

My well beloved nephew John Brandon ...

To Ann Cathey daughter of my son Andrew ...

To John Kilpatrick ...

My well beloved son John Cathey and George Cathey and Andrew Cathey and Margaret Coburn and Ann Bashford ...

My son John Cathey and my son George Cathey my sole executors ...

He signed as James Cathey. Witnesses were Thomas Bashford, Thomas Gillespie and Daniel Mfuters. The Will was proven in court in Jan 1757 meaning James was dead by then. (Rowan Co., NC Will Book A., p. 50).

*The court house copy of the Will is dated 6 Dec 1757, however, the original at the Archives is clearly dated 6 Dec 1756.

There are two John Catheys listed on the 1759 tax list of Rowan Co., NC. One is this John, as his son James Cathey was listed with him (being 19 then). The other is George Cathey’s son John (c1725-1788).

On 2 Apr 1761, John Cathey purchased 687 acres in Rowan Co., NC from John Earl Granville. The land was described as being on the west side of Grants Creek, both sides of Poplar Draft joining Andrew Allison, Esq., and John Todd. (NC Land Grants Book 6, p. 127, File 122 (empty shuck). Also Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 4, p. 393.)

A 1763 Rowan Co., NC Court record shows that John Cathey was administrator of the estate of his mother Ann Cathey.

John Cathey made his Will on 29 Jan 1764 in Rowan Co., NC. He named:

My well beloved wife [not named here] one third part of her land ...

My eldest son James one half of my land whereon I now live ...

My third son John when he arrives at the age of 14 ...

My second son Hugh the other half of my plantation

My fourth son William when he arrives at the age of 14 ...

To Anguish my eldest daughter ...

My second daughter Jean ...

To Ann my third daughter ...

My beloved wife Jean and my brother, George Cathey executors, and Samuel Young overseer over them ...

He signed as John Cathey. Witnesses were John Todd, John Nesbett and Jo. Bell.

The Will was proven in court in Feb. 1764, meaning he was dead by then.

Kyle Wear found widow Jean listed as Jane Cathey on a 1768 Rowan Co., NC tax list fragment with sons James and Hugh with her, taxed for 2 polls.

The 1778 Rowan tax lists shows Jane Cathey with 200 acres in Cpt. Armstrong’s district.

Jean wasn’t found on the 1782 tax list in Rowan, but it’s not complete.

On 4 Nov 1784, Jane Cathey received a State Land Grant for 161 acres on McGuire’s Branch of South Yadkin. (NC Land Grant No 675, Book 51, p. 207, File 1292 (contains plat, etc.). Also Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 10, pp 262-263.)

There are two Jean Cathey’s listed on the 1790 census in Rowan. Which one is John’s widow? Although the listing is alphabetical, it is divided into unlabeled districts. The first Jean (p. 324) is near Griffith Rutherford, several Brandons and William and John Cathey. That means she is almost certainly Jane Rutherford Cathey, widow of James Cathey (s/o Alexander). That means the other Jane is probably John’s widow. She was living alone.

1790 Census, Rowan Co., NC

Pg	Name	Males 16+	Males under 16	Females	Others	Slaves
324	Jean Cathey	-	2	3	-	4
346	Jean Cathey	-	-	1	-	-

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1f (before 1790) Jean (—) Cathey

I didn’t find Jean on the 1800 census. She may have died before then, or moved west with some of her children.

Children

John and Jean Cathey have seven children as proven by his 1764 Will. One is further proven by a 1744 baptism record. We can be sure of their age order as John specifically named them as eldest, second, etc.

1. James Cathey (1740) was listed as John’s “eldest son” in his 1764 Will. He married Isabella Sloan in 1770. See their page for more information.

2. Anguish (Agnes) Cathey (1740/44) was listed as John’s “eldest daughter” in his 1764 Will. Jean, the second daughter, was born in 1744, so Agnes must have been born before then. James was born in 1740, so I suspect Agnes was born between then and 1744. I list 1740/1744 for her, but 1741/1743 might be accurate. Agnes Cathey was listed on the 1778 Rowan Co., NC tax list which indicates she was still unmarried then, but apparently head of her own household with taxable property and 1 poll. Sh ewas next door to her soon to be husband William Penix. She was between 38 and 42 years old when she married William Pinnick (alias Penix, Penick) in Rowan Co., NC ca 1782. That’s rather late in life to marry for the first time. He was actually older than she, so perhaps he’d been married prior to her. I don’t know that for sure. I also don’t know what the proof is that she married him. There is no marriage record. I haven’t found a deed or other source document that proves their marriage. Something like that may exist somewhere. I checked the Rowan Co., NC deeds and found none there for William or Agnes.

They were in Lincoln Co., KY by 1787. William is listed on the Lincoln tax lists in 1787, 1788 and 1789. I didn’t find him in 1790. The census for that year is lost for Kentucky. He is “back” in Lincoln Co., KY for the 1791 and 1792 tax lists, but not there (as far as I could find) in 1793 and 1794. He is back again by 1795 through 1797. The 1798 list is missing or incomplete. I didn’t find him in 1799, but he is listed again in 1800. I didn’t read the tax lists beyond 1800.

William Penix purchased 226 acres on Gilberts Creek of Dicks River from Anne Harrod in 1795. (Lincoln Co., KY Deed Book C, p. 21). In 1800, William and Agnes sold 3.5 acres of the above to Reuben Payne. (Lincoln Co., KY Deed Book D, p. 148).

He is listed in Lincoln Co., KY on the 1810 census. On 7 Mar 1814, William Penick sold 113 acres (apparently half of the 226 acres purchased from Ann Harrod) to Jacob Spoonamore. The land descriptions mentions a corner of a division between Penick and Jane Bailey. That might be Agnes’s sister Jane Cathey Bailey. (Lincoln Co., KY Deed Book G, p. 341).

He made his Will on 4 Dec 1816 naming wife Agnes and children Elizabeth, Sary, Rachel, Ann and John. The Will was proven 10 Mar 1817 which means he died by then. There is a Findagrave entry which gives lists him buried in Ashlock Cemetery, but there is no photo, so is there proof he's buried there?

Agnes is listed as head of household on the 1820 census in Lincoln Co., KY. I didn’t find her after that. A Findagrave entry for her shows her dying in 1830 and also buried at Ashlock Cemetery, but no photo or notes documenting that. William and Agnes had six children, John (1783), Jane (1785), those two born in NC, then the rest in Lincoln Co., KY: Sarah (1787), Elizabeth (1788), Ann and Rachel, born 1791, those last two twins. All but Jane were named in their father’s Will of 1816.

3. Jean Cathey was baptized 30 Dec 1744 in Augusta Co., VA. It’s probably safe to assume she was an infant or small child at the time so we can say she was born earlier in 1744. In her father’s 1764 Will, he refers to her as his “second daughter.”

I’ve not seen any direct evidence for it, but other researchers (Bill Timmons and others) concluded that Jean Cathey married James Bailey in Rowan Co., NC. Evidence for this marriage may exist, but I don’t know what it is. The same researchers show that James was a son of Charles Bailey of Rowan and was the brother of Jane Bailey who married Hugh Cathey in 1774 (see below for more on them). I don’t have a marriage date for Jean Cathey and James Bailey except it was probably between 1764 and 1774.

James Bayley is listed on the 1778 Rowan Co., NC Tax list in a grouping with Charles and Thomas Bayley and also Jane Cathey and Hugh Cathey. Jane is his mother-in-law and Hugh his brother-in-law. Charles Bailey may be his father and Thomas may be his brother.

James and Jean apparently left Rowan Co., NC for Lincoln Co., KY by 1789 joining her sister Agnes Cathey and her husband William Pinnick who’d been there since at least 1787. James Bailey is not listed on the 1787 or 1788 tax lists in Lincoln, but he is listed in 1789, 1790, 1791 and 1792.

A James Bailey was dead by 13 Mar 1792, for on that date an appraisal of his estate was ordered (or completed) by Levi Baldoc, Edmond Payne and Reuben Ruffner. (Lincoln Co., KY Wills and Administrations Book B., p. 28). It isn’t clear if this record is for this same James Bailey or not because there is still a James Bailey listed on the Lincoln Co., KY tax lists in 1793 through 1800. Is this the case of a younger man of the same name coming of age just as the older man died? Or is it that the man who died in 1792 isn’t the older James Bailey? I’m not sure. The 1800 entry lists James Bailey as exempt from the county levy. Exemption was usually given when a man reached a certain age. I don’t know what the law was there at the time. He could have been exempt for a different reason. Jean would have been 56 by 1800. James could have been older. I didn’t read the Lincoln tax lists after 1800.

I found no deeds for James or Jean Bailey in Lincoln Co., KY through ca 1810. There were several for John Bailey, perhaps a relative.

I don’t know when Jean Cathey Bailey died. There is a mention of her, or someone else named Jane Bailey, on an 1814 deed in Lincoln Co., KY from her brother-in-law William Pinnick. (See Agnes’s section above for more on that.)

There is a 1790 marriage in Lincoln for Jinsey Bailey to John Rutherford. Jinsey is listed as a child of James Bailey on the marriage bond. This proves one child at least. Other researchers include a daughter Margaret Bailey who married William Meredith (no dates or locations), Nancy Bailey who married John Cathey in 1807 Logan. (He’s a son of Hugh Cathey, see below), Ann Bailey married George Reed in 1805 Logan and James Bailey (1790) who married Isabella Bailey in 1809 Logan. I don’t know what the proof is for any of those being James and Jean’s children, other than Jinsey.

More research is needed on this family.

4. Hugh Cathey (bef 1752) was listed as John’s “second son” in his 1764 Will.

5. John Cathey was born between ca 1752 and 1762. I arrived at his birth date range from several sources. First, his father’s Will: “... paying six hundred to my third son John when he arrives at the age of fourteen years.” From this we know that John was not yet 14 on 29 Jan 1764. That means he was born sometime between 30 Jan 1750 and 29 Jan 1764. There was a fourth son (William), so it’s doubtful John was born ca 1763 or 1764, so we can probably narrow his birth down to ca 1750/1762. That’s still a wide range. Second, John was not listed as a taxable on his mother’s 1768 tax list entry (his older brothers James and Hugh were listed with her). That means John wasn’t yet 16 then, so born later than 1752, thus narrowing the range to ca 1752/62. I should note that there is a John Cathey listed on his own on the 1768 tax list. That could be this John, but it seems more likely it’s Alexander’s son who was at least 10 years older than John’s son John. However, he was listed in the same district with Jane, so this could be John, son of John & Jean and not the other John son of Alexander.

John, son of John, doesn’t seem to be on the 1778 Rowan Co., NC Tax list, but the other John, son of Alexander, is. Our John would have been married by then and should have been listed if still residing there. He must have already moved away by 1778.

There is a John Cathey who was in Lincoln Co., KY on the 1796 tax list. I didn’t find him there on earlier tax lists (1787-1795) or afterward (1797-1800). However, a 1792 marriage record in Lincoln for Jane Cathey to Michael Murren (alias Morrison?) includes permission by her father John Cathey for her to marry. This almost certainly has to be this same John Cathey as this is where his sisters Agnes and Jean lived at that time. (I double checked the 1792 tax list for Lincoln and there were no Cathey listings.)

Using Jane’s 1792 marriage record we can make an adjustment to John’s birth range. First, Jane was under 21, thus the need for her father’s permission. That means she was born ca 1772 or later. We can assume she was no younger than 14, so she was born between 1772 and 1778. For John to have been married by 1778, he had to have been at least 18 then, so born ca 1760 or earlier. Using that he was born ca 1752/1760.

I checked Kentucky tax lists for the counties around Lincoln for any signs of John Cathey in the 1780s and ‘90s but didn’t find him in Mercer (1789-1801), Madison (1787-1800), Nelson (1785-1789), Greene (1795-1800) or Washington (1792-1796). As already noted, I didn’t find him in Lincoln Co., KY 1787-1800 except in 1796 when he was there. I also checked Russell Co., VA (1787-1790) and Washington Co., VA (1783-1789) with no luck locating him. I don’t know where he was residing nor when he died, other than after 1796.

6. William Cathey was born between ca 1752 and 1764. I arrived at his birth date range from several sources. First, his father’s Will: “... paying to my fourth son William ten pounds proclamation money when he arrives at the age of fourteen years.” From this we know that William was not yet 14 on 29 Jan 1764. That means he was born sometime between 30 Jan 1750 and 29 Jan 1764. Second, William was not listed as a taxable on his mother’s 1768 tax list entry (his older brothers James and Hugh were listed with her). That means William wasn’t yet 16 then, so born later than 1752, thus narrowing the range to ca 1752/64.

Unfortunately, the 1764 record of William in his father’s Will is the last certain record we have for him. Did he die shortly after being named in his father’s Will or did he leave the area as soon as he was old enough? Tennessee or Kentucky would be the most likely places, though there are other options. I found no sign of him in the early Kentucky tax lists while I was trying to find him and his brother John.

7. Ann Cathey was born before 1764. She was named in her father John’s Will as his “third daughter.” That made her the youngest of his children listed.

On 15 Jul 1784, Joshua Penix obtained a marriage bond in Rowan Co., NC to marry An Cathey. Samuel Wilson was the bondsman. Joshua had to be at least 21 to obtain a marriage bond so he must have been born ca 1763 or earlier. I don’t know who his parents were but it stands to reason he is related to William Pinnick (Penix) who married Ann’s older sister Agnes Cathey. I don’t know if they’re brothers, cousins or other.

Joshua Penix was not listed on the 1783 or 1784 tax lists in Washington Co., VA but did appear there in 1785 so they must have moved there pretty soon after marrying in Rowan Co., NC. I didn’t see any known relatives listed near them in 1785. He was listed there on the 1786 tax list, but was in neighboring Russell Co., VA by 1787 and there in 1788, 1789 and 1790. They apparently resided in the part of Russell that became Scott Co., VA in 1815.

Joshua Penix died on 15 Jul 1826 in Scott Co., VA. Ann Cathey Penix died ca 1827 per other researchers. I don’t know the source for that date.

For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for John Cathey and Jean.

Revised: October 25, 2023

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]