Margaret Cathey (1755/65-1813) and Elijah Patton (bef 1755-1833) of Burke Co., NC

Marty and Karla Grant

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Margaret Cathey is my 6 times great aunt. That makes her husband Elijah Patton my uncle by marriage. However, he is also my 1^st cousin 8 times removed by blood. (See the Patton pages for more on that family.]

Margaret Cathey was born between 1755 and 1774 per her age on the 1800 census (26-44). In 1810 she was listed as 45 and up, or born before 1765. The two census entries combine to narrow her birth to between 1755 and 1765. I would suspect it is closer to ca 1755 than 1765 since her first child was born ca 1771.

She is a child of George Cathey (1725-1790). Her mother is either Ann Price or Margaret —.

Margaret Cathey is a proven child of George as named in the 1823 Wilson Co., TN court case as his daughter. It also names her husband as Elijah Patton.

Elijah Patton was born before 1755 per his age on the 1800 census (45 and up). If his first child was born in 1771, then he was likely at least 18 then, so born before ca 1753, perhaps long before then. His brother Robert Patton was reportedly born 1742 in Ulster, Ireland. They are both listed as sons of John Logan Patton by other researchers. (Robert Patton married Rebecca Cathey, sister of Margaret.) I don’t know what proof there is of John Logan Patton being their father. There may be proof but I haven’t seen it yet. This Elijah wasn’t the first of the name. There was an older Elijah Patton in the early Rowan County records as early as 1755. It might be safe to assume that the older one was the namesake of the younger one.

Generally speaking the Pattons came from Ireland to America, first to Pennsylvania, then to Virginia, then to North Carolina.

Based upon their children’s ages, Elijah Patton and Margaret Cathey married prior to ca 1771 probably in the section of Rowan County that later became Burke, or perhaps in Mecklenburg County.

I checked the available records and didn’t find anything regarding Elijah Patton serving during the Revolutionary War. However, he did receive a land grant for Revolutionary War service so if he didn’t serve, he at least provided some patriotic assistance to the cause.

Burke County was formed from western Rowan in 1777. Unfortunately, Burke County lost most of its early records during the Civil War when union soldiers burned them in 1865. Only a precious few early records survive.

On 20 Sep 1779 Elijah Patton received a land grant in Burke Co., NC for 347 acres (he entered 400 acres on 9 Oct 1778). “On the Catawba River beginning on Colonel Osborne line on both sides of the river and running down both sides and including the improvements that Jonathan Camp and sd Patton now lives on and as low on the North side as James Davidsons claim and on the So side of Wm Pattons line for complement.” The survey, dated 12 Nov 1778 included William Davidson and Thomas Cook as chain bearers.

Based on the entry description, this was the land Elijah Patton was living on at the time.

On 5 May 1784 Elijah Patton entered a 1000 acre tract of land on the south side of Duck River on both sides of the of east fork of Catheys Creek about one mile below the mouth of Big Tom Bigby [Creek]. However, like his brother Robert Patton and his brother-in-law George Cathey Jr, their entries were for land already claimed by someone else. Thus, he was granted land much further west in the Western District of Tennessee (then part of North Carolina). This was Entry Number 2068, Granted 10 Jul 1788, Grant Number 28, Book 67, p. 290. The land was on the South fork of Rutherfords Fork of Obion River. This was still Indian territory at the time and remained so for decades. It eventually became Gibson Co., TN. This land is listed in the books as having been granted for Revolutionary War service.

He entered another tract, also 1000 acres on the same date for land on Knob Creek of Duck River. This land was granted where he wanted in 1791.

On 10 Mar 1787 Elijah Patton was one of the chain carriers (with Joseph Kilpatrick) for surveyor Henry Rutherford to survey a tract of land on Cathey’s Creek south of Duck River in middle Tennessee for a grant to James Lindsey. This was near George Cathey’s grant, but actually closer to William Cathey’s grant, for whom Cathey’s Creek was named. (Williamson Co., TN Deed Book A2, page 350, and also recorded elsewhere in the NC land grants.)

The above shows that Elijah Patton spent a little time in Tennessee in 1787. He was back in Burke Co., NC soon enough.

There is another Elijah Patton (1766-1828) who was undoubtedly a cousin to this one. The other one wound up in Rutherford Co., NC which does help keep the records for the two men separated for the most part.

The two Elijah Pattons are listed on the 1790 census in Burke Co., NC. Ours is in 1^st Company next door to William Neill (who was father of two of Margaret’s brothers-in-law) and a few houses from Margaret’s brother George Cathey and their mother (or step-mother) Margaret Cathey. The younger Elijah was in the 6^th Company.

1790 Census - Burke County, North Carolina

Page	Name	Males 16+	Males under 16	Females	Others	Slaves
	1^st Company
88	Elijah Patten	1	2	6	~	2
	6^th Company
95	Elijah Patten Jr	1	1	2	~	~

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

Elijah Patton, 1-2-6-0-2

1m 16+ (before 1774) Elijah Patton (bef 1755)

2m -16 (1774/1790) 1. George Patton (1775/84) son

2. James Patton (1784) son

6f (before 1790) Margaret Cathey Patton (1755/1765) wife

2. Jane Patton (1771) daughter

3. Elizabeth Patton (c1777) daughter

4. Sarah Patton (1775/84) daughter

5. Mary Patton (1778) daughter

6. Rebecca Patton (1780) daughter

2 slaves

Elijah Patton was granted 1000 acres in “Middle Tennessee” in 1791. This land was entered in 1784 on Knob Creek.

Elijah Patton is listed on the 1800 census in Burke Co., NC. Unfortunately this census is alphabetical so we can’t determine neighbors.

1800 Census - Burke County, North Carolina

Page

Name

M0-9

M10-15

M16-25

M26-44

M45+

F0-9

F10-15

F16-25

F26-44

F45+

FPC

Slaves

782

Elijah Patton

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

Elijah Patton 21101-12010-0-5

1m 45+ (before 1755) Elijah Patton (bef 1755)

1m 16-25 (1774/1784) George Patton (1775/84)

1m 10-15 (1784/1790) James Patton (1784) son

2m 0-9 (1790/1800) 1. Son?

2. Son?

1f 26-44 (1755/1774) Margaret Cathey Patton (1755/1765) wife

2f 10-15 (1784/1790) 1. Sarah Patton (1775/84) daughter

2. Rebecca Patton (1780) daughter

1f 0-9 (1790/1800) Daughter

5 slaves

Elijah Patton is listed on the 1807 tax list for Williamson Co., TN taxed for 1000 acres on Knob Creek. There were no whites or slaves listed, so he wasn’t living there.

In 1807 Maury County was formed from Williamson Co., TN and Elijah Patton’s Knob Creek land fell into that county.

On 26 Oct 1809 Elijah Patton of Burke Co., NC, sold 200 acres of land in Maury Co., TN to William Adkins of Rutherford Co., TN (his son-in-law), for $400. The land was on Knob Creek of Duck River being part of a 1000 acre grant to Elijah Patton. Witnesses were Robert Peyton, Hugh Kirk, George Patton, Robert Carithers (Carruthers). (Maury Co., TN Deed Book C, p. 216).

Elijah Patton is listed on the 1810 census in Burke.

1810 Census - Burke County, North Carolina

Page

Name

M0-9

M10-15

M16-25

M26-44

M45+

F0-9

F10-15

F16-25

F26-44

F45+

FPC

Slaves

343

Elijah Patton

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

Elijah Patton 00001-00021-0-5

1m 45+ (before 1765) Elijah Patton (bef 1755)

1f 45+ (before 1765) Margaret Cathey Patton (1755/1765) wife

2f 26-44 (1765/1784) 1. Sarah Patton (1775/84) daughter

2. Rebecca Patton (1780) daughter

5 slaves

Margaret Cathey Patton died on 13 Jan 1813 in Burke Co., NC. She is supposed to be buried at Pleasant Gardens Baptist Church. This is McDowell Co., NC today. There is no marker for her.

Elijah Patton is listed on the 1815 Burke County tax list with 4 polls, 587 acres Catawba River, and 922 acres on Nix Creek (for William Patton).

Elijah is still in Burke for the 1820 census.

1820 Census - Burke County, North Carolina

Page

Name

M0-9

M10-15

M16-17

M16-25

M26-44

M45+

F0-9

F10-15

F16-25

F26-44

F45+

Elijah Patton

Slaves=1130-1101

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

Elijah Patton 000001-00010. Slaves=1130-1101

1m 45+ (before 1775) Elijah Patton (bef 1755)

2f 26-44 (1775/1794) 1. Sarah Patton (1775/84) daughter

2. Rebecca Patton (1780) daughter

On 6 Nov 1820, Elijah Patton of Burke Co., NC, sold the rest of his 1000 acre grant in Maury Co., TN for $400 to his son George Patton of that county. The deed doesn’t give the acreage but mentions it’s all his land on Knob Creek and Snow Creek except what was already deeded to William Adkins “that his widow now lives on.” Witnesses were George Patton “of Buncomb” (that would be Elijah’s nephew) and Col. John McGimsey. (Maury Co., TN Deed Book I, p. 305.)

On 27 Sep 1822, Elijah Patton of Burke Co., NC named Robert Carruthers of Maury Co., TN his attorney to deal with the transfer of a title of 240 acres of land, part of his 1000 acre grant (Number 2009) to George Patton who has purchased it. This must related to the prior deed from 6 Nov 1820. Witnesses were John Carson, JP and John Logan, JP. (Maury Co., TN Deed Book L, p. 169).

There was a lawsuit in Wilson Co., TN in 1823 regarding some land that Margaret’s father George Cathey had entered in 1784. Since George and the other parties to the original transaction were dead, their heirs were named in the suit. That included his daughter Margaret and her husband Elijah Patton. This document is the proof that she is George Cathey’s daughter. Since she was dead by then, it listed her children. Click here to read the Wilson Co., TN court case.

The 1823 court case stated that both Margaret and Elijah were deceased then, and that is true for her. However, Elijah was certainly dead by April 1829 for that’s the earliest date in his Estate records in Burke Co., NC. He is presumably buried at Pleasant Gardens Baptist Church as well, though without a marker.

Children

Margaret Cathey and Elijah Patton had six children named in the 1823 court case though some were mistakenly listed as children of George Cathey instead of his grandchildren. Another child, James Patton, died before 1823. I don’t know what proof there is that he is actually their son, but that’s generally accepted.

The estate records mention daughter Sarah Patton, deceased, and that John Logan was an heir. I didn’t find any other heirs listed though several pages were illegible. Slaves named George, Isaac, Sam and Sophie are named.

Excerpt from the 1823 court case:

That George Cathey, Violet Cathey, Jane Adkins, Samuel Lusk and his wife Betsey, Benjamin Burgen and his wife Mary are the children & heirs of said George Cathey decd.

That George Patton, John Logan and his wife Rebecca are grandchildren of said George Cathey Senr decd by his daughter Margaret who intermarried with Elija Patton and who are both deceased.

As noted earlier, Jane, Betsy and Mary, listed as children of George Cathey, are actually his grandchildren. Also, “Benjamin Burgen” is actually Merritt Burgin. His father was named Benjamin, thus the likely source of the confusion.

1. Jane Patton 1771-1858. She married William Adkins between 1790 and 1800 in Burke (now McDowell) Co., NC. They were in Rutherford Co., NC for the 1800 and 1810 census, then moved to Maury Co., TN after 1810. William made his will there in 1817 and was dead before 1820. Jane is listed on the 1820 census in Maury. She’s named in the 1829 Will of her son Elijah P. Adkins. She’s on the 1830 census in Maury, but I didn’t find her in 1840. She is listed there in 1850 with son James. She made her own Will on 5 Mar 1840 and died in 1858.

2. George Patton was born between 1775 and 1784 per his census records. You’ll see online trees with his birth date as 1770, but that can’t be correct. He married Mary Carruthers between 1800 and 1810, presumably in Burke Co., NC, then moved to Maury Co., TN. The 1810 census is lost for Tennessee, but he is listed in Maury on the 1820 census. He died there ca 1827. His widow Mary was listed on the 1830, 1840, and 1850 censuses in Maury. She died there ca 1855.

3. Sarah Patton was born between 1775 and 1784 per census analysis. It doesn’t seem like she ever married, unless it was to another Patton. She died sometime between 1829 and 1834. She was not named in the 1823 Wilson Co., TN court case, but she was named in Elijah Patton’s estate records.

4. Elizabeth Patton was born ca 1777 in NC. She married Samuel Lusk before ca 1809 in Burke Co., NC. They moved to Monroe Co., TN where they’re found on the 1830 and 1840 census. Samuel died there in 1848. Elizabeth is listed on the 1850 census in Monroe. I didn’t find her anywhere in 1860 so she may have died in the 1850s.

5. Mary Patton was born 8 Jan 1778. She married Merritt Burgin (1784-1837) before ca 1808. They are listed on the 1810 and 1820 census in Burke Co., NC. I didn’t find them in 1830. Mary died in Burke (now McDowell) on 22 Jul 1835. Merritt died two years later. Both are buried at Saint Francis Episcopal Church in Rutherford Co., NC.

6. Rebecca Patton was born Jan 1780 (per her tombstone). She married John Logan on 9 Nov 1820 in Burke Co., NC. He was born 25 Dec 1770 (per his tombstone). He was listed as head of household in Burke on the 1800, 1810 and 1820 censuses prior to his marriage to Rebecca. He may have been married before her. He is listed on the 1830 and 1840 censuses in Burke. They were in McDowell for the 1850 census. He died there on 28 Mar 1857 and she on 30 Jan 1859. They are buried at the Patton-Logan Cemetery in McDowell Co., NC.

7. James Patton was born ca 1784. He married his 1^st cousin Elizabeth Patton (1788-1860), daughter of Robert Patton and Rebecca Cathey, between 1800 and ca 1809, probably in Buncombe Co., NC where Elizabeth was residing at the time. They moved to Tennessee prior to 1810 and that census is lost unfortunately, though they would probably be found in Maury Co., TN that year. James Patton was killed on 23 Nov 1813 by Indians in the Creek War in Alabama. They had two children, George (c1810-1880) who married his cousin Rhoda Ann McWhorter in 1831 in Gibson Co., TN, and Margaret Patton who also married a McWhorter cousin, though it’s not clear which one, perhaps Hance C. McWhorter Jr whose wife was named Margaret. Widow Elizabeth Patton Patton married famous frontiersman Davy Crockett in 1816. As you probably know he died at the Alamo on 6 Mar 1836. Elizabeth Patton Patton Crockett died in Hood Co., TX in 1860.

For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Elijah Patton and Margaret Cathey.

Revised: September 3, 2023

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