Violet Cathey (1761-1848) of Burke Co., NC, Logan Co., KY and Bedford and Marshall Co., TN

Marty and Karla Grant

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[Cathey Home] - [Table of Contents] - [George Cathey (1725-1790)] - Violet

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Violet Cathey is my 6 times great aunt.

Violet Cathey was ca 1760/61 per her age at death on her tombstone. She was listed as 87, dying 28 Oct 1848. She was born in Mecklenburg Co., NC.

She is a child of George Cathey (1725-1790). Her mother is said to be Ann Price, however, her mother is much more likely George’s 2^nd wife Margaret.

Violet is a proven child of George as named in the 1823 Wilson Co., TN court case as his daughter:

The bill also states that Violet Cathey one of the daughters of said George decd, and John Reed who had intermarried with Esther another of the daughters of said George decd, executed a deed of relinquishment to the complainant for 248 acres of said land, which said deed is also appended and made a part of said bill, which 248 acres was the one half of the 640 acres after deducting for a part that was take by older claims and the deed for the 248 acres was the division which had been made between him and William Campbell the other grantee.

She was also named in George Cathey’s now lost Will, ca late 1780s:

Bedford County, Tennessee Deed Book D, p. 82

20 Feb 1812 Violet Cathey of Bedford Co., TN and Joseph McDowell of Maury Co., TN to John Dysart of Bedford Co., TN. For $200, 200 acres in Bedford on the waters of Rock Creek being part of a tract of 2,500 acres granted to George Cathey by grant No 107 and by his Last Will & Testament devised to Violet Cathey, Esther Cathey and Ann Moore and being part of Violet Cathey’s lot agreeable to a division amongst the legatees ... Joseph C. McDowell ...

S: Violet (X) Cathey, J. C. McDowell

Witnesses: Alexander Neill, Francis Dysart

Violet Cathey never married but left a few records during her lifetime.

Her family moved from Mecklenburg to the Pleasant Gardens area of present day McDowell Co., NC before ca 1774. At that time the area was still Rowan County but became Burke in 1777.

Her father George Cathey’s 2,500 acre tract was surveyed on 10 Mar 1785. and was granted to him on 10 Jul 1788 by the State of North Carolina.

NC Land Grants - Tennessee Middle District, File No 105. Grant No 107, Book 67, p. 462.

10 Jul 1788 George Cathey Senr. 2,500 acres south side of Duck River and both sides of Rock Creek. Beginning at a hickory dogwood and elm on the East side of said creek and runs West seventy five chains to the creek the same course forty five chains to a black walnut and elm thence south two hundred eight chains and one fourth to a cedar thence east one hundred and twenty chains crossing both forks of said creek to a stake thence North to the beginning. S: Sam Johnston (Governor). J. Glasgow, Secretary.

Entered 1 Apr 1784 Entry No 1578.

One page of file says: No 1578 George Cathey, Vilate Cathey & Esther Cathey, 2,500 acres, Apr 1, 1784. Gr No 107 dated 10 Jul 1788.

Surveyed 10 Mar 1785 by Dav. Vance, D. Surv.

Chain Carriers: Danl Williams, Wm Dever.

George included his daughters Violet and Esther on the title for this tract, presumably so they would have it after his death without any hassle.

It’s been a challenge finding Violet Cathey on the census records considering she never married and probably always resided with relatives instead of having her own house. However, using census analysis I may have located her in some of the censuses, though census analysis isn’t an exact science.

Violet would have been about 29 or 30 by the time of the 1790 census. Although some of her siblings do have room for her in their 1790 census households, it’s much more likely she was with her widowed mother that year in Burke Co., NC.

1790 Burke County, North Carolina, Morgan District, 1^st Company

Pg	Name	Males 16+	Males under 16	Females	Others	Slaves
88	Marget Cathey	-	1	4	-	-

Margaret Cathey no ages (bef 1790) 0-1-4-0-0

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1m -16 (1774/1790) Son? Grandson?

4f no age (bef 1790) 1. Margaret (—) Cathey, widow of George 1725

2. Violet Cathey (1761) daughter

3. Daughter?

4. Daughter?

Several members of the George Cathey family left Burke Co., NC for Logan Co., KY in the late 1790s. Widow Margaret Cathey is listed in that county on a 1799 tax list. Women normally weren’t listed on tax lists unless they were landowners which she was, having 200 acres of land. Violet was likely residing with her.

The 1800 census is lost for Kentucky.

Violet’s mother Margaret Cathey died sometime after 1799, presumably in Logan Co., KY. After this point it seems likely that Violet resided with one of her sisters or perhaps alternated between three of them.

Her sister Mary and husband Andrew Neill left Logan Co., KY for Williamson Co., TN by 1800. It seems probable that Violet remained in KY until her sisters Ann and Esther moved ca 1808. At that time they moved to what had been Williamson Co., TN but had just become Bedford Co., TN, to the 2,500 acre tract they’d inherited from their father, George Cathey. She remained there the rest of her life. (This area became Marshall Co., TN in 1836.)

On 20 Oct 1808, John Reed, Alexander Neill and Violet Cathey had George Cathey’s 2,500 acre land grant re-surveyed by George Mitchell, Deputy Surveyor for the Second District of Tennessee. Andrew Neill and William Dever were chain carriers. This new survey is recorded in the state records as well as in Bedford Co., TN Deed Book BB, pp 107-108 with a plat map, registered 10 Nov 1830.

The 1810 census is lost for Tennessee.

I already mentioned the deed dated 20 Feb 1812 where Violet Cathey and her nephew, Joseph Cathey McDowell, sold 200 acres of the George Cathey grant to John Dysart. It isn’t clear why Joseph C. McDowell was part of the deed unless he too had inherited a share of that land. However, the cited portion of George Cathey’s Will in this deed didn’t mention him. Further, his mother, Mary Cathey McDowell Neill, wasn’t one of the legatees for that land either. “J. C. McDowell” signed the deed and Violet signed with a mark.

Bedford County, Tennessee Deed Book D, p. 82

S: Violet (X) Cathey, J. C. McDowell

Witnesses: Alexander Neill, Francis Dysart

On 24 Aug 1819, “Vilate” Cathey of Bedford, sold about 50 acres to Thomas Bailey “Formerly” of Bedford Co., TN for $25. Witnesses were James Harbardson and George Neele (probably her nephew George Cathey Neill (1798-1845)). (Bedford Co., TN Deed Book L, p. 315.)

Thomas Bailey is likely part of the Hugh Cathey/Jane Bailey family. Hugh Cathey was a cousin.

The 1820 census is problematic. Violet’s sisters Esther and husband John Reed were not found on the 1820 census though they should have been listed in Bedford but weren’t. Violet’s sister Ann and husband Alexander Neill were listed in Bedford but their enumerations are highly suspect. Regardless, there is no one Violet’s age in their household. Thus, I can’t say with any certainty where Violet Cathey may have been in 1820. We know from a deed dated 1819 that she was in Bedford at that time, so unless she went to Alabama temporarily, she ought to be in Bedford somewhere in 1820, perhaps living with a married niece or nephew or with John and Esther Reed, wherever they were.

There was a lawsuit in Wilson Co., TN in 1823 regarding some land that Violet’s father George Cathey had entered in 1784. Since George was dead, his heirs were named in the suit. That included his daughter Violet. This document is the proof that she is George Cathey’s daughter, though the 1812 deed citing his Will also proves it. Click here to read the Wilson Co., TN court case.

There is an entry in the Bedford Co., TN Index of deeds for a deed from Violet Cathey to Graham Bills in Book S, p. 361. However, pages 344-377 are missing from that book so I don’t know what this deed was, nor the date, however, I’d assume mid 1820s based on the other deeds in the book.

On 23 Oct 1826, Alexander Neill and wife Ann Neill made a deed of gift for love and affection to Violet Cathey relinquishing their one third claim (833 1/3 acres) in George Cathey’s, 2,500 acre tract. Hosea Mullings and Nathaniel Dryden were witnesses. (Bedford Co., TN Deed Book W, pp 191-192).

For the 1830 census, Violet Cathey would have been 69 or 70 years old. She does not seem to be residing with John & Esther Reed in 1830, nor with Andrew and Mary Neill, nor is she with her widowed sister Ann Neill in 1830. There is someone about her age with her nephew Joseph Cathey McDowell though. That certainly could be her, but it could just as easily be someone else. Here is his entry just in case.

1830 Census - Bedford County, Tennessee

Page

Name

(Males first row, females on second)

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80-89

90-99

100+

Joseph C. McDowell

My Analysis (who each person *might* be)

1m 40-49 (1780/1790) Joseph C. McDowell (c1781)

2m 5-9 (1820/1825) 1. Son?

2. Son?

1f 70-79 (1750/1760) Mother-in-law? Or Violet Cathey (c1761) perhaps?

1f 30-39 (1790/1800) Patsy Slicker McDowell (c1800) wife m 1827

1f 5-9 (1820/1825) Daughter?

On 7 Nov 1831, Violet Cathey of Bedford Co., TN, deeded 59 acres to Alexander Reed [her nephew] for $236, being land on Dryden’s Creek, a branch of East Fork of Rock Creek. She signed with a mark. Witnesses were J. Walker and Nathaniel Dryden (her nephew).(Bedford Co., TN Deed Book BB, p. 415).

On 25 May 1832, Violet Cathey of Bedford Co., TN sold land to her nephew Isaac W. Walker for $53, being 35 acres on the west side of the East Fork of Rock Creek. Witnesses were her nephews Alexander B. Reed and Benjamin C. Brantly. (Bedford Co., TN Deed Book DD, p. 145).

In 1836 Marshall County was formed from several counties including the part of Bedford where the Reeds resided.

On 27 Sep 1839, Violet Cathey leased some land to William R. Alford. Witnesses were W. J. Whitthorne? And Jesse Stegall (Marshall Co., TN Deed Book D, pp. 545-546)

For the 1840 census, Violet Cathey would have been 79 or 80 years old. She does not seem to be residing with John & Esther Reed in 1840, nor with her widowed sister Ann Neill in 1840. Her sister Mary and husband Andrew Neill are not listed on the 1840 census, but someone their ages is residing with Joseph Cathey McDowell (Mary’s son). There is also room for Violet Cathey in his household, so I suspect it is her, but can’t prove it of course.

1840 Census - Marshall County, Tennessee

Page

Name

(Males first row, females on second)

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80-89

90-99

100+

173

Joseph C. McDowell

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1m 90-99 (1740/1750) Andrew Neil (1755) step-father

1m 50-59 (1780/1790) Joseph Cathey McDowell (c1781)

1m 15-19 (1820/1825) Son?

1f 80-89 (1750/1760) Mary Cathey McDowell Neill (1760/70) mother

1f 70-79 (1760/1770) Violet Cathey (1761) aunt

1f 40-49 (1790/1800) Elizabeth Cathey (c1795) cousin d/o Violet

1f 30-39 (1800/1810) Patsy Slicker McDowell (c1800) wife

1f 0-4 (1835/1840) 1. Violet McDowell (c1826) daughter

2. Mary McDowell (c1828) daughter

On 7 Apr 1841, Violet Cathey had her land surveyed by Samuel Elliott. This was her one third part of George Cathey’s 2,500 acre grant. It was judged to be 446 acres plus 27 ¼ / 160ths. (Marshall Co., TN Deed Book D, pp. 225-226). Click here to view this deed and plat.

On 11 Nov 1842, Violet Cathey made a deed of gift of her entire property of 446 acres to her daughter Elizabeth Ann Cathey and her nephew Joseph C. McDowell for love and affection and $1. She reserved her life rights meaning she could live on the land until she died. Witnesses were Ezekiel E. Varner and Jesse Stegall. This deed proves that Elizabeth Ann Cathey was her daughter. (Marshall Co., TN Deed Book F, pp 39-41).

On 30 Aug 1848, Violet Cathey sold 470 acres to Isaac W. Walker for $2,350. It was described as on the west side of the east fork of Rock Creek a south branch of Duck River. It was part of the 2,500 acre George Cathey grant. Witnesses were James H. Ewing and Newton B. Ewing. (Marshall Co., TN Deed Book I, p. 283).

Violet Cathey died on 28 Oct 1848 per her tombstone at the Reed-Walker Cemetery in Marshall Co., TN. It is inscribed “In Memory of Violette Cathey who departed this life Oct 28 1848. Aged 87.”

Children

Violet Cathey never married, so one might assume she had no children. However, she has a proven daughter named Elizabeth Ann Cathey born ca 1794/95 in North Carolina, who died after 1850 in Marshall Co., TN. In 1842 Violet Cathey deeded Elizabeth Ann and Joseph C. McDowell all of her property. She stated that Elizabeth Ann was her daughter and Joseph her nephew.

The 1850 census listed Elizabeth as “Idiotic” meaning mentally impaired.

Was Elizabeth Ann born out of wedlock? Or was Violet was married to, and widowed by, a Cathey cousin we haven’t identified?

Where was Elizabeth Cathey (c1795) in the census records? She would likely be with her mother in 1800 and 1810, both of which records are lost. In 1820 we didn’t find any clear indication of Violet in Bedford Co., TN. In 1830 Violet seems to be with her nephew Joseph C. McDowell, but there is no room for Elizabeth in his household unless the woman I assumed was Joseph’s wife that year is Elizabeth instead, as in Joseph could have been widowed already by 1830. In 1840, Violet still seems to be with Joseph, but this time there is room for Elizabeth also. Of course we can’t be certain that’s who it is, but it seems very likely it’s her.

In 1850, Elizabeth Cathey was in Marshall Co., TN with her 1^st cousin Violet M. Reed Walker (1802-1865). She was listed as Elizabeth Cathy, 55, born NC, Idiotic.

I didn’t find Elizabeth on the 1860 census. She wasn’t with Violet Walker then nor elsewhere as far as I could locate. She may have died in the 1850s.

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

Revised: September 3, 2023

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