Henry Alexander Cathey (1808 - 1873)

Born 17 Nov 1808 in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Died 10 Mar 1873 at age 64 in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Henry was born in 1808. He was the son of Archibald Cathey and Mary Caldwell. He passed away in 1873.

Spouses & Children

(1) Rebecca W. Johnston (1816–1836). Dau. of James Johnston and Cornelia Millie Wagoner

-Mary Caroline Cathey (1835–1874) m. William A. Gillespie (1823-1902), son of Joseph F. Gillespie & Sinthea Allison

-Milly Rebecca Cathey (1836–1882) m. Henry F. Cornelius (1830-1869), son of Jesse R. Cornelius & Margaret Thompson, m. (2) Thomas M. Torrence (1858-1901)

(2) Nancy Lauria Melvina Cornelius (1821–1906). Dau of William Osborne Cornelius and Letitia "Letty" Asbury.

-William Albert Cathey (1845–1855)

-Nancy Jane Nannie Cathey (1846–1889) m. James Hendeson Cornelius (1841-1908), son of Fred Austin Cornelius & Ann Isabella Sherrill

-John Archibald Cathey (1847–1906) m. (1) Margaret Amanda Reid, m. (2) Nancy Lou Ella Morrow

-Laurie Lettie Cathey (1851–1929) m. (1) James Monroe Potts Sr (1839-1869), m. (2) William Richard Durant Rozzelle

Sarah Catharine Cathey (1853–1934) m. Joseph William Gillespie (1846-1928), son of William A. Gillespie & Jane E. Caldwell

-Judith Henrietta Cathey (1854–1931) m. Daniel Hall McCall (1845-1926)

-Andrew Franklin Cathey (1856–) m. Lettie L. Cornelius (1861-1942), dau of Benjamin Franklin Cornelius & Mary Elizabeth McClelland

-Emma Cathey (1858–1860)

-Henry Houston Cathy (1860–1938) m. (1) unknown, m. (2) Julia Nancy Rodgers

-Cornelia Eudora Cathey (1862–1865)

-Joseph Pickney Cathey (1864–1952) m. (1) Eleanor Ella Cornelius, dau. of Benjamin Franklin Cornelius & Mary Elizabeth McClelland, m. (2) Cara Lee Alexander (1874-1973)

-Thomas Lester Lee Cathey (1866–1932) m. Nannie Elizabeth McKay (1870-1950)

-Albert Marcellus Cathey (1870–1926) m. Nancy Agusta McCauley (1873-1949)

Will

Will of Henry A. Cathey, 21 Dec 1871, Mecklenburg Co., NC^[1]

I Henry A. Cathey of the County of Mecklenburg and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existance do make and declare this my last (will) and testament in manner and form following, that is to say,

First that my Executors (hereinafter named) shall provide for my body a decent burial suitable to the wishes of my relations and friends, and pay all funeral expenses, together with my just debts, howsoever and to whomsoever owing out of the moneys, that may first come into their hands as a parcel or part of my estate

2nd Whereas my three Daughters viz Mary Caroline Gillespie wife of W A Gillespie, Milly Rebecca Cornelius, widow of Henry F. Cornelius decd and Nancy Jane Cornelius, wife of Henderson Cornelius have received their raising & education together with some helpp from me, their legacy is what they have received together with my best wishes.

3d I will and bequeath to my daughter Letty Potts widow of J M Potts decd one horse or colt or sixty dollars, to make her share equal with my married daughters, with my best wishes and affections

4th I will and bequeath to my son John A Cathey the horse that is now in his possession that I give him, and one hundred acres of Cornelius land, to be located fully as soon as said land is divided, the line to run straight from the river eastward making to him one hundred acres.

5th I will and bequeath to my two unmarried daughters viz Sarah Catharine and Judy Henrietta each when they marry or leave home, one horse worth sixty dollars, one colt & calf one bed & furniture one bureau one st table ware & cooking untensils such as my other married daughters have received, with my best wishes and affections

6th I will and bequeath to my beloved wife Nancy Mulvina and to my other minor children viz; Andrew Franklin, Henry Houston, Joseph Pinkney, Thomas Lester Lee and Albert Marcellus, the whole residue of my estate both real and personal, including all lands & personal property, debts, household and kitchen furniture and every thing else that I may own, that is to say I wish my wife to have full control of all the property, to raise and educate the children herein named in this clause as well as she can, and to have full power to make any changes for their benefits that she may think best, that is to sell any part, and buy other or exchange as she may think best for their benefit, or to pay my just debts, all during her life, and at her death, all the said property to be equally divided among the children named in this clause Viz: Andrew Franklin, Joseph Pinkney, Thomas Lester Lee, and Albert Marcellis, and in case my wife Nancy Mulvina dies before these last named children are of age, I desire that the lands be rented out until they are of age then the whole be divided equally among the last named children

And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my trusty friend Henderson Cornelius & my wife Nancy Mulvina, my lawful executors to all intents and purposes to execute this my last will and testament, according to the true intent and meaning of the same, and every part, and clause thereof, In witness whereof I the said Henry A Cathey do hereunto set my hand and seal this December 21st AD 1871

H.A. Cathey

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Henry A Cathy to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence do suscribe our names as witnesses thereto

W. B. Withers

(Joseph?) Brown

Notes

1850 US Census - Hopewell, Mecklenburg, NC, 3 Aug 1850^[2]

538 542 Henry Cathey, 43, M, Farmer, 2000, NC

Nancy Cathey, 29, F, "

Caroline ", 14, F, "

Rebecca, 13, F, "

William, 5, M, "

Nancy, 4, F, "

John, 3, M., "

1860 US Federal Census, Western Division, Mecklenburg, NC, 19 Jul 1860^[3]

616 669 Henry Cathey, 52, M, Farmer, 2700 (Real Estate), 11,900 (personal estate), (NC)

Nancy ", 39, F, "

Nancy J. ", 14, F, "

John ", 13, M, "

Lettie ", 9, F, "

Sarah ", 7, F, "

Judith ", 6, F, "

Andrew ", 4, M, "

Henry ", 3/12, M, "

Wm. Caldwell, 25, M, Overseer, "

1870 US Federal Census, Lemley, Mecklenburg, NC, 15 Sep 1870^[4]

45 45 Cathay, Henry, 61, M, W, Farmer, 330 (Real Estate), 11550 (personal estate), NC

Nancy, 49, F, W, Keeping House, NC

John, 22, M, W, Farm Hand, NC

Sarah, 17, F, W, At Home, NC

Albert, 15, M, W, Farm Hand, NC

Henry, 10, M, W, ", NC

Joseph, 8, M, W, NC

Thomas, 4, M, W, "

46 46 Potts Laura L, 19, F, W, Keeping House, 20 (personal estate), NC

James M., 2, M, W, NC

The Cathy Family by J. B. Alexander^[5]

(Pg 69) Chapter XX - Cathy Family

During the Revolutionary War John Cathy lived a short distance south of Beattie's Ford. His farm was visited by Tarlton's troopers the evening after the battle at Cowan's Ford, and everything eatable was carried off, as the army passed on towards Salisbury. He left his farm to his son, Col. Archibald Cathy, who spent all of his life on the homestead. He (Archibald) married a Miss Caldwell, from Iredell county. They raised five sons and one daughter, viz: Pink, William, Andrew, John, Henry and Nancy. Colonel Cathy died before his children were grown, and his widow married Tom DeArmond. He was not considered the equal of the family into which he married. They had but one son, Joe. The older Cathy children soon married off and took the young ones to live with them, home relations not being pleasant. This marriage was not a success, according to the neighborhood's idea of happiness. Pink Cathy married a Torrance, daughter of Barny Torrance, and moved to Arkansas. Andrew married Betsy Miller, and in company with Joe McKnitt Alexander, who married Nancy Cathy, moved to Alabama in 1835. Andrew Cathy had but one child, Rebecca, when he died. Rebecca was educated in Salem, N. C., and married her cousin, John D. Alexander, son of Joe McK. Alexander. The Alexander's became very wealthy. After many years Nancy Alexander died, and her husband married Betsy Cathy. All have passed away except John D. Alexander, who recently took a second wife. Henry Cathy married Rebecca Johnston, of Iredell county, by whom three children were raised, viz: Caroline, Rebecca and John Archie. After the decease of Mrs. Cathy, Henry married Viney Cornelius, of Iredell county. She was a woman of great industry, really loved to work. She is now a widow, her children all married, but still occupies the old homestead.

Sources

1. ↑ Will of Henry A. Cathey, 21 Dec 1871, Mecklenburg Co., NC. Original Data - Wills and Estate Papers (Mecklenburg County), North Carolina. Division of Archives and History; Probate Place: Mecklenburg, North Carolina. Accessed at Ancestry.com
2. ↑ 1850 US Census - Hopewell, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, USA, 3 Aug 1850. Accessed at Ancestry.com
3. ↑ 1860 United States Federal Census, Western Division, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, Charlotte, P.O., 19 Jul 1860, Pg. 84. Accessed at Ancestry.com.
4. ↑ 1870 United States Federal Census, Lemley, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, 15 Sep 1870, Pg 6, Charlotte, NC P.O. Accessed at Ancestry.com
5. ↑ Alexander, J. B., "Biographical sketches of the early settlers of the Hopewell section : and reminiscences of the pioneers and their descendants by families, with some historical facts and incidents of the times in which they lived....", Charlotte, N.C.: Observer Print. and Pub., 1897. Archived at Internet Archive

• WIP. Sources to be added.