William (Catt) Cate (1825 - 1917)

Born 1 Nov 1825 in Hastings, Sussex, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (McCarthy) Cate — married 15 Jul 1851 in Lower Beeding, Horsham, Sussex, England

Descendants

Died 14 Aug 1917 at age 91 in Norwood, South Australia, Australia

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Biography

William (Catt) Cate was born in Sussex, England.

William (Catt) Cate migrated from UK to Australia.

William Catt was born on 1st November 1825 at Westfield, Sussex, England. His parents were Stephen Catt and Jane Bray.^{[1] [2]} Refer Research Notes for details of the affidavit.

William Catt married Mary McCarthy on 15 July 1851 at Trinity Church, Lower Beeding, Horsham, Sussex, England^{[3] [4]} He was listed as a baker from St Leonards on the Sea on the marriage certificate but I have been unable to find him listed in the 1851 UK census held just months earlier.

William and Mary Catt boarded the barque 'Tory' on 23 July 1851, eight days after getting married, and emigrated to South Australia. They appear on the passenger list as William and Mary "Kates". The barque, under Captain J. Row, left London on 4th August, travelled via Plymouth and Kangaroo Island, and arrived at Port Adelaide on 19th November.^[5]

William and Mary Catt had five children.

1. Annie Isabella Catt b. 1853
2. William Catt Jnr. b. 1855
3. Emma Mary Catt b. 1858
4. Madeline Ida Catt b. 1863
5. Arthur Frederick Catt b. 1865

Sometime after arriving in South Australia, William Catt and his family changed their surname to Cate, although the records seem interchangeable for a time. William's four brothers, Charles, Lester, Herbert and Henry, who all emigrated to the US, also changed their last name to Cate.

Shortly after landing in South Australia, William boarded the 'Flash' on 16th December 1851 heading for Melbourne.^[6] He made his way to the Victorian goldfields at Forest Creek and Castlemaine and returned to Adelaide in March 1852. He went back to the gold fields the following month and returned to Adelaide in October 1852. ^[7]

In 1853, William opened the Grace Darling Hotel at Brighton where his first boarders were the late Hon. S. Tomkinson and Mrs. Tomkinson, who spent their honeymoon there. The Grace Darling Hotel was later the site of the Blind, Deaf and Dumb Institute at Brighton.

He joined the SA Mounted Police Force on 24th January 1854, spent several months at the barracks before taking charge of the station at Morphett Vale. He was promoted to First Class Constable in 1857, Lance Corporal in 1864 and gazetted Corporal in February 1867. In 1868 he became Orderly Corporal and drillmaster at the Mounted Police Barracks on North Terrace, before being given charge of the section. His health broke down when a horse rolled on him and he (William) broke a leg. He subsequently transferred to Strathalbyn in the late 1870's until his retirement on 20th October 1880.

In 1879, with twelve months leave of absence approved, William and Mary Cate returned to England. They departed on 19th May 1879 on the French steamer 'Chimborazo' under Master de la Poer. They arrived back in Adelaide on Wednesday 22 October 1879 on the steamer Cuzco, under Master John Murdoch, having left London on 9th September, with stops at Plymouth, 11th September, St. Vincents, 20 October, and Cape Town, 4 October.

In 1885, William Cate owned several blocks of land including Acre 41 at Charles Street, Adelaide, occupied by John Martin's. He also had three smaller blocks on King William Street, North Torrens occupied by A. H. Nash (son-in-law), W. H. Ellis (son-in-law) and Eggers. In addition he occupied four lots at Norwood at Ravenswood Avenue, Rockeby Avenue and Kenilworth Avenue. ^[8]

William Cate died on 14th August 1917 at Norwood, South Australia, Australia. ^[9]

William Cate was buried on 15th August 1917 at West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. ^[10][11]

He left a will on which probate was granted in November 1917, with an estate valued at £16,250 bequeathed to the family of the estate. ^[12]

Obituary

Obituary from page 11 of "The Chronicle", Adelaide, South Australia, Saturday 18 August 1917.

• "The death occurred at his residence, Ravenswood, Norwood, on August 14, of Mr. William Cate, one of the oldest of the retired members of the Mounted Police force, who was for many years barracks master under the late Commissioner Hamilton. Mr. Cate was born at Hastings, in England, and would have been 92 years of age had he lived till November 1. He came to the State when a young man and joined the Mounted Police Force on January 6, 1854. His first station was Morphett Vale, and while there promotion was offered him, but for personal reasons he asked to be allowed to remain at Morphett Vale. However, in 1857, he was advanced to first-class constable, and in June, 1864, was made lance-corporal. In February, 1867, he was gazetted corporal, and in 1868 he was transferred to the barracks, where he acted as drillmaster before being given charge of the section. During his term at the barracks his health gave way, and acting on the advice of his doctor he applied for appointment to Strathalbyn, so that he should have the advantage of a change. Late in the seventies he removed thither, and he resided in Strathalbyn for several years before retiring from the force on April 30, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Cate visited England in that year. Mrs. Cate died about 15 years ago. In 1909 Mr. Cate was overcome by paralysis, and he had been an invalid since, although he was confined to his bed for only a few months. He was remarkably vigorous, physically, and was mentally strong. He had for years longed for the end as time dragged heavily. Two sons and two daughters survive, as well as a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren." ^[13]

A report of their Golden Wedding anniversary, appeared in "The Advertiser" on Thursday, 18th July 1901.

• A Golden Wedding.

"Mr. and Mrs. William Cate, of Ravenswood, Norwood, celebrated the golden anniversary of their wedding on Monday, July 15, at their home. Mr. Cate was born at Westfield, Sussex, England, in 1825, and married on July 15, 1851. Eight days later, on July 23, Mr. and Mrs. Cate sailed from London for South Australia, in the barque Tory, and from the time of departure they never saw land again until Kangaroo Island was reached on November 17 of the same year. The voyage had been long and tedious, and the last drop of fresh water on the vessel was used just as the Tory was approaching the island, so that had rough weather caused a postponement of the arrival the absence of a supply of drinking water would probably have resulted seriously for those on board. On December 22, 1851, soon after reaching the mainland, Mr. Cate decided to try his luck on the Victorian goldfields, and he proceeded to the Forest Creek and Castlemaine rushes, but returned in March to Adelaide. In the following month, however, he resolved to go back to the fields, where he remained until October, 1852, when he once more came to the South Australian capital. In 1853 he opened the Grace Darling Hotel, on the site of the present Blind, Deaf, and Dumb Institution at Brighton, and his first boarders were the late Hon. S. Tomkinson and Mrs. Tomkinson, who spent their honeymoon there. Mr. Cate did not care for the hotel business, and he sold out in December of the same year. He joined the Mounted Police on January 24, 1854, and was stationed at the barracks for a few months before going to Morphett Vale to take charge of the station there. For five years Mr. Cate was the officer in command at Morphett Vale, which was then an important station, and then he returned to the barracks, where he continued to act as corporal in charge for 15 years. He was then transferred to Strathalbyn, where he spent a few years before securing 12 months' leave of absence in 1879 when accompanied by his wife he visited England. Upon returning to South Australia, the veteran officer, who had had many exciting experiences in the early days, when rough characters had to be dealt with by the police and large districts traversed, resigned, and went to live at Norwood, where he has continued to reside in retirement ever since. During his connection with the police force, Mr. Cate was offered promotion on several occasions, but he declined to accept the honor, because it suited him better to retain office of inferior rank. Mr. Cate was exceedingly popular in the country, and also at the barracks, and his many friends will be pleased to hear that he is in remarkably good health. Mrs. Cate has only just recovered from a severe illness, which has left her in such a weak state that she has to be moved about in an invalid's chair. There was a gathering of relatives on Monday to celebrate the anniversary, and Mr. and Mrs. Cate received many congratulations from relations and friends alike. Major Cate, of H.M. Customs Department, who is stationed temporarily at Port Pirie, and Mr. A. F. Cate who is now returning from America, where he has been in business for about five years, are sons, and Mrs. W. H. Ellis and Mrs. Arthur L. Lowe, of King William street, Kent Town, are daughters." ^[14]

Research Notes

Affidavit found in the Westfield Parish Register of Baptisms states:
"This is to certify that William Catt who was born on the first of November 1825, was taken when about six weeks old to the Vicarage at Westfield and was there baptised by the Revd. Robt. Hughes then Vicar of Westfield.
Jane Catt
Westfield
This affidavit was sworn before me Musgrave Brisco Esq. of Coghurst near Hastings on 2nd April 1850."
The attached note explaining the circumstances:
"I, Mark Henry Vernon, Vicar of Westfield, hereby certify that this affidavit of the Baptism of William Catt, son of Stephen and Jane Catt, sworn before Musgrave Brisco Esq. M.P. on the 2nd April 1850 was placed in the Register Book of Baptisms in the Parish of Westfield this 5th day of April 1850 by me
Mark Henry Vernon
Vicar of Westfield"

Sources

1. ↑ "The Chronicle", Adelaide, South Australia, 18 August 1917; NLA trove newspapers [1] Accessed 27 January 2017.
2. ↑ Birth of William Catt, 1 Nov 1825, Westfield, Sussex, Affidavit signed by his mother, Jane Catt found in the Westfield Parish Register of Baptisms
3. ↑ "The Advertiser", Adelaide, South Australia, 18 July 1901, p3, A Golden Wedding; NLA trove newspapers [2] Accessed 27 January 2017.
4. ↑ William Catt in the West Sussex, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1936< br/> Name: William Catt< br/> Marital Status: Single< br/> Record Type: Marriage< br/> Marriage Date: 15 Jul 1851< br/> Marriage Place: Beeding, Lower, Sussex, England< br/> Parish as it Appears: Lower Beeding< br/> Father: Stephen Catt< br/> Spouse: Mary McCarthy< br/> Source Citation: West Sussex Record Office; Brighton, England; Sussex Parish Registers; Reference: Par 14/1/3/1. Source Information Ancestry.com. West Sussex, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1936 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022. Original data: Anglican Parish Registers. Chichester, England: West Sussex Record Office. Accessed 22 Jun 2022.
5. ↑ South Australian Passenger Lists 1851, State Library of South Australia, [3] Accessed 10 Dec 2018.
6. ↑ "South Australian Register" (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) Wed 17 Dec 1851 Page 2 Shipping Intelligence; NLA trove newspapers [4] Accessed 22 Jun 2022.
7. ↑ "The Advertiser" (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) Thu 18 Jul 1901 Page 3 A Golden Wedding; NLA trove newspapers [5] Accessed 22 June 2022.
8. ↑ Land Tax return of 1885 by William Cate, Gentleman, GRG 21/1, State Records of South Australia.
9. ↑ SA BDM Index Deaths 1917 412/198 William Cate, no relative recorded, district of Norwood; [6] Accessed 27 January 2017.
10. ↑ West Terrace Cemetery Records, William Cate, date of death 14 August 1917, age 91, Section Road 1S, Path 6W, Site 4. [7] Accessed 27 January 2017.
11. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157649273/william-cate) accessed 20 December 2021, memorial page for William Cate (1 Nov 1825–14 Aug 1917), Find A Grave: Memorial #157649273, citing West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, Adelaide City, South Australia, Australia ; Maintained by Dwight Baker (contributor 47306645).
12. ↑ "Observer" (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931) Sat 17 Nov 1917 Page 28 Personal; NLA trove newspapers [8] Accessed 14 Jan 2021.
13. ↑ "Chronicle" (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) Sat 18 Aug 1917 Page 11 Obituary; NLA trove newspapers [[9] Accessed 20 Dec 2021.
14. ↑ "The Advertiser" (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) Thu 18 Jul 1901 Page 3 A Golden Wedding; NLA trove newspapers [[10] Accessed 20 Dec 2021.