Catharine Dick (abt. 1780 - 1854)

Born about 1780 in Washington County, Maryland, United States of America

Wife of Valentin Höh — married about 1795 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Wife of Christian Hoover — married before 29 Aug 1826 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Descendants

Died 1 Jul 1854 at about age 74 in Penn Township, St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States of America

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Biography

Catharine, the daughter of Harmon Dick and his first wife, Anna Maria, was born in Washington County, Maryland, circa 1780.^[1]

She was married twice: first (circa 1795) to Valentin Höh/Hay^[2][3], the uncle of her stepmother, Margaret, and second, by 29 August 1826, to Christian Hoover.^[4]

Catharine outlived both husbands.

She and her second husband had moved to Penn Township, St. Joseph County, Indiana by 1850.^[1] Catharine died there on 1 July 1854.^[3]

She is buried in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Mishawaka, Indiana.^[5]

In 1861, five years after her death, Catharine's heirs lost a legal battle over a reversed decision concerning her dower rights.^[3]

Court Records

April Court 1816

To the Honourable the Judges of the Court of Common pleas of Bedford County now composing an Orphans Court in and for said County. The petition Catharine Hay widow and relict of Valentine Hay late of Woodberry township in said County Humbly sheweth, that your petitioners said husband lately died intestate leaving your petitioner his widow, and five children, to wit, Mary, Catharine, Margaret, Valentine and Simon, the three last of whom are minors under the age of 14 years and have no guardians to take care of their persons and estates. Your petitioner therefore prays your Honours to appoint proper persons as guardians to take care of their persons and estates and she will pray &c.

Catharine (her X mark) Hay^[2]

April 3d 1816 petition read, whereupon the Court appoint John Ulery guardian over Margaret, Herman Dick guardian over Valentine Hay, and John Lower guardian over Simon Hay, minor children of Valentine Hay deceased under the age of fourteen years -^[2]

April 3d 1816 Came into Court Mary Hay minor daughter of Valentine Hay late of Woodberry township decd. above the age of fourteen years, and chose Conrad Martin as her guardian, whereupon the Court approve of Conrad Martin and appoint him guardian over said minor -

Same day, Came into Court Catharine Hay minor daughter of Valentine Hay late of Woodberry township decd. above the age of fourteen years & chose Herman Dick as her guardian - Whereupon the Court approve of Herman Dick and appoint him guardian over said minor -^[2]

The legal battle for Catharine's dower rights

SHOENBERGER'S Executors versus HAY et al.; Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg; 40 Pa. 132; July 25, 1861, Decided.

Error to the Common Pleas of Blair county.

This was an action of debt brought in the court below to April Term 1859 by Simon G. Hay (for use of Jacob L. Martin), Samuel Brown, Mary Brown, Valentine Hay, Jacob Biddle, and Catharine Broombaugh, heirs and legal representatives of Valentine Hay, deceased, against John G. Miles and Michael Berry, executors of Peter Shoenberger, deceased, in which, after declaration filed, the following case was agreed upon and stated for the opinion of the court:--

Judgment reversed, and judgment for the defendants, with costs.^[3]

Research Notes

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "1850 United States Federal Census (Population Schedule)", digital image, Penn Township, St. Joseph County, Indiana, USA, Dwelling 332, Family 332, Christian Hoover household, FamilySearch (Online: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., 2010) [Original source: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.),pp. 121-122]
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} "Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994", digital image, FamilySearch (Online: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., 2010), [Original source: Bedford County Orphans Court, "Dockets and Guardian Appointments, Volume 3", DGS 5534621, (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1963), p.77]
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Wright, Robert E.,"Pennsylvania State Reports, Volume 40", Google Books (Online: Google Inc., 2004), [Originally published Wright, Robert E., "Pennsylvania State Reports, Vol XL, comprising cases adjudged in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Vol. IV, containing cases decided May, October, and November terms,1861", (Philadelphia: Kay & Brother, 1862), p.132 to 140]
4. ↑ Caldwell, Michael S., "Michael S. Caldwell's Genealogy Database", GEDCOM database, uploaded 29 Nov 2012, Rootsweb WoldConnect (Online: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2000)
5. ↑ "Pleasant Valley Cemetery", JPEG image, submitted by Georgia Gill-Elkins and Sharon Vanden Bossche, 27 September 2008, Saint Joseph County INGenWeb (Online: Ancestry.com, 2000)