The Cates family ... from England to Coweta, Part 1

Ken Arnold, who so generously shared information on the Arnold family of Coweta, recently submitted information on the Cates family, also of Coweta.

Ken has been doing genealogy since 1979 and lives in New York state. He says his cousin, Haynie Summers of Turin, is responsible for his interest in genealogy and his research has taken him to England and Ireland, as well as to the deep South.

In the book, "The History of Coweta County," the Cates family is mentioned in conjunction with the Robinson family. However, the Coweta book does not go as deeply into the roots of the Cates family as Ken does, so this may be new information for some of you. Ken's work is documented with ship manifests, books found in the Virginia State Library, court records, other official records and information from other researchers.

Ken has traced the Cates family back to a William Abraham Cates who married Margaret Agnes Unknown and raised at least two sons in Colyton, Devon, England. Nearly 200 years later, William Abraham's great-great-great-grandson, Asa Cates, would be one of the early settlers of Coweta county, arriving about 1832 from Newberry Dist., S.C.

But, to tell the full tale, our story begins with the two sons of William Abraham and Margaret Agnes Cates, Robert and Richard Cates, back in 17th century England.

Robert Ezra Cates, b. 21 Aug. 1667, and Richard Nehimiah Cates (birth date unknown) were raised in England and both migrated to Surry County, Va. in the late 1600s.

Robert was christened at St. Andrew Church in Colyton and was involved with Calvinism which later evolved into the Presbyterian Church. He became a Quaker after his arrival in America.

Robert is shown as a passenger on the manifest of the merchant ship "Bengal," in 1689, and was indentured that same year to Peter Wyke, a tobacco planter, for a four-year term.

Little more is known of Robert's brother, Richard, after his arrival in America other than the fact that he was indentured to Benjamin Harrison Jr. near Henrico Co., Va. on the James River. The absence of further records leads to the assumption that he died or ran away before the term of indenture was completed.

Robert Ezra, however, completed his indenture and, on 1 April 1695, announced in court that he was departing Henrico County. He moved south across the James River into Prince George County and, about 1698, married his wife, known only as "Ann," with whom he had six sons: Robert Cates, b. 1700 in Va., d. aft 5 Nov. 1765, Orange Co., N.C.; William Cates, b, abt 1702 in Va.; Thomas Cates, b. abt 1704 in Va., d. 1770; Benjamin Cates, b. abt 1706 in Va.; John Cates, b. abt 1708 in Va.; and Richard Cates, b. abt 1710 in Va., d. aft 1789 in Prince George Co., Va. By 1704, Robert owned 100 acres of land in Prince George County.

In 1719, the Burleigh Meetinghouse (Quaker) was formed and Robert attended church there. His signature is shown on several marriage certificates and records of ceremonies performed there in 1723 and 1724.

On 18 Feb. 1829, the county court of Prince George County ordered an appraisal of Robert's estate, so it is presumed that he died before that date. The inventory was made in March and included normal farming tools and household items, but the most important items listed were two pieces of tanned leather and two pieces of shoemaker's tools. These, of course, are positive indications that Robert was a shoemaker by trade. The inventory was signed by Ann (A) Kate. (Ken gives credit for the above research to Banks Cates of Charlotte, N.C.)

Robert Cates, first son of Robert Ezra and Ann Cates, moved to North Carolina from Virginia sometime before 1750, as land records show he owned land in Bladen Co. in 1750 and Orange Co. in 1753 and 1756. Orange County records show he received land in 1756 from the "Earle of Granville ... on the south side of the Haw River, on the bank of the river and down the waters of Terrells Creek."

Robert Cates married Elizabeth Unknown, with whom he had six children: Thomas Cates, b. abt 1730, d. abt 1817, Newberry Dist., S.C.; John Cates; Richard Cates, b. abt 1732; Sarah Cates, b. abt 1734; Joseph Cates b. abt 1736 in Orange Co., N.C., d. aft 24 Dec 1793, Orange Co., N.C.; and Barnard Cates, who died after 1826 in Orange Co., N.C.

Robert's will was dated 5 Nov. 1765 in Orange County, and lists his wife, children and one granddaughter. The will was probated in the March term of court, 1767. His sons, Thomas and Joseph were executors.

Thomas Cates, first son of Robert and Elizabeth Cates of Orange County, was sometimes referred to as "Road Tom," because of his job as a surveyor. He was first married about 1757 in North Carolina to Elizabeth Fussell, daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth Fussell, with whom he had eight children. He married a second time, sometime after 1806, to Yourath (Urith) McMillian, daughter of Alexander McMillian. Thomas died in Newberry Dist., S.C. abt 1817.

Next week, we'll learn more about Thomas' family and bring his descendants into Georgia.

You may e-mail Ken at karnold2@bellsouth.net if you are connected to or want to know more about this family.

If you have stories about your ancestors, their families, your research or genealogy tips, send them to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; E-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com.

Until next week, happy hunting!

(Judy regrets that time does not permit her to do personal research for others, but she will willingly share research information on her own family lines.)