The Cates family ... from England to Coweta, Part 2

We continue this week with the family history and descendants of William Abraham and Margaret Agnes Cates of Colyton, Devon, England, having followed their two sons, Robert Ezra and Richard, from England to Surry Co., Va. in 1689, where we lost track of Richard Cates during his indenture. It is thought that Richard either died or ran away, since there are no further records of his existence.

Robert Ezra, the other son, moved into Prince George County, Va., and his descendants are known to have migrated first to Bladen Co., N.C., then to Orange Co, N.C. and then to Newberry Dist., S.C. The Coweta Cates family's lineage is from Robert Ezra to Robert (Jr.), to Thomas Cates, referred to as "Road Tom" because of his job as a surveyor. Thomas married first Elizabeth Fussell and second Yourath (Urith) McMillian. And that's where we pick up this week.

Thomas and Elizabeth Fussell Cates were married about 1757 in North Carolina and all their children were born there.

The children were: Thomas K. Cates, b. abt 1758, d. aft 1790, married Martha Sykes 27 Feb,1784 in N.C.; Robert Cates, b. abt 1760, d. abt 1820 in Newberry Dist., S.C.; Elizabeth Cates, b. abt 1763, married William Dunham; Aaron Cates, b. abt 1768, d. 1816 in Newberry; Mary Cates, b. abt 1769, married John Faucett 9 Aug. 1790; Ezra Cates, b. abt 1773; Isiah Cates, b. abt 1776; and Jehu Cates, b. abt 1790, married Susannah Deen.

Thomas received land in Orange Co., N.C., in 1854 and was named executor of his father's will. Thomas signed his own will in Newberry Dist., S.C. on 23 July 1816 and died about 1817 there. His will was probated in Newberry District Court on 9 Jan 1818, and the first settlement was made 13 Dec. 1819.

Robert Cates, the second son of Thomas and Elizabeth Fussell Cates, married Sarah Sykes, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Sykes, and niece of Martha Sykes, about 1777 in Orange County, N.C. Robert is on multiple tax lists of Orange County in the Caswell District and received land from his parents in 1790. Robert and Sarah Sykes Cates had the following children, all born in Orange Co., N.C.:

Anne Cates, b. 1 Dec 1778; Allen Cates, b. 25 Nov 1779, married Poly Amos; Asa Cates, b. 31 Dec 1782, d. 7 Aug (year unknown) in Coweta Co., Ga.; Dawson Cates, b. 1 Oct 1786; Mary E. Cates, b. 29 July 1790; Jonathan Sykes Cates, b. 17 Sept. 1791; Elizabeth Cates, b. 22 Feb. 1795; Robert Mobley Cates, b. 1798, and Aaron Cates (birth date not given).

Robert Cates sold his land in Orange County and moved with his father, Thomas Cates, to Newberry Dist., S.C., where his brother Aaron lived. Robert died about 1820 in Newberry and his wife, Sarah Sykes Cates, and son, Robert Cates, were appointed administrators of his estate. Named in the estate settlement were his wife, Sara, and Asa, Aaron, Elizabeth (wife of Robert Cooper), Sarah, Robert and John Sykes Cates. In addition, Ezra Cates, surviving executor of the will of Thomas Cates, deceased, was also named.

Asa Cates, second son of Robert and Sarah Sykes Cates, was married in 1808 in Orange Co., N.C, (before the move to Newberry) to Frances Pratt, daughter of Jonathan Pratt and Elizabeth Hughes, and granddaughter of Jonathan Pratt Sr. and Mary Redman, and Blackmore Hughes. Names of Asa and Frances' known children were found in a family Bible owned by Bessie H. Smith of Hapeville, Ga. and included:

Nancy E. Cates, Jonathan Cates (died as an infant), John H. Cates, Robert A. Cates, Water A. Cates, Sarah Frances Cates, Mary E. Cates, Martha A. Cates, Elizabeth F. Cates, and Susannah Cates. Information on all but one of these children, Martha, has been found. Nancy and Jonathan, the first two children, were both born in Orange Co., and the rest were born in Newberry.

The Cates family migrated from Old Newberry District, S.C. to Coweta County, Ga. about 1832, making them among the earlier settlers of the area. The Cates were closely allied with the Teagues, Morgans, Prices, Summers and Levells, all of whom can be traced back to Newberry and found migrating into the Coweta/Fayette County vicinities.

The Price family settled along Whitewater Creek around the present day town of Brooks, whereas the Morgans, Summers, Teagues, Levells and Cates were just across the county line in Coweta, and owned property in present day Senoia and Turin.

Most of these families and their descendants are buried in the Elmore Cemetery in Senoia and Tranquil cemetery off Standing Rock Road near Turin. There was frequent movement of these families back and forth into Pike and Monroe counties also.

Next week, we'll learn more about Asa's family and their life in Coweta County, and also learn a little more about the Summers family. I also found several family trees on Rootsweb and Ancestry which contain information on this Cates family. Use them with caution, though, as few of them have sources or proof of their information.

All of the above information on the Cates family and their allied lines was submitted by Ken Arnold (karnold2@bellsouth.net, who lives in Florida (not New York ... my mistake), to whom we owe a big debt of thanks.

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.)