Early Cathcarts
In Ireland, Scotland & the US
Some Thoughts on "Rules of Evidence" with
respect to early Cathcarts
- Information on the early Cathcarts (before
1800) is very scarce
- Made worse in the case of Ulster/Northern
Ireland as a thousand years of Irish records were burned in a series of fires
(most notably
the June 22, 1922 "Four Courts" fire in
Dublin).
- Many other records (especially census
records) were simply destroyed because they were deemed
"useless."
- It has been my experience that some Cathcart
researchers try a bit too hard to link their family to the Cathcarts in Scotland—the titled Cathcart family
in and around Cathcart, Scotland—without much supporting evidence.
- Perhaps a bit of skepticism is in
order with respect to these sources, as they appear to represent
wishful thinking more than proven genealogical fact
- It's certainly more "exciting" to imagine our ancestors inhabiting a castle in Scotland, rather than a hovel or farm or linen mill in either Scotland or Ulster
- Lacking firm genealogical records, we might
find more compelling evidence through the use of genetic evidence.
(see Cathcart yDNA study page)
Cathcarts in Ireland
These are
the first Cathcarts I have connected to my line. It comes from
research by Robert Spann Cathcart II.
"Hover" your mouse over an individual above for more information
Click
on a name to go to that individual in my RootsWeb database.
- Big 4
Cathcarts page—the four brothers depicted at the bottom of the
chart above.
-
Original
Robert S. Cathcart letter dated 1964 (68.6K gif file) This
is the original letter outlining Robert's research on the earliest
generation of Cathcarts.
-
Outline
of Cathcart Genealogy - Robert's outline of original Cathcarts
to US. It is his game plan for genealogical research into the
Cathcart family. Nearly all of the information on this page
comes from this document.
-
1984 Letter Jane Cathcart Philips to Ruth Keys Clark (Page
-1- |
-2- |
-3- |
-4-)
- Letter includes expanded chart created
by Robert Spann Cathcart, which Jane received from Alice Jean
Cathcart Polk (1931-2012).
- This Jean Cathcart Polk descends
from the John & Mary/Felicity Fisher Cathcart line.
- See
page 4, which links The William and Mary line with RSC's
chart.
-
Belfast Newsletter articles 1759
Please note that I have transcribed these as they were written, including misprints and spelling mistakes.
Belfast Newsletter Friday, 5th January 1759
Page 4, column 3, top article (Not page 2 as listed in the online index)
To be let from the first of November next for any term of years to be agreed on, the lands and tenements lately held by John Cathcart, late of Clough-mills, deceased, containng by estimation 63 acres of choice arable and meadow lands on which a good dwelling-house and offices have lately been built, with plenty of turf-bog convenient, and lie within 7 miles of Ballymena and 8 from Ballymoney, in the county of Antrim, both good market towns. Said concern is fit for carrying on the bleaching and linen business, as there is plenty of water, and at a small expense there may be a rubbing-mill built on the same. Proposals to be received by William Cathcart merchant, in New-row, Dublin. A person on the concern will shew the same.
June 26, 1758
Belfast Newsletter Tuesday, 18th September 1759
Page 2, column 3, 6th article down (Not page 3 as listed in the online index)
To be let from the first of November next for any term of years to be agreed on, the lands and tenements lately held by John Cathcart, late of Clough mills, deceased, containing by estimation 63 acres of choice arable and meadow lands, on which a good dwelling-house and offices have lately been built, with plenty of turf-bog convenient, and lie within 7 miles of Ballymena and 8 from Ballymoney, in the county of Antrim, both good market towns. Said concern is fit for carrying on the bleaching and linen business, as there is plenty of water, and at a small expence there may be a rubbing-mill built on the same. Proposals to be received by William Cathcart, merchant, in New-Row, Dublin. A person on the concern will shew the same.
Dated Sept. 17, 1759.
- Mention a recently deceased John Cathcart of Cloughmills.
- Lands of his estate being offered for
sale, and interested parties asked to contact William Cathcart of
Dublin.
Cathcarts in County Antrim, N. Ireland
recordNo |
surname |
written |
fname |
Barony |
Parish |
Notes |
1887 |
Cathcart |
Kithcart |
Jas |
Dunluce Upper |
Loughguile |
|
2062 |
Cathcart |
Kathcart |
Allan |
Kilconway |
Dunaghy |
|
2061 |
Cathcart |
Kathcart |
Jas |
Kilconway |
Dunaghy |
|
2573 |
Cathcart |
Cathcart |
Josh |
Toome |
Ahoghill |
|
3329 |
Cathcart |
Cathcart |
David |
Toome |
Drummaul |
|
4204 |
Cathcart |
Cathcart |
Alex |
Toome |
Kirkinriola |
|
4296 |
Cathcart |
Cathcart |
Saml |
Toome |
Kirkinriola |
|
4376 |
Cathcart |
Cathcart |
Wid |
Toome |
Kirkinriola |
|
4132 |
Cathcart |
Cathcart |
Willm |
Toome |
Kirkinriola |
|
Notes
- Loughguile: James in
- Dunaghy
- Ahoghill
- Drummaul
- Kirkinriola
- Alex Cathcart, Crevillavalley [Crevilly-Valley,
west of Kells, south of Ballymena] (Connor Parish);1790 Election of
Sheriff's Court (voted for RO)
- James Kithcart, Loughguile; 1740 (BA)
[1]
- James Cathcart, Lawin [Lavin Upper/Lower], Loughguile; June 6, 1776 Antrim Voters
(Value:
10 pounds --
BA & PFR:
PRONI
Ref: D/1364/L/1 331) [2]
- James Cathcart, Freehold: Kernbeg [likely
Carnbeg--1, Electoral Division of Killagan, in Civil Parish of Killagan, in the Barony of Kilconway; and 2.
Electoral Division of Clogh, in Civil Parish of Dunaghy, in the Barony of Kilconway], Residence: Dublin; June 8, 1776 Antrim Voters
(Value:
10 pounds --
PFR:
PRONI
Ref: D/1364/L/1 331)
[3]
- James Cathcart, Loughgeele [Loughguile]; 1790 Connor wills (Date
of probate 1790 -- BA).
- James Cathcart, Tullaghgarly; 1790 Election of
Sheriff's Court (voted
for "RO" -- BA)
- James Cathcart, Craigfad, Dunaghy; 1825
Ballymoney Tithe Valuation (BA) [4]
-
John Cathcart, Freehold Kernmore, Residence
near Clogh; June 1, 1776 Deputy's Court, (Note: objected to as not
Freeholder [2]. BA & PFR:
PRONI
Ref: D/1364/L/1 071)
-
John Cathcart, Kernmore (Freehold & Residence,
Value 40 shillings); June 8, 1776 Deputy's Court, (PFR:
PRONI
Ref: D/1364/L/1 331)
-
John Cathcart, Carnmore [Kernmore];1790
Election of Sheriff's Court (voted for LM -- BA) .
- John Cathcart, Lawen [Lavin], u10; 1790 Election of Sheriff's
Court (voted for LM -- BA ).
- John Cathcart, Lavin , Loughguile; 1818 Subscribes to
rebuilding of Kilraughts Presbyterian Church [5]
- John Cathcart, Lavin , Loughguile; 1832
Ballymoney Tithe Valuation (BA)
- John Catheart,
Lavin Lower, Loughguile; 1830s Ballymoney First Valuation
(BA -- PRONI Ref. VAL/1B/146A)
- Matw. Cathcart, Topp, Ballymoney; 1825 Ballymoney Tithe Valuation
(BA) (BMW)
-
Mathew Cathcart, Topp Lower, Ballymoney; 1830s Ballymoney First
Valuation (BA -- PRONI Ref: VAL/1B/142B)
-
Mathew Cathcart, Topp Lower, Ballymoney; 1850 Mill Valuation
[6]
- Robert Cathcart, Kenbilly; 1790 Election of Deputy Court (voted
for RO -- BA)
- Saml. Cathcart, Ballynaris, Billy; 1824
Ballymoney Tithe Valuation (BA)
- Saml. Cathcart, Ballynary Lower, Billy; 1824
Griffith's Valuation (BA) [7]
- William Cathcart, Ballee 101; 1790 Election of Deputy Court (voted
for "RO" -- BA)
- William Cathcart, Dublin, Cloughmills, u10 (shown as separate
residences);
1790 Election of Sheriff's Court (voted for "RO" --BA)
[8]
1. Not sure
what database this refers to.
2. See
information on
Freeholders' Records, and especially the
objection to John Cathcart's status as Freeholder.
3.
I'm interested in tying the fact
that this James lived in Dublin and had a freehold in Co. Antrim
with the William & Mary Cathcart who are listed as living in
Dublin at one time. Perhaps this is another link to the
Mecklenburg County, NC group of Cathcarts. See last listing for
William!
4.
See
Tithe Valuation
5.
See
Antrim Notes
Church was rebuilt in 1819-20.
6.
See Antrim Notes
7. See
Griffith's Valuation notes Date not given, but should be
1848-1864.
map
8.
William Cathcart page.See
GEDCOM listing for William & Mary Cathcart
Details &
Maps of Antrim Townlands/Baronies
County Antrim Townlands, civil
Parishes, and other naming can be very confusing. I've tried to add a
few of the places mentioned in various genealogical records.
View County Antrim, NIR in a larger map
Here are two basic maps to get you oriented...
-
Map of Baronies
| Another
version
- Map of Parishes
For more details about townlands (pronunciation, historical
variations, etc.) see
Placenamesni.org. (Zoomable
map)
After getting a lay of the land, have a look at my new
click this link to open up a new/resizable window with
a Google map listing of many of the townlands below. These locations
show up all the time for our County Antrim ancestors. Enjoy your
search!
Click here for a pop-up 1780 map of County Antrim
-
Townland Details &
Locations
-
Lavin, Parish Loughguile
(AKA, Lawen, Lawin. Includes Lavin Upper and Lower), 10 KM N
of Clogh Mills
- Clogh, 30 KM SE Ballymoney, 15 KM N
of Ballymena
-
Clogh Mills, (AKA modern Cloughmills), 23 KM SE of Ballymoney
-
Craigfad, 3KM E of Clogh
-
Craigs & Cullybackey, 10 & 8 KM NW of Ballymena
-
Drumadoon House, within 1 KM SW of Kernbeg (Drumadoon
Townland map)
- Kernbeg, (AKA modern Carnbeg or
Carn-beg)
-
Carnbeg, 2 KM WNW of Clogh Mills or
-
Carn-beg, 2.5 KM W of Clogh
-
Kernmore (AKA modern Carn-more), 2.5 KM SW of Clogh
-
Kilraghts (AKA Kilraughts), 10 KM E of Ballymoney, 7KM NW
Lavin Upper
-
Kirkinriola
- Lavin (AKA Laven, Lawin) in records
often not divided between Upper and Lower.
They
are contiguous and located to the south and southwest of Loch
Guile (the lake)
-
Loughguile,
- [lough geel], 'lake of the narrows'
- 25 KM E of Ballymoney, 5 KM NE Lavin Upper
-
Tullaghgarly, 7 KM NNE of Cullybackey, 15 KM N or Ballymena
-
Topp
Lower, 8 KM ENE Ballymoney, 4 KM NW of Kilraghts
Cathcarts in Scotland
Other Early Cathcart Settlers in America
Much of this information is also available on our
Groups page (created to sort out
results of our yDNA testing).
South Carolina
- David Cathcart
- General Facts
- Born in Ireland, some sources say
County Antrim
- M.
Melissa Hollinger
- In about 1818, David and his descendants
left South Carolina and headed out "west" and became some of the
earliest settlers in the Plum Creek area of Randolph County, Illinois
- Andrew
Cathcart
- Samuel
Cathcart
-
b.
1740-1750 in County Antrim -- d. 1820, Spartanburg Co., SC
-
2/13/1768: Requests warrant of survey (IAW Bounty Act) of 100
acres in Granville or Craven County. "the following persons
presented petitions to his excellent see the governor setting
forth that they were Protestants and arrived in this province
in the brig Lord Dunagannon, Robert Montgomery Master on the
encouragement and bounty given by the act of the General
assembly of this province past the 25 July 1761 and therefore
prayed to be allowed the same. That the prayers of their
petitions were granted and the public treasurer was ordered to
pay the boundaries of 4 pounds and 2 pounds sterling according
to their respective ages in consideration of their passages to
this province to Messrs Tourans and Pouag in behalf of the
owners of the said brig and the remaining 20 shillings
Sterling to themselves agreeable to the directions of the said
Act." Samuel Cathcart's age is given as 23--equating to a
birth year of 1743. [OpCit p. 103, 106]
- Joseph
Cathcart
-
b.
1745 in County Antrim -- d. 1835, Tennessee
-
1790
Census: Camden/Fairfield District SC lists Joseph
Cathcart with one male over 16, four males under 16 and
four females.
-
Joseph Cathcart applied for Revolution pension while
living in Monroe Co., Tenn. in 1832 when he was 87 years
of age. Born in County Antrim, Northern Ireland about
1745. Enlisted in SC troops under Capt. Turner, Col. John
Winn, and General Thomas Sumter. He ended up in the
capture of the British at Caldwell's place. He was
captured by Tories under Capt. Rogers and sent to Camden,
SC to be tried as a spy. (The Joseph Cathcart of Fairfield
Co. S.C. is listed in "Tennessee Heroes of the Revolution,
Pamphlet Five." We find him listed in McMinn County,
Tenn. 1830 Census page 198. McMinn joins Monroe
County)
-
Transcription
of Joseph's pension application
Massachusetts
1790 Census:
Name |
City,
County |
Males >
16 |
Males <
16 |
Females |
Notes |
Gershom Cathcart |
Tisbury, Dukes, MA |
2 |
|
1 |
|
Hugh Cathcart |
" |
1 |
1 |
4 |
|
Robert Cathcart |
Conway, Hampshire |
3 |
1 |
3 |
|
Gersham Cathcart |
Sherburn, Nantucket |
1 |
4 |
4 |
|
Joseph Cathcart |
" |
1 |
6 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York
Seth
Cathcart
- 1784
married Anna Swain. Children: Owen, George, Obed, David, and Joseph were
founders of families, which after the Revolution were in the vanguard of those
breaking pioneer trails into Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and the farther
west, soon after the territorial lands were opened after the Revolution. (From
Col. Bur. of Gen. Research.)
Delaware
Rev.
Robert Cathcart from
Antrim, m. Mary Latimer
Pennsylvania
Name |
City,
County |
Males > 16 |
Males < 16 |
Females |
Notes |
William Cathcart |
Dauphin County |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
David Cathcart |
Tyrone, Fayette |
2 |
|
2 |
|
- Dr.
William Cathcart Surgeon
4th Continental Dragoons, 1 April, 1777, resigned 1 May, 1778
- Is this the same William
Cathcart, merchant from Philadelphia, who was granted large
tracts of land in western North Carolina (then mostly falling
inside Cherokee Land). Burke County 1795
link
map. 23,000 acres (Grant 224) Buncombe county.
link1
link2
-
James
Cathcart (b.
C1745, Glasgow, Scotland, m. Margaret Clark)
- Robert
Cathcart (m. Jane Thom)
Virginia
North Carolina (see North Carolina page)
- William & Mary Cathcart's descendants:
- Gabriel
& William Cathcart
Will Northhampton Co., 1768