Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1,805, William Cato, S.C.
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SERVICE  SC
Cato, William
Susan
NUMBER R.1805
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State of South Carolina Fairfield District  On this Tenth day of July
in the year of our Lord  One thousand Eight hundred and forty nine personally appeared before the
undersigned Judge of the Court of Ordinary for the District of Fairfield in the State of South Carolina in open Court of the said Ordinary now sitting in the Town of Winnsboro for the District aforesaid Mrs Francis W.
Harrison a resident of the District
of Fairfield in the State aforesaid aged fifty years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following Declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838. That
he is the daughter and heir at law of Mrs Susan Cato deceased formerly of the District & State aforesaid and who died on the 14th day of September 1842 at the age of Seventy four; That said Mrs Susan Cato decd Was the widow of William Cato deceased a 
Revolutionary soldier who died in the District & State aforesaid in the year 1829 in his seventy fourth year and who was a private soldier in the war
of the Revolution: That this Deponent and declarant has often heard her father the aforesaid William Cato Speak of his having served seven
Campaigns in that war - That he was out in service of the Country during all the war as he declared. That this declarant does not know and has not the means of ascertaining at this late period what company, Regiment or line he first served but that his service was all performed among south Carolina soldiers, that it is probable he was in the
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South Carolina Continental line as a regular soldier but in whose company or Regiment this declarant does
not now recollect. That she distinctly recollects of hearing her father the aforesaid William Cato speaking of
having been out in service with Captain Hugh Milling, Captain Derrill Hart, Captain [Richard Bohun] Baker, Captain John Pearson, Captain Spencer Tyler, Captain Charnal Durham, Captain John and Andrew Gray, Major Henry Hunter and Colonel Richard Winn. That he was in the battle at Monk's [Monck's] corner, Eutaw Springs Cowpens, Gates defeat at Camden, Hanging Rock, Blackstocks, and Musgroves Mills - was also at the battle of Savannah Georgia.
That she is firmly of the belief that he served under Captain John Pearson in Winn's Regiment a good while- That when her father spoke of his service
he would say he served seven years from the first till the last of the war. That this Declarants mother the
aforesaid Mrs Susan Cato had in her life time thought of applying for her pension but did not and told her
about her fathers service but as to the particular dates or periods, tours &c this Declarant can not now recollect.
That her father the aforesaid William Cato & her mother the aforesaid Susan Cato both deceased, were married as this Deponant was and is informed soon after the close of the war about sixty four years ago say in 1785 - That the oldest child if alive would be now sixty one years of age - That her parents aforesaid died at the periods above named and that after her fathers death in 1829 her mother
the aforesaid Susan Cato remained a widow until her death - That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January Seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz, in the year seventeen hundred and Eighty
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five the time above stated. All of which will more fully appear by the proofs herewith submitted.
s/ Frances W Harrison
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written Before me
s/ J. S. Stewart O.F.D

And I the said Judge of the Court of Ordinary do hereby certify that the most satisfactory proof has been exhibited to me that Mrs France W.
Harrison the Declarant above is a person to whom statements upon oath are due full faith and credit
that she is the daughter of Mrs Susan Cato decd & that Mrs Susan Cato deceased died on the fourteenth
day of September in the year Eighteen hundred and forty two. that she was the widow of William Cato decd who
was reputed and believed to have been a soldier of the Revolution.
Given under my hand and Seal of Office at Winnsboro in the District
of Fairfield in the State of South Carolina the day and year first above written- s/ J.S. Stewart O.F.D
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No 15966 Susan Cato decd wid of William SC act 7 July 1838
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State of South Carolina
Fairfield District Before me an acting
Magistrate appeared Mrs Mary Pearson who being duly sworn as
directed by Law on her oath, that she was well acquainted with the late William Cato Esq who resided in the town with the family of her decd husband the Philip Pearson in the year 1786 in which said year, about the last of May or the first part of June the said William Cato intermarried with Susannah Eccles a
young lady, sister in law to Captain Charnel Durham who resided in the same vicinity with this deponent and family. this deponant well remembers the circumstance of furnishing or lending her riding [illegible] for the use of the bride on that occasion for the ride to the Rev Jacob Gibson, who resided some five or six miles distant when the aforesaid William Cato, and Susan Eccles were married this deponent providing a dinner for the party on their return at her own residence. The party returning, under the reputation of man & wife, resided for some time in the family of Philip Pearson, who had subsequently a house built for Mr Cato on his place; where himself and wife resided for some time. the birth of their first children (a twin birth) was in the year
1787, which time is indicated by a family record, and of the birth of her second son, PE Pearson, May 7th 1786 this deponent remembering well on a visit to Mr Cato's family of suckling one of the twins, Stephen F Cato, before she weaned her second son as above stated who was about one month old at the time of the marriage of Wm Cato and Susan Eccles as aforesaid. Mr Cato and his wife Susan resided in the neighborhood of this deponent, and had born to them twelve or thirteen children, and living together
under the undisputed, & acknowledged reputation of law
for upwards of forty years, till the time of his death, which is remembered by this Deponent, which is Stated to the year 1829. This deponent further saith not
s/ Mary Pearson 
Sworn to the 30th day of June 1849
Wm Pearson Magistrate
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State of North Caroline
Fairfield District
William F Pearson acting Magistrate
in the aforesaid District & State, do hereby certify that Mary Pearson
who made the within affidavit is a person of sound mind memory and understanding, that the family record referred to by said affiant is in the well known hand writing of her
husband Philip Pearson, contains the marriage of Philip Pearson, and Mary Butler, the Deponent, 1783 and the birth of their second son 1786, - The credibility of this testimony is
certified, as to the contents of the Affidavit
Given under my hand this 27th June 1849. s/ Wm F Pearson
Magistrate Fairf. Dist.
So Carolina

State of South Carolina
Fairfield District  I hereby certify
that Wm F Pearson Esq before whom the foregoing affidavit were made and who thereunto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing a Magistrate in and for the District aforesaid duly sworn, and the signature purporting to be his is genuine
In Testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office as Clerk of of the Court of Common Pleas & General
sessions, this 19th day of July 1829
s/ AW Yongen Clk
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REJECTED
1805
Susan Cato
wid of William
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No 13966
Susan Cato SC
letter to James A Black 29th Oct 1849
same 6 April 1850
Hon WW Boyce 22d Apl 1854
1805
act 7 July 1838
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Columbia So Ca 22d Dec. 49.
Sir In the matter of Susan Cato widow of Wm Cato whose claim under act 7th July 1838 is on file in your Office in the name of Frances W Harrison heir of Mrs Cato, I can furnish proof
positive & which I challenge Court to
defeat, that Indent No 36 refers to him (the husband of Mrs Susan Cato) & that the signature is genuine as his but what good will this do when that Indent only shows 134 days duty?
from the very first communication to you on this claim I acknowledged that I could not prove his service as a regular but Candidly asked you to examine your rolls as to his service as such - I have no opportunity
to know what your rolls show, you are
their keeper - It is an ex parti matter as to them & if you as an Officer of Government can not admit facts which no other department can furnish, the responsibility of
loosing this claim & defeating the heirs out of their just demands, is not on my shoulders. I do hope candor will once manifest itself in an individual case of this sort. Having still an abiding hope in
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the desire of your Department to do justice to all I leave it with you & hope
that the want of great certainty of proof at this late day will not kill off my claim because the magnanimous debtor (government) has my proofs.
with great regard I remain
your Obt Sert
James A. Black
for Mrs Harrison
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Columbia S.C. Augt 24th 1849.
Comr of Pensions
Washington City D. C
Sir Please find herewith enclosed the
Declaration of Mrs Frances W Harrison under act 7th July 1838
for the arrears of Pension due her Mother Mrs Susan Cato decd from 4th March 1836 to 4th March 1841, Wm Cato having died 14th Sept 1842.
As to the Marriage in 1786 of Wm Cato & Susan Eccles see the affidavit of Mrs Mary Pearson which is very
full & much in detail of all the facts, she (Mrs Pearson) is a lady of high respectability, and speaks directly from her own knowledge. Accompanying the Declaration I also
send a certificate of the Comptroller Genl of this State, showing 134 days duty of Wm Cato in Capt John Gray's Company of Militia. This I know is not 6 months service & would not of
itself entitle Mr Cato to a pension, but I candidly confess that being of opinion that William Cate was first a private soldier of the Continental line of this State (though Mrs Harrison
his daughter, cannot at present recollect his Regt or speak positively
to his officers in the same) I have determined to lay the claim before you, as your office above contains the Continental Rolls, (or at least should so contain them) complete, and you can from them learn what his services were - I am sorry Mrs
Harrison's recollection as to his Contl Officers is not fixed with certainty.
She states in her Decln that she distinctly recollects of hearing her father the aforesaid William Cato dcd speaking of having been out in service with Captain Hugh Milling, Captain Derrill Hart, Captain Baker &c
Well Hugh Milling was captain in 6th Regt. S.C. line Derrell Hart Captain in 3rd Contl Reg Col [Wm Thomson] Thompson. Baker (at least Richd Bohum Baker) was Capt 2d Regt P. C. Line. She also states he was at Battle of Savannah. This was in 1779 & at that early period of the war no great many militia companies were out in this state.
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It seems therefore high probable that Mr Cato was a Contl soldier. You can look over the Rolls of those companies & see. Another thing Mr Cato ever declared he served seven
campaigns or the whole war as I am informed.
However I hope your department will be as candid to admit the fact, if your Rolls show Wm Cato Contl services, as I have been to admit, that at present, I have no proof of the same.
I have the honor
to be, very respectfully
Your Obt Sert
James A. Black
for Mrs Harrison
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Comptroller Generals Office
Columbia S.C. Augt 22, 1849.
No 30 Liber Q
Issued the 5th May 1785 to Mr. William Cato, for nineteen Pounds 2 S 10¼ Stlg [sterling] for 134 days militia duty in 1782 
pr. account audited 
Principal £19.2.10¼ no 40 Annual Interest £1.6.9 = 36.Q No 40 5th  May 1785

State of South Carolina To William Cato Dr
To 134 days service as a horseman in Capt
[John] Gray's Compy commencing the 27th day of Apl 1782 and ending the 7th of Sept (both days inclusive) @ 20 S £123 1 month
Sterling £19.2.10¼

Camden Distant Before me John Buchanan Esq personally appeared William Cato who being duly sworn saith the above account as it stands stated is just and true 
s/William Cato
Sworn before me this 27th April 1784
s/ John Buchanan J.P.  

I do hereby certify that William Cato did the
above mentioned duty in my company and as his acct now stands is just and true &c
(Signed) John Gray Capt
Given under my hand this 28th day of April 1784 Capt in Col. Winn's Regt
payment made, by virtue of an order of William Cato to General Richard Winn

I do hereby certify the foregoing to be a
true copy taken from the Original
Records in this Office & that the remark in
Red ink are mine & Correct from an
inspection of the Records
s/ W. F. Arthur
For Comptroller Genl
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13966
BK Henagan
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THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
BY HIS EXCELLENCY
Whitemarsh B. Seabrook
GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN AND OVER THE STATE AFORESAID:
To all to whom these presents shall come.
Know ye that J. S. Stewart whose seal & signature appear to his
certificate on the Declaration of F. W. Harrison hereunto annexed is & was, at the time of signing Judge of the Court of ordinary for Fairfield District & as such by law entitled to the custody of Originall Wills & Records of said Court & that his Certificate is in due form
Therefore all due faith and credit and authority is and ought to be given to his proceedings and certificates as such
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause
to be affixed the Seal of the State in the Town of Columbia the ninth day of August - in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty nine and in the seventy fourth year of the Independence of the United States of America.
BY THE GOVERNOR:
Whitemarsh B. Seabrook
SECRETARY OF STATE.
B. K. Henagan
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51 12-9-41
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

NAME Cator, William
GRAD  Private
LINE New York
WARRANT NUMBER 6946
ACREAGE 100
ISSUED Sept. 27, 1790 
to James Roe, assignee

The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of ""Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800"" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.