This page provides information about the Cater family, who settled first in the South Carolina lowcountry in the 1600s. One branch made its way to Abbeville, South Carolina by the 1830s.
There is quite a bit of information about these early Caters in Garrett-Sharpe Brown-Poindexter and Allied Lines: A Genealogical Study with Biographical Notes. (New York: The American Historical Company, Inc., 1971). For more detail, see that study.
Thomas Cater (-about 1731)
Thomas Cater arrived in the colony of South Carolina in August 1672. He died about 1731. He owned several tracts of land on or near the Ashley River. The name of his wife is not known.
In his will, which was recorded April 13, 1731, the following children were mentioned:
- Mary Cater. Born in 1686. Married first John Brandford in 1702. Married second William Lashley.
- William Cater. Born about 1690. Died about 1749.
- Susannah Cater. Born in 1692. Married Nathaniel Bradwell in 1708. Died in 1752.
William Cater (about 1690-about 1749)
William Cater was born about 1690 in South Carolina, a son of Thomas Cater. His wife's name was Mary.
He had several land grants from the S.C. Lord Proprietor, including 500 acres in Granville County (1709) and 500 acres in Berkeley County (1711).
He belonged to an Antipedo Baptist group.
William Cater died about 1749 in Berkeley Co., SC.
The following is from the Will Book 1747-1752:
William Cater, Berkeley County, planter. Wife: Mary, residency on my plantation during her widowhood. Sons: Thomas, plantation where I now live; William, Benjamin; Joseph my warrent for land; all sons under 21 years. Daus: Elizabeth Marion; Mary Baker; Ann Child. Mentions land at Cypress divided between sons William and Benjamin. Mentions: 50 ro Rev. Mr. Isaac Chanler. Exors: sons Thomas and William. Wit: Nathal. Barnwell [Bradwell in proof], Thomas Braadwell.
D: 20 Oct. 1744. P: 29 Sept. 1749. R: nd. p. 167.
An interesting note is that his daughter Elizabeth was married to
Benjamin Marion, an uncle of Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox."
Thomas Cater (1731-1753)
Thomas Cater was born in 1731 in South Carolina, a son of William Cater and his wife Mary. He married Susannah Baker, a daughter of Richard Baker and Mary Bohun.
Thomas Cater and Susannah Baker had two children:
- Mary Cater. Born 1750. Died young.
- Thomas Cater. Born December 17, 1751. Married Rachel Miles on February 18, 1773. Died April 20, 1803.
Thomas Cater died
about 1753 in SC.
The following entry is in the Will Book 1752-1756: Thomas Cater, St. George's Parish, Berkeley Co, planter. Son: Thomas,
under 21 years, plantation on Ashley River in said parish where I now
live since my father's death. Dau: Mary, under 21 years. Nephew:
William Quarterman, under 21 years. Sister: Elizabeth Marrion.
Mentions: plantation at Pon Pon and my other tract at Cypress Swamp in
said parish to be sold to pay my debts; executors to maintain my 2
children "school'd and Educated in a hansom and Christian manner as
their Interest will afford;" residue of estate to said 2 children;
sister Marrion's children [not named], under 21 years; silver watch.
Exors: Col. Walter Izard; William Mayne [Maine]; kinsman Nathaniel
Bradwell. Wit: Robt. Hancock, Hugh Monron; Ann Monron. D: 4 May 1752.
P: 17 Sept. 1753, R: nd. p. 100.
Thomas Cater (1751-1803)
Thomas Cater was born December 17, 1751 in St. George's Parish, South Carolina, a son of Thomas Cater and Susannah Baker. On February 18, 1773, he married Rachel Miles, a daughter of Silas Miles and Elizabeth McPherson.
The following land sale is recorded in 1773 as shown in
Clara A. Langley, South
Carolina Deed Abstracts 1719-1772 Vol. IV 1767-1773, Books I-3−E-4
(Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1984), pp. 330-331: Book E-4, pp. 346-352 The following land sale is recorded in 1778 as shown in
in
Brent H. Holcomb, South Carolina Deed Abstracts 1773-1778 Books F-4
through X-4 W-4, 299-303: Lease & release. 1& 2 Jan 1778, Jehu Willson of Parish
of St. Paul, Gentleman, and Ann his wife, and Thomas Cater of Parish of
Prince William and Rachel his wife, to Allen Miles of Parish of St. Paul
Gentleman, for
£6500 SC money, whereas said Ann Willson and Rachel Cater being two of
the daughters and devisees mentioned in the will of Silas Miles, late of
St. Pauls Parish, SC, deceased, are entitled unto an equal fourth part
of the lands of a fourth part of the money to arise from the sale of the
same, and whereas two of the daughters of said testator to wit Elizabeth
the widow and relict of Press Smith, Esquire, deceased, and Susannah the
wife of John McPherson of the Indian land, gentleman, are infants under
the age of twenty one years so that they cannot at present join in a
full and complete conveyance, said Jehu Wilson and Ann his wife and
Thomas Cater and Rachel his wife have agreed to sell their several
undivided fourth parts of said premises; 394 acres in St. Pauls Parish,
Colleton County, adj. land of Samuel Wainwright, James Nicholas, Robert
miles, Allen Miles and 170 acres on south side of the Road from
Rantowles' Bridge to Parkers Ferry adj. land of Robert Miles, Frederick
Grimkie. Jehu Willson (LS), Ann Willson (LS), Thomas Cater (LS), Rachel
Cater (LS) Wit: Josiah Miles, Robert Miles. Proved before Andrew Leitch,
J. P., by the oath of Robert Miles, 23 Feb 1778. Recorded 19 March 1778. The
following entry for Thomas Cater is in Bobby Gilmer Moss' Roster of South Carolina
Patriots in the American Revolution: b. 1750, S. C. Thomas Cater was a representative for Prince William Parish in the state
legislature for 1782. The following entry for Thomas Cater is in N. Louise
Bailey and Elizabeth Ivey Cooper, Biographical Dictionary of the South
Carolina House of Representatives Volume III 1775-1790 (Columbia:
University of South Carolina Press, 1981), pp. 134-135: CATER, THOMAS (1751-1803). Grandson of RICHARD BAKER (d. 1752);
brother-in-law of CHARLES DUPONT (1744?-1793).
Thomas Cater, born December 1751, was the son of Thomas Cater (d.
1753?) and Susannah Baker. From his father, he inherited a
plantation on the Ashley River in St. George Dorchester Parish.
However, he was living at Cater Hall plantation in St. Peter Parish
by 1778 when he was named to the grand and petit juries. In 1790 he
owned fifty slaves in Beaufort District. During the American
Revolution, Cater participated as a militia lieutenant (1776) and
captain (ca. 1780) and supplied provisions for Continental and
militia use. St. Peter elected him to the Fourth General Assembly
(1782). Locally, he served as tax inquirer and collector for St.
Peter, Purrysburg (1779, 1783). On 18 February 1773, he wed Rachel
Miles (1755-1802), daughter of Silas Miles and Elizabeth McPherson.
Eleven children were born to their marriage: Rachel (m. Thomas John
Smith Farr), Mary Elizabeth (m. 1st Thomas Rhodes, 2d Rev. Winborn
Asa Lawton), Elizabeth, Susannah Baker (m. Charles Dupont
[1781-1814]), Caroline, Ann Miles, Thomas Miles, Silas McPherson,
Richard Bohun, William Maine, and McPherson. A year after his wife's
death, Thomas Cater died on 20 April 1803.
Fourth General Assembly St. Peter
1782 According
to the family bible of their son, Thomas Miles Cater, the children of Thomas
Cater and Rachel Miles were: Thomas Cater died on April 20, 1803 in SC. He and his wife are
buried in the DuPont Cemetery on Haphazard Plantation Road in old
Grahamville (now Ridgeland, Jasper Co., SC).
Thomas Miles Cater (1786-1819)
Thomas Miles Cater was born April 24, 1786 at Cater Hall plantation in St.
Peter's Parish in Beaufort, SC, a son of
Thomas Cater and Sarah Miles.
On January 21, 1805
he married Sarah McPherson Postell. According to the Thomas Miles
Cater's family bible, he and Sarah Postell had the following children:
His first wife, Sarah, apparently died in childbirth or shortly thereafter on
February 8, 1815.
On September 14, 1815, Thomas Miles Cater married Catherine Mitchell Johnson.
They had the following children:
Thomas Miles Cater died on January 30, 1819. Richard Bohun Cater (1811-1854) Richard Bohun Cater was born January 5, 1811 in Barnwell, South Carolina,
a son of Thomas Miles Cater and Sarah McPherson Postell. On August 23, 1832, he married
Jane Lovely Patterson in Church Hill,
Abbeville Co., SC. The
minister performing the wedding was the Rev. Dr. Moses Waddel, the noted antebellum educator. Richard Bohun Cater and Jane Lovely Patterson had the following children: Richard Bohun Cater died on 23 May 1854 in Abbeville, SC. His wife
moved with some of their children to Mississippi but returned to the
Abbeville area after the Civil War. He and his wife and most of their
children are buried at
Rocky River Church Cemetery in Abbeville Co., SC.
John Richard Cater (1844-1924)
Photograph of John Richard
Cater
John Richard Cater was born on November 16, 1844 in Abbeville County, a son
of Richard Bohun Cater and Jane Lovely Patterson. In the 1860 federal census for Attala County, Mississippi, the Cater
family was listed as: There were 10 slaves, ranging in age from 38 to 6. Cater enlisted in the 40th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, Company C along with some of his cousins. He saw service at Vicksburg, Corinth, and Battle of Peachtree Creek in Atlanta, where he was wounded. For several months he was in the military hospital at Macon. He married Rosa Rebecca Pressly Hutchison on October 14, 1865 in
Lowndesville, Abbeville, SC; she was the widow of Benjamin Fayette Hutchison. Their children were In the 1870 federal census for Sweetwater, Monroe Co., TN, the Cater
family was listed as: On October 8, 1876, Rosa filed for divorce. The abstract from the Chancery
Court records for Monroe Co., TN (Monroe County, Tennessee Chancery Court
Records 1832-1887. Researched and Compiled by Reba Bayless Boyer. 1988) follows: R. Rosa Cater v. John R. Cater. Field 8 Oct. 1876. Bill for divorce.
His residence unknown. Married in Loundsville [sic], Abbeville Co., S.C.
14 Oct. 1865; moved to Sweetwater in 1869; he left her and four small
children in 1872; she asks divorce, restoration of maiden name of
Hutcheson, and custody of children. On January 7, 1880, John Richard Cater married Permelia Frances Jones in
Colbert Co., AL. In the 1880 federal census for Chickasaw, Colbert Co., AL, John Cater was
living with his second wife: The following article appeared in the Abbeville Press and Banner
on November 22, 1899: Mr. John R. Cater, youngest brother of the Misses Cater of this city,
left Abbeville in 1867 and for the past 32 years has not been heard
from, but now returns from Sheffield, Ala., on a visit to home folks and
friends in the Old Palmetto State. His arrival was quite a
delightful surprise, making many hearts to rejoice. In the 1900 federal census for Sheffield, Colbert Co., AL, the family was
listed as: In the 1910 federal census for Sheffield, Colbert Co., AL, the family was
erroneously listed as Carter: In the 1920 federal census for Sheffield, Colbert Co., AL, the family at
710 Atlanta Avenue was listed as: John Richard Cater died on April 7, 1924 in Sheffield, Colbert, AL. The following obituary is from the Sheffield Standard for April
11, 1924: Confederate Veteran Passes to Final Reward Mr. John R. Cater, Sr., died at his late residence, 132 Wood Avenue,
Sheffield, at 3:45 p. m., April 7th. Mr. Cater was born in
Abbeville, S. C., November 13th, 1844, moving to Mississippi prior to
the Civil War. He enlisted in the 4th Mississippi Regiment, C.S.A.,
serving throughout the entire war, receiving two serious wounds during
his service that later caused him to retire from activities as a railway
engineer. He moved to Colbert County in 1879, marrying Permilla Frances
Jones on January 7th, 1880. Ten children were born of this Union,
and he is survived by his wife and seven children: Funeral services were held from the home at 3:00 o'clock, Tuesday
afternoon and were conducted by Rev. Herman L. Turner of the
Presbyterian Church. Interment followed in Oakwood Cemetery. The sympathy of the entire community is extended to his bereaved
widow and children.
Willie Pressly Cater (1869-1956)
Willie Pressly Cater was born on June 26, 1868 in South Carolina, the
daughter of John Richard Cater and Rosa Rebecca Pressly.
In 1869, the Cater family moved to Sweetwater, TN. In 1872, according
to court papers, John R. Cater left his family. Around 1881 Rosa
Rebecca Pressly Cater and her family moved to Atlanta. On June 26,
1889, she married Robert H. Pressly, her cousin who had recently joined the
Atlanta Fire Department. For more information about their family, see
the material on Robert Henry
Pressly.
Willie Pressly Cater outlived her husband by 26 years. She
died March 27, 1956 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA and is buried in Old
Casey Cemetery in Atlanta.
The following obituary is from the Atlanta Journal:
Mrs. R. H. Pressly Died at 87; Rites To Be Thursday
Mrs. R. H. (Willie P.) Pressly, Sr., died Tuesday morning at her home,
1720 Westhaven Dr., SW.
Mrs. Pressly, a native of Abbeville, S.C., had lived in Atlanta since
she was a little girl. A son, J. A. Pressly, is a pressman with the
Atlanta Journal.
Mrs. Pressly was a member of the Georgia Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Her late husband was a former assistant fire chief.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Georgia Avenue
church. The Rev. George Hayward will officiate. Burial will
be in Casey Cemetery.
Other survivors include a son, R. H. Pressly, Jr. of Atlanta; a
daughter, Mrs. Alvin Copeland Sr. of Lake Worth, Fla., and a sister,
Mrs. John F. Clower of Montevallo, Alabama.
7 & 8 June 1773
L&R
Thomas Cater, planter, of St. Peters Parish, Granville Co, & Rachel his
wife, to Thomas Kellar, planter, of St. George Parish, Dorchester,
Berkeley Co., for
£
1300 currency, 318 a. in St. George Parish, bounding E on John Ainslie;
S on Mrs. Baker & John Izard; W on John Sheppard; N on Nathaniel
Bradwell. Witnesses: William Maine, Jr., Ester Maine. Before William
Maine, J.P. Recorded 4 Aug. 1773. Plat dated 8 Mar. 1773 by Nathaniel
Bradwell, Dep. Sur.
d. 1804
m. Rachel Miles, 18 February 1773
He served as a lieutenant in the Volunteer Company of Beaufort. Council
of Safety, 26 February 1776; McCall, II, 28.
John R. Cater, Jr., Andrew and Richard Dean Cater, Mrs. Eula C. Reeder,
Mrs. N. W. Smith, Mrs. W. P. Azbell and Miss Estelle Cater, all of
Sheffield; also seven grand-children namely: Henry A. Cater of Texas;
Mrs. J. S. Wilson of Wilson Dam[;] Harry Jackson and Jane Frances
Reeder, Mary Maxwell and Virginia Frances Azbell and Henry Cater, of
Sheffield.
