Cathcart Family Papers, PC.1617
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Cathcart Family Papers
- Call Number
- PC.1617
- Creator
- Cathcart family
- Date
- 1729-1775
- Repository
- State Archives of North Carolina
Collection Overview
Photocopies of papers in the Scottish Record Office, Edinburgh, relating to the family of Dr. William Cathcart (ca. 1710-1773) of Genoch, Scot., and of Bertie and Northampton counties, N.C. Earliest items include partnership agreement between brothers John and William, the latter to buy land and slaves in North Carolina with backing from John (1737); and letters from William in London about preparations (1737) and in Edenton about his marriage to stepdaughter of Gov. Gabriel Johnston (1741/2). Correspondence (1758-1763) between family members and with John Rutherfurd in London concerns sending William's son Gabriel Cathcart (d. 1767) to Britain to study law, plans for his education, and payment of expenses, with mention of William Cathcart's medical practice and finances. Also notifications of Gabriel's appointment by Lord Grenville to position of collector for Beaufort and Currituck (1764); and letters from Gabriel in North Carolina about the collectorship, farming, servants wanted from Scotland, and his hopes for appointment as receiver of the stamp duty (1764-1765). Later letters are from William Cathcart's son-in-law Samuel Johnston reporting his death and from daughter Margaret with the Johnstons at Hayes (1775). A few accounts (1758-1770) concern Gabriel's expenses in Scotland and medical bills for Robert Cathcart's family there.