Captain Robert Cate

  General Notes:

1741 Northampton County was formed from the western part of Bertie County and Edgecomb district became Edgecomb County. The Roanoke river was the dividing line. 1745 Northampton County Deeds, 7 Sep 1745 Aaron Fuzill to John Arnal, 100 acres on Roanoke River, joining the mouth of Little river and the mouth of Orter branch. 1745-1746 According to Dr. Banks Cates, Jr., Capt. Robert Cate Jr. moved from the Roanoke River North Carolina to Sandy Creek, Granville Co. and then to New Hope Creek. 1751 Survey for Robert Cate, 400 acres in Bladen County, on both sides of New Hope Creek. Chain Bearers: Thomas Cate and Reubin Brown. surveyor: Richard Caswell. 18 Feb 1750/1. 1752 Orange County was formed from parts of Granville, Johnston and Bladen Counties. The first Court of Orange County was held at the home of John Gray on the Eno river, just above the confluence of McGowns Creek, 9 Sep 1752. 1753 Earl Granville to Robert Cate, Planter, 400 acres in Orange County on the south side of New Hope Creek. Original grant 26 Oct 1753. Wit: John Pryor and James Campbell. 1753 Orange County Ct. of Pleas & Qtr Sessions: Robert Cate was sued by Anthony Metcalf for a debt, June 1753 Court. 1753 Meeting commissioners of the roads, at Marmaduke Kimbrough's, 18 Oct 1753, "Robert Cate be app. Comm. of road in the room of John Patterson, Esq." 1754 Orange County Court of Pleas & Qtr Sessions: Deed from Robert Cayte & Elizabeth his wife to Andrew Mitchell Esq. Proved by James Dickey, Esq. 1754. 1754 Meeting of Commissioners of the Roads present - James Dickey, James Allison, Thomas Lloyd, Robert Cate, James Hendricks, Francis Day, Robert Erwin, Wm. Copeland, James Collins, Peter Hilton, Commissioners. 22 Apr 1754. 1754 Warrant to Thomas Cate Jr. 640 acres on both sides of Cain Creek includes Robert Cate & Thomas Cate Sr. improvements about a mile below where the new road crosses Cain Creek. 28 Aug 1754. Entered 23 Jul 1754. Deed 1 Mar 1759. 1754 Meeting of Commissioners of the Roads: Thomas Cate, Sr. was appointed Overseer from the Camp branch to the Western path in Robert Cate's District. Joseph Cate, Richard Cate and others were designated to work on the said road. 5 Aug 1754. 1755 Orange county Tax List: Robert Cate, Senr, 3 white polls, no black polls. 1755 Warrant to Richd Owen, 640 acres on both sides of Cain Creek; about 1 miles above Capt. Cates. 26 Feb 1755. Entered 4 Jan 1755. Assigned to Robert Cate. Surveyed for 560 acres 22 Sep 1756. Deed 5 Aug 1760. 1755 Meeting of the Commissioners of the Road: Joshua Stroud, George Smith, Thomas Cate, Jr., Richard Owins & Edward Carter to work under the inspection of Cap't Robert Cate. 1755 William Reed of Orange, tavern keeper, to Thomas Clark of same, Yeoman, one pound six shillings three pence, 1 acre in Newtown Corbin or Corbinton now so called, known by the lot next to & adjoining the Prison, & marked No. 85 on plan of town, deed to Reed from W. Churton 4 Nov 1754. Signed Willm. Reed, Witnesses: Robert Cate Senr, and James Dickey, 4 Nov. 1755. 1760 Earl Granville to Robert Cate, of Orange County, Planter, 560 acres in St. Mathews Parish, on the north side of Haw river, apposite to the mouth of Terrels Creek. sealed and delivered in the presence of Jas. Watson & Thomas Cate, June'r. S/Robert Cate, 5 Aug 1760. 1763 Robert Cate, Sr. exempted from taxes at the Court House in Corbintown. (The name of the county seat was changed to Hillsborough in 1766.). 1764 Orange Co. Ct. of Pleas & Qtr. Sessions: Robert Cate was appointed a member of the jury to lay out a road from Isaac Lowe's mill to Alexander Mebane's mill, and from thence to Woody's Ferry on Haw river, along with Thomas Cate Sr., Thomas Cate, Jr. and others February 1764 Court.

1765 Robert Cate of Orange County signed his will 5 Nov 1765. He named his wife Elizabeth and left her half of his estate. He left to his "son Richard the Plantation wheron I now live after his mother is deceased" He left to his daughter Sarah "the bed wheon she know lyes." He gave his "gran Daughter Ann, the daughter of my son Thomas for to have and equal part of my estate with my sons and Daughters". He named his sons Thomas & Joseph to be executors. Wit: William (X) Smith and Eliz'a (X) Cate. S/Robert Cate Sen. Robert probably had other daughters as he stated in his will that "Gran Daughter Ann, to have equal part of my estate with my sons and Daughters." Robert didn't name his sons Robert Jr.(III), John or Charles. (Dr. Banks Cates) The designation used in this family history for the three Roberts is Robert (the shoemaker), Robert Jr. (son of the shoemaker, also known as Capt Robert), and Robert III (son of Robert Jr.).

Robert married Elizabeth about 1693 in Henrico Co, VA.