The Cato Family's Slaves

Kentuck/Tucker Adams-Ephraim was the son of Amanda and stepson of Levi Adams who was a slave of the Cato family. Ephraim was born about 1859 in Union Church, Jefferson County, Mississippi. Ephraim's alleged biological father was Lewis Cato according to family oral history. Why Tucker chose the surname Ephraim is unclear, prehaps that was his mother's maiden name. Tucker Ephraim married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Thompson December 16, 1876, in Jefferson County. Elizabeth was the daughter of Nimrod and Eliza Thompson. The couple's children were: Revella, Bula, Versie, Smilie, Oval, Bettie, Arveater, Hettie, Bernice, Annie, Arveld, and Ardella. After Lizzie's death in 1915, Ephraim married May Ross, the daughter of David Ross and Peggy Beal. Ephraim had four children with May: Arthur, May Atrice, Sinester, and Percy. Ephraim died around 1929 and is buried next to his first wife Lizzie at the Mount Mariah Church Cemetery in Jefferson County, MS. Ephraim's second wife May is buried in the same cemetery. Ephraim's information from the research of Anthony Neal, Sr. Photograph Courtesy of Andrew and Terri Lyke

CELIA was a former slave of Sterling Cato. Celia was received and baptized as a member of the Union Church Presbyterian Church on October 12, 1863. Next to her name was written deceased, no date was given as to when death occurred.
Union Church Presbyterian Church Session Records - Microfilm Number: 36274
Mississippi Department of Archives and History

DAVID, the singular slave named on Burrell Cato's inventory and appraisement list. David was valued at $100. He was sold to J. M. Galbreath for $115 in February 1849.
Jefferson County Probate Cases - Case Number 574 - Microfilm Number: 12179
Mississippi Department of Archives and History

1870 Federal Census - Dry Grove, Hinds County, MS - Page 425
David Cato, 70, SC - Flora, 60, SC

EDWARD/EDMUND SMITH gave a deposition in the Southern Claims of Lewis Cato. Edward was a former slave of Lewis Cato.
NARA. Record Group 123. United States Court of Claims--Congressional Jurisdiction. Southern Claim File of Lewis Cato. Case # 5699. From Research of Cynthia Benua

An Edward Smith was named as one of the Hickory Block Methodist Church Trustees on a 1893 church deed. Ed's wife Lottie could be a former slave of Lewis' brother Sterling Cato.

1870 Federal Census - Union Church, Jefferson County, MS - Page 67
Ed Smith, 26, MS -- Lottie, 40, MS (Wife of Ed per 1880 Census) -- Harriett, 16, MS

HANNAH, a seven years old negro girl was deeded to Caroline Davis from Francis Cato December 29th 1853.
Jefferson County Deed Book H - Page 590 -Microfilm Number: 12013
Mississippi Department of Archives and History

HENRY CLAY gave a deposition in the Southern Claims of Sterling Cato. He was a former slave of Sterling Cato.
NARA. Record Group 123. United States Court of Claims--Congressional Jurisdiction. Southern Claim File of Sterling Cato. Case # 865. From Research of Cynthia Benua

1870 Federal Census - Union Church, Jefferson County, MS - Page 63
Henry Clay, 23, MS -- Amy Clay, 56, VA, (Henry's Mother per 1880 Census) -- Martha 30, MS - Rhoda 18, MS (Henry's Wife per 1880 Census)

JIM the slave of James M. Galbreath was to be hired out beginning in 1853 and sold when Galbreath died which was in January 1855. The proceeds of the hire and the sale were to be appropriated to the education of Galbreath's nephew James Franklin Cato, son of Lewis and Mary Galbreath Cato. Jim was valued at $650 on Galbreath's inventory and appraisement list. James Franklin Cato received $1081 from Galbreath's estate.
Jefferson County Probate Case Number D36 - Microfilm Number: 12191 - (James Galbreath's Probate Records)
Jefferson County Probate Case Number D59 - Microfilm Number: 12192 - (Lewis Cato, Guardian)
Mississippi Department of Archives and History

LOTTY, a negro girl was deeded as a gift to Sterling Cato from Burrell Cato November 4th 1842.
Jefferson County Deed Book E - Page 452 - Microfilm Number: 12012
Mississippi Department of Archives and History

A Lot was enumerated on the same page with Levy Adams and Sterling Cato in 1870. Lottie's surname was Adams.

1870 Federal Census - Union Church, Jefferson County, MS - Page 23
Lot Adams, 43, MS, female domestic servant living in the household of Dr. I. N. Clark -- female infant, 1 (Name of infant is Missouri per 1880 Census.)

MINGO, LEVIE and SARAH were deeded as gifts to Henry Cato from Burrell Cato November 4th, 1842. The next day on November 5th, 1842, Henry Cato made deed of gifts of slaves LEVI and SARAH to Frances Cato. On January 27, 1849, SARAH about 16 or 17 years and her 5 or 6 months child MARTIN were deeded as gifts to Mahala Gray from Frances Cato. The negro boy LEVI about 16 years was deeded as a gift to Sterling Cato from Frances Cato on January 27, 1849.
Jefferson County Deed Book E - Pages 451 & 452 - (Deeds of 1842) - Microfilm Number: 12012
Jefferson County Deed Book G - Pages 89 & 125 (Deeds of 1849) - Microfilm Number: 12013
Mississippi Department of Archives and History

Levi Adams gave a deposition in the Southern Claims of Sterling Cato. Read Levi's Deposition
1870 Federal Census - Union Church, Jefferson County, MS - Page 23
Levi Adams, 38, MS -- Amanda 35, KY -- Kentuck, 11, MS -- Web, 9, MS -- Mary Jane, 2, MS

Mingo Adams was named on the Freedmen Bureau Labor Contract of Henry Cato and David McRee.
1870 Federal Census - Beauregard, Copiah County, MS - Page 248
Mingo Adams 33, Ark -- Rachel 29, MS -- Harvey E., 5, MS -- Calvin E., 3, MS -- Allen M., 1, MS -- Mashac, 4months, MS

NANCY a negro woman was deeded as a gift to Robert F., and Marthy Ann Gray from Burrell Cato November 4th 1842.
Jefferson County Deed Book E - Page 450 - Microfilm Number: 12012
Mississippi Department of Archives and History

SUSAN? and MARY were the slaves of James M. Galbreath who were to be sold after Galbreath's death. The proceeds of their sale were to be invested in the purchase of a young negro woman who was to be given to Galbreath's sister Mary Cato, wife of Lewis Cato.
Jefferson County Probate Case Number D36 - Microfilm Number: 12191
Mississippi Department of Archives and History

Burrell Cato was born about 1764 in South Carolina to Henry and Tabitha Cato. Burrell served in the Revolutionary War. He applied for a pension based on his service in the Revolutionary War in 1834, and again in 1841. He was denied a pension, based on not being able to prove that he served 6 months. In his statement within the pension application, Burrell (age 77 in 1841) states that he was drafted about 1 June 1781. About that time, Burrell "being a minor" moved with his father (not named) from their residence on the waters of the Black River about 20 miles from Camden to the waters of Lynches Creek SC. After the war, he lived on Lynches Creek until 1816, then moved to Fort Stephens, Alabama, on the Tombigbee River, for about a year. He then moved to Wayne County, Mississippi, for about 7 years. Then to his present residence "near McLeans Store" in the eastern part of Jefferson County.

In 1855, Burrell Cato's widow Frances, age 72, applied for bounty land, based on Burrell's Revolutionary War service. She states that she (Frances Lee) was married to Burrell in Kershaw District, South Carolina, 22 March 1800. Burrell died 19 Sept 1848.

Burrell and Frances' children were:
Henry, born April 01, 1808 in South Carolina, died January 19, 1896, buried in the Union Church Cemetery, Jefferson County, MS. Henry married twice; first, maybe, to Ida Dunbard, second to Rebecca Barlow Fore, widow of Simeon Fore. Henry owned 16 slaves in 1860 per the 1860 Copiah County Slave Schedule.

Lewis, born May 12, 1812, in South Carolina, died August 07, 1885, buried in the Union Church Cemetery, Jefferson County, MS. Lewis married Mary Galbreath January 29, 1835, in Jefferson County, MS. Lewis applied for church membership to Union Church Presbyterian Church in November 1832. He was elected an Elder of the church September 01, 1855, ordained by Rev. H. McDonald. Lewis owned two slaves per the 1860 Jefferson County Slave Schedule.

Sterling, born August 12, 1817, in Wayne County, Mississippi, died December 06, 1878, buried in the Union Church Cemetery, Jefferson County, MS. Sterling married Mrs. Rebecca McLaurin December 16, 1846 in Jefferson County, MS. Sterling applied for church membership to Union Church Presbyterian Church in November 1832. He was elected an Elder of the church September 01, 1855, ordained by Rev. H. McDonald. Sterling owned 15 slaves in 1860 per the 1860 Jefferson County Slave Schedule.

Union Church Presbyterian Church Session Records recorded this in memory of Mr. Sterling Cato.

...It is the sense of this Session that in the death of Mr. Sterling Cato the Session and congregation and community of Union Church have substained a loss which cannot easily be repaired - For years Mr. Cato voice was heard in our congregation leading the songs of the sanctuary and giving to our worship that freshness and life which can only be imparted by scared song and which under the blessing of the spirit we trust has been a lasting benefit to our people...
Union Church Presbyterian Church Session Records - Microfilm Number: 36274
Mississippi Department of Archives and History