Fortunately, the Catron family is quite famous since one member, John Catron, was a U.S. Supreme Court justice from 1837-1865. I haven't spent a lot of time researching this family yet, but here's what I know so far:
- Brothers Johann Jacob and Johann Michael Kettering and their cousin, Christoph Kettering arrived in Philadelphia September 9, 1765 on the ship "Chance"
- Christoph's son, Johann Franz Kettering arrived on the ship "Sarah" a year earlier, in 1764
- They migrated to Augusta County, Virginia shortly after arriving in Pennsylvania
- This area of Virginia later became Botetourt, Montgomery and then Wythe and Grayson Counties
- John Catron, born 1781, was the son of Johann Peter and Elizabeth Houk Catron in Montgomery County, Virginia, which later became Wythe then Grayson Counties
- John's father, Johann Peter, had served in the Montgomery County militia during Lord Dunmore's War in 1774
- John's family relocated to Wayne County, Kentucky in 1804, but I don't yet know exactly which members made the move
The Catron family website has a lot of the above information plus references to source documents. Perhaps Old Peter Skaggs' wife, Martha Cothon, was related to this family. Since we think Martha was born sometime between 1771 and 1776 we should be looking for her father as a man of age to serve in the Lord Dunmore's War / Revolutionary War timeframe but would possibly have died prior to her marriage to Old Peter in 1788, since he was not listed on the marriage records.
Interesting.....just can't see how you get Cothron/Catron from Kettering ?
ReplyDeleteThink about those days, when likely only the county clerk was literate. Most people couldn't spell their name, just pronounce it to a preacher or county clerk who would then write it down. I can see how Ket-ter-ing could become Ket-ring, then Cat-ring or Cat-ron depending on how it was pronounced and who was listening. Also, Appalachia has its own language hundreds of years old, e.g. Martha is pronounced Marthey and Sena is pronounced Seney. This all makes the written interpretation of the spoken word a bit of a crapshoot.
DeleteGood points...makes sense. But even if its true that Martha's Father Kettering died before she was married, shouldn't we expect one of the other Kettering relatives (Adam,Jacob,Lawrence,Micheal,Peter, or Stophell)who was living in the area in 1788 (Montgomery Co. tax list) to post bond for her marriage to Peter Skaggs ?
ReplyDeleteYes, you would think so. But there appears to have been something strange about this time and place. Old Peter didn't have any relatives step forward at his marriage either. William Lester posted the marriage bond and he was perhaps was Old Peter's sister's husband. Zachariah Skaggs was still alive and was likely a relative but didn't post bond for Peter. Neither did any of the Longhunters.
DeleteGood Points and makes sense again.....thanks.
ReplyDelete