The Catron Family and the Cherokee Indians

In previous posts here and here, I discussed the DNA evidence and circumstantial evidence pointing to the possibility of Old Peter's wife, Martha Cothon, actually being related to the Catron family. I have been referred to a valuable historical resource, The History of the Cherokee Indians and Their Legends and Folk Lore by the Cherokee historian Emmet Starr. I have put a link to this book in the "Interesting Links" section of this site for convenience. The Catron family appears in this book as having married into an important Cherokee family.
The History of the Cherokee Indians and Their Legends and Folk Lore contains an extensive genealogy of prominent Cherokee families.  Page 352 in the book shows that John Catron married Margaret Hildebrand and this appears to be the point when the Catrons started their family relationship with the Cherokee Nation.  John Catron was the son of Christopher Kettering and Euphemia Jones, and grandson of Johann Jacob Kettering, one of the original Kettering brothers that immigrated to Virginia via Philadelphia. John's wife, Margaret Hildebrand was of Cherokee descent, the daughter of Michael Hildebrand and Nannie Martin, with Nannie being a Cherokee. Nannie Martin was daughter of Joseph Martin and Elizabeth Ward, with Elizabeth being the daughter of Bryan Ward and Ghi-ga-u, a.k.a. Nancy Ward, the famous niece of Chief Attakullakulla.


Here is the genealogy:


1 Ghi-ga-u  a.k.a. Nancy Ward (c.1738 - 1822)
+ Bryan Ward
     2 Elizabeth Ward (c1760-?)
     + Joseph Martin
          3 James Martin
          3 Nannie Martin (c1780 - 1837)
          + Michael Hildebrand
               4 Margaret Hildebrand (c1810 - ?)
               + John Catron (1812 - 1897)
                    5 Caroline Catron
                    + Jesse Sanders
                    5 Lafayette Catron
                    + Nannie Roach
                    5 Levannah Elizabeth Catron
                    + Thomas Holmes Carlile
                    + Levi Rogers Keys


John Catron was born about the time that Old Peter Skaggs moved to Kentucky, so the Catron family married into the Cherokees after Martha Cothon's generation. I can see how the Catrons would have been associated with the Cherokees while Martha was still alive, however, Martha's DNA would not be Native American since the children of John Catron / Margaret Hildebrand would be the first Catrons to have Native American DNA.


This is speculation, but I'm starting to think that Martha Cothon was a Catron from the same generation as John Catron's father. I'm looking for a Catron born prior to 1755 (since Martha Cothon was born c. 1771-1775) who died prior to 1788 (since no Catrons were associated with Martha's marriage to Old Peter), the date when Old Peter and Martha were married.

3 comments:

  1. i would be very interested any any information on Caroline Catron. i am her great great granddaughter.please send any info to alwayssassy@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am most interested in any information I may use to find my great grandmother Isanna Catron. Her father was Michael Catron and later married a Moran. Any comments may be emailed to clumsden@outlook.com. Thanking you in advance.

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  3. My Cousin From Virginia Is From This Family Line. Peter And Martha Catron, Brother And Sister Were Raised By The Keaslings And Ketterings Who Were Related And Or Neighbors, They Are Beside Each Other On The Grayson County Virginia Census. Peter And Martha Catron Were 100 Perecent Cherokee. Peter Took On The Kettering/ Keasling Name Because That's Who raised Him. Anyone Coming From This Line Will Be A DNA Hit To Myself And My Cousin. We Are On Ancestry. The Ketterings/Keaslings Are My 5th GG Grandparents, I Carry A Small Amount Of American Indian DNA I Have Cherokee Cousins. I'm On Ancestry Under Pine Isle Farms Inc, My Business Name Or Stacey Parks.
    I Have Skaggs And Catron Cousins. I Can Put James Skaggs With My Kin Serving In Lord Dunmore's War.
    Thank You
    Stacey Parks

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