Re: HARDY,DANIEL AND SOPHIA CATE(S)
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In reply to:
Re: HARDY,DANIEL AND SOPHIA CATE(S)
Joyce Stover 7/04/04
The marriage info and name of Sophia's father was in the documents and affidavits given at the time she applied for Widow's Benefits for Daniel's service in the Civil War.Yes, I have copies and would be happy to share them.The info states that they were married in Hamilton Co., TN.Several of their children were born in TN according to census records.It is believed that because of his service in the only Union outfit in Tennessee, they probably moved to KY after the Civil War to escape the anomosity from their confederate neighbors. As you can imagine, feelings ran high during that time.If you visit the USGenweb and go into TNGenweb, Hamilton Co., there is an article that explains the relationship between the white missionaries and Native Americans.Many missionaries married Native American women so it is very possible that Sophia was either full blooded Cherokee or part Cherokee.Based on the family lore and the physical characteristics of many of the descendants, their Native American heritage is quite obvious.I also traced Daniel's and Sophia's more precise location using census records and they were located on Indian lands where the missionaries were. (Don't know where the NC info came from as I have nothing on that...although that connection is also a strong possibility based on the history of the Cherokees.)In researching William Cate(s), I have found many references to that name...one of which is a census record of a Baptist minister by that name.I have not found Sophia on any census records living with him but by the time census records listed family members by name, she would have been old enough to have been out of the house.Also, finding actual documentation regarding Sophia's Native American heritage is definitely a challenge.As you probably know, due to the Government's mistreatment of them, many Native Americans chose not to register or to allude to their heritage in any legal way.A direct search of records in Hamilton Co. may be more fruitful than anything else. Please feel free to contact me via my personal email address.Having descendants work together is definitely the way to go!