Thomas (Keates) Cates

Tuscaloosa County, AL

THOMAS (KEATES) CATES, (Revolutionary War Pension file S38109), was born 8 February 1758 and died 1 February 1848 . He applied for a pension in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama on 17 July 1826 for service as a private, corporal and sergeant in the 4th Regiment Maryland Line in Capt. Oddoms Company commanded by Colonel Samuel Smith and General Smallwood.
   He stated on his pension application that he first enlisted 28 January 1778 in Maryland and was discharged in 1781 in the State of North Carolina and he received no pay and only one suit of clothes. He stated that he was in many a bloody battle and was wounded 4 different times in battle. He said he was in that glorious battle at Stoney Point under the command of General Wayne, and could state many more battles in the South where he got his discharge.
   Thomas Cates stated that he was living in New Lexington, Alabama about 20 miles north of Tuscaloosa when he received his pension of $8.00 per month. He stated that when he enlisted they told him he was to receive a bounty of land, but he had never received it. He was twenty years old when he enlisted in the Continental Army.
   Thomas CATES married Martha (Patty) TRICE, daughter of Dr. John TRICE (also a Patriot) in Orange County, North Carolina, on 2 March 1784. She died 9 November 1832 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, at age 72. They arrived in Putnam County, Georgia 20 February 1787 and on December 23, 1818 in the Alabama Territory, at the Falls of the Black Warrior (Tuscaloosa, Alabama).
   The Minutes of the Old Salem Baptist Church, New Lexington, Alabama, stated that he died 1 February 1848. The exact burial place of Thomas Cates (nor his wife, Martha) is not known. It is possible they are buried at Old Salem Church Cemetery, Boone Cemetery, or Espey Family Cemetery. Markers for Thomas and Martha Cates were placed in memory for them at the Wiley Espey Family Cemetery by Walter Espey DOCKERY. The cemetery is located on the old Espey home place , now owned by Mrs. Edmond NUCKOLS , located about 20 miles north of Tuscaloosa .

Children of Thomas and Martha Trice Cates:

• 1. Elizabeth b. 12 December 1784, drowned in Oconee River, GA 1793
• 2. James b. 7 June 1786 m. Nancy Durham 10 Dec 1815
• 3. John b. 19 June 1789 m. Celia Hopson 13 June 1810
• 4. Polly b. 30 March 1795 m. Isaac Rhodes 19 August 1821
• 5. Thomas b. 12 January 1797 m. Mary (Polly) Turnbough 1 February 1822
• 6. Frances b. 19 December 1798, d. 12 November 1832 m. William Peters
• 7. Nancy b. 2 September 1800 m. Wiley Espey 25 July 1830
• 8. Patsy b 30 March 1802 m. John Rogers 26 January 1835

Children of Wiley and Nancy Cates Espey:

• 1. William b. 16 April 1831 d. 18 May 1906 m. Cathrine Eleanor Tierce 10 January 1855 Served in 5th AL Calv Company B CSA.
• 2. James Leroy b. 7 August 1833 d 29 December 1861 Knoxville Tennessee, m. Rebecca E. Boozer 27 December 1858. Served in 26-50 AL Inf CSA.
• 3. John Espey b. 28 October 1835. Served in 5th AL Calv. CSA, killed in service 1864 or 1865, m. Roda Freeman 18 December 1862.
• 4. Thomas b. 13 December 1842 d. 9 April 1922 m. Nancy Maddox 20 October 1864. Served in 26-50th Alabama Infantry Company G, CSA, wounded June 1864 in Battle of Atlanta, was sent home. He was a farmer and Justice of the Peace for Tuscaloosa County, AL.

Children of Thomas and Nancy Maddox Espey:

• 1. James Matty b. 24 February 1868
• 2. William Leroy b. 6 June 1870
• 3. Lester b. 28 July 1872
• 4. John Wiley b. 27 June 1874 d. 5 September 1965 m. Tabitha Janette Hogg 12 October 1902
• 5. Bonner Lafayette b. 25 march 1876
• 6. Thomas Harrison b 24 June 1883 d. 5 April 1930
• 7. Luther b. 20 October 1885 d. 31 January 1954

Children of John Wiley and Tabitha Janette Hogg Espey:

• 1. Howard b. 11 September 1903
• 2. Clarence Edward b. 6 August 1905 d. 13 February 1952
• 3. Lester Lee b. 19 January 1907 d. 27 October 1911
• 4. Vera Frances b. 21 May 1909 d. 3 November 1984 m. Walter Gibson Dockery 25 Dec 1931
• 5. Curtis Cleveland b. 20 December 1911 d. 3 October 1973
• 6. Unnamed baby girl 16 October 1914 d. 16 October 1914
• 7. Ruby Loyal b. 23 May 1920

Child of Walter Gibson and Vera Frances Espey Dockery:

• 1. Walter Espey b. 13 February 1934 m. Gwendolyn Preskitt 21 February 1957

Child of Walter Espey and Gwendolyn Preskitt Dockery:

• 1. Julia Frances b. 15 November 1963 d. 31 December 2004 m. William Berridge Dunn, Jr. 4 October 1997

Source: Walter Espey Dockery
 

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