Caty/Catrin/Catherine GUNN Zachary
Caty's marriage abstract reads as follows: 27 June1787. Zachary, Crawford,and Catrin Gunn, dau. of James Gunn, who consents, NOTE; " Calvin(sic) Gunn, agrees to above granted by her father." This note is dated 15 June 1787. Wit. to each consent, Alexander Erskins and Wm. Gunn. Sur. Alexander Erskins. This bond is on lower half of p. Y-1 (Amelia Co.), The William Gunn witness was Caty's brother.
Caty was the eighth named child in her fathers' will. Her part reads as follows: Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Caty Zachery (sic), twenty shillings and all that she has of mine in her possession, to her & her heirs forever-----. Like my observation regarding Edith's inheritance, the small bequeath for Caty probably reflects some prior receiving of something of value from her father.
Crawford and Caty are listed in the 1810 census. It shows that Crawford was over 45, being born before 1765. Caty being between 26-45, born between 1765-1784. They had three male children under the age of ten. One female child between 10-16, and three male children between 16-26. This census report does not include an eighth child who is named in Benjamin Zachary's will. Combining the data from the census and the will, plus using a two years interval guess method, one arrives at the children's birth years. In the will, Elizabeth was named before Benjamin so I start with her. Elizabeth b about 1788, Benjamin about 1790, two unknown name males about 1792, and 1794, one unknown name female about 1796, three unknown name males about 1801, 1803, and 1805. I speculate that the reason Elizabeth was not shown on the census was that she married before the census was taken.
I have not made a concentrated effort to trace the Crawford Zachary family any further so there is little more that I can report. I do have two documents that provide some minor information on the family. One, the Last Will and Testament of Benjamin Zachary, brother of Crawford, and two, the Court documents pertaining to Elisha's guardianship.
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. In the name of God Amen I Benjamin Zachry of Nottoway being sick and weak in body and of perfect mind and memory Thanks be given to God for the same calling unto mind the mortality of my body and mind that it is appointed for all men to die do make and ordain this my last will and Testament,--- First I give and bequeath to my niece Sally Zachry, Daughter of my brother David Zachry Dec'd. one negro girl named Hannah to her and her heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath my land and all residue of my estate after all my lawful Debts is paid out of the (margin omitted word) to be equally divided between my niece Elizabeth Crafford Zachry & Benjamin Zachry Daughter and son to my brother Crafford Zachry to them and their heirs forever. Item In case Sally Zachry should die before she arrives to the age of Eighteen, my Will is that Hannah the (margin problem) negro girl should be equally divided between Elizabeth & Benjamin Zachry, Item Lastly I constitute and make & ordain Crafford Zachry and (not legible name) Executors of this my Last will and Testament. Signed, sealed, published (not legible) and declared by the said Benjamin Zachry as his last will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereto inscribed our names this 23rd day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety. SIGNATURE OF BENJAMIN ZACHRY. Teste Crawford Zachry, Ambrose Lea Bonnett, Catherine Zachry. Brunswick County Court August 22nd 1791. This last will and Testament of Benjamin Zachry Dec'd was proven according to law by the oaths of Crawford Zachry & Catherine Zachry of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Crawford Zachry one of the Executors therein named who made oath thereto and together with Burwell Wilks his security ordered into and acknowledged a bond in penalty of five hundred pounds conditioned as the law directs certificate as ---- for attaining a probate thereof in due form Liberty being reserved for the other Executor to join in the probate thereof when he thinks proper. Teste, John Jones
It is significant to note that the Probate of the will was in Brunswick County, and that Burwell Wilks, security for Crawford, was married to Caty's sister, Elizabeth Gunn.
The last document involves the guardianship of the children of Crawford's brother, David. According to Benjamin's will, David was deceased by 1790. Court document dated 6 Oct 1796, 7 Sep 1797, and 6 Sep 1798 show that Elisha Gunn, brother of Caty had been appointed the guardian of Elizabeth, and Sarah (Sally) Zachary. Those court documents described the final accounting of the guardianship.
For the present, the above is the extent of my knowledge of the Caty Gunn Zachary family. As I continue my search into the James line, I hope to find more regarding Caty, Crawford, and their children.
