On May 25, 1750, Phillip Catt was born to Michael Katz and Anna Maria Mohr. He was born in the colony of Virginia, near present day Hardy County, West Virginia. Five siblings have been identified in the records to this day: Ludwig, George, Michael, Anna Maria and John. Documentation indicates around 1770 the family crossed the mountains and settled along the southern branch of the Potomac River in what is now Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

At the time the Revolutionary War broke out, the area where the Catts resided was under a jurisdictional dispute as to which colony it belonged to–Virginia or Pennsylvania. When news of Lexington and Concord reached this frontier area, the border dispute faded into the background and residents came together in the fight against the British. This area was referred to as “old Monongalia County, Virginia”. The four Catt brothers (George, Michael, John and Phillip) all served in the War in regiments from this area. Phillip, specifically, was in the Monongalia Militia. He served in several regiments under the direction of Captains John Whitesell, Kincaid, Wilson, Morgan and Jacob Tevebaugh, as well as Colonels Brodhead and Crawford on multiple campaigns.

About 1775, Phillip married Mary Magdalan ? and started a family, despite the War. Their first four children, Mary, Elizabeth, Phillip Jr, and Sebastian were born in Pennsylvania. In May 1785, they relocated westward and settled in Knox County, Indiana. Mary and Phillip added five more children to their family: John , Rebecca, Susannah, Daniel and Eutha Melinda.

Phillip’s wife Mary died between 1815 and 1820. He remarried to Sally Kimmons on November 14, 1820 and they continued to live in Johnson Township in Knox County until Phillip’s death on September 4, 1844.

Phillip Catt was my 7th great uncle on my mom’s side.

REFERENCES

• United States Census: 1820, 1830, 1840
• Find A Grave website
• United States Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files
• United States Revolutionary War Pensioners
• Indiana Marriage Index
• The Catt Family in America, Dr. W Cary Anderson, 1989.