| Notes |
- [Possibly the Robert Cates baptized 21 Aug 1667 at St. Andrews, Colyton, Devon, son of William or Cates Cates of Colyton, Devon by his wife Margaret. Some sources give him as "Robert Ezra Cates", son of "William Abraham Cates". We'll believe in these seventeenth-century middle names when we see them in seventeenth-century records. --PNH]
From Economic History of Virginia in the Seventeenth Century, Volume II, by Philip Alexander Bruce (New York: Macmillan, 1896):
The leading planters were in the habit of importing shoemakers from England for the same reasons that moved them to bring representatives of other trades. [William] Fitzhugh, writing to John Cooper, one of his London correspondents, in 1692, requests him to send over to Virginia several shoemakers, with lasts, awls, and knives, together with half a hundred shoemaker threads, some twenty or thirty gallons of train oil and proper colorings for leather. He had set up a tan-house and wished to convert the product into shoes on his own plantation. The need of importing shoemakers was probably greater in the Northern Neck, in which part of the Colony Fitzhugh resided, than in the older communities, where the representatives of trade was more numerous and more skillful.
The county records of that period contained many indentures between planters and shoemakers. Of these, a fair example was the contract of Robert Cate and Peter Wyke of Henrico in 1679. Cate entered into bonds to serve Wyke for a term of four years. He was to be exempted from task of planting and tending tobacco, but he was required to perform all other agricultural work; he was to receive by way of remunerations, food, drink, apparel, washing,and lodging, and when his agreement expired, a good suit and three barrels of Indian corn were to given him. It will be observed that while Cate was engaged principally for his knowledge of the shoemaker's trade, he was also expected to make himself useful in other branches of industry. This was probably the case with all classes of machanics who earned a livelihood in employment of landowners in the seventeenth century.
From Dr. Banks R. Cates Jr., Charlotte, NC:
Robert was a Quaker shoemaker from Henrico County Virginia in the James River area.
Robert Cate entered into bond to serve Peter Wyke of Henrico County in September 1689 for a term of 4 years. Recorded October 1689.
"Peter Wyke having made an agreem:t for service wh Rob:t Kate his bought serv't for a longer time, and both partyes desireing this Court's approbacon therof & concurrences therein according as ye law requires; the same is by ye Court thought to be for ye benefitt of ye sd serv:t (if ye word Apparell were interlined in ye Condicon, wch was pr ye sd Wyke consented to & done in open Court) & therefore order'd to be enter'd on Record." (Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, v. 32, no. 1, p. 25)
Robert Cate was imported from England to Virginia. That is to say, his passage was paid by someone else, in return for which that person received a right to 50 acres of land in Virginia per head imported. Such a headright, for the importation of 28 persons, including Robert Cate, was claimed by John Pleasants, the younger of Henrico County, Virginia, in 1713. Nell Nugent's Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants [3:133].
1 Aug 1695 Henrico County Virginia deed mentions plantation lately in the tenure of Robert Kate.
1701 Robert Cate's name appeared first time on a certificate of marriage held at Curles Meeting House, Henrico co. VA, 1701, 8, 9 Quaker date. (Henrico Monthly Meeting, Pg. 162.)
1704 Robert moved south across the James river to Prince George County, VA where in the quit rent rolls of 1704 he owned 100 acres as Robert Catte.
1723 Account of the estate of Timothy Bridges in Minutes of the Prince George County Court mentioned both Robert Cate and his neighbor Robert Hunnicutt.
1722, 1723 & 1724 Robert Cate attended the Burleigh Meeting House, Prince George Co. VA and signed marriage certificates for ceremonies held there. 1722/23, 12,7 Quaker date.
1725 Martins Brandon Parish, Prince George County Edward Wyatt Sr. Will named daughters Elizabeth & Sarah Wyatt, Son Francis & son Edward to whom "he left the plantation where Robert Cate lives". 1720 Edward's father Nicholas' Will was witnessed by Robert Cate Jr. & Richard Cate.
9 Apr 1728 - Accts of Estate of Capt Edward Wyatt mentions: Jane Bilbro, Capt. Frances Epess, Col. Harrison, Edward Prince, James Bell,Frances, Edward & Elizabeth Wyatt, Robert CATE, Jacob Benheart. Dated 8 Apr 1728 presented in Court by Robert Hall & James Bell Exec. Recorded 9 Apr 1728. "Prince George Co. VA Wills & Deeds 1713-1728" pg. 145 (p. 1084), by Benjamin Weisiger III, 1973.
18 Feb 1729 Inventory & appraisement of estate Robert Kate Decd valued at 30-10-6 included cattle, hogs, saddle etc & 2 parcels shoemaker tools & last & 2 pcls land leather. Signed Ann (A) Kate, Surry County Court. Will Bk 8, Pg. 7. Recorded 15 April 1730, Surry Co. Court,Virginia. (Copy of the inventory from Kay Craft, Arkansas)
Dr. Banks Cate stated he has no information on the daughters of Robert Cate but has reason to believe the sons named are his.
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Nielsen Hayden genealogy
Abt 1665 - Bef 1729 (~ 64 years)
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