Katina ca. 1708-1777 and Alexander Spotswood Household
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Katina ca. 1708-1777 and Alexander Spotswood Household
 mamboschmambo
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Posted: 11 Jan 2009 2:46AM GMT |
Classification: Query
Surnames: Spotswood, Thornton, Byrd
The 1850 Virginia Historical Register and Literary Companion by William Maxwell, makes note of the following information, from an interesting pamphlet entitled "A History of St. George's Parish in the County of Spotsylvania and Diocese of Virginia," By the Rev. Philip Slaughter, published 1845.
"The following genealogy is given upon the authority is given upon the authority of a venerable lady (still living) who is the grand-daughter of Lady Spotswood.
Governor Spotswood married a Miss Brayne, in England. He had two sons, Robert and John. Robert was supposed to have been killed by Indians. John married Miss Dandridge, and was the father of General Alexander, and John Spotswood, of the revolution.
The Governor had two daughters, Kate and Dorothea, the former of whom married a Mr. Moore, and the later a Dandridge.
The Indian woman, called Wirgina by some authors, was named Catena. After Governor Spotswood's death, she lived with General Alexander Spotswood, of Newpost, and then with Francis Thornton, of Fall Hill, where she died and was buried. When the family passed Germanna on their way to Culpepper, Catena would leave the carriage and wander over the scenes of her youth. She nursed General Alexander Spotswood, and whenever he met her in later life, he would throw his arms about her and embrace her."
Catena/Katina has been referred to as the daughter of Granganimeo, of Roanoke, but this appears to be due to confusion between the names "Wirgina", and "Wingina", son of Granganimeo. As the life span of Katina appears to be ca. 1708-1777, and Granganimeo was in Roanoke in 1568, this connection does not appear plausible.
Numerous bits of information about Katina appear in stories about her ghost haunting the Thornton house of Fall Hill; she came to the household ca. 1759, "willed" to them by Alexander Spotswood. She is buried at Fall Hill. References to her in historical documents are apparently appear with some frequency, beginning with an 1724 account of an Indian messenger from Byrd appearing at Newpost, asking to see her, and being turned away from the house.
I'm not interested in the ghost stories, but rather in the person herself. What exactly was her place in the household, and what is known of her? Was she willed, sold or given to the Thorntons? Did she have children?
"The following genealogy is given upon the authority is given upon the authority of a venerable lady (still living) who is the grand-daughter of Lady Spotswood.
Governor Spotswood married a Miss Brayne, in England. He had two sons, Robert and John. Robert was supposed to have been killed by Indians. John married Miss Dandridge, and was the father of General Alexander, and John Spotswood, of the revolution.
The Governor had two daughters, Kate and Dorothea, the former of whom married a Mr. Moore, and the later a Dandridge.
The Indian woman, called Wirgina by some authors, was named Catena. After Governor Spotswood's death, she lived with General Alexander Spotswood, of Newpost, and then with Francis Thornton, of Fall Hill, where she died and was buried. When the family passed Germanna on their way to Culpepper, Catena would leave the carriage and wander over the scenes of her youth. She nursed General Alexander Spotswood, and whenever he met her in later life, he would throw his arms about her and embrace her."
Catena/Katina has been referred to as the daughter of Granganimeo, of Roanoke, but this appears to be due to confusion between the names "Wirgina", and "Wingina", son of Granganimeo. As the life span of Katina appears to be ca. 1708-1777, and Granganimeo was in Roanoke in 1568, this connection does not appear plausible.
Numerous bits of information about Katina appear in stories about her ghost haunting the Thornton house of Fall Hill; she came to the household ca. 1759, "willed" to them by Alexander Spotswood. She is buried at Fall Hill. References to her in historical documents are apparently appear with some frequency, beginning with an 1724 account of an Indian messenger from Byrd appearing at Newpost, asking to see her, and being turned away from the house.
I'm not interested in the ghost stories, but rather in the person herself. What exactly was her place in the household, and what is known of her? Was she willed, sold or given to the Thorntons? Did she have children?