Cathcart. Of territorial origin from the lands of
Cathcart in Renfrewshire. The first of the family came to Scotland with
Walter fitz Alan, the first of the Stewards, and from his name, Rainald, may
like his leader, have been of Breton origin. Rainald appears as witness to
a charter by Alan fitz Walter conveying the patronage of the church of Kethcart
to the monastery of Paisley c. 1178 (RMP., p. 12). He also witnessed, as
Ranulfus de Ketkert, a similar charter by Alan, the son of Walter in favor of
the same house c. 1202-3 (ibid., p. 14). As Reginaldus de Cathekert he
witnessed another charter by the same Alan to Robert Croc of the lands of the
lands of Kellebrid c. 1200 (Lennox, II, p. 2). His son, William de
Cathkert witnessed a charter whereby Duugallus filious Cristini de Levenax
exchanged the lands of Cnoc with the monastery of Paisley for lands near
Walkeinschaw in 1234 (RMP., p. 180). William de Kathkerte of the county of
Are rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 205). Sir Alan of
Cathcart, an adherent of Bruce, was probably the first to be designated
dominus ejusdem (in 1336) (LCD., p. 158). Adam Cathcart was heir
of Thomas Cathcart in Mylneholme of Auchincreif his father in 1622 (Retours,
Ayr, 215). The name was originally pronounced Cath-cārt but has now
been Anglicized into Cāth-cart. Kethkert 1451.
from The Surnames of Scotland; Their Origin,
Meaning, and History; by George F. Black, Ph.D.; The New York Public
Library.
THE
CATHCART FAMILY
AN ANCIENT SCOTTISH NAME OF PROMINENCE.
**********
by
Eleanor Lexington
A
river winding through a narrow channel is the meaning of Cathcart, or the origin
of the name.
In Scotland
there is a parish named Cathcart, a few miles south of Glasgow. It contains the
towns of Old Cathcart and New Cathcart. There is a river here called Cart, an
old Gaelic word. The river happens to narrow at this point, or a strait
therefore called Cath, another Gaelic word, meaning narrow. The Cart running in
a narrow channel became caethcart, or Cathcart, which in turn gave its name to
the town, and in due course of time someone assumed it as a patronymic. The
rivers, it may be mentioned, has branches, one called the White Cart and the
other the Black Cart. The town now called Gartside was originally Cartside.
The
Cathcart family is one of the most ancient in Scotland and Kethcart and De
Kethcart are other forms of the orthography, possibility the original spelling.
Rinadius
de Kethcart is a name we find in the records of the town of Paisley,
Renfrewshire, 1178. At Greenock, another town of this shire, was
one seat of the family, and the Viscounts of Cathcart were also Barons of
Greeock.
The
family name has been of importance in Ayrshire, and the Lords of Gallowayare of
Cathcart blood. Knockdolian Castle, of this shire, is a seat of the Cathcart
family, and to this branch belongs the coat of arms reproduced.
One
of the Pilgrim Fathers was the Rev. Robert Cathcart, born in Ireland, he settled
in Delaware, where he married Mary Latimer.
The
progenitor of the New England branch of the family was Gershon Cathcart, who
lived in Bristol, Mass., where he married Mary Coleman.
Sir
William Schaw Cathcart was one of the most distinguished soldiers of the
Revolution, although on the wrong side of the firing line, from our point of
view. He was the tenth Baron Cathcart in the peerage of Scotland and the first
Viscount and Earl Cathcart in the peerage of the United Kingdom and son of the
ninth Baron Cathcart and his wife, Jeannie, daughter of Admiral Hamilton. Sir
William's wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Lieutenant-Governor Elliott of New
York.
Sir
William was aide to Major Sir Thomas Wilson, commanding at Boston, and his
conduct won him fame and promotion. At the famous ball, or "mischianza",
given in honor of Sir William Howe in Philadelphia, May 1778 Cathcart led one
portion of the knights.
Returning
to England, he won further honors, his services being of the greatest importance
in the overthrow of Napoleon. His wife was lady-in- waiting to the Queen of
George III, and he was appointed "gold stick".
His
son, Sir George Cathcart was aide to Wellington at Waterloo, and afterwards a
famous general, to whom belongs the honor of ending the Kaffir War in 1853. He
was killed in the Crimea, and buried on Cathcart Hill. His
"Commentaries" on the war in Russia and Germany are valuable
contributions to literature.
Another
author of the family was William Cathcart, born in Ireland in 1821 He came to
Pennsylvania when a young man, and was prominent in the Ministry and was
president of the American Baptist Historical Society.
The
statesman of the family was Charles William Cathcart, presidential elector on
the Polk ticket and United States Senator.
We
must not forget one of the patriots of the family. Of the forty-two ladies who
took part in the Edenton, NC tea party, Oct. 25, 1775, was one Margaret
Cathcart, her name being third on the list. The State Library has recently been
presented with the book giving the names of these women, as published in a
London paper in 1775. The gift came at an opportune time, for the D.A.R.'s were
preparing to erect a tablet in the hall of history commemorating this historic
event with names of the signers.
As
pictured by a London cartoonist, the "Edenton Tea Party" shows a
number of women seated around a table, drawing up and signing a paper; under the
table is an infant, and a small dog biting the baby's ear.
Among
the representatives of the family in the Revolution was William Cathcart,
surgeon of the Fourth Continental Dragoons.
The
arms reproduced is an ancient one, belonging to the Earls of Cathcart The
creation of the Scottish barony dates from 1460 (Galloway Branch)
It
is azure, three cross-crosslets fitched issuing out of as many crescents argent.
Crest,
a dexter hand couped above the wrist, and erect proper, grasping a crescent
argent, as in the arms.
Motto:
I Hope To Speed.
The arms
granted 1n 1703 to the Ayrshire branch of the family is quite similar. It has
the crosses and the crescents, with the addition of a human heart. The crest 1s
a hand holding a heart royally crowned.
Motto:
By Faith We Are Saved.
The
crosses and crescents denote crusader ancestors and the hand is a pledge of
faith, sincerity and justice. The colors azure and argent denote
the first loyalty, truth and integrity; the second peace, sincerity and purity.
One
branch of the family quarters the arms of Sir Reynold de Kethcart, who attended
the Prince of Scotland to the Holy Land, sinme of Richard and also the coat of
Sir William Wallace, to whom the Cathcarts were related by marriage. The
supporters are two parrots. The supporters which, by the way, only belong to
the highest rank - of another arms, are dexterity a lion rampant, gules; ainster,
a savage wreathed with laurel.
(Cathcart
Castle is in County of Renfrew, Scotland.)
|
