Catherine Sevier

Catherine was Governor John Sevier's second wife, they had eight children during this marriage. DAR Ancestor # A102090

• from Bonny Kate Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Knoxville, Tennessee

BIOGRAPHY OF KATHERINE SHERRILL "BONNY KATE" SEVIER  

Also known as "Bonnie Kate," Katherine Sherrill Sevier was the wife of John Sevier (1745-1815), Revolutionary War hero, Indian fighter, governor of the State of Franklin, and first governor of Tennessee. Legend has it that their courtship began after she was surprised by an Indian attack while milking a cow outside the walls of Fort Watauga in northeast Tennessee. The defenders of the fort quickly closed the gates, locking her out. She ran to the palisades and, helped by Sevier, climbed to safety. She and Sevier married in 1780, when she was twenty-six, after the death of his first wife, Sarah Hawkins. At their home in Washington County, Bonnie Kate made soldiers' uniforms, cast lead balls for ammunition, and prepared food for her husband's victorious campaign against the British at the battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina. On the eve of the battle, she thwarted a Tory attempt to murder her husband. Bonnie Kate held the title "First Lady" three times, first from 1785 to 1788, when her husband was governor of the State of Franklin, and during his terms as the first and third governor of Tennessee, 1796 to 1801 and 1803 to 1809. She was originally buried in Russellville, Alabama, but was reinterred in 1922 next to her husband on the lawn of the old Knox County Courthouse in Knoxville. The inscription on her tombstone describes her as the "brightest star among pioneer women of this state."

Source: Fred W. Sauceman, East Tennessee State University

• from A.W. Putnam’s Sketch of Catharine Sevier  

Miss Sherrill was already somewhat distinguished for nerve, action, and fleetness.  It was said “she could outrun or outleap any woman; walk more erect, and ride more gracefully and skillfully than any other female in all the mountains round about, or on the continent at large.”  Although at other times she proved herself to know no fear, and could remain unmoved when danger threatened, yet on this occasion she admits that she did run, and “run her best.”  She was very tall and erect, and her whole appearance such as to attract the especial notice and pursuit of the Indians; and as they intercepted the direct path to the gate of the fort, she made a circuit to reach the enclosure on another side, resolved, as she said to scale the walls or palisades.  In this effort, some person within the defenses attempted to aid, but his foot slipped, or the object on which he was standing gave way, and both fell to the ground on opposite sides of the enclosure.  The savages were coming with all speed, and firing and shooting arrows repeatedly.  Indeed, she said, “the bullets and arrows came like hail.  It was now – leap the wall or die, for I would not live a captive!”  She recovered from the fall, and in a moment was over and within the defenses, and “by the side of one in uniform.”

This was none other than Capt. John Sevier, and the first time she ever saw him.  This was the beginning of an acquaintance destined in a few years to ripen into a happy union, to endure in this life for nearly forty years.  “The way she run and jumped on that occasion was often the subject of remark, commendation, and laughter.”  In after life she looked upon this introduction, and the manner of it, as a providential indication of their adaptation to each other – that they were destined to be of mutual help in future dangers, and to overcome obstacles in time to come.  And she always deemed herself safe when by his side.  Many a time did she say: “I could gladly undergo that peril and effort again to fall into his arms, and feel so out of danger.  But then,” she would add, “it was all of God’s good providence.”  Capt. Sevier was then a married man, his wife and younger children not having yet arrived from Virginia.  His wife’s name was Susan Hawkins, and she was a native of Virginia, where she died.

• from Sevier Revolutionary War Soldiers of Tennessee

According to an application for Revolutionary War benefits made by the children of Col. John SEVIER (Certificate issued 31 May 1839), he had married Catharine SHERRILL, as his second wife, on 14 Aug 1780 in East Tennessee. He died on 24 Sep 1815, near Fort Decatur, Alabama, and she died 02 Oct 1836 at Russellville, Franklin County, Alabama at about age 80 (born ca 1756). They also declared that their father had served as a Col. in the North Carolina Line, was at both King's Mountain and several Indian Campaigns against the Cherokees and the first Militia General of the State of Tennessee and first Governor of the State. His children by his second wife were shown as George Washington SEVIER (of Davidson Co, TN in 1839), Samuel and Robert SEVIER, Elizabeth MCCLELLAND, Mary OVERSTREET and Joanna (died 31 Jul 1823 in Overton Co, TN), and a step-daughter, Mary GARLAND, who was still alive at the time Catherine died.

http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=1188

• Created from MyHeritage Match via brother Uriah 'ute' Sherrill by SmartCopy: Aug 30 2014, 22:08:11 UTC

  ---

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for Catherine "Bonny Kate" SHERRILL http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for Catherine "Bonny Kate" SHERRILL
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for Joanna Goad Sevier
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for Catherine "Bonny Kate" SHERRILL
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for Catherine "Bonny Kate" SHERRILL
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for Gen John Sevier
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for Joanna Goad Sevier
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R-846913909@ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. <i>Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970</i>. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls. 1,2204::0

GEDCOM Source

Volume: 270; SAR Membership Number: 53924 Record for Brigadier General John Sevier 1,2204::1162643

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for Catherine Bonny Kate Sherrill
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for GEN John SEVIER
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for John 'Governor' 'Brig. General' Sevier
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for Catherine "Bonny Kate" SHERRILL
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for Catherine Bonny Kate Sherrill
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R-846913909@ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Yates Publishing Ancestry.com Operations Inc This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases. Originally, the information was derived from an array of materials including pedigree charts, family history articles, querie. 1,7836::0

GEDCOM Source

Source number: 980.009; Source type: Pedigree chart; Number of Pages: 9 1,7836::1094532

GEDCOM Source

@R-846913909@ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Yates Publishing Ancestry.com Operations Inc This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases. Originally, the information was derived from an array of materials including pedigree charts, family history articles, querie. 1,7836::0

GEDCOM Source

Source number: 7424.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: WAY 1,7836::1094531

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for Joanna Goad Sevier
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for Catherine "Bonny Kate" SHERRILL
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R-846913909@ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Yates Publishing Ancestry.com Operations Inc This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases. Originally, the information was derived from an array of materials including pedigree charts, family history articles, querie. 1,7836::0

GEDCOM Source

Source number: 980.009; Source type: Pedigree chart; Number of Pages: 9 1,7836::1094532

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ U.S., Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1801-1815, 1818-1872 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,1116::0

GEDCOM Source

The National Archives; Washington, D.C.; Ledgers of Payments, 1818-1872, to U.S. Pensioners Under Acts of 1818 Through 1858 From Records of the Office of the Third Auditor of the Treasury; Record Group Title: Records of the Accounting Officers of the Depar 1,1116::450085565

GEDCOM Source

@R-846913909@ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Yates Publishing Ancestry.com Operations Inc This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases. Originally, the information was derived from an array of materials including pedigree charts, family history articles, querie. 1,7836::0

GEDCOM Source

Source number: 7424.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: WAY 1,7836::1094531

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for Gen John Sevier
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for John 'Governor' 'Brig. General' Sevier
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for John 'Governor' 'Brig. General' Sevier
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for GEN John SEVIER
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R-846913909@ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. <i>Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970</i>. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls. 1,2204::0

GEDCOM Source

Volume: 270; SAR Membership Number: 53924 Record for Brigadier General John Sevier 1,2204::1162643

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for Catherine Bonny Kate Sherrill
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107

GEDCOM Source

@R300426683@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Database online. Record for Catherine Bonny Kate Sherrill
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=0&pid=107