Francina H. BURT

     Her father died in September 1827 in Autauga County, Alabama. He died before her birth.²

Francina H. BURT, daughter of John BURT and Hannah (?), was born on 29 December 1827 in Autauga County, Alabama.^3,4,5

Francina Burt had two different guardians following the death of her father about 1827. They were John Huddleston and A. R. Hutchinson. According to Autauga County, Alabama Orphans Court Minutes, Vol. 1, page 1, 14 January 1823, Alexander R. Hutchinson was administrator of the estate of Silas Catchings. A. R. Hutchinson's wife was given in this record as Francina A. Hutchinson (nee Catchings). [Correction: She was Francina Hutchinson (nee Rogers), the widow of Silas Catchings]. This may be the person for whom John Burt named his young daughter. It is also interesting to note that one of her older brothers was named Alexander. Could John Burt's second wife, Hannah, be related to the Hutchinson family?⁶

On 26 January 1829 John Huddleston was named guardian of Burrows H. BURT, Alexander H. BURT, Elizabeth BURT and Margaret Marshall BURT in Autauga County, Alabama. Burrow, Margaret and Francina were listed as heirs of John Burt, and Alex H. and Elizabeth were listed as infant heirs.^7,8

On 22 February 1830 John Huddleston was still the guardian of Burrows H. BURT, Francina H. BURT, Alexander H. BURT, Elizabeth BURT and Margaret Marshall BURT in Autauga County, Alabama.⁹

On 22 February 1831 John Huddleston was still the guardian of Burrows H. BURT, Francina H. BURT, Alexander H. BURT, Elizabeth BURT and Margaret Marshall BURT in Autauga County, Alabama.¹⁰

On 23 March 1833 Alexander R. Hutchinson was named the new guardian of Alexander H. BURT, Francina H. BURT, Elizabeth BURT and Margaret Marshall BURT in Autauga County, Alabama. John Huddleston was listed as the former guardian and he turned over remaining funds to Hutchinson. Burrows Burt had died in1832.

Francina H. BURT was listed as one of the heirs to the estate of Burrows H. BURT 10 February 1838 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama. She received $106 as her share of the final settlement. Alexander R. Hutchinson was reported as her guardian.¹¹

As of July 1848, Francina H. BURT was living in Wetumpka, Alabama. "Miss Fancina(sp) Burt" was among a list of letters waiting to be picked up in the post office.

Francina H. BURT was listed as a resident in the Smith and Ellen Graham household in the census report on 14 September 1850 in Wetumpka, Coosa [now Elmore] County, Alabama. N. Smith Graham was a 31 year old attorney at law with real estate valued at $1500. He was born in North Carolina. His wife, Ellen, was 25 and born in Alabama. Ellen Rogers Catchings married Neill Smith Graham 23 Nov 1841 in Autauga county. She was the daughter of Alexander Robert Catchings and Mrs. Francies Rogers. They had three children: Matilda 7, Francina 5 and Janetta 2. Frances Burt was 21 years old and born in Alabama. Note: Alexander R. Hutchinson, the second guardian of Francina Burt, was married to Francina Catchings, Ellen's mother.^12,13,14

Francina married Silas Bohun Cater on 21 October 1851 in residence of Neill Smith Graham, New Georgia, Coosa County, Alabama. The service was performed by Baptist minister D. R. W. McIver. Silas first married Martha Caroline Fitzgerald 31 Mar 1839. She died 3 Sep 1847 and is buried in Wetumpka, Alabama.¹⁵

Francina H. BURT and Silas Bohun Cater appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 28 June 1860 in Rockford, Coosa County, Alabama. The household was listed as Silas B. Cater, a 46-year-old merchant born in South Carolina. He had real estate valued at $5000 and personal property $1000. His wife was listed as F. Cater, 30. Also in the household were six children ages 2-18. More than llikely only the two youngest male children, S. H. Cater, 4, and M. C. Cater, 2, were children of Francina. There was a big age gap between S. H., 4, and the next child who was 12.

Francina H. BURT and Silas Bohun Cater appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 4 June 1870 in Montgomery, Alabama. The household was listed as Silas Cater, 56, auctioneer. He had real estate valued at $5000 and personal property $300. His wife Francis(sp) Cater, was 33[43]. With them were their children: Emma, 23, at home; Silas, 14, at home; Margaret 12, in school; Francis, 7(M); and Lula, 3. Also in the household was Jack Cater, 80, a black domestic servant.

Francina H. BURT appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 5 June 1880 in Montgomery, Alabama. The household was listed as Frances Cater was 47 years old and engaged in housekeeping. Living with her were her son, Silus(sp), 34[24], bookkeeper; daughter Cora, 21, at home; son Frank, 17, clerk; and daughter Lula, 13, at school. They were living on Whitman Street.

Francina H. Cater appeared on a census, enumerated 1 June 1900, in the household of her son Silas H. Cater in Beat 3, Montgomery, Alabama.⁴

Francina appeared in a newspaper article 4 May 1916 in the The Prattville Progress, published in Prattville, Alabama. Mrs. Francina Cater (nee Burt) was born on her father's plantation about 15 miles from Prattville, in 1827, and therefore will be 89 years old Dec. 29th, 1916. Her home was near Mulberry creek, which changed it's name to Breakfast creek after Gen. LaFayette ate his morning meal on it's banks. She is very lovable and speaks interestingly of the past and present. For many years she has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Frank Allen, in Montgomery and numbers her friends by the score.

Francina H. BURT died on 15 December 1916 in Montgomery, Alabama, at age 88.⁵ She was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.¹⁶

Her obituary appeared 16 December 1916 in the the Montgomery Advertiser, published in Montgomery, Alabama. DEATHS- Mrs. F. H. Cater-- Mrs. F. H. Cater, widow of S. B. Cater, died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. M. C. Allen, No. 708 Madison Avenue, at 9:30 o'clock Friday night. Mrs. Cater was born in Autauga county, Ala., Dec. 29, 1827, and would have been 89 years old the twenty-ninth day of the present month.

Mrs. Cater is survived by two sons, S. H. Cater of Montgomery and F. A. Cater of Selma and three daughters, Mrs. M. C. Allen of Montgomery, Mrs. James Smoot of Wetumpka, and Mrs. W. W. Coghill of Birmingham. There are seven grand-children and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held from the residence, No., 708 Madison Avenue at 3:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon, internment being made in Oakwood Cemetery.