Col. John Catlett

   Cause of his death was Colonel Catlett was killed by the Indians while defending the fort at Port Royal in 1670.

  Notes and Events:

• Relationship. G8 grandfather

• Baptism, 12 Mar 1626, St. Peter's Church, Canterbury, Kent, England. Avant, Some Southern Colonial Families, p. 64. [3.23.]

• Note. John Catlett emigrated from Sitingbourne , England to Virginia. "He was born before 1626, probably about 1622, and doubtless married in England before coming over, and had two sons, Thomas and Nicholas." (Stubbs, p. 13) "John Catlett (1622-1670), a native of Sittingbourne, Kent, England, came to Virginia in 1650, settling in Rappahannock County, on the south side of the river at the mouth of Golden Vale Creek.
Colonel John Catlett was a Justice of the Rappahannock County court, and was an explorer. He and German immigrant John Lederer were among the first settlers to lead an expedition to the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1670. From Avant's book, p. 174 "The first party to explore and reach the summit of the Blue Ridge Mountains was led by Colonel John Catlett, of Rappahannock County, as gleaned from 'An account of Virginia,' communicated to the Royal Society in 1676 by Mr. Thomas Glover, an ingenious Chirugion that hath lived some years in that country." [Blackwell's Reprint, Oxford, 1904] "Mr. Glover's account states further that 'There was a Colonel Catlett that was a good Mathematician, who with some other gentlemen took a Journey to make some further discoveries of the Country to the Westwards and arriving at the foot of the Mountains early in the morning they left their horses and endeavored to gain the tops of the mountains which they accomplished about four o'clock in the afternoon, and then looking further forward they discovered other mountains, whereof they took the altitude and judged them inaccessible; which discouraged them from any further attempts, their design being chiefly to discover whether there were any rivers that ran into the South-Ocean . . .' etc.
(Avant, p. 174) "Land Office Patent Book 2, p. 224 "23 May 1650 - A patent for 400 acres of land is granted to John Catlett and Ralph Rousey. . . on the south side of Rappahannock River for the transportation of eight persons into this colony. . . . Included and listed in the names are: Ralph Rousey, John Catlett, Nicholas Catlett." (Avant, p. 175) Land Office Patent Book 3, p. 114 "7 June 1652 - John Catlett and Ralph Rouzee were granted 300 acres of land adjoining their first patent and among their headrights they listed: Sarah Rouzee, Edward Rouzee and Martha Rouzee." (Avant, p. 175) "Land Office Patent Book 3, p. 360 '1 July 1655 - A patent for 1,542 acres of land in Lancaster County granted to John Catlett and Ralph Rouzee . . . etc.'" (Avant, p. 175) "
John Catlett received several other large patents in that section which was Lancaster County and which later became Rappahannock County. These patents were in co-partnership with Ralph Rouzee and with Thomas Lucas, Senior as well as to himself alone." (Avant, p. 175).
John was also granted 450 acres called "Green Hill" on the south side of the Rappahannock river, between the Golden Vale and Cedar Creek. This was his home place and long continued in his family.
"Col. Catlett was killed by the Indians while defending the fort at Port Royal in 1670. Port Royal is on the Rappahannock river, in Caroline County, VA, opposite Port Conway." (Stubbs, p. 15)

John married Elizabeth Underwood, daughter of Capt William Underwood and Margaret, about 1657 in Virginia. (Elizabeth Underwood was born in 1630-1632 in England and died in 1673.)

  Marriage Notes and Events:

• Note. John Catlett married (second wife) Elizabeth Underwood, daughter of William Underwood, of Isle of Wight and Lancaster counties, who was member of the House of Burgesses in 1632.

• Note. Colonel Catlett married prior to 5 January 1663/4 Elizabeth, widow of Captain Francis Slaughter (Deeds, Etc. (1656-1664), p. 326).

John next married Lucas.