Person:Catharine Fite (1)

Biography of Catharine Fite

Catharine Fite was born in Sussex, New Jersey to John and Catharine Elizabeth Fite on 27 October 1754^[1]. Catharine married John Titman in Sussex New Jersey according to the testimony of Elizabeth Orten, who worked and lived in his household and was "bound" to John Titman^[2]. The family moved from Sussex, New Jersey to Lincoln County, North Carolina along with other members of the Fite family and the Orton's in 1790.

Will of Father, John Fite

Catharine is listed in her father's will which was written on 5 April 1782 and proved 23 June 1784^[3][12][13]. John Fite names his children in his will and names Johannes Titman as the wife of his daughter, Catharine.

Revolutionary Pension File of Henry Rumfelt

In the Revolutionary pension file of Henry Rumfelt, Catharine Titman, makes her declaration in the matter of her sister, Mary Fite Rumfelt. Her sister was applying to the government to receive a Revolutionary Pension. Sworn to on 28 October, 1840. She says that she is the sister of Mary Fite and her sister was married to Henry Rumfelt at her father, John Fite's, home during the wheat harvest in July 1781 in the county of Sussex, New Jersey. She also states that she, Catharine, is eighty-six years of age on the 27th day of this month (October), which would make her born 27 Oct 1754^[1]. She also states that Mary Rumfelt was still married to Henry Rumfelt and was a Revolutionary Pensioner at the time of his death which was 26 March 1827.

In the Revolutionary pension file of Henry Rumfelt, Elizabeth Orton makes her declaration and she states she is a life-long friend of Mary and Catharine Fite. She was "bound" to John Titman and lived with him till she served out her time. That she knew Mary Rumfelt before her marriage to Henry Rumfelt and also knew him. That the Rumfelt's lived together in New Jersey until they had three children^[2]. They all moved to North Carolina in the year 1790, because Elizabeth Orton and her husband came to North Carolina in "company with the said Henry Rumfelt and they "have lived near them ever since". She also states that she knew that John Titman was the husband of Catharine and that Titman died and Catharine married Matthew Armstrong and that she now is the widow of Matthew Armstrong. Sworn to on 1 June 1841, Lincoln County, North Carolina^[2].

Move to North Carolina

The family moved from Sussex, New Jersey to Lincoln County, North Carolina along with other members of the Fite family and the Orton's in 1790^[2]. John Titman is found living on the 1810 U. S. Census for Lincoln, North Carolina just a few entries from her sister Mary Rumfelts (Henry) Rumfelt's family^[5]. On the 1820 U. S. Census they are living West of the South Fork of the Catawba River, in Lincoln, North Carolina along with his wife and children^[4]. The 1830 U. S. Federal Census for Lincoln County, North Carolina shows "Katharine Tittman" as the head of household^[2] even though her husband, John Titman, dies in 1831. They are also listed living near "Matthew Armstong" who is to become her future husband. John Titman is buried in New Hope Presbyterian Church Cemetery, in Gastonia, Gaston County, North Carolina^[7].

Catharine's Second Marriage

On 21 Nov 1831, Catharine Titman marries Matthew Armstrong, who was living in the same county as she lived, Lincoln County, NC. He was also born in Lincoln County (formerly Mecklenburg), North Carolina and was a soldier in the Revolution serving from North Carolina. He served in the Revolution and drew a pension for his service. He died 21 June 1838 in Lincoln, North Carolina and is buried in Smith Cemetery, Gaston County, North Carolina leaving his widow, Catharine. She was paid the Revolutionary War Pension due of her husband, Matthew Armstrong, upon his death of 21 June 1838. Catharine also signs away her rights to her husband's estate which was worth over $2,000^[8][16]. On 4 February 1839, she is allowed one year's provision to live on as his widow^[8][15].

Catharine Armstrong is found on the 1840 U.S. Census in the "Lower Regiment" area of Lincoln, North Carolina. It appears she has two younger person living with her. It is not known if these are her children or were the children of her husband, Matthew. Catharine was 77 years old when she married Matthew Armstrong so she did not have any children in this marriage. There is no further record of Catharine after she gives her declaration for her sister, Mary Fite Rumfelt to optain her pension^[2]. She also is not on the 1850 U. S. Census. Also the land records have not been checked because they are not readily available. Her burial place is unknown. It is most likely somewhere in Gaston County where both of her husbands are buried and before the 1850 census was taken.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Fite, Elizabeth Mitchell Stephenson. The biographical and genealogical records of the Fite families in the United States. (New York: E.M.S. Fite, 1907)
   p 27.

   Catharine Fite was not married to Daniel Packer as Mrs. Fite claims. She has mixed up these families.

2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10} Application of Mary Rumfelt, in United States. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files. (Washington D.C.).

   Birth stated in the application papers of her sister, Mary Rumfelt.

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 John Fite, in New Jersey. Surrogate's Court (Sussex County). Record of wills, 1753-1900; 1S - 5948S. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1968)
   480S, 23 Jul 1784.

   Names daughter Catharine, wife of Johannes Titman.

4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Lincoln, North Carolina, United States. 1820 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   P 340.

   Titman, John, West of the South Fork of the Catawba River, Lincoln, North Carolina
   Titman, John, Males 16-25, 1; Males 26-44, 2; Males 45 and over, 2; Females 16-25, 2; Females 26-44, 1; Females 45 and over, 1, Total 9.

5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Lincoln, North Carolina, United States. 1810 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   P 142.

   Titman, John, Lincoln, North Carolina (indexed as John Letman)
   Titman, John, Males under 10, 1; Males 16-25, 2; Males 25-44, 2; Males 45 and over, 2; Females under 10, 1; Females 10-15, 1, Females 16-25, 1; Females 26-44, 1; Females 45 and over, 1, Total 12. (Living close to sister's family, Henry Rumfelt)

6. ↑ Lincoln, North Carolina, United States. 1830 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   P 122.

   Katharine Tittman, Lincoln, North Carolina
   Males 40-49, 1; Males 70-79, 1; Females 30-39, 1; Females, 60-69, 1; Females 70-79, 1, Total 5.

7. ↑ ^7.0 7.1 Lincoln, North Carolina, United States. 1840 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   p 134.

   Armstrong, Catharine, Lower Regiment, Lincoln, North Carollina
   Armstrong, Catharine, Males, 15-19, 1; Females 20-29, 1; Females, 60-69, 1; Slaves, 5:
   Total: 8.

8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} Matthew Armstrong, in Lincoln County (North Carolina). Superior Court Clerk. Lincoln County, North Carolina, probate records, 1831-1964. (Raleigh, North Carolina: North Carolina State Department of Archives and History, 1964)
   1839.
9.   This Catharine Fite was not married to Daniel Packer. That is another Catharine Fite. See the declaration of Elizabeth Orten, in the pension file of Henry Rumfelt, who knew them all her life regarding her two marriages.
10. ↑ ^10.0 10.1 Declaration of Catharine Armstrong
11. ↑ Declaration of Elizabeth Orton
12. ↑ ^12.0 12.1 John Fite Will, p1
13. ↑ ^13.0 13.1 John Fite Will, p2
14. ↑ Widow paid Husband's Pension to 1837
15. ↑ ^15.0 15.1 Widow Paid One Year Provision
16. ↑ ^16.0 16.1 Estate signed over to James Armstrong