Catharine Elizabeth Davies
The second grandchild of Nicholas ("Old Nick") Davies
Compiled by Dr. James David Boyle
Catharine Elizabeth Davies, daughter of Henry
Landon Davies, Gentleman and Anne Whiting Clayton, was born in Bedford
Co, Virginia 19 November 1772. Catharine signed a marriage contract
with Francis Thornton Meriwether in Amherst Co, Virginia, 28 May 1793.
The Bondsman was Henry L. Davies. His letter dated 27 May 1793,
giving consent for the marriage, is witnessed by her brother-in-law
William S. Crawford, and brothers Arthur Davies and Samuel B. Davies.
She married Francis Thornton Meriwether in Lexington Parish, Amherst
Co, Virginia, 2 June 1793. Rev. Crawford officiated at the marriage,
and Waddy Cobb was Surety. A witnessed letter, dated 27 May 1793,
from Henry L. Davies authorizing this marriage is on file at Amherst
Courthouse.
Francis was born at "Cloverfields" in Albemarle Co, Virginia 17
November 1768. He was the son of Col. Nicholas Meriwether and
Margaret Douglas. He resided at "Sholto" in Boonsboro, Bedford Co,
Virginia beginning in 1800. He built "Sholto" on his wife's dower of
1,028 acres, part of the original holdings of her grandfather,
Nicholas Davies. "Sholto" was named after a Scottish castle in the
Douglas lineage. Francis died 19 June 1814 at "Sholto" at 45 years of
age. His body was interred in Bedford Co, Virginia, at "Pebbleton".
She died 16 August 1827 at "Sholto" at 54 years of age. Her will
left "Sholto" to her three surviving sons: Francis T., William N. and
James A. Meriwether.
The funeral services were read by the Rev. Nicholas H. Cobbs. Her
body was interred at “Pebbleton” in Bedford Co.
Catharine Elizabeth Davies and Francis Thornton Meriwether had
the following children: Henry Landon Meriwether, Margaret Douglas Meriwether, George Douglas Meriwether, Elizabeth Margaret Meriwether,
Henry Anne Meriwether, Mary Catharine Whiting Meriwether, Dr. Francis Thornton Meriwether, Jr, Samuel Boyle Meriwether, William Nicholas Meriwether and James Addison Meriwether.