Daughter of John "Jackie" Bovender and first wife, Rachel Brown Bovender.

Married Nathan "Nate" Farrington Thornton about 1848 in Surry County NC (now Yadkin County NC)

Very sketchy information on these three daughters who are not shown on any Census records with their parents and siblings:
Bettie or Nettie b. 1855 in Yadkin Co NC
Lizzie or Lillie b. 1857 in Yadkin Co NC
Mary b. 1859 in Yadkin Co NC
None of these girls are shown as living in their parents' household in 1860 or 1870 Censuses so they are presumed to have died as young children.

The 1860 Census Record below indicates that the family left Yadkin County NC after Mary's birth in 1859 and was living in Lumpkin Georgia which is in Stewart County GA (on the GA-AL state line) by the 1860 Census. None of the four daughters mentioned above are shown on the 1860 Census. Stewart County GA shares a boundary with Alabama and it is about halfway between Montgomery AL and Albany GA

1860 Census shows:
Name: Catharine Thornton
Age: 31
Birth Year: abt 1829
Gender: Female
Birth Place: North Carolina
Home in 1860: Lumpkin, Stewart, Georgia
Post Office: Lumpkin
Family Number: 70
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
Nathaniel A Thornton 32
Catharine Thornton 31
John H Thornton 10 b. About 1850
Thomas Thornton 8 b. About 1852
James Thornton 7 b. About 1853
William Thornton 5 b. About 1855
Rachel Thornton 3 b. About 1857
Nathaniel Thornton 1 b. About 1859

In a letter written by Catey's father, John Bovender, to a son-in-law serving in the CSA in 1862, John mentions that the last time he heard from Catey and Nate they were living in Alabama. This indicates that the family moved from Stewart County GA to AL between 1860-1862.

At some point between 1862 when John's letter was written and the 1870 Census, the family moved from Stewart County GA to Henry County AL. These counties are 50-55 miles apart.

1870 Census shows:
Name: Catherine Thornton
Age in 1870: 39
Birth Year: abt 1831
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1870: Precinct 11, Henry, Alabama
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Lawrenceville
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
Nathaniel Thornton 40
Catherine Thornton 39
John N Thornton 20 b. About 1850
Thomas A Thornton 18 b.about 1852
James L Thornton 16 b. About 1854

The 1870 Census does not show 7 of their children: Bettie, Nettie, Lizzie/Lillie, Mary,William, Rachel & Nathaniel. Bettie, Nettie,Lizzie/Lillie and Mary were not listed in 1860 or 1870 Censuses. William, Rachel & Nathaniel were listed in 1860 Census but not in 1870 Census.

The 1870 Census is the last record for Nate also.

1880 Census shows Catey as a widow living in Mount Airy, Surry County, NC in the household of her son, Thomas A. Thorton, age 28, with his wife, Martha C. Thornton, age 21, and their daughter Mary E. Thornton, age 7.

1900 Census shows Catey as the mother-in-law living in Mount Airy, Surry County, NC in the household of Alexander Seal, age 22, and wife, M.E. Seal, age 18, and their daughter, Luna O. Seal, age 7 months. She was actually the grandmother-in-law since the wife, M. E. Seal, was Mary Elizabeth Thornton Seal who was Catey's granddaughter and Thomas's daughter. Thomas had died in 1891 and his widow, Martha Caroline "Callie" Minish Thornton remarried that same year and moved to Yadkin County NC with her new husband, Martin Pinnix. Mary Elizabeth stayed with her grandmother, Catey, and took her grandmother to live with her and her husband, Alexander Seal when they married. Catey lived with them for the rest of her life. Mary Elizabeth's Memorial# is 62753401. She died at age 37 just 4 years after her grandmother and left at least one child, Lena, who was about age 16.

Informant's name on Catey's death certificate is J.L. Thornton of Marion VA. This may be her son, James L. Thornton, shown in 1860 and 1870 Census. He erroneously gave her father's name as Jackson Bovender but her father was John Bovender Jr who was known as Jackie. Her NC death Certificate was issued from Surry County.