William CANTEY, born August 19, 1657, County Cork, Ireland, emigrated probably from [St. Philip's Parish], Barbados, to colony of South Carolina (brother, George CANTEY, 1670, first fleet of settlers to Charles Towne, South Carolina colony) with his father, Teige CANTEY, 1618-1679; his mother, Elizabeth CANTEY, 1625-1714; brother, George CANTEY; sister Mary CANTEY; and sister, Catherine CANTEY. In Hotten's 'Emigrants, etc.," there is reference to a Mrs. Hellen CANTEY, who was living in Barbados in 1680 but her connection, if any, with TEIGE CANTEY, 1618-1679, is unknown;

William CANTEY, 1657-1716, was grandson of George CANTEY, 1595- County Cork, Ireland.

William's father, Teige CANTEY, 1618-1679, formerly of County Cork, Ireland, settled along the Ashley River.

'The Cantey family of South Carolina is undoubtedly of Irish descent but nothing is known of its early history,' In the 17th centry several members of the family emigrated to Barbados; and one branch of the family came fro there to the South Carolina colony. The first of the name to make this move was George CANTEY in spring 'who came in the 'first fleet' in the spring of 1670; and a few years later he 'imported' his father, Teige CANTEY; so far is known all the widely separated branches of the family in America descend from this single head, Teige CANTEY;

The earliest grant to William CANTEY, 1657-1716, was on June 1, 1679,' when he is described as "one of the free persons of this province." Other grants followed in 1682, and 1713.

William CANTEY, 1657-1716, was a member of the Commons House of Assembly, representing Berkeley County, in 1696, 1697, and again in 1704.

William CANTEY, 1657-1716, "...was placed in command of one of the military companies at an early date as appears from the records of the Assembly of 1703, of which he was a member, being enrolled as 'Capt. William CANTEY.'"; [he] commanded a company against French and Spanish attack on Charleston in September 1706, and routed enemy at Hobcaw in Christ Church Parish, "...In the attack on the City of Charleston by the French and Spaniards, in Sept. 1706, he commanded a company, which, with Capt. Fenwicke's, signally defeated and routed the enemy,' at Hobcaw in Christ Church Parish."

William CANTEY died about 1716. Captain William Cantey of Dorchester. The will of William CANTEY, 1657-1716, is lost; his property of 22 slaves was divided by commission, reported 12 February 1725. "He died about 1716, as his widow Jane CANTEY, in a petition" for the division of his estate, July 15, 1724, says that he had died about nine years before and that his will had been lost. She also says that the eldest son, James, was not of age at the time of his father's death, but was at the date of her petition, and she refers to five other children, but not by name. Accordingly a commission, consisting of Hon. Ralph IZARD, Walter IZARD, James WARING, Richard BUTLER and Gelson CLAPP, was appointed to divide his property, consisting of 22 slaves; and they made their report Feb. 12, 1725,'having divided the slaves between Airs. {heirs] Jane CANTEY, James CANTEY, Samuel CANTEY, Joseph CANTEY, Joseph WHITE, Capt. W^m. BELLINGER and James McCLOGLIN.

In the will of Richard Baker, 1630-1698, 'written Jan. 8, 1697-8 and proved July 24, 1698, he mentions his wife Elizabeth, several children, his "son-in-law William CANTEY," (called also "son"), and "son" John PAMOR [PALMER].

Children include:

son, James CANTEY, eldest son, born before 1703, but not of age in 1716 when his father died; md. July 24, 1723, Elizabeth STEVENS; he died 1735;

son, William CANTERY, b. 1672, d. 1729;

daughter, Mary CANTEY, born 21 September 1678, died 15 December 1724, married Capt. William BELLINGER;

son, Samuel Cantey, born after 1704; died before February 19, 1762, married Ann;

son, Joseph Cantey, b. before 1704; died 1763, married Mary - ;

daughter - CANTEY, married Joseph WHITE, - ;

daughter - CANTEY, married James McCLOGLIN;