Cathering Foreman Bigby was alive in July 1862, according to The Life and Times of Reverend Stephen Foreman, by Cooleela Faulkneer, Cherokee Heritage Press, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, 2006 - "Sabboth, June 29th 1862 ...By request of the Widow and surviving children, I gave notice that I would preach Old Mr. Bigby's funeral on the 3rd Sabboth in July the 20th of the month." page 74.
"Sabboth, July 20th 1862 ... Three weeks ago today I made an appointment to preach again at Hungry Mountain - then I preached to a pretty full house, by request I announced that I would preach old Mr. Bigby's funeral on this day, But I am here in the house where Mr. Worcester once lived and prayed. He has gone to his rest in Heaven and I am here through the kindness of his daughter, Mrs. Hicks, hiding from the Pins, my own people who are seeking my life." page 90
Catherine Foreman Bigby was 1/2 degree Cherokee, she was sometimes called Catie or Kitty and her Cherokee name was Wasa.
An Account of the Church at Candy's Creek by William Holland, Missionary, January 1, 1828.

Catharine Bigby was one of the first in this place who embraced the gospel. She understands and speaks a little English. Her life has been such as to adorn her profession. She is a sister of Thomas Foreman, one of the two principle headmen of this district. Her habits of industry are very commendable. For example, she and her daughter manufacture cloth for the supply of her family, which is quite large. In regard to neatness, her improvements has not been so great, yet, very respectable.

CATHERINE (Katy) FOREMAN BIGBY was the wife of Jim Bigby and made the hard journey West. Her father, Anthony Foreman, was a Scotsman here in the service of the British during the Revolutionary War. He became disgruntled with the war, deserted the British ranks and decided to settle down in America with an Indian lass named Susie Bark, a full-blood Cherokee. Katy was born to this union. Katy's mother was a daughter of The Bark. Katy Bigby was an Aunt of Rev. Jesse Bushyhead by her sister Nannie. She was half-sister to Rev. Stephen Foreman. She was my great(6X) grandmother.

James Bigby was a fairly important person (he served one term on the
Cherokee Council in the 1830's and started a school in Indian
Territory), so his name shows up more on documents than does his wife.
The personalities of James Bigby and Catherine Foreman Bigby are
described by Rev. William Holland, missionary at Candy's Creek (Records
of the American Board of Commissions for Foreign Missions, Houghton
Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA). The Candy's Creek mission
records have been reproduced in issues of the GOING SNAKE MESSENGER and
the JOURNAL OF CHEROKEE STUDIES.

5. Catherine3 Foreman (Anthony2, John Anthony1) was born April 17, 1785 in Ooyougilogi County, Tennessee, and died 1872 in Stilwell, Indian Territory. She married James Bigby, Sr. 1800 in Amohee District, Tennessee, son of Unknown Bigby and Elizabeth Hicks. He was born September 06, 1778 in Cherokee Nation East, Bradley, Tennessee, and died 1856 in Flint District, Indian Territory.

Notes for Catherine Foreman:
Notes were obtained from Family Tree Maker home page of Betty G McGee.

CATHERINE FOREMAN belonged to the Paint Clan. Catherine was a member of the Candy's Creek Church. Rev. William Holland was the missionary there and wrote about several members of the church. He said that Catherine was one of the first to embrace the faith. She understood and spoke a little English. Her life was such as to adorn her profession. She and her daughter manufactured cloth for the supply of her family. She was a very respectable woman. The dates given when she and others went into the church was September 25, 1825, at age 42. She was known to be 1/2 Cherokee.

More About Catherine Foreman:
Burial: Unknown, Hungry Mountain, Oklahoma
Clan: Paint Clan
Degree of Blood: 1/2 Cherokee Indian

Notes for James Bigby, Sr.:
Notes were obtained from Family Tree Maker Betty G McGee home page.

JAMES BIGBY was Irish from his father and Cherokee from his mother. He had a half-brother, Thomas Wilson and a half-sister, Betsy Brown. He married Catherine Foreman in 1800, lived in Amohee District, Tennessee. James was interested in education. He and his brother-in-law, Thomas Foreman and Hair Conrad petitioned for a school to be established by the American Board of Commissioners for foreign missions. The school was established in 1824 called Candy's Creek Mission. After removal one of the eighteen schools in the Cherokee Nation in 1845 was at their home.

In 1825, James and Catherine lived close enough to attend the Candy's Creek Church with the missionary, Rev. William Holland, as their preacher. James spoke English and Cherokee but he always prayed in English. He rarely spoke in public and when he did it was not with ease. It was noted by William Holland, missionary, that he accepted his faith much later than Catherine. His path just got brighter and brighter. He was a good farmer and neighbor. He read understandingly.

July 24, 1801, James Bigby received a spinning wheel from agent Return J. Meigs.

April 8, 1813, James Bigby wrote Return J. Meigs for permit to run ferry on the Tennessee River near mouth of Baker's Creek and to build a road from it to meet road opened by Rogers. He had already gotten permission from Major Delso, proprietor of the other side of the river.

December 13, 1813, James Cunningham stole Anthony Foreman's slave girl as testified to by Jack Foreman and Catherine Bigby.

James Bigby was a private in North Carolina Continental Line. He received 640 acres which were issued December 24, 1796. James Bigby served under Captain John Mahary. The land he received was in Sumner County on the waters of White Oak Creek and Barren River.

Rev. William Holland wrote to the Foreign Mission Board on October 19, 1825:

Mrs. Bigby is an interesting half breed and the sister of Mr. T. Foreman. She is about 40 years old. She as a large family of children, four of which were baptized with her. James, Jr., and Thomas were baptized by a "strolling Methodist" as infants. Her mother Nancy Fields was also a member of the Candy's Creek Mission.

Letter of April 15, 1829 about new church members:
Mrs. Polly Taylor, daughter of James Bigby was married to a white man. She is 25-30 years old with 7 children and lives within 4 miles of the mission. Bark Foreman, brother of T. Foreman, is 30 years old and had a hare-lip with a speech impediment. Bushyhead, 45-50 years old, a full blood, speaks little English. He was once very sinful and full of vice.

Thomas and James, Jr., unmarried sons of James and Catherine Bigby, understand English and Cherokee but speak only English. They are of very good character. James attends religious meetings regularly even in bad weather. They both speak easily at meetings and are readers.

James Bigby Sr. is listed on the 1835 Census in Candy's Creek, McMinn County, Tennessee as One halfblood and Five quarterbloods. Two farmers and one farm. Four weavers and four spinners. Five read English and four read Cherokee.

More About James Bigby, Sr.:
Burial: Unknown, Hungry Mountain, Oklahoma
Degree of Blood: 1/4 Cherokee Indian
Drennen Roll: 1851, #611 Flint District
Reservation Roll: 1817, Signed for 640 acre Reservation

More About James Bigby and Catherine Foreman:
Marriage: 1800, Amohee District, Tennessee

Children of Catherine Foreman and James Bigby are:
+ 22 i. Mary Ann 'Polly'4 Bigby, born August 09, 1802 in Cherokee Nation East, South Carolina; died November 02, 1885 in Near Sweetwater, Tennessee.
+ 23 ii. Jennie Bigby, born Abt. 1804 in Cherokee Nation East, Tennessee; died February 27, 1875.
+ 24 iii. Thomas Wilson Bigby, born February 22, 1806 in Cherokee Nation East, Amohee District, Tennesse; died October 16, 1861 in Stilwell, Indian Territory.
25 iv. James Bigby, Jr., born Abt. 1807 in Cherokee Nation East; died Abt. 1868. He married Louisa Levi; died Unknown.
Notes for James Bigby, Jr.:
JAMES BIGBY is listed on the 1835 Census. Mouse Creek, McMinn County, Tennessee as one quarterblood. A farm and one farmer. Reads English and Cherokee.



More About James Bigby, Jr.:
Degree of Blood: 3/8 Cherokee Indian
Education: Candy's Creek Mission School


+ 26 v. Elizabeth Bigby, born Abt. 1808 in Cherokee Nation East; died 1835 in Cherokee Nation East.
+ 27 vi. Wyley McNair Bigby, born Abt. 1812 in Cherokee Nation East, Tennessee; died 1867.
+ 28 vii. Sarah 'Sallie' Bigby, born Abt. 1814 in Cherokee Nation East; died Abt. 1870.
29 viii. Jackson Bigby, born Abt. 1816 in Cherokee Nation East; died 1864 in Tennessee, Civil War.
More About Jackson Bigby:
Chapman Roll: 1852, Near Murphy, Cherokee County, NC Family #4 Roll #1296
Clan: Paint Clan
Degree of Blood: 3/8 Cherokee Indian
Education: Candy's Creek Mission School
Siler Roll: 1851, Near Murphy, Cherokee County, NC Family #4 Roll #1258


+ 30 ix. Susie Bigby, born Abt. 1820 in Cherokee Nation East; died Abt. 1870.
+ 31 x. Malinda Jane Bigby, born July 06, 1822 in Cherokee Nation East, Tennessee; died September 02, 1909 in Oklahoma.