Samuel Powhatan Carter

Notes:

Samuel Perry (he changed his middle name to Powhatan) CARTER was born in Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee on 6 August 1819. Carter County was named after his grandfather, Landon CARTER, and Elizabethton was named after his grandmother, Elizabeth McLin CARTER. The CARTERs were probably the richest family in the Northeastern corner of Tennessee during the early 1800's. They had accumulated large land holdings, and operated several iron forges. Samuel was well educated, having attended Duffield Academy, Washington College in Limestone, TN, Princeton University, and graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. He served aboard the U.S.S. Ohio, and saw combat action in the war with Mexico in 1846. Following the war, he returned to Annapolis where he was an instructor. Between 1855 and 1857, he was again at sea and saw action on the China coast. In 1857, he returned to the Naval Academy as an instructor of seamanship. Following the outbreak of the Civil War, Samuel was assigned to the War Department, and given the task of returning to Northeastern Tennessee and organizing forces among the mostly Union sympathetic population. He led forces which captured Cumberland Gap in 1862, destroyed 100 miles of railroad tracks, and in 1863, commanded the Kentucky Division which defeated Morgan one day and Smith the next. Recognized for his combat leadership, he advanced in rank throughout the war and was a Major General by war's end. After the war, he returned tothe Naval Academy where he was the Commandant between 1869-1872. In 1882, he was promoted to Rear Admiral, making him the only U.S. military officer to have held the rank of Army General and Navy Admiral. Samuel died on 26 May 1891, and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C. Samuel's father, Alfred Moore Carter, and grandfather, Landon Carter, also have interesting stories. But instead, let me jump to his great grandfather, John Carter. John was a very wealthy merchantand fur trader. He left Virginia in about 1770 and set up an indian trading post near present day Rogersville, Tennessee. He may have stayed in that location, but the Shawnees robbed and destroyed the post. He moved to the Watauga Settlement near Sycamore Shoals on the Watauga River in what is now Carter County. He was a signer of the Watauga Association in 1772, which provided for self rule four years before the thirteen colonies declared their independence from Great Britain.He held several important postions in Watauga, and was later chairman of the courts in Washington District and Washington County, North Carolina (all of eastern Tennessee). In about 1780, he and his son Landon built a mansion using hand hewn timbers, and installed what is believed to be the first glass windows in the region. John died shortly after the mansion was completed, and may have been the wealthiest man in North Carolina. His descendants were instrumental in the formationof Tennessee in 1796, and two of his great great grandsons became govenors of the State.

Anne Arundel County, MD 1870 Federal Census
Page 696
Family No.: 17
Samuel P. Carter 50 M W TN Occupation: Capt. USN
Caroline Carter 42 F W DC Occupation: Kpg Hs
Samuel Carter 6 M W NY


Washington D.C. 1880 Federal Census
Page 242B
Samuel P. CARTER 60 TN TN VA
Martha C. CARTER 50 DC PA VA
Samuel CARTER 16 NY TN DC



The Washington Post, May 28, 1891
Page 2

Died 9 a.m. on May 26, 1891, Rear Admiral S.P. Carter, U.S.N. Funeral of Admiral Carter will take place from his late residence, 1316
Connecticut avenue, Thursday, May 28, at 3, and from the Church of the
Covenant at 3:30 p.m. Interment at Oak Hill.

Gravestone inscription reads:
Samuel Powhatan Carter
Rear Admiral U.S. Navy
Brev. Major General, U.S. Vol.
Born 6 Aug 1819
Died 26 May 1891

Samuel married Caroline C. "Carrie" Potts on 16 Jul 1851 in District of Columbia, , , . Caroline (daughter of Samuel J. Potts and Mary A. Ross) was born about 1828 in District of Columbia, , , ; died on 24 May 1875 in Murau, , Tyrol, Austria; was buried on 29 Oct 1875 in Oak Hill Cemetery, , Georgetown, District of Columbia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Alfred P. Carter was born on 20 May 1862 in Annapolis, , Anne Arundel County, Maryland; died on 17 Aug 1869; was buried on 30 Oct 1869 in Oak Hill Cemetery, , Georgetown, District of Columbia.
2. Samuel Powhatan Carter, Jr. was born on 6 Jul 1863 in New York, , , ; died on 1 May 1925 in Washington, , , District of Columbia; was buried on 4 May 1925 in Oak Hill Cemetery, , Georgetown, District of Columbia.

Samuel married Martha Custis "Markie" Williams on 3 Oct 1877 in District of Columbia, , , . Martha (daughter of Captain William George Williams and America Pinckney Peter) was born on 28 Mar 1827 in Georgetown, , , District of Columbia; died on 31 Oct 1899 in Georgetown, , , District of Columbia; was buried on 2 Nov 1899 in Oak Hill Cemetery, , Georgetown, District of Columbia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Last Will & Testament of Alfred M. Carter


Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee
January 31st, A.D. 1845
In the name of God Amen. I, Alfred M. Carter, of the County of Carter, and State of Tennessee, being of sound mind and memory, but weak of body; knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die, do make and appoint this my last will and Testament.
I give my Soul to God, who gave it, to be disposed of according to the
good pleasure of his will.
I do hereby nominate and appoint Evelina B. Carter, Samuel P. Carter, Wm.
B. Carter, Jr., and James P.T. Carter to be my Executrix and Executors.
Touching such wordly estate as it hath pleased God to favor me with, I
dispose of it in the following manner.

1. All my just debts I request to be paid by my Executrix andExecutors. In order that they may be able to do this, I desire that they shall have full power and authority to sell and dispose of, any part, or all of my personal or real property, at private sale, and to the best advantage.
However, should my Executrix and Executors believe, that, by continuing my business as it was conducted before my decease, they will be able to pay all my debts without disposing of any of my personal property, or real estate, I do hereby give them the entire control of the whole of my estate, both personal and real, for the space of five years, if so much be necessary, in order to accomplish this object: Allowing to them a fair and reasonable compensation for their labours: Provided herein, however, that my Executrix and Executors, either jointly, or separately, shall not be accountable to any of my heirs for any misfortune arising from bad trading, as from any other sources of loss which is beyond their control.
2. After my debts are paid, I wish that my wife, Evelina B. Carter, shall enjoy the use of my farm which lies on the Watauga River, (being a part of a Tract of land containing six-hundred and fifty acres, which was originally granted to Landon Carter), together with my dwelling house, lots of ground, in and about Elizabethton, with the forge and mills, and all the machinery attached thereto, and also, that she shall have the entire control and use of all my Slaves, during her natural life.
3. I wish that my property, of whatever kind, which remains after the payment of my debts, be equally divided between the following persons, viz. David W. Carter, the heirs of my daughter Elizabeth J. Rhea, Landon D. Carter, Samuel P. Carter, Wm. B. Carter, Jr. and James P.T. Carter, with the following exceptions: to wit, David W. Carter to receive four-thousand dollars less, and Landon D. Carter three thousand less than either of my other children, in asmuch as I formerly gave to them the sum attached to each of their names above.The heirs of Elizabeth J. Rhea to receive one sixth part of my Estate, after
the debts I owe have been discharged.
4. I desire that at the final division of my estate, (that is, after the decease of my wife); all my slaves shall form a portion of the property that shall fall to the lot of Samuel P. Carter, Wm. B. Carter, Jr. and James P.T. Carter, as I wish to prevent them being thrown in numerous hands. Witness
my hand [last line on tear in paper and is unreadable].

A.M. Carter (Seal)

Witness
Wm. L. Murphey
Wm. P. Brown
Aquila Moore

Alfred married Evilina Belmont Perry about 1817 in Elizabethton, , Carter County, Tennessee. Evilina (daughter of David Perry) was born about 1797 in Augusta County, , , Virginia; died about 1877 in Elizabethton, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Note from John James Henry : Landon CARTER, along with his Father, John CARTER, and William BEAN were the first permanent English settlers in Tennessee in 1766. On his grave, near the Carter Mansion, the DAR has placed a marker listing his birth as 1760. However, tradition has it that he was ten years old when his father founded Carter's Station in 1766 so I list his birth as 1756. THe earlier birth date is also supported by the fact that Landon signed the petition asking North Carolina to approve The Washington District in 1773, and by NC law (which his father was well aware of) you had to be at least 16 to sign a petition. The petition was approved by the Whig Legislature in 1776. The Carters first settled in Carters Valley (just west of Kingsport, TN) and later moved near Watauga Old Fields (a deserted Indian Town) on the Watauga River, near present day Elizabethton. Prime movers in the establishment of the Watauga Association (which had the first written constitution in America), John and Landon were influential in the Constitutions and founding of the Washington District of North Carolina in 1776, the State of Franklin (1786) and the State of Tennessee in 1796. Carter County is named for John and Elizabethton is named for Landon's wife, Elizabeth (MACLIN) CARTER. Landon was a Major in the North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution, serving under Colonel John Sevier, who later as Governor of Tennessee (1796) made him General in charge of the Tennessee Militia. The 1830 Census for Carter Co., TN lists Alfred M. Carter, George Carter and William B. carter as heads of households. These are undoubtedly Three of Landon's sons. No mention is made of John Maclin Carter, but the following are listed William Carter age 40-49 (5), William Carter age 30-39 (10), and Thomas Carter age 30-39 (4), all of which had households (number of members in the parenthesis). These are possibly descendants of Landon's half brothers, John and Emanuel. The 1840 Census Shows Landon's sons A. M. Carter and William B. Carter as well as the older William (4) listed in 1830 and two of Alfred Moore Carter's sons but not George, nor the Thomas or younger William above.

Landon married Elizabeth Maclin on 3 Feb 1784 in , Brunswick County, Virginia Colony, . Elizabeth (daughter of Judge William Maclin, II and Sarah Slack) was born on 9 Jul 1765 in , Brunswick County, Virginia Colony, ; died on 27 Feb 1842 in Elizabethton, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Last Will & Testament of Elizabeth Carter

I Elizabeth Carter of the County of Carter &
State of Tennessee, being of sound mind & memory
but weak of body, knowing that it is appointed
for all once to die, do make ordain & establish
this as my last will and Testament, namely:
I give my soul to God who gave it, to be
disposed of according to his good will &
pleasure: My body I require my Executors herein
after named, to have decently buried; and such
wordly Estate as it has pleased God to favor me
with, I dispose of in the following manner, viz
First: I require my Executors to pay all my
just debts.
Secondly: Being desirous to provide for the
support & maintenance of my daughter Sally S.
Brewer, seperate & apart from her husband
Benjamin Brewer, I give & bequeath to George
A. Duffield, in trust for the benefit & use of
his mother Sally S. Brewer during her life, the
following Negroes, namely, my negro woman Celia -
commonly called Sealy - and her three children,
namely, Annette, James & Harriet & the future
increase of the said Celia - aka Sealy - Annette
& Harriet, & at the death of said Sally S.
Brewer, it is my will that the before mentioned
negroes & their increase may be equally divided
between my three grand children namely, George
A. Duffield, William P. Brewer, & Evelina M.
Brewer, the children of the said Sally S.
Brewer.
Thirdly: I give & bequeath to my daughter
Mary C. Taylor, my negro girl Betsy, daughter of
my negro woman Charlotte; I do also give &
bequeath to the said Mary my negro girl Martha,
daughter of Eady, provided however, that if
this said Mary C. Taylor accept of my donation
to her of the said Martha, she shall, within two
years after my death, pay to Evelina E.C.
Gillespie Three hundred Dollars in Tennessee
Bank notes, without interest.
Fourthly: I give & bequeath to my grand—
daughter Elizabeth Rhea, formerly Elizabeth
Carter, daughter of A. M. Carter, my negro girl
Sabre.
I give & bequeath to my daughter Eliza
Gillespie my negro girl Fanny & her children,
now in the possession of the said Eliza. I do
likewise give & bequeath to the said Eliza my
negro boy Nelson, the son of my negro woman
Charlotte and now in the possession of Alfred M.
Carter.
Fifthly: I give & bequeath to my daughter
Mary C. Taylor, my Bureau; & to my grand-
daughter Mary C. P. Taylor, daughter of Mary C.
Taylor, I give my bed & the furniture to said
bed: my other bed clothes, it is my will, shall
be equally divided between my three daughters
Sally S. Brewer, Eliza Gillespie, and Mary
C. Taylor.
Sixthly: it is my will that my negro woman
Eady be emancipated, if the laws of the land
will permit it, & I do hereby require my
Executors hereinafter named, to carry the same-
my will respecting said Eady - into effect, but
if they cannot, then I give the said Eady to my
daughter Mary C. Taylor, & wish the said Mary to
let her work for herself the ballance of her
life - i.e. the life of Eady, & to have and
enjoy the proceeds of all such her labor.
Seventhly: I give & bequeath my negro boy
Nathaniel, the son of my negro woman Charlotte
to my son Alfred M. Carter.
Eightly: I do give & bequeath, to Alfred W.
Taylor, the husband of my grand-daughter
Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of Sally S. Brewer,
my negro woman Charlotte & also her two sons
Landon & George, & also her future increase. I
do also give & bequeath to the said Alfred W.
Taylor, my negro boy Noah the son of negro woman
Eady, provided however, that if the said A. W.
Taylor, accept of my donation to him of the above
named negroes, he shall pay to my son William B.
Carter the sum of Two Hundred Dollars in Tennessee
Bank Notes without interest.
Ninthly: I give & bequeath to my son George
W. Carter, my large looking glass now in the
possession of Mary C. Taylor; I do also give to
the said George, one half dozzen windsor chairs,
one half dozzen silver tea spoons, my carpet, my
teaboard, & shovel & tongs now in the possession
of Sally S. Brewer.
Should I owe anything at my death - have any
debts due me or any money on hands over & above
what may be necessary to pay my debts & not
herein-before devised, it is my will that the
said property money & debts due me, if any,
shall be equally divided between all my children
vis: Sally S. Brewer, A. M. Carter, W. B.
Carter, G.W. Carter, Eliza Gillespie & Mary C.
Taylor.
Lastly: I do constitute & appoint Alfred M.
Carter and Alfred W. Taylor Executors of this my
last will and Testament, & I wish the court not
to require them to give bond & security for the
Execution thereof. In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hard & seal this 22ond day of
March 1841.
her
Elizabeth X Carter (Seal)
mark

Signed, sealed and acknowledged in
our presence:
David Nelson
William Stover.

Notes:

Note from John James Henry : John Carter was one of the first permanent white settlers in Tennessee in 1766. He opened a store at Carter's Station in Carter's valley (just west of Kingsport, TN). He and other settlers thought they were in Virginia but learned later that they were a little too far south and in land claimed by North Carolina. After Indians burned his store in 1768, he moved east to a safer region along the Watauga River. The area near his settlement later became Elizabethton, TN. He was a merchant, farmer, land agent (entry taker) and land speculator, who before his death in 1781 became the richest man in North Carolina, though his home is now in Tennessee. A gentleman educated in England, John greatly loved wandering in the wilderness and often went on long hunting trips into uncharted territory, taking along his overseer as guide and companion. It was on these trips that he saw much of the land and was able to acquire the choice property (cheap) for resale to later settlers at significant profit. John was principal Author of the Articles of the Watauga Association (the first Constitution of a self governing body in America) and served on the committee which drafted North Carolina's first State Constitution, He served as a Colonel in the NC Militia during the American Revolution and Commanded the defense of the Watauga Settlements against a British incited raid by the Cherokees in 1778. He trained the troops used by Col. John Sevier in the battles he won against British Gen. Howe in North and South Carolina.

John married Mary (Carter) about 1755 in Lancaster County, , , Virginia. Mary was born before 1735 in Lancaster County, , , Virginia; died in 1758 in Lancaster County, , , Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Judge married Sarah Slack. Sarah was born about 1730 in , Brunswick County, Virginia Colony, . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]