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]

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:

Gravestone inscription reads:
Alfred P. Carter
Born 20 May 1852
Fell asleep in Jesus
17 Aug 1969
Son of S.P. Carter, U.S.N.
and C.C. Carter

Date of interment taken from Register of Lot # 822, Oak Hill Cemetery

Notes:

Census records

1910 DC

Household 124
Samuel P. Carter45New York Tennessee DCRailroad Courier

1920 DC

Household 1
Samuel P. Carter57New York Tennesse DCGovernment Clerk


Gravestone inscription reads:
Samuel P. Carter
Son of S.P. Carter U.S.N.
and C.C. Carter
Born 6 Jul 1863
Died 1 May 1925