John Carter

John married Elizabeth Hill in 1723 in Christ Church, , Lancaster County, Virginia. Elizabeth was born before 1708 in Shirley, , Virginia, Am. Col.; died in 1771 in Shirley, , Virginia, Am. Col.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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]

John married Elizabeth Taylor about 1761 in Rockbridge County, , , Virginia. Elizabeth was born in 1743 in Rockbridge County, , , Virginia; died after 1776 in Washington District (Carter County), , North Carolina, . [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:

In 1812, John swore that he had assisted his father as entry taker and verified the accuracy of a number of North Carolina land grants which were being registered to establish land ownership in the State of Tennessee. To have legally assisted his father he would have to have been at least 16, and the earliest land grant he testified to was in 1778, which would put his birth date at 1762 or earlier.

Notes:

Susan Carter was named as executrix in John Carter's Will. She was only 16 years old and not married yet but records show that she served as his executrix. There are no further records of her, so we don't know when she died or who she married.

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 Matilda W. Wendell about 1810 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Matilda was born about 1785; died on 4 Feb 1816 in Elizabethton, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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:

John died as an infant.

Sarah married George Duffield on 4 Dec 1805 in Elizabethton, , Carter County, Tennessee. George was born about 1775 in Philadelphia, , , Pennsylvania; died on 28 Jun 1823 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sarah married Benjamin Brewer about 21 Jun 1825 in Elizabethton, , Carter County, Tennessee. Benjamin was born about 1800; died before 1850. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

CARTER, William Blount, a Representative from Tennessee; born in Elizabethton, Carter County, Tenn., October 22, 1792; attended the public schools; during the War of 1812 served as a colonel; member of the State house of representatives; served in the State senate; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1834 and served as its presiding officer; elected as an Anti Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress and as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1835-March 3, 1841); died in Elizabethton, Tenn., April 17, 1848; interment in Carter Cemetery.

William married Miss Lytle about 1827 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Miss was born about 1792. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1840 Jefferson County, TN Census
Eliza GillespieMales1(0-5), 1(15-20)
Females1(10-150, 1(15-20), 1(30-40)
Slaves16

1850 Jefferson County, TN Census
Household 183
Eliza Gillespie50TN
Henry14TN

1860 Jefferson County, TN Census
Household 799
Eliza Gillespie62TN

Elizabeth married George Tennesse Gillespie on 22 Sep 1812 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. George (son of Thomas Gillespie and Agnes Orr) was born on 6 Dec 1789 in Washintgon County, , , Tennessee; died on 7 Sep 1838 in Greene County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Bethesda Cemetery, , Hamblen County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married General James Patton Taylor on 22 Aug 1816 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. General (son of General Nathaniel Taylor and Mary Polly Patton) was born on 5 Nov 1792 in Elizabethton, , Carter County, Tennessee; died on 12 Jan 1833 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]