John Carter (1758?-1840), Bedford County, VA

The family of his parents, Joseph Carter Jr and Judith Chastain:

1754

[PC-13] JUDITH CHASTAIN (born around 1734, Goochland County, Virginia) married JOSEPH CARTER JR., around 1754.

[WHB Note: Goochland County was carved out of Henrico County in 1728; Albemarle County was carved out of Goochland County in 1744; Buckingham County was carved out of Albemarle County in 1761. References to family members born in Henrico, Goochland, Albemarle and Buckingham Counties do not necessarily indicate that the families migrated from one area to another.]

1755

[PC-43] Joseph Carter, III (born around 1755, Virginia; died February 25, 1845, Morgan County, Kentucky); married [PC-108] Magdalene Sallé Chastain around 1786.

1758?

[PC-42] JOHN CARTER (born around 1750, Albemarle County, Virginia) married Frances DuPriest on November 9, 1787, in Buckingham County

[WHB: one would expect the date of JOHN CARTER’s birth to be be later than 1754, if his parents were married in that year. Note he is said to be 72 in 1730, suggesting 1758.]

1759

[PC-44] Judith Carter (born around 1759, Virginia); married [PC-51] Joseph Gevedon, her cousin.

1761

[PC-45] Mary (Polly) Carter (born around 1761, Albemarle County, Virginia); married Josiah McKinney on January 1, 1789, in Buckingham County, Virginia.

1763

[PC-46] PRISCILLA CARTER (born around 1763, Buckingham County, Virginia); married Williamson Burnett on March 15, 1792, in Buckingham County, Virginia.

1765

[PC-47] Ammon Carter (born 1765, Buckingham County, Virginia); married Mary (Polly) Burnett; married Mary Gartell.

1767?

[PC-48] ELIZABETH CARTER married Isham Johnson Miles in Bedford County, Virginia.

1769

[PC-49] Nancy Carter (born around 1769, Buckingham County, Virginia); married Thomas Phelps.

1771

Elijah Carter (born around 1771, Virginia; died around 1812, Bedford County, Virginia); married Ursula.

1779

From JOHN CARTER’s Revolutionary War soldier’s pension application of 1830:

. . .  the military history of JOHN CARTER, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow’s) application for pension on file in this Bureau. S 39285

Dates of Enlisthment or Appointment: 1779; Length of Service: 2 years; Rank: Private; Officers Under Whom Service Was Rendered: Captain Taylor, Colonel Scott; VA; Battles engaged in, was at the Siege of York; Residence of solider at enlishment: Enl. in Buckingham Co., VA;

1807

December 21,, 1807 – Bedford County Marriage Bonds: JOHN JOHNSON, JR to MARY ANN (POLLY) CARTER. Surety is JOHN CARTER

1830

The Application for John Carter’s Revolutionary War Pension:

Pension Application of John Carter: S39285

Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris, State of Virginia}

Bedford County Sct}

On the 26th day of April 1830 Personally appeared before the Court of Bedford County (the same being a Court of record) JOHN CARTER resident in the said County aged 72 years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18th March 1818 and the 1st of May 1820.

That he he the said John Carter enlisted for the term of two years some time in the year 1779 (the precise time he cannot now recollect) in the County of Buckingham in the State of Virginia in the Company Commanded by Captain Talers [?] in the Regiment Commanded by Col. [Charles] Scott in the line of the State of Virginia on the Continental Establishment, that he continued to serve in the said Corps till the close of the Revolutionary War, he having been marched from the County of Buckingham to the Town of Williamsburg in the said State where the Corps to which he belonged was divided a part of them were sent to the north and the other part remained to guard the Sea Board.

That he was engaged in a skirmish with the British at or near the Borough of Norfolk in the said State & several other skirmishes with the enemy at Guins [sic: Gwynn] Island

That his officers were so frequently changed after he left Williamsburg that he cannot now recollect them. & that he continued to serve as a soldier on the Continental Establishment until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged from the service at Yorktown in the State of Virginia after the Capture of Cornwallice [sic: Cornwallis, 19 Oct 1781]

That he has lost or mislaid his discharge so that he cannot now find it. That he does not know of any person now living by whom he could prove his services except Williamson Burnett who served with him at the Seige of York and his sister PRISCILLA BURNETT who saw him when he enlisted.

That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present.

That his name is not on the Roll of any State except Virginia and that the reason of his not making earlier application for a pension is that he did not know of the existence of the law granting pensions to the indigent soldiers of the revolution until a few months past.

That his occupation is that of a farmer but from the diseases incident to old age and from the fracture of his thigh by a fall from a house he is now unable to follow his occupation for support.

That he has living with him a wife aged about 62 years and a single daughter aged about 28 years.

That he was a resident Citizen of the County of Bedford in the State of Virginia on the 18th day of March 1818 and that he has not since that time by gift sale or in any wise disposed of his property since that time in order to bring himself within the provisions of the Act of Congress aforesaid.

That he needs the assistance of his country for support and in pursuance of the act of the 1st May 1820.

I do solemnly swear that I  was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818. that I have not since that time by Gift Sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of the act of Congress entitled “An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land & Naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War” passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed to wit. one Sow & Eight Pigs worth about $6  a Cow and Yearling worth $10.

That since the 18th day of March 1818 the following changes have taken place in my property viz Property owned in 1818 & not now owned by him (One negro woman & her child)

Names of the persons to whom disposed of (Thomas Phelps); Time of Sale (in the year of 1823); Amount of money or description of property rec’d in return (Sold to discharge a debt of $200 to Sam’l Claytor, $300 to Basil Baker & other small debts & Thos Phelps $50) /s/ JOHN CARTER

June 12, 1830 Callway Mills, Frankling County, VA

Sir, Before I left Washington you letter of May 15th 1830 was received. The account given by JOHN CARTER of the disposition of his negroes was stated to be unsatisfactory, to the department and at the same time I was infoormed if I was acquainted with the parties in this transaction and could give such statement in writing as would remove the difficulty – the c____ of CARTER would be allowed –  I have delayed answering this letter ___ I could get every information necessary on this subject – believing that I should answer with the circumspection of a Witness in a court of justice – It is true that a deed of trust wwas executed by CARTER to secure the debt he owed Clayton & Co which deede was recorded and has been examined by me and from my knowledge of the parties – I am satisfied was ___ – To pay this debt to Clayton and show that the property was sold to Phelps, but Phelps not being able to pay & the property being ___ to sale under the court deed – Lawson Carter the son of JOHN CARTER took the property off his hands & paid the debts – and exhibited to me without a moment’s hesitation , on being requested to do so proof that he had paid Clayton $ Co – I have no doubt that Lawson Carter has fairly bought and honestly paid for this property – and that he could establishe to the satisfaction of the court of justice if it was indispensible for him to do – Lawson Carter lives within three miles of me – and he resided many years in my neighborhood – He has acted as overseer for several of my neighbours – is a prudent man that has got along by industry and by the fruits of his labour – purchased the slaves above refered to – I have a good reason to believe that he has been a most dutiful son – and it has for several years acted in the support of his aged parents who lieve in the adjoining county of Bedford – & are in most impecunious? circumstances – I have thus answered your letter after having satisfied myself  of __ the party – I will ad that I have reason to believe that iin addition to Clayton’s debt – Lawson Carter in further consideration of the slaves paid other debts to the full value of the said slaves – Old MR CARTER wished that you would direct your answer to me – at Callways Mills, Franklin Co. Virginia. With great respect I am Sir yr obt. Servant. Nath H. Claiborne.

From pension application:

His claim was allowed.

Remarks: Had a wife aged 52 years and a single daughter age 28 years in 1830 and a son Lawson. Very respectfully, Dr Blance M. Haines, Three Rivers, Mich., Commissioner. (Information contained in letter of February 20, 1906

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