Henry-Butts-Newton County GaArchives Biographies.....Carter, Josiah 1745 - 1822 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Larry C. Knowles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002854 January 21, 2011, 5:17 pm Source: Larry C. Knowles Author: Larry C. Knowles Our Carter Family in Virginia & Georgia Our immigrant ancestor, Thomas Carter Sr., was born in England c.1680. He was among nine persons imported by Abraham Michaux to Henrico Co. VA in January 1713. Sons, Robert(about 11)and Thomas Jr.(born c.1705)were also among the immigrants. It is unclear whether wife & mother Carter, and other children were included. Thomas Carter Sr.’s will-dated 1726, noted a wife “Penele”, who apparently was deceased by the time of probate in June 1738. In the interval, he had married twice-but had not updated his will. His last wife was Susanna Baynes. Abraham Michaux received 850 acres for providing transport for the nine individuals noted above-all, presumably, indentured to him for seven years. Michaux died in 1717. Henrico Co. VA was a massive “shire” when established in 1634, but the area where the Michauxes and Carters resided was south of the James River, near the current Goochland, Cumberland, and Powhatan county lines. These three counties were formed, respectively, from original Henrico in 1728, 1749, and 1777. The general location is near present day Cartersville, VA. In 1733 Thomas Carter Sr. was granted 400 acres along Deep Run, a branch of Muddy Creek(now in Cumberland-near the Powhatan Co. line). Thomas Carter Jr. was named as “second son” in his father’s will, received a yearling calf, and probably lived on his father’s land until about 1730. In Sept. 1730, he received a land grant on Licking Hole and Bolings Creeks, described as “on branches of said river, falling into the Rock Castle lowgrounds”. This land was located north of the James River, but was directly across from the Carter properties on Muddy Creek. In 1736 Thomas Jr. was granted land along Turkey Cocke Creek in what became Cumberland Co. He willed this land to his eldest son, Thomas. The will was made in Goochland Co. in February 1760, and filed there in April 1763. Nothing is known of his first marriage(s)-but he had married a Mary Killipatrick in 1751. His will also noted then wife, Mary, and sons; John, Josiah, Baynes, and “my three younger daughters”; Mary Dawson, Judith and Susanna Carter. Josiah Carter inherited a 150 acre tract, part of the land north of the James River; his brother John received an adjacent 125 acres of the same “Ballows land”. By 1770, Josiah Carter, and brother John, had moved to Pittsylvania Co. which was along the NC border. He was in the western portion, which was taken into Henry Co. in 1776. Josiah & John Carter had sold their bequeathed property north of the James River in May of 1770. John’s wife Lucy was named in the deed, but Josiah didn’t marry until July 4, 1771, Mary Anthony(of adjacent Bedford Co.)daughter of Joseph Anthony, a devout preacher in the early Baptist Church. [The Anthony & Carter families remained close even after their move to Georgia]. By 1777, children Joseph, Elizabeth, Sarah, & Mary were born in Henry Co. VA. That year Josiah bought land near the mouth of Reed Creek on what is now Smith River. He built a large grist mill there; location currently near the intersection of U.S. 220 & VA 57, between Collinsville and Bassett VA. In a photograph c.1920, a rebuilt mill is shown on the same site. In 1778 Josiah Jr. was born, and Josiah Sr. was paid for guard duty, evidently regarding Rev. War activities. Records also note that he was “on his way to Gen’l Greene”, and that he was allowed money for a saddle to be used at the Gen’l Hospital Henry Co. C.H.(courthouse). In 1779, Josiah was granted leave to build the grist mill. In October 1779, he was granted 200A. in Halifax Co.(now Henry)-the grant signed by Thomas Jefferson, Governor of Virginia. In 1780 Josiah contracted to build a new courthouse(“24 feet by 20 feet, round logs laid close, hewd within side, 9 foot pitch from floor to floor…said house to be covered with square peg shingles… one window above and two below…floors…planked in plain close form. Two doors strongly made, one attorney’s bar strongly fixed…seats for attorney and Jury…bench for the court…also a seat and box…”). This building was likely the first permanent courthouse. Also that year, third son Thomas was born, and brother Baynes Carter suffered flood damage from the grist mill. Josiah agreed to release some of his Reed Creek property in lieu of a 3000 pound judgment for the plaintiff, and he also agreed to lower the wooden dam. In 1782 Josiah was actively involved in wartime service; serving guard duty, providing supplies, and possibly still serving under General Greene(likely in a mustered-out local militia unit). In May 1782, son Christopher A. Carter was born, and on November 8, 1783 Josiah Carter sold his remaining Reed Creek property to a George Waller. This was his last known transaction in Virginia. In April 1784, in Richmond Co. GA he swore that he had not previously received any land grants, and that exclusive of himself and his wife, he had seven children and eight Negroes-(birth dates in the family bible coincide with the number of children, and the time of migration*). Josiah Carter-and perhaps other men with the same name, were given at least seventeen land grants between 1784 and 1805, but Josiah bought 200 acres in July 1784, on the north fork of the Ogeechee River in Wilkes Co. He purchased another nearby 200 acres in April 1785. The family remained on this land though the property moved into Greene, Hancock, and Warren counties as boundaries changed. Josiah received other land grants, and the 1790 Wilkes Co tax digest shows him with 2060 acres. Brothers, John and Thomas joined him in Wilkes Co. A third brother, or nephew, Baynes Carter is later found in Warren Co. Many members of Mary(Anthony)Carter’s family also came to Wilkes Co. including her brothers, Boling, James, Joseph, Macajah, and Mark; as well as Cooper, Chandler, Johnson, and Blakey families-in- laws, through her sisters, Sarah, Elizabeth, Penelope, and Agnes. Late in the Rev. War Josiah Carter served as a private with Gen. Elijah Clarke’s GA troops- but it is not clear that this man was our Josiah. On July 21, 1784, his eighth child Rachel was born in Wilkes Co. The younger children; John, Daniel, Nancy, James, and Judith were born between 1786 and 1794-in Greene, Hancock, or Warren counties. The Carters and Anthonys continued in the Baptist movement they had joined in Virginia. In July 1786, a group of like believers met at the home of Benjamin Thompson to constitute a church. Then known as Powell Creek Baptist Church, it was later changed to Powelton Baptist Church. Formed in Greene Co., it was taken into Hancock in 1791-and is west of the Ogeechee River/Warren Co. line-in the N.E. corner of that county. There were 27 charter members, including Josiah Carter, and Silas Mercer, father of Jeese Mercer who later pastored there. Church records show that Mary Anthony Carter joined Sept 2, 1786, and that her daughters, Elizabeth, Rachel, Nancy, and son James, who later became a prominent Baptist minister, were also members. Early church minutes show that “bro. Carter” was censured over a land dispute with fellow member “bro. Coffee”. He was evidently excluded for eighteen months, before being “restored to fellowship” in conference on June 5, 1790. Records of Josiah Carter are found in Warren Co. after 1793, when that county was formed. That year he deeded 200 acres to daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law James Henderson, “…part of a tract of 612 acres bearing the date 7-17-1784...”. The 1805 Warren Co. tax digest shows that eldest son Joseph paid taxes on 180A. of Ogeechee land for his younger brother Christopher A. Carter. In 1818 Daniel Carter is shown on adjacent land, and paying taxes for father, Josiah. Another son, James, is also on adjacent land until 1820 or so. A Josiah(and Mary)Carter deed in 1809 is the last one recorded in Warren Co. The couple moved to Putnam Co., perhaps to the home of a son-John or Thomas. Mary died July 22, 1820. Josiah died Sept 10, 1822. Their burial site is unknown. The estate was handled in Warren Co. Son Daniel Carter won #201/8D. in Henry Co. in the 1827 land lottery(near Sardis Baptist Church). He defaulted on taxes, sold to Henry Baykin of Putnam Co., who evidently also defaulted. James Carter & Isaac Carter(a nephew?)bought the lot for $22. Isaac soon sold his half to James; Daniel was a witness. In Feb 1827, Daniel Carter witnessed as James Hunt deeded two acres to Sardis Baptist Church (1st site). James Carter was ordained there in 1827. He was called to preach at Macedonia Baptist Church in Butts Co. on August 22, 1829(he served for thirty years). Jeese Mercer, who baptized James Carter at Powelton c.1810, died at Carter’s home September 6, 1841. In Dec. 1844, James Carter deeded 61 acres of the above lot to his nephew Leonidas D. Carter, and 40 acres to niece Martha Ann (children of Daniel Carter). Martha Ann had married Rueben J. Harper in 1841, and Leonidas married Rueben’s sister, Frances in 1850. See note below. ____________________________________________________________________________ Note: This original two page-2006 summary, with additional facts, was complied from my copy of Dr. Randolph A. Malone’s definitive Carter family history: “Josiah Carter(1745-1822)-His Forebears, Descendants, and Allied Families”-McNaughton & Gunn, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI.-1989. I think the book has been reprinted; check with Amazon.com. I descend through Josiah Carter’s son, Daniel, and his son, Leonidas Daniel Carter-(final paragraph above)who died in Henry Co. in 1892. Leonidas and 2nd wife, Pricilla(Nelms)Carter are buried in the Harper/Carter/Maddox cemetery, on Jackson Lake Rd. just above its terminus at Keys Ferry Road(below Sardis Baptist Church). Leonidas’ son, Alexander Carter, later told of building a rock wall around the cemetery. Following a dispute with the land owner, the rubble from this long neglected site was cleared away in the late 1990s or early 2000s, by the Folds family, descendants of Rueben J. Harper, whose home site is just across the road. The burial sites of Daniel Carter(d. 1837)-and wife Martha Ann are unknown, but could possibly be at this location, as they are believed to have died in Henry Co. Three of Daniel Carter’s brothers, James, Christopher, and Thomas all lived nearby in Butts or Newton counties. Leonidas’ family remained in the area. Several of his children are buried at Sardis, which moved to its current location in 1843. [* The Josiah Carter family bible was found in 1981 by descendants of Rev. James Carter. Its data was published in Family Puzzlers magazine-issue #1001 in December 1987]. See additional notes below. Additional Comments: Note: Look for additional related information, and Carter family photos on this site! File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/henry/bios/carter988gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 11.4 Kb