Fellow Canter researcher,
I hope that this posting finds you all well and enjoying a profitable year
(which explains my lack of research time this year as "Busier than a
one-armed paper hanger" doesn't begin to be an example of mine).
I feel compelled to forward this to all of you however due to some recently
uncovered Canter data that I was able to obtain in a local library as well
as an e-mail received from Patrick Canter of El Paso, IL.
I am forwarding this post to all of you without getting permission to
distribute your addresses to others. I have found that amateur (and
professional, Cliff) genealogists such as ourselves don't mind such sharing
one little bit, it simply expands our contacts which may gain us
information that we didn't have. So, forgive me if I've transgressed.
E-mail from Patrick. Patrick reports that he is descended from Zachariah
Canter who was born in MD in the early 1770's and died 1830-40. In
addition, Patrick reports that his family spent about 100 years in TN
which, or course, is of particular interest to myself, Don and Ricky as we
too are descended from TN Canter's (which, I realize Patrick, is news to
you). Patrick reports that Zachariah was the son of William Canter, Jr.
who was born about 1749. William was the son of Thomas and Penelope (and
he reports that William's brothers were Isaac? Elijah? and Richard?) and
that possibly William Sr. was a brother of Thomas (but, something doesn't
feel quite right about that Patrick).
Recently uncovered data
Per information provided by Don, who received it from Harold, I've just
noticed that our James Canter, Sr., whom I've surmised was the brother of
Erasmus who was born in MD (per 1850 census), was the son of Jonathan and
Elizabeth (brothers were Thomas, Erasmus and Edward and sisters Elizabeth
and Nancy). Harold, I sure would like the source of that family sheet that
provides this information (I know that somewhere in past postings or the
data you sent, that the name of the lady who provided it appears, is it
possible to contact her and obtain sources?).
In the local library, I have recently ran across the following MD (Canter)
tidbits:
Charles County Census, 1775-78, Volume 1, Male Persons, 18 and older, All
located in Benedict Hundred
William, Sr.
William, Jr.
Isaac
James
p. 26, Volume 2, 1/1/1753, Thomas, William, Thomas and Isaac
Plat 22, "State of His Lordship Manor of Calverton", Charles County, 1767:
Lease Date, 1/1/1753, Leased to Thomas, 115 acres, William is tenant,
Thomas reported to be 50 years of age, Isaac 20.
p. 27, Plat 40:
Lease Date, 12/25/1746, Leased to William, 139 acres (William, James and
Jonathan). William 45 years of age, James 26, Jonathan 30.
Dorchester County Census of 1776
Sarah Canter, 10-11 males (1), 21-30 males (1), 50-60 males (1)
Isaac Canter, 0-10 males (2), 21-30 males (1), 21-30 females (1)
A Truman T. Canter signed "Oath of Fidelity and Support" as did William Sr.
in 1778
MD Slave Owners and Superintendents, 1798
Elijiah, Charles County, Benedict Hundred, 5 slaves
Elizabeth, Charles County, Broad Neck, 2 slaves
James, Sr., Charles County, Benedict Hundred, 1 slave
Leonard, Charles County, Broad Neck, 5 slaves
William (Heirs), James Canter, Sr., Broad Neck, Superintendent, 2 slaves
1800 Census
Elijiah, Charles County
Elizabeth, Charles County
Isaac, Charles County
James, Charles County
Zachariah, Prince Georges County
Note, I have an idea about forwarding your more data on the 1800 census
later in this post.
James Sr. and James Jr. are listed in the 1810 Charles County census as is
Eleanor, Jesse, Rosewell and Zachariah (though in Prince Georges County).
An Erasmus Canter is located in the Washington D.C. census (just across the
river from Prince Georges County) in the 1820 census but not the 1830.
The 1st Canter reference found is of Thomas, who was a witness to a will in
1739 Charles County.
Questions and points to ponder:
Can proof be found that Jonathan and Elizabeth were indeed the parents of
James who later went to NC and whose descendants later to TN (some of them
anyway)? Remember that James's 1st son was also named Jonathan (b. 1820).
James 1st showed up in Randolph County, NC census in 1790 and in Wilkes
County in 1810 (Erasmus in Rowan). In the 1800 census, James is not
located in NC, but Thomas, Jonathan and Edward, all in Rowan County, are.
Are Edward and Thomas the brothers of James, and could Jonathan be their
father (ages would support the possibility)? Family lore reports that
James had gone back to MD at the time, is he the one listed back in Charles
County? But note that two James's also appear there in 1810.
Note the naming patterns that emerge in the family.
If Jonathan was the father of James, who was his father, William or
possibly Thomas?
Obviously I need to get to Charles County and go through their records,
just don't know when I will get time.
Earlier, I mentioned an idea about census (and other) records. I can scan
various documents and send them to all of you. You can download a free
viewer (relatively small and easily downloaded file) that will enable you
to view and print such items. Anyone interested? (The census records would
be particularly useful as regards ages, for example).
http://www.visioneer.com/products/
I also have the capability of printing (and sending) out the addresses of
all current Canter landowners in Prince Georges and Charles County, MD.
Perhaps we should send a letter to each of them in hopes of finding a
family researcher. Anyone volunteering?
Lastly, we should all subscribe to the RootsWeb mailing list that is
already established for Canter researchers. It would make it simple to
ensure that all parties would be aware of all Canter postings., just send
the command "subscribe" to:
CANTER-L-request(a)rootsweb.com.
Whew, all of you print this out and look at it closely for any connections,
ideas, etc.. I'm sure I've probably missed something. Most importantly,
please respond so that I can be sure that you all have received the message.
Butch Hicks
13649 S. Springs Drive
Clifton, VA
20124
703-631-5222
Fax: 703-815-0942
hicks(a)bhicks.com
http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/h/i/c/William-G-Hicks-jr/