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Author: DaleCarmack
Surnames: Carmack
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.carmack/111.124.229.1.1/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
I feel somewhat compelled to comment regarding Christopher Carmack and a linkage to
Cornelius Carmack.
I'm afraid I never have cracked the code on connecting Cornelius Carmack to
Christopher Carmack. The only record I have for Christopher Carmack states:
"October 7, 1677, Portsmouth. Ralegh Hull to Robert Yard. This morning sailed from
Spithead The St. George Of London for Waterford and thence for Maryland, wind N.E."
On November 1, 1678, John Quigley, a merchant captain, not the captain of the ship,
appeared before the Secretary Of Maryland and applied for land warrants for transporting
180 settlers into the province on the Ship St. George Of London.
NOTE: One of the 180 listed passengers was Chris. Carwick. (Christopher Carmack)
I found another reference to some research done by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack, see the
following:
Finding and Using Published Genealogies
by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack, CG
http://www.genealogy.com/77_carmack.html?Welcome=984238636
Example #2
I recently found a published family history on the Carmacks, titled The Carmack Family, by
Charles W. Peckham Sr. (1998). Because the origins of Cornelius Carmack of colonial
Maryland have baffled family researchers for decades, I was anxious to see if Peckham had
uncovered anything new.
Peckham postulates that Cornelius was not the immigrant ancestor, as descendants have long
surmised. Instead, he believes that Cornelius was born in Cecil County, Maryland, about
1681. Peckham also listed a possible father for Cornelius - a Christopher Carmick - who
was born probably in Scotland in 1653 and was transported to Maryland in 1678 aboard the
ship St. George of London. That's new information, but how accurate is it? Even though
the author credits numerous professional genealogists as working on the Carmack family
history, I was skeptical, considering many descendants had been working on this line for
decades and never uncovered these details.
My first course of action was to analyze the source citations. I noticed that some of the
information came from published sources, such as abstracts of records compiled by another
researcher. I then looked at Peckham's argument for connecting Christopher and
Cornelius as father and son. Although the author carefully noted that the identity of
Christopher as Cornelius's father was "pure assumption," he apparently based
this assumption solely on Christopher coming to America before Cornelius was allegedly
born in 1681, and that this Christopher was supposedly the right age to be Cornelius's
father.
So I checked out Peckham's source. Peckham references Gust Skordas's The Early
Settlers of Maryland. This book then had a reference to the original record - patents
series of the Maryland Land Office, liber 15, folio 553 - which allowed me to find a
microfilm copy of the original record to examine myself. The record indeed named
Christopher, along with 179 other people, who were transported in 1678 and claimed for
headright land grants. It did not give anything more, however, such as Christopher's
age, where he was from, or what became of him. For all I know, Christopher could have been
dead upon arrival, since all the headright claimant was required to do was present a list
of the names for whom he paid passage. It didn't matter if one of the transported had
died on board ship or after arrival. Maybe this is why Peckham's researchers found no
further record of Christopher in America.
Based on this information alone, I can't accept Peckham's theory that Christopher
was Cornelius's father, so I'll use Peckham's work as clues, do my own
original research, and draw my own conclusions.
Remember, finding published genealogies on your family is a starting point, not the end of
your research. Even if the book is well documented and you are satisfied that the lineage
covered is sound, no family history is comprehensive. There are always other surnames to
pursue that aren't covered in this particular book. Look for a published genealogy for
all of your lines. But remember to use them cautiously, not as gospel truth, until you
analyze and evaluate for yourself whether the information is accurate.
Sharon's point was primarily to not take a published genealogies as gospel truth. I
tend to agree with her as there is no other research that I have found to support the
connection of Cornelius and Christopher. I started a Genealogy DNA project that is
somewhat proving that the other Carmack's in MD at the time of Cornelius (Dennis,
Peter, Elizabeth, and Margaret) are not related to each other.
I also found something interesting a while ago and thought I'd mention. I found a
record from the Archives of Maryland 1658-1662, Vol 41, Chapter Provincial Court of
Maryland Proceedings. This states: March 24th 1661 Cornelius Micormack aged tewnty
years... Not sure if this is at all related to our Cornelius but if so might possibly be
his father, or grandfather. The record language indicates he would have been an
indentured servant.
There is another record involving a Daniel Carmack (Carmake/Cormack) who was brought to
the Colonies in 1654 by Col. John Matron, who settled in West Moreland County, Virginia.
Daniel was probably a bond servant. This may be another connection to our Cornelius.
So to try and sum it up, I do not think there is any evidence that Christopher ever
settled in MD or has any connection to Cornelius. I think the earlier MD reference to
Cornelius Micormack is more likely but still unproven.
My recommendation is to stop showing a connection between Cornelius and Christopher until
one is proven.
If you, or anyone, has additional details regarding Christopher that might lend proof to a
connection to Cornelius please post and let me know.
best regards,
dale
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