from "Representative Men & Old Families of Rhode Island", 1908
pp. 794 - 795.
part 1.
"CARR. The Carr family of Jamestown, Newport Co., R.I., one of the oldest
in that section of the Commonwealth, is represented in the descendants of
the late Hon. Peleg Cross Carr, and the late Hon. George Cross Carr,
brother, sons of John Carr and his wife Mary Cross. They were men who took
a prominent part in the public affairs of Jamestown, representing that city
in both branches of the State Legislature, were active in the business life
of the city, and did much toward building it up and making it known to the
outside world. They were descendants of Caleb Carr, one of two brothers who
settled in Newport, and who was governor of the Colony at the time of his death.
The Carr family is a numerous one in both Great Britain and the United
States, and the name has been spelled in several different ways. Caleb and
Robert Carr, brothers, were born in London, England, the former Dec. 9,
1616, and the latter Oct. 4, 1614, sons of Benjamin and Martha (Hardington)
Carr, who were married in London, Sept. 12, 1613, and had two other sons:
Richard, born Jan. 5, 1621, and Andrew, born Dec. 5, 1622, who came also to
New England and settled. Caleb and Robert Carr came to Newport about 1638,
the former becoming a large land owner in Newport, Jamestown and other parts
of the Narragansett country, some of this land being still held by his
descendants. The ferry originally granted to him remained in the family
until 1813. He was commissioner a number of times between 1654 and 1662,
was made a freeman of the Colony in 1655, was general treasurer in 1661 and
1662, many times deputy between 1664 and 1690, many times assistant
between1679 and 1691, and was governor of the Colony in 1695, on Dec. 17th
of which year he was drowned, while acting in that capacity. He was buried
in the old Carr cemetery in Newport, where his tombstone stood until a few
years ago, when it was removed to Jamestown. He married (first) Mercy
Vaughn, who died Sept. 21, 1675, at the age of forty-five years, and he
married (second) Sarah Pinner, a widow, born in 1651, who died in 1706,
daughter of Jeremiah and Frances (Latham) Clarke, and sister of Gov. Walter
Clarke. The children born to Governor Carr were: Nicholas, born Oct. 22,
1654; Mercy, born April 6, 1656 (died young); Caleb, born Aug. 23, 1657;
Mary, born Jan. 1, 1661; John, born in 1664; and Edward, born in 1666, all
of the first marriage; and to the second: Frances, born in 1678; James, born
in 1680; Sarah, born in 1682; and Elizabeth, born in 1684.
Nicholas Carr, the oldest son of Caleb, born Oct. 22, 1654, in Newport,
lived in Jamestown, where he was a large land owner and was quite prominent
in public affairs, representing the town in the General Assembly. He died
Feb. 17, 1709. Nicholas Carr married Rebecca Nicholson, born Feb. 1, 1656,
who died May 13, 1703. She was the daughter of Joseph Nicholson. To this
union were born: Nicholas, Sept. 19, 1679; Joseph, March 9, 1681 (died Aug.
9, 1702); Benjamin, July 7, 1683 (died Dec. 27, 1684); Jane, Aug. 3, 1686;
Caleb, March 27, 1688 (died in January, 1704); Mercy, April 20, 1690;
Rebecca, May 12, 1692; Ann, Feb. 5, 1694; Thomas, Jan. 25, 1696; and
Benjamin, Nov. 21, 1697.
Thomas Carr, the second youngest child of Nicholas Carr, was born Jan. 25,
1696, at Jamestown, and there grew into manhood. He made his life work
farming, and accumulated considerable property in Jamestown, where he died
Oct. 14, 1753. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and was quite a
man of affairs. Thomas Carr was married Feb. 23, 1720, to Hannah Weeden,
born April 14, 1699, at Jamestown, daughter of John and Jane (Underwood)
Weeden, and they had these children: Sarah, born Jan. 11, 1721; Jane, Jan.
14, 1723; Benjamin, Sept. 14, 1725; John, Sept. 20, 1728; Thomas, Oct. 6,
1730 (died Oct. 14, 1753); Nicholas, Dec. 25, 1732; Rebecca, June 23, 1735;
and Joseph, July 15, 1739.
Nicholas Carr, son of Thomas, born Dec. 25, 1732, at Jamestown, like his
father was a farmer and large land owner, owing the property now in the
possession of the grandchildren of Hon. Peleg Cross Carr, his
great-great-grandchildren. Here in 1876, he built a fine frame
dwelling-house, which is still occupied by the family, and in a good state
of preservation. It was on this land, during the trying days of the
Revolution, that Mr. Carr proved himself a brave and patriotic citizen.
While the British men-of-war had possession of Newport harbor, which they
were occupying, a captain from one of the ships came to Jamestown in search
of cattle. Finding Mr. Carr in the field plowing, the captain approached
him and offered to buy some of his stock. This Mr. Carr refused, whereupon
the captain struck him, this precipitating a fight to the finish between the
two, the captain returning to his ship much worsted, with his uniform
covered with mud and dirt. On regaining his boat he at once sent a body of
men to arrest Mr. Carr, who was taken on board ship, and was there kept for
three days. Each day he was swung from the yard-arm with a rope around his
neck, with the promise that he would be let down and released if he would
promise to kiss the British captain's hand. Mr. Carr refused to do this,
but was finally let go through the pleading of some British sympathizers,
residents of Jamestown. Mr. Carr continued to make his home on the farm,
where he followed agricultural pursuits. He was judge of the courts of
Newport county for many years, and was a man of patriotic spirit and good
citizenship. He died Mach 3, 1813, and was buried in the Friends' cemetery.
On Nov. 10, 1768, Judge Carr was married to Mary Eldred, daughter of John
Eldred, who died June 10, 1800, and they had these children: Mary, born
Feb. 19, 1771; Thomas, Oct. 13, 1772; John, May 5, 1774; and Hannah, Feb.
27, 1782 (married William Carter)."
continued in part 2.
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Beth Hurd
Johnston, RI USA
beth(a)the-hurds.com
http://www.the-hurds.com
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