Hello Dave,
My name is Darryn Lickliter and I too am descended from William H Carrier and
his wife Margaret Gourley.
According to what I have, John Henderson was born 17 Dec 1834 in Laurel Co,
KY and died 5 Dec 1910 in Laurel Co. Margaret was born 24 May 1847 and died
27 June 1889. They are buried in the Baker-Chesnut Cemetery in Laurel Co.
My line is through John's brother Charles Robert Carrier.
Thomas Carrier (father of William and grandfather to the above John and
Charles) died in May of 1860 in Pulaski Co, KY according to the Mortality
Schedule for that county.
Thomas and his wife Nancy were living with William and Margaret in the 1850
Census of Laurel Co. Thomas was listed as age 86 and born in Va. Nancy was
63 and born in Tn. Thomas died before the census of 1860 was taken but
Nancy was living with William and Margaret in Pulaski Co. She aged 15 years
between 1850 and 1860 as her age was listed as 78. I am unable to find the
entry in my notes from the Mortality Schedule. However, a booklet I have
that a cousin sent to me states that he was 82 when he died. That would make
his year of birth 1778. In the 1840 census of Laurel Co, Thomas was 60 and
70 years of age.
As to proving that Thomas was a son of John Carrier (b. 1729), that's a
little more difficult. I have copies of deed abstracts from Carter Co, TN
covering the years 1796-1825. In one deed [Book B pp 166-167]; Thomas
Carrier deeded land to Thomas Morrell 75 acres of NC grant #1197. This is
dated 19 Feb 1808. Thomas Hatcher, Jonathan Morrell and Thomas Glover were
witnesses. Unfortunately this deed does not state when Thomas purchased the
land or how he came to own it. It's interesting that Thomas sold land to a
Morrell and another Morrell (Jonathan at that) witnessed the deed. John
Carrier who was a son of the immigrant married Mary Morrell/Morehall in
Shenandoah Co, VA. John Carrier and the Morrells disappeared from the
Shenandoah Co records about the same time (1780s). Perhaps they moved to
North Carolina/Tennesse at that time.
I realize this is not proof, however it's a start.
Darryn