This is very long and represents documented research on Carsons in
Dauphin (part of Lancaster that formed Dauphin in 1785). If anyone
has any additions which have been proven via documents, please
let me know and I'll add the information.
ANALYSIS
It is useful to separate out what became Dauphin County from Lancaster in
order to assist in the process of trying to figure out which "John" is
which, since the Carsons seem to use the same first names. The information
that follows is an attempt to put together facts based upon documents
and draw preliminary conclusions about the Colonial Carsons in
Pennsylvania, specifically in what became Dauphin County. Subsequent to
the analysis, based upon documents, I list those in Dauphin County for certain.
The earliest document showing a Carson in this area is from a reference in
a deed:
13 Dec 1780 Lancaster Co. Pa. Deed Book Q, Vol 1, pgs. 685-692. Sale of
land from William Carson to Alexander Berryhill (19 acres), Recorded 19 Feb
1782
"...Whereas in and by a certain patent under the great seal of Pennsylvania
bearing date 10th of August 1738 there was granted and conveyed unto Thomas
Lawrence of the City of Philadelphia, Merchant, and to his heirs and
assigns forever, a certain piece parcel or tract of land, situate on the
noth east side of the RIver susquehanna in Paxtan Township aforesaid, in
the said County of Lancaster, containing five hundred and ninety seven
acres, and the usual allowance of six acres p. cent. for roads and
highways...Recorded in the office for Recording of Deeds in and for the
City of Phhiladelphia in Commission Book A, p. 126 & c. Whereas Thomas
Lawrence and Rachel his wife and by their Intdenture bearing date 4th July
1739 for the consideration therein mentioned granted and conveyed the same
piece parcel or tract of land unto John Carson in the County of Lancaster
aforesaid Merchant, and to his heirs..."
Second parcel of this 597 acres (150 acres) sold by William Carson to
Alexander Berryhill 13 Feb 1782, 0recorded 30 March 1782
In a survey for John Cunningham, 6 May 1738, adj. owners included "John
Carson, jr."
The tax lists for 1729 (when Lancaster was formed from Chester County)
until 1750 were destroyed.
John Carson is the only one for whom there are 1740s records:
.
- listed as a land owner on the warrant of Moses Dickey in 1742
- signed a road petition 1743
- merchant listed as a resident 1749
So, in the mid to late 1730s, there was a John Carson but the question is
whether there were, in fact, two of them. A "jr." is usually not appended
without a "sn." being in the area.
We do know about the John Carson who acquired this land. In the 13 Dec
1780 deed cited above, it goes on to say that John Carson died having first
made a will recorded in the Register's Office in Philadelphia which
bequeathed unto his son William Carsons this land, part of which is
conveyed to Alexander Berryhill by this 1780 deed. Further, it says this
land is "in a line of John Carsons and the said William Carson" 5 March
1793, this land of Alexander Berryhill is conveyed to John Gilchrist
referring to land conveyed to John Carson Esq. and wife and Archibald
McAlister in trust for Sarah W. Carson, daughter of William Carson
dec. Sarah Willis Carson, daughter of WIlliam and Elizabeth Carson, is
noted as "under 14" in court documents of 1786 and "under 12" in court
documents of 1790, thus she would have been born no earlier than 1769.
There is a will of John Carson (Paxtan, identified as a Merchant) written
Aug 23, 1763, probated Feb 11, 1765 in Philadelphia but identifies Carson
as living in Paxtan. It contains information by which to identify a first
wife, Ann Pyewell (marriage record Nov 11, 1748) and a second wife,
Elizabeth Gillespy (marriage record Dec 12, 1761). This is the third
marriage of Elizabeth, her maiden name being Wood and first marriage to a
Willis, one daughter by each husband. His
will states he has two sisters, Mary Meally and Rachel Keinton. It
identifies sons William and John and daughter Elizabeth plus stepchildren
Sarah Willis and Tilly Gillespy. There is a marriage record of Alexander
Berryhill to Matilda Gillespy Harrisburg PA 15 Dec 1753.
Elizabeth, daughter of John Carson, married Archibald McAllister, no
marriage record avaiable but circumstancial evidence. First, there is a
deed, No. 1320 dated Apr 8, 1794, where John Carson of lower Paxtang sells
land to his brother in law, Archibald McAllister, stating that his wife is
Margaret and referering to the land as originally warranted 1737 26
Oct. Secondly, there is a death notice of Elizabeth Carson "well stricken
in age" died at the home of Capt.
Archibald McAllister (Elizabeth (Woods, WIllis, Gillespy). Court records
concerning the death of Alexander Berryhill who married Matilda Gillespy
show John Carson being appointed guardian of minor children as well as
Archibald McAllister. Finally, there is the deed reference to both John
Carson and Archibald McAllister holding in strust for Sarah W. Carson,
daughter of William Carson dec.
It is evident that John Carson's children mentioned in the will were:
William Carson (oldest) m. Elizabeth
Child: Sarah Willis Carson
John Carson m. Margaret
Elizabeth Carson m. Archibald McAllister
Step children: Matilda Gillespy m. Alexander Berryhill
Children: (from Court Documents stating age at
time of their father's eath 6 Sep 1798:)
Andrew age16
Amelia age 18
Clarissa age 14
Matilda age 11
Casandara age 8
Caroline 3 (died as child)
Alexander b. 30 Nov 1798
Sarah Willis m.
Circumstantial evidence suggests that William Carson was the son of John
Carson and Ann Pyewell, i.e. born circa 1748 given probable earliest date
of the birth of William's only child, daughter Sarah Willis Carson in 1769.
John Carson, son of John Carson, was alive in 1798. His wife was Margaret
and there is a death notice of Margaret, wife of John Carson, March 2, 1823
age 68 (b. 1755).
In the 1750s, there is evidence of:
John Carson - tax list west end Paxtang 1750, 1751
- road petition, call for Rev. Elder 1754
- mentioned in letter about the Indians 1755
- tax list east side Derry 1757
- resident west side Derry 1758 with William Carson
- Rev. Roan's account book paid stipend 1750-1760
Robert Carson - marriage by Rev. Roan Oct 31, 1755 to Margaret Wood
- Tax list 1756
Mary Carson - marriage by Rev Roan to John Lee Mar 22, 1759
David Carson - tax list west end Paxtang
James Carson - tax list east end Derry
Richard Carson - tax list as residing with John Carson 1757
- tax list 1758
William Carson - tax list 1756
EVIDENCE OF CARSONS:
1 William Carson (Paxton/Paxtang)
b. 1683 (tombstone provides age at death)
d. 1761 (will written Mar 12, l759, probated Oct 1, l761
m. Elizabeth (listed as wife on will)
CDR: 1. Sarah Carson
b.
d.
m.
CDR:
2. Agnes Carson
b.
d.
m.
CDR:
3. John Carson
b.
d.
m.
CDR:
4. Jean Carson
b.
d.
m.
CDR:
5. Elizabeth Carson
b.
d.
m.
CDR:
2. John Carson (Paxtan - merchant)
b.
d. Feb 11, 1765 probated will (written Aug 23, l763)
m. 1st Ann Pyewell Nov 11, l748 (marriage record)
2nd Elizabeth Gillespy Dec 12, l761 (Marriage Record),
her third husband, maiden name Woods
- Egles Notes and Querries says he married a ?
Berryhill from near Fort Hunter
- Egles Notes and Querries has an entry that says
Mrs. Elizabeth Carson, "well stricken in years, died at the house of Capt.
Archibald McAlister, at Fort Hunter, Tuesday, July 24,
1804. This is undoubtedly Elizabeth (Woods, Willis, Gillespy) Carson.
o will is probated in Philadelphia County but cites Paxton
as location of John Carson
- will cites his father in law, William Pyewell of
Philadelphia and sister in law Susannah Pyewell which connects this John to
that marriage record
o his will also states he has sisters Mary Meally (Miley?)
and Rachel Keinton (proven to be Thomas Kinton, both died Bedford PA with
wills - see details on these under "unknown counties" section)
- of interest is that Thomas Kinton was a resident
of Oxford Twp. Phladelphia County (now northern Philadelphia), an Indian
Trader along the Ohio by 1737according to
descendents who do not cite sources. There is a Thomas Kinton with a land
grant in York County, unknown date; proven in Bedford by
1768 (listed as taxed that year in Bedford Twp.)
- of interest, there are several surname Mileys in
what became Dauphin County and in Bedford County as well
o Egles Notes and Querries states that he came to an area
now called Carson Hill as early as 1740, possibly a few years prior. He
was a successful trader, a soldier in the Braddock campaign
and a frontier magistrate. He married a Berryhill of Paxtang, near Fort
Hunter. In this article, it states that his daughter
Elizabeth m. Capt. Archibald McAllister. His son John Carson took over the
residence and farm, faught in the Rev. War, married a Duncan
of Cumberland county, sister of Thomas Duncan
CDR: (names listed in will)
1. William
b.
d. 1786
m. Sarah Willis (step daughter of his father)
o there is a William Carson on the
1772 and 1773 Tax Lists
o there is a Deed which proves
marriage ????
CDR:
(1) Sarah Willis Carson
b.
d.
m. John Kelso
2. John
b
d.
m. Margaret Duncan of Cumberland County PA
b. 1760
d. Mar 2, l823
- marriage information in
Egles Notes and Querries where it also incorrectly states that this John
Carson was the son of John
Carson and Sarah
Dickey. Husband of Sarah Dickey was John Cantzon; they went to SC.
o there is a deed No. 1320 written
Apr 8, 1794 in Cumberland Ct. where John Carson of lower Paxtang sells land
to his brother in law Archibald McAllister. It states his wife is Margaret
and refers to land originally warranted 1737 26 Oct.
CDR:
(1) Charles Carson
b.
d.
m. ? Campbell of Cumberland
o Egles Notes and
Querries says that he married a Campbell
whose mother was a Duncan
(2) John Carson
b. 1819
d.
m. Susan Rinney of New
London Ct.
3. Elizabeth
b.
d.
m.
CDR:
STEPCDR: 1. Sarah Willis
2.
Tilly Gillespy
3. JAMES Carson (Paxtany Twp)
b.
d. 1773 (will written Mary 14, l773; probated Aug 4, l773)
m. Sarah
o no wife listed in will but will of Andrew Calwell in
Paxton written Jan 9, l771 and probated Apr 23, l771 states
that daughter Sarah was the wife of James Carson; land records
show a Caldwell rather than Calwell. Has child named Andrew.
o will states he has a brother Alexander Carson and sister
Mary Sloan ("alias") Thompson
o there is a James Carson on the 1772 and 1773 Tax List Paxtang
CDR: 1. Jean Carson
b.
d.
m.
CDR:
2. Andrew Carson
b.
d.
m.
CDR:
4. John Carson (Paxton)
b.
d. 1778 (will written Dec 1, l777 and probated Feb 3, l778)
m.
o on Tax List 1771 and 1772 Paxton
CDR: 1. Richard
b.
d.
m.
CDR:
o on Tax List 1772
2. John
b.
d.
m.
CDR:
3. George
b.
d.
m.
o there is a George Carson on 1771
Tax List Paxtang
CDR:
4. Jean
b.
d.
m.
CDR:
5. ? m. James Wilson
b.
d.
m.
CDR:
5. John Carson
b.
d.
m. ? Berryhill
o Egle's Notes and Queries in three places states that "John
Carson merchant and trader was the son of John Carson who married
a Berryhill, of Paxtang, near Fort Hunter".
o Egle's Notes and Queries has an entry for an Andrew
Berryhill who in a letter written 30 Nov 1771 offered to go
bond for his brother in law Hugh Gilliland. There is a
York Ct.will of John Carson written 13 Nov 1776 and probated 30
Apr 1778 which names the children of his sister as Matthew
Gilliland and William Gilliland along with his
cousin Robert Carson of County Derry, Tully Town Ireland.
o there is an Alexander Berryhill m. Matilda Gillespie
Harrisburg PA 15 Dec 1753; Matilda is the step daughter of
John Carson m. Elizabeth (Wood) Gillespie so there
are Berryhills around the area. This may be a brother to
the Andrew Berryhill of Paxtang above.
o Floyd's Northumberland County Genealogy page 784 says that
the Carson and Berryhill families settled in Dauphin
(near "old Derry Church:") between 1720 and 1730
.MISC RECORDS:
o there is a marrage record for James Carson and Mary Epsy (Paxtang
and Derry Churches Dauphin Ct.) Jun 16, l748. There is a will of Thomas
Apsy, Hamilton Top. Chester Ct. PA probated Aug 1755 which states
that James Carson is hi son in law.
o Andrew Carson (of Lebanon) m. Nancy Dixon (of Hanover) in York Ct.
PA Jan 24, 1769
- will of John Dixon Hanover Twp Lancaster Ct. Pa probated
Jan 4, 1781 which states that Anne Dixon is the wife of unnamed
Carson with children Samuel Carson and Robert Carson
- while included under "York Ct." in records of marrages of
Rev. Stover, most probably belongs in the Dauphin/Lebanon region
which split off from Lancaster Ct.
o there are three Carsons listed as living in East Hanover on
Lancaster tax lists which are probably in the area of Dauphin/Lebanon:
James Carson 1771
David Carson 1773
Andrew Carson 1771, 1772
PROBLEMS:
o There is one John Carson listed in the 1771 Tax returns and two
listed for 1772 with too many John Carsons available:.
John son of John Carson d. 1765
John son of William Carson d. 1761
John Carson d. 1778
John Carson son of John Carson d. 1778
One of them must be John Carson d. 1778