I would be especially interested if anyone knows anything about the John
Carson mentioned. I have been searching for several years for parents of one
David Carson who was born, probably 1813, in New Jersey. I find nothing. I
wonder if may be he could have been a son of this Capt. John Carson, or was
he at sea longer than three years? Thanks, Doris in Iowa
----- Original Message -----
From: John Ottinger <johnc(a)terracom.net>
To: <CARSON-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Friday, November 03, 2000 11:22 PM
Subject: [CARSON] Capt John Carson of Philadelphia, d 1816
>From Collins, Herman L., Philadelphia: A Story of Progress, p 207:
Yellowed newspaper files reveal the story of a sensational crime
committed at that time (1816). Captain John Carson was shor to death in
his own home by Lt. Richard Smith. The circumstances both before and
after were dramatic in the extreme. Carson was abroad for several years
and his wife, posing as a widow, married Smith. When Carson returned he
obligingly offered to forget and be forgiven but Smith's pistol shot
terminated that suggestion. The murderer was hanged but before he
stepped upon the gallows Mrs. Carson made most desperate efforts to
obtain a pardon for him. She went so far as to plan the kidnapping of
Governor Simon Snyder. It was the city's most lurid crime in that
summerless year.
*****
If anyone recognizes this John Carson, or knows his wife's name, or
anything else about the incident other than this brief summary, please
e-mail me. Thanks.
John Ottinger
==============================
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