Josette - You say that William (son of Samuel) had four sons, the youngest
dead at age 11 and five daughters in 1799.
. That letter was written in 1789. The letter says he has "9 children
4 sons and 5 daughters. The youngest one died 11 years old." It does not say
that a son died. (I'm sure those letters have been recopied many times since
I made them available and perhaps there was a typo) I have always thought
it meant a daughter and also thought it was Rebecca because she is never
mentioned. Our side of these Carsons do mention all children, dead and
alive, when writing letters to relatives in the early years. I thought it
possible that William did the same. No proof of course.
There is a will in York Co. SC 1811 - Book 1:428 for William Carson.
Witnessed by Samuel Carson. I do not have a copy of it. William's last
letter home was written May 1, 1802.
Samuel's marriage to Sarah Wallace is in The Records of Holy Trinity (Old
Swedes) Church published by the Historical Society of Deleware
In rereading your messages: you many not have come across the names of his
children: Samuel, William, Robert, Francis, Mary, Jean, Rebecca, Susan, and
Martha. These are given in the 1802 letter.
I don't know that the Walter and Mary problem will ever be solved. There
are too many Walters and too many Marys. I do have an idea of how it worked
but have never been able to prove it.
Betty Carson