Murdered John CARSON/Ann BAKER of Philadelphia, PA
John CARSON, born 1777, died 29 JAN 1816, married 16 JUN 1801 to Ann BAKER,
born ca. AUG 1785, died 27 APR 1824. Ann's second (bigamist) marriage 1815
to Richard SMYTH or SMITH.
In 1816, John CARSON was shot and killed by his wife's second (bigamist)
husband, Richard SMYTH (aka SMITH.) SMYTH was tried and hung for murder.
(Before SMYTH's execution, Ann plotted to kidnap Simon SNYDER, Governor of
Pennsylvania, to hold him for ransom until the Governor would agree to pardon
SMYTH.) Since both John CARSON and Ann BAKER were from prominent
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania families, this was a major scandal of its day.
I have posted four messages on this family on the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Message Board which is located at this link:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=rw&
p=localities.northam.usa.states.pennsylvania.counties.philadelphia
Murdered John CARSON/Ann BAKER: An Overview
Murdered John CARSON/Ann BAKER: Gay Widow CARSON
Murdered John CARSON/Ann BAKER: Old Philadelphia Families - CARSON
Murdered John CARSON/Ann BAKER: Ann's Memoirs
A fifth message will be posted in the future:
Murdered John CARSON/Ann BAKER: Update and Feedback
Note: From Ann's memoirs, it is known that John CARSON and Ann BAKER had
three children, all sons: John; William; and Joseph CARSON. Son, John CARSON
born ca. 1802, worked in a counting house; William CARSON born ca. 1805 was a
cabinet maker; Joseph CARSON , born ca. 1808 was a printer. All that is
mentioned in the genealogy article (see Murdered John CARSON/Ann BAKER: Old
Philadelphia Families - CARSON) is that "they removed to the southwestern
states early in the 19th century." What happened to them? Could they have
changed their names?
If you are descended from John CARSON and Ann BAKER, I have good news for
you. Not only do you have distinguished ancestors who fought in the
Revolutionary War, and an ancestor who wrote her memoirs, but also you have a
fascinating "skeleton in the closet" story to tell! We would like to hear
from you, or from anyone who has information on the descendants of John
CARSON and Ann BAKER. Please post the information here where everyone can
benefit from it.