I found this record in the Carter, Elizabeth Hyatt Ogden Collection, in SLC.
Looks like it was compiled in 1945:
Tennessee:
1785 - John Carter, pioneer of Tennessee. When the district of Washington,
now the State of Tennessee, was annexed to North Carolina during the
Revolution, he was elected with John Sevier and Charles Robertson, to the
Convention that assembled at Halifax, North Carolina in 1785, and framed a
Constitution for the State of Frankland (Franklin) which was reunited with
North Carolina in 1788. (A. S. Carter's book)
1796 - Major Carter, of Watauga, 1796. John Carter was the foremost man of
the early Watauga settlement. Coming from North Carolina he had the
prestige of family and a superior education, and was chosen head of the new
community, serving efficiently in many capacities. He was concerned in the
State of Franklin movement, and was frequently called out at the head of the
Militia on Indian expeditions. Carter County was named for him. (Thwaite's
early western Travels Vol. 3 p. 98).
Does anyone know exactly where in North Carolina that this John was from?
It is possible there is another Revolutionary War Ancestor here. The DAR
patriot index contains a Col. John Carter, b. 1730 VA, d. 1783 Washington
Co, TN, member of Prov. Congress and militia. # A019973, but he dies in
1783.
The Major John Carter listed above was still alive in 1796.
There is a John Carter in Edgecombe Precinct (and I think later Halifax
County), NC. I have his birth at about 1735 and him witnessing a deed at age
18 from Joseph and Elizabeth Bradley to Abraham Jones and then buying and
selling property the last of which was 24 Aug 1779, when he sold 50 acres to
Charles Carter, who I am pretty sure is my ancestor.
Gayle Braswell Ellison