Hello List.
Several people have been asking for information on William Merriman Carter
and Frances Leftwich. This is what I have so I thought I would send this to
the list. Hope this is helpful.
William Merriman Carter (Born 1730 Lancaster County, VA - son of John Carter
and Susannah Payne.)
Married Frances Leftwich (born 1738, daughter of Augustine Leftwich and
Elizabeth) in 1758
Their children were:
William Leftwich Carter, born 1760 - Liberty, Bedford County, VA. Died in
1779 in the Revolution. (May have been married and may have had at least 1
child. (not proven)
Augustine Carter, born 1762, in Bedford, married Nancy Pullen in 1784 and
died in 1790 and may have had children.
Joel Carter, born 1764 or (1779) I have both. Married Ms. Petra (Nancy St.
Clair - married a Petross who died). Died in December 23rd, 1861 in
Breckinridge County, Ky. This is my line.
John Carter, Born 1764 married Elizabeth Pullen
James Carter, born 1767 and died before 1776.
Frances Carter, born about 1769 died before 1829, married to Isaac St.
Clair, brother to Nancy St. Clair, son of Isaac St. Clair.
Merry Carter, born 1769 married June Bugg Taylor.
Mary Carter born 1771, married Nathan Fuqua.
Rebecca Carter born 1773 married Charles Coffrey.
Nancy Carter born 1775 married to George Reid
James Carter (the second) born 1776 married to Susannah Dickey.
Elizabeth Carter born 1777 married Joshua Alston.
William Leftwich Carter (the second), born 1779 and married Rhoda Scott.
Now the explanation: The Carters lost at least two sons in the Revolution.
William Leftwich Carter (1st) and James (1st) They had additional children
and gave them the names of their lost sons. William Merriman Carter was in
the French and Indian War with Augustine Leftwich who was a Sergeant. Merry
married Frances the daughter of Augustine.
My line is Joel Carter. He is list as having been born in 1764 but I
believe he is my Joel who was born in 1779 for many reasons and the fact
that he had it placed in the Breckinridge County Courthouse that he was born
in Bedford County, VA and he named every one of his children after the
Carter and Leftwich Line. William, Merry, Joel Leftwich, Jabez, Frances,and
Mary, He came from Virginia to Tennessee around Davidson County and then
had a grant in Russell County, Kentucky which he sold and moved on to
Breckinridge County and purchased 400 acres which became the basis for
"Carter Town". Rebecca Carter and her husband Charles Coffrey and Isaac St.
Clair and Nancy also came to Breckinridge County Kentucky. The name
Leftwich has been passed down through several generations of the family.
Also, the second James came to Tennessee and My Joels son Merry Carter went
to live with him for many years. He is listed on the census. He only
returned to Kentucky after his fathers death in 1861 and took over the land
that was left to him and he cared for his mother until her death in 1876.
There is always the possibility that my GGG Grandfather Joel Carter born
1779-1861 could have been the son of one of the first two or three boys
killed in the Revolution and raised by Merry Carter and his wife. I have
yet to find any documents supporting this.
Many of the children born to the Carters who came to Breckinridge County
later migrated to other parts of the country and many died during two
typhoid epidemics in the late 1800's. Some St. Clairs moved west and
Carters to Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and West to California as far as my
grandmother could remember. She remembers an Uncle Bill who lived in a
cabin alone after his wife died whose children had all gone west and were
never heard from again. He was a William leftwich Carter. He is buried in
the Kasey Cemetery along with most of the others but his grave is unmarked.
I hope this helps. I have a few names on the lateral lines. If anyone is
interested in these please contact me.
smartin(a)g-net.net
912 587-3962