THE BACKGROUND OF RICHARD CARTER
Richard Carter was a true pioneer of our country. born about 1710 in Bucks
County, Pennsylvania, he migrated, as a young man, to Virginia as early as
1736. he and some brothers were among the first settlers on Opeckon Creek in
what was later Frederick County, Virginia. About thirty years later, Richard
moved his family on down the Great Wagon road to South Carolina, where he
lived until he died.
Richard's parents were James Carter and Susanna(Griffith)Carter. From his
father's will in 1714, we know that Richard was born before 1714 and that he
was one of the five youngest children of his family.
We have not learned the names of the parents of James Carter, father of
Richard. Nor do we know where or when James was born. Indeed, we have found
no record of James Carter before his marriage.
Susanna Griffith was born in Eglos Oro Parish, Pembrokeshire, Wales on 8th
mo. 1681, a daughter of John Griffith.(1) This was the Quaker way of writing
a date. They referred to month by a number, never by name. Since it was
during the time of the Julian Calendar, the eight month was October. We
would say Susanna was born on 8 October 1681.
John Griffith was a Quaker, and Susanna was probably brought up as one.
Apparently James Carter was not a Quaker. No record has been found of him
having been one. On 6 June 1702, John Griffith asked the advice of the
Middletown Monthly Meeting, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, as to what he
should do concerning his daughter, Susanna. she had "entangled her self with
one not of our society."(2)
It is assumed James Carter and Susanna Griffith married sometime after 6
June 1702. They had seven children-six sons and one daughter-born before he
wrote his will in 1714.
The earliest record found, to date, on James Carter is a deed in Bucks
County, Pennsylvania dated "twenty ninth day of the eight month Anno Domini
one thousand seven hundred and four 1704". This is the Quaker form of
dating. Since this was before the calendar change, and the eight month was
October, we would say 29 October 1704. James Carter bought 250 acres of land
in Solebury Township, Bucks County, from Francis white for sixteen pounds
and twelve shillings. The occupation of James Carter was "blacksmith",
according to his deed. Stephen Beakes and William Croasdale owned adjoining
property.(3)
James Carter sold the 250 acres in Solebury Township to George Brown on 24
February 1709. the sale price was thirty pounds. those who owned adjoining
property, according to this deed, were Henry Paxson and Stephen Beakes.(4)
We do not know if James Carter ever lived on this property.
On 26 December 1706, John Griffith, cordwainer, of Southampton Township in
Bucks County, Pennsylvania, sold 250 acres of land to James Carter for two
hundred fifty pounds.(5) this land was on Neshaminy Creek and ajoined land
of Samuel Griffith, Ralph Draycot and John Swift. John Griffith's occupation
was "cordwainer", which was an old term for a worker in cordovan leather, or
shoemaker. Once again, James Carters occupation was listed as "blacksmith".
This land was very near property owned by other early Carters of Buck
County, who were possibly relatives.
In 1711, James Carter was an inhabitant of Southampton Township in Bucks
County, Pennsylvania. he signed a petition to the court to be separated from
Warminister in county assessments and collection of taxes, whereon it was
ordered that "lands of James Carter, Ralph Dracot, , Joseph Tomlinson may be
in one township."
John Griffith, father of Susanna(Griffith)Carter, wrote his will in
Woodbridge, East Jersey, on 27 June 1713. he mentioned daughters, Mary and
Martha Griffith, Ann Heaton, and Susanna Carter.
John Griffith died at Woodbridge, New Jersey on 20th day,8 month,1713. An
inventory of Estate was dated October 22 ye 22nd 1713 at Woodbridge, East
Jersey and was signed by James Carter and John Vail.
James Carter, Jeremiah Bartholomew, and John Cutler witnessed the will of
John Thorp, husbandman, of Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey on 3 July
1714. The inventory of John Throp's estate was conducted on 6 August 1714
by James Wildman, James Carter and Joseph Thacther, the last two of
Southampton, Bucks County, Pennsylvania "who swear to the appraisal." (if he
were a Quaker,James Carter would not have sworn. He would have "attested".)
In this Inventory it mentioned "goods left in ye custody of James Carter
17.7.9 including a mare and other things 'brought by his brother Samuel Thorp."
The will of James Carter "of Southampton in the County of Burks in the
Provins of Pennsylvania" was dated, "the first day of December in the first
year of the Reign of King George over Great Britain &c: Anno Domi 1714."
Witnesses were Robert Cobbort and Jeremiah Bartholomew. James listed as his
joint executors "my trusty friends Jeremiah Langhorn and John Cutler both of
Middletown in Bucks County." The will was probated on Mch ye 15th 1714 "in
Bucks County Pennsylvania." Since this was during the old time Julian
calendar, these dates would have actually been 1715.
Richard Carter and his brothers and sisters were mentioned in their fathers
will: eldest son William Carter, son John Carter, and "my five youngest
children James Carter, Richard Carter, Joseph Carter, Benjamin Carter
and...daughter Ann Carter." a more complete discussion of these siblings may
be found in another work.
After James Carter died in 1714, Susanna remained a widow until she married
(2) Robert Heaton on 9 March 1720. a record in the Middletown Monthly
Meeting Acknowledgments states:3/9/1720-Marriage of Robert Heaton and
Susanna Carter orderly accomplished." Robert was brother of James Heaton who
had married Susanna's sister, Ann Griffith in 1696.
A year later, on 3 April 1771, another item appeared in the Middletown
Monthly Meeting Acknowledgments:"Robert Heaton hath had a child born about
six months after marriage, which being a public scandal upon truth." Then,
in the Middletown Monthly Meeting Men's Minutes, on 1 January 1722, "Robert
Heaton, near Southampton in Bucks County, disowned, having had a child born
in about six months after he was married to her that is his wife, which
child is living and seems to be born at full time."
Susanna(Griffith)Carter Heaton out lived her second husband and many of her
children. She lived to a ripe old age of about 90, and died late in 1770 or
early in 1771. the will of Susanna Heaton, which was dated 15 January 1766,
starts:" I Susanna Heaton of Northampton in the County of Bucks and Province
of Pennsylvania, Being Weak of Body But of Sound Mind and Memmory, Blessed
be God Almighty, I now being Antient and do in a little Time according to
the Common course of Nature Espect to Depart this life..." Her will
mentioned many of her children, both living and dead. But no mention was
made of Richard Carter, who had moved to South Carolina. Her son,Joseph
Carter, was appointed her sole Executor. Witnesses were Ezra Croasdale and
James Cooper. The will was proved on 24 January 1771, five years after it
was written.
Nothing is known about the childhood of Richard Carter. It is assumed that
he grew up in the family household on Neshaminy Creek in Bucks County, along
with five brothers and one sister. There were at least three children born
to his mother after she married Robert Heaton.
Although his name is never found on any Quaker records, anywhere, Richard
Carter seems always to have lived among Quakers, and moved with there
migration patterns.
Not only Quakers settled in Pennsylvania, but large numbers of Germans and
Scotch-Irish also vied for land in that state. In 1732, a German or
Hollander, Joist Hite, led a group of sixteen families to settle just south
of present-day Winchester, Virginia. A large movement of Quakers, which
originated in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, moved along the Great Warrior's
Path or Great Pennsylvania Road to Frederick County, Virginia about 1732, to
found several Meetings in the neighborhood. Alexander Ross, a Quaker secured
40,000 acres locating the same north and west and south of where now stands
Winchester. This was about 1730. Alexander Ross and Morgan Bryan, from
Pennsylvania, settled a colony of Quakers on the west side of the Opequon,
and they built the Hopewell Church, the first in the Valley.
Richard Carter and several of his brothers went to Frederick County,
Virginia, where Richard received a Patent to 188 acres on Opeckon Creek. The
land was surveyed by James Wood on 12 March 1736. Others who were granted
patents on the Opeckon about the same time included: Samuel White 100 acres,
surveyed 22 January 1735; James Wright, 175 and 700 acres, 3 February 1735;
Morgan Bryan, 600 acres, 2 February 1735; Evan Thomas, 164 acres 14 February
1735; Morgan Bryan, 140 acres, 5 February 1735; William Chambers, 213 acres,
12 February 1735; Robert Smith, 390 acres 5 February 1735; William
Chambers, 213 acres, 12 February 1735; Robert Smith, 390 acres, 17 February
1735; Thomas Babb, 166 acres, 9 March 1735; Hugh Parrell, 402 acres, 10
March 1735; John Calvert, 892 acres, 29 March 1736.
Richard's brother, Joseph Carter, was in Frederick County as early as 1739.
He had land grants on Opeckon Creek, though he later returned to Bucks
County, Pennsylvania. James Carter, a brother of Richard and Joseph, had a
grant of land "whereon he lives on a branch of Abraham's Creek, a branch of
Opeckon, adjoining Calvert's and Hollingsworth's lines." Another brother,
Benjamin Carter, married Margaret Hollingsworth. Benjamin Carter died
before November 1748. Isaac Hollingsworth and Lewis Neill were appointed to
be guardians of Benjamin's son, Thomas Carter.
Richard Carter married Margaret Bruce, daughter of John Bruce of Frederick
County, Virginia. We do not know when they were married.The will of John
Bruce, which was written on 4 November 1747, mentions his daughter, Margaret
Carter, and left " my sute of wooling clothes" to Richard Carter, his
son-in-law. This will was witnessed by Edward Parrel, James McCoy and
Elizabeth King. It was probated on 1 November 1748.
Richard Carter applied for 394 acres of land on Abrahams Creek on the west
side of Opeckon Creek in Frederick County, Virginia. a warrant was issued
on 2 August 1750, and the land was surveyed on 27 April 1751. Richard Carter
was already living on the land when the Warrant was issued. It seems the
surveys were made much later than the actual settlement. Richard's land
adjoined land of Col. Grayson and John Neil, deceased, and Samuel's Lick
Run.When the land was surveyed, John Fox and Joseph Carter were Chain Carriers.
The Northern Neck grants by Lord Fairfax, found in the Virginia State
Library, show the grant by Lord Fairfax to Richard Carter, date 12 May 1764
of "a certain Tract of waste and ungranted Land on Abraham's Creek on the
West side of Opechon". This is the same 394 acres on Abraham's Creek, on the
west side of "Opeckon", and mention is made of the survey by Mr. John
Baills. Neighbors were Col. Grayson and John Neal.
Richard Carter sold his 394 acres on Abrahams Creek in Frederick in
Frederick County, Virginia to James Lindsey on 30 September 1765. Richard
signed this deed with his mark, Which was a capital "R". Margaret, his wife
signed with her unique mark also. This was the last record of this Richard
Carter in Frederick County. He and his family apparently moved about this
time to South Carolina.