Benjamin Carter
Benjamin Carter, believed to be a son of Benjamin and
Margaret(Hollingsworth)Carter, is probably the man who, in 1765, was a Chain
Carrier when land was surveyed in Frederick County, Virginia for Robert
Rutherford, assignee of John Hayes. The other chain carrier was Hugh Brown,
who probably was the same Hugh Brown who later came to Laurens county and
was involved as witness in several deeds in Richard Carter's family. Thomas
and John Carter, the oldest sons of Benjamin Carter, deceased, also assigned
land to Robert Rutherford in 1763. They are thought to be older brothers of
Benjamin, and they also came to Laurens County.
Benjamin Carter may have come to South Carolina before the Revolutionary
War. One Benjamin Carter was a Private in Major Patrick Cunningham's
Regiment, Little River Militia, Ninety -Six Brigade, South Carolina in
1780. Patrick Cunningham was from Laurens County, and most of the men in his
company were from the same area. Others listed in the same company included
John Carter, Aaron Starnes, and Theodosius Turk.
Another Benjamin Carter served with Lt. Colonel Alexander Innes' Company,
South Carolina Royalists during the Revolution. He was taken prisoner in
1779 and died on 20 April 1781. He obviously was not the Laurens County
Benjamin.
In 1785, right after the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Carter received a
patent of 152 acres on Buffalo Branch of Cane Creek in 1784-1786. A State
grant of 70 acres on Cane Creek is dated 5 December 1785 to Benjamin Carter.
On 12 April 1786, "Salt Spring" John Carter received a State Grant of 187
acres on Cane Creek, bordering John Carter(his cousin), Benjamin Carter and
Jacob Gray.
On 20 November 1788, Benjamin Carter and Elisha Carter witnessed deed of
John Stephens, blacksmith(wife Mary) to Robert Hambleton on Cane Creek in
Laurens County. (Elisha Carter may have been son of Thomas Carter).
On 10 august 1789, Benjamin Carter was witness when James Carter made deed
to Mary Ferguson of land on Mudlick Creek. Mudlick Creek was the next creek
over from Cane Creek. One person might be in the Cane Creek drainage area,
and his neighbor in Mudlick drainage area.
When Joseph Armstrong wrote his will on 30 January 1790, he mentioned land
on Mudlick Creek which he had purchased from Benjamin Carter.
On 8 April 1790, James Carter, who had gone to Nova Scotia after the
Revolution, sold land in Laurens County to James Nickels. The land which
James sold bounded by Robert Carter and Benjamin Carter.
Two men named Benjamin Carter were listed in 1790 Census of Ninety Six,
Laurens County, page 72. They were not far apart - - - there were eight
names between them. One Benjamin Carter had 1 male age 16 or older, 6 males
under 16 and 3 females in his household. The other Benjamin had 1 male over
16, 2 males under 16, and 1 female in his household.
On 6 February 1793 Benjamin Carter sold 70 acres on Cain Creek to Wadsworth
& Turpin for 20 pounds. This was the land granted to Benjamin Carter 5
December 1785. Witnesses were James Young, and James Boyle. This must have
been a Deed Of Trust(a mortgage). Benjamin and Mary Carter sold the same 70
acres on waters of Saluda River to William Green on 6 April 1796. Witnesses
were Samuel Lemmon, Thomas Morrow, Sarah Green.
The 1800 Census of Laurens County lists only one Benjamin Carter. He was
between ages 26 and 45(born 1755 to 1774), and was probably the son of "Salt
Spring" John Carter. The older Benjamin with his wife, Mary, had apparently
moved away after selling their 70 acres on Cane Creek in 1796.
Unidentified Carters of
Laurens County
1. William Carter
There were two men named William Carter who were listed in the 1800 census
of Laurens County, South Carolina. One was son of John and Rachel(Chambers)
Carter, therefore he was a grandson of Richard and Margaret (Bruce)Carter.
We do not know the background of the other William. We do not know where he
came from, or who his parents might have been. He was over 45 years of age
in 1800, therefore born before 1755. He does not appear to have owned land,
and was not listed in later census records. He is the subject of the
following discussion.
William Carter was born before 1755,, therefore he was about the same age
as the sons of Richard and Margaret(Bruce)Carter. He lived some distance
from the Cane Creek Carters.
One William Carter was listed in the 1790 Census of Ninety Six District,
Laurens County. We do not know which William he might have been. He was
listed between William Hall and Abraham Hall. In his household were: 1male
of 16 years and upward(William); 4 males under age 16; 1 female. From this
we deduce he was married and had 4 young sons in his household. Since he was
living near Halls in the 1790 and 1800 census, his wife may have been one of
the women(Elizabeth or Frankey Carter) mentioned in the will of William Hall
in 1799.
In the 1800 Census, William Carter was listed on page 30-b. In his household
were: 1 male over age 45 years of age(William); 1 female age 26-45; 1 male
and 1 female age 16-26; 3 males age 10-16. Some people listed nearby
included Ambrose Hall; Cornelius Tinsley; Nancy Carr; Mary Dendy; Mary
Roland; William Walker; Elisha Mitchell; William Ramsey.
William, son of John and Rachel(Chambers)Carter was listed in 1800 Census of
Laurens County, South Carolina on page 34-b. Those listed nearby included
Zimry Carter(son of Robert), Joseph Hodges, John Griffin, Jonathan Johnson,
Rev. John Roland, James Strain, Mary Strain, John Cureton, Jr. William
McCrary(his brother-in-law) and Rachel Carter, (William's Mother).
The will of John Page, who was dead by 8 March 1804, mentioned a son-in-law,
William Carter. He also mentioned daughters, Betsey, Frances, Jenney and
Hannah. We do not know which William Carter was Page's son-in-law. In fact,
John Page's son-in-law might not have been a Laurens County man.
No further record has been found of this "other" William Carter.
2. Rueben Carter
Rueben Carter has no obvious connection to the other Carters of Laurens
County. If he was related, we do not know the relationship. He was never
near any of the other Carters, though he did have associations with some of
the other families.
He was probably born between 1770 and 1780, based on census records. We do
not know where he was born, nor do we know his parents.
It is noted that he was listed near members of the Hall family. His wife may
have been the Frankey Carter referred to in the will of William Hall.
The earliest record found for Reuben Carter was a deed, 17 July 1799, by
which John Milam and wife Nancy sold 190 acres on Little River to Reuben
Carter for $300. This was part of a 300 acre grant to John Cargill on 31
October 1769, which had been conveyed to John's son, Cornelius Cargill, then
to David Bailey, then to Wadsworth & Turpin and by them to said John Milam.
Neighbors were James Young, Thomas Dendy, Ambrose Hall, and the Little
River. Witnesses were Abram and Henry Hall.
Reubin Carter was found on page 21 of the 1800 census of Laurens district,
South Carolina. He was the only male in his household, and was age 26-45.
Also in his household were a female, age 16-26 and a female under age 10.
On 1 March 1804, a sale was held of the estate of Cornelius Dendy, deceased.
Purchasers included Reuben Carter.
Reuben Carter, Absolom Roberts and Silas(Silvanus?) Walker were listed as
neighbors on 9 October 1804 when John Milam sold 200 acres on Little River
to William Mliam.
Reuben Carter apparently sold 100 acres of his land on Little River to
Edward g. Winn before 9 December 1805. On that date, Edward G. Winn and wife
Salley sold 100 acres to James Holley. The deed states the land was on
Little River and was part of a grant to John Cargill, deceased, conveyed by
his heir to John Milam, to Reuben Carter, to said Edward G. Winn. The land
bordered on James Young. William Dendey and James Holley. Witnesses were
James Medley and Reuben(X) Carter.
Reuben Carter was listed on page 49 of the 1810 Census of Laurens County,
South Carolina. He and his wife were age 26-45. In his household were: a
male age 16-26, 2 females 10-16, and 5 females under age 10.
Reuben Carter was a purchaser at the estate sale of Jno. Simmons, deceased,
on 1 November 1810.
Edward ware and wife, Peggy Ware, of Abbeville district sold 107 acres on
Walnut Creek and Granville Road to James Jones on 4 March 1818. The land
bordered on Isaac Waldrop, Captain Clore(?), James Clardy, Reuben Carter and
Duke(-?-). Witnesses to the deed were Benjamin were Benjamin Arnold and
Reuben Carter.
The 1820 Census of Laurens County, South Carolina, shows Reuben Carter as
over 45 years old. His wife was 26-45. In his household were 2 females
16-26; 2 females 10-16; 2 females and 2 females under 10.
In the 1830 Census of Laurens County, Reuben Carter was listed on page 226.
He and his wife were age 50-60, and they had a female age 5-10.
3.and 4. Elizabeth and Frankey Carter
The will of William Hall, date 27 May 1799, mentions Patty Clardy, Mary
Bailey and Frankey Carter among his legatees. It has been assumed these were
his daughters, although the will does not stipulate their relationship. We
do not know that they were Laurens County residents. James Clardy, a
neighbor of William Carter, had wife Sarah.
5. Nelly Carter
A transcription of the 1790 Census of Ninety Six District, Laurens County
lists a Nelly Carter. There were 2 females in her household. She was listed
not to far from William Carter, but not near any other Carters. Since no
other records have been found for her, we feel the name perhaps was misread.
There was a Nelly Coker, widow of Joseph Coker, mentioned in a Laurens
County deed in 1786.
6. Philip Carter
A Phillip Carter is listed in the same transcription of 1790 Census of
Laurens County. In his household were 2 males age 16 or over; 1 male under
age 16; and 2 females. He is far removed from other Carters, but near some
families named Carker. Perhaps this name was misread.