"Salt Spring" John Carter
John Carter was born before 1755, according to the 1800 Laurens County,
South Carolina, which shows this man older than 45. It is thought certain he
was son of Benjamin and Margaret(Hollingsworth) Carter of Frederick County,
Virginia.
On 7 April 1763 John and Thomas Carter, two "oldest sons of Benjamin Carter,
deceased" assigned 400 acres on Abraham's Creek, a branch of Opeckon, near
Winchester, Virginia to Robert Rutherford. Thomas Carter went to South
Carolina about the same time as there Uncle Richard Carter and some of the
Hollingsworths moved to that area which was later Laurens County. It is
thought that John and possibly another brother, Benjamin Carter moved there
a bit later.
One John Carter was disowned by the Hopewell Friends(Quakers) in Frederick
County Virginia for "Dancing and singing and neglected to attend meetings."
The name of this John Carter's wife is not known.
It seems evident that this John Carter was closely related to the family of
Richard Carter. he seems to be contemporary in age with Richard's son, John.
Land records show that the two Johns had land which was contiguous.
Various records indicate this man was referred to as "Salt Spring John
Carter", no doubt because of the salt spring on his land, and to distinguish
him from his cousin.
John Carter apparently was in Laurens Co. by 1786(after the Revolutionary
War).There is a plat of 187 acres for John Carter, showing a very irregular
piece of land, and neighboring lands are designated as; John Carter's Land,
Benjamin Carter's Land, Vacant Lands, "Laid out unknown", and Jacob
Gray's
Land. On the northeast is written, "John Carter's Salt Spring Land". Cain
Creek runs through one side of the 187 acres, and also through the land
which may be "John Carter's Salt Spring Land".Beneath the plat sketch is
written:
"I have caused to be admeasured and laid out unto John Carter,
Salt Spring a Tract of Land containing one
hundred and eighty seven acres situate in the District of Ninety six,
on Cain Creek a branch of Saluda River and hath such form, marks, buttings
and
boundings as the above Plat represents.
Joshua Saxon
Certified for the 12th April 1788
Dep. Surv. S.Z.
Ephraim Mitchell
Several deeds in the county were witnessed by John Carter. It has been
impossible, in most cases, whether it was John , son of Richard, or "Salt
Spring" John.
A deed in Laurens County, dated 2 July 1786 between Jonathan Reed, planter
and Jane Reed to James Strain, Planter for 89 acres on Cain Creek shows the
land bordered on John Carter and said Reed. The deed was witnessed by Robert
Carter(son of Richard) and William Brown.
John Carter and David McGladery witnessed a deed, dated 16 July 1787,
between Samuel Weathers and wife Martha to Mary and Margaret Durham. This
was 100 acres on Cain Creek, bordering on Allmon Brown, Harris Gillam,
Arthur Durham and said Samuel Weathers.
The 1790 Census of Laurens Co., S.C. showed two men named John Carter. Once
again, it is puzzling as to which was which. One of these had two males over
16, 1 under 16 and 4 females in his household. The other John Carter had 2
males over 16, 1 male under 16, and 3 females.
On 31 December 1791 Elizabeth Gray and her father Jacob Gray of Newberry
County sold 200 acres on Cain Creek to William McCord. This land was
bordering on John Carter, James McGill, Patrick Cunningham, and the original
grant(1774) to William Gray. Witnesses include Benjamin Carter,Jr., William
Carter, and John Carter, Sr. It is considered that John Carter who was
listed as on bordering land must have been "Salt Spring" John Carter,
because of the plat showing Grays as neighbors. Among the witnesses, John,
Sr. was probably the son of Richard, William Carter was his son. Benjamin
Carter, Jr. was probably son Of "Salt Spring John".
In a deed dated 6 December 1795, "Samuel Weathers and wife Martha of Wilkes
Co., Georgia sold 200 acres on Cane Creek to William Whitehead. This land,
where Samuel Weathers formerly lived, bordered on Salt Spring John Carter,
Widow Armstrong, Allen Brown, Margaret Durham, Jno. Griffin, Charter
Nickols. Witnesses were Benjamin Carter and Robert Shaw.
The 1800 Census of Laurens County, South Carolina showed John Carter on page
35, between Robert Carter and John Carter,Jr. The names of Daniel Bailey,
John Pinson and James Nichols preceded these three Carters. Names following
the Carters were: Thomas Weathers, Charles Nichols, Richard Duty, Paul
Findley, John Fields, Elizabeth Bailey, David Brown, William Craig, Joel
Burgess. This 1800 Census showed John Carter to be over 45 years of age
(therefore born before 1755). There was a female over age 45(probably his
wife). Also in his household were : 1 male under age 10; 1 male 16-26; 1
female 10-16 and 1 female 16-26.
In the 1810 Census of Laurens County, John Carter was listed on page 36. He
and a female(his wife?) were both over age 45. In his household were: 1 male
10-16; 1female 16-26. Absolom Bailey was listed on one side; William and
John Griffen were on the other side, before Robert Carter, Sr.
The will of John Carter was signed on 3 April 1813. No wife was mentioned in
the will or the estate settlement. Perhaps she had died before his will was
written. The following legatees are mentioned: "my Grandson Bailey
Carter","my daughter Margaret Bailey", son Joel Carter, daughter Ruth
Brown;
son Benjamin Carter; daughters Elizabeth Garner and Mary Nelson. Executors
were sons-in-law Benjamin Garner and Andrew Nelson. Witnesses were John
Johnston, Howard Pinson and Elizabeth Brown.
John Carter was dead by 27 May 1813, when his will was proved by Thomas
Pinson. Benjamin Garner and Andrew Nelson qualified as executors. An
appraisal of his estate was made by Thomas Pinson, John Ab(?) and Math(?) on
12 June 1813.
Children of "Salt Spring" John Carter:
1. Joel Carter was born 1770-1780. He married Elizabeth Young, daughter of
James Young, Sr. he was still in the state when 1830 census was taken, at
which time he was listed as between 50 and 60 years of age(born 1770-1780).
2. Benjamin Carter was born 1755-1774. He was listed in the 1790 Census and
1800 Census of Laurens County. His father's will bequeathed to Benjamin one
dollar "in addition to what I have heretofore given him".
3. Elizabeth Carter married Benjamin Garner.
4. Mary Carter married Andrew Nelson.
5. Margaret Carter married(-?-) Bailey.
6. Ruth Carter married David Brown.