Joseph Carter
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Parents
Father: Daniel Carter
Mother: Elizabeth Pannil
Joseph Carter
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: Abt 1697
Christening:
Death: Apr 1751 - Spottsylvania County, Virginia ( about age 54)
Burial:
Parents
Father: Thomas Carter Jr.
Mother: Arabella Williamson
Spouses and Children
1. *Catherine Stevens
Marriage: Abt 1718
Status:
Children:
1. Thomas Carter
2. Mary Elizabeth Carter
3. Edward Dale Carter
4. John Carter
5. George Carter
6. Elizabeth Carter
7. Joseph Carter
8. Catharine Carter
9. Robert Carter
Notes
General:
Joseph Carter, second son of Thomas and Arabella Williamson
Carter, born in 1696-1697, at "Barford,"' Lancaster, died in
April, 175 1, in Spotsylvania. He received from his father a
negro named Robin and a share in the residuary estate, both real
and personal. He lived in his native county until 1738, when
he removed to Spotsylvania, where he had a grant of 215 acres
of land, to which he added 89 acres in 1739, c>ne hundred acres
in 1749, another hundred in 1749 and a hundred and ninety in
1750.
From 1724-1725 until 1738 Jos. Carter was iobacco Inspector
at the port of Corotoman ; and from correspondence relative to
the manner in which he performed his duty, we get the only
insight we have of his character, from which we may draw
the conclusion that he was a man who had a strength of char-
acter and purpose sufficient to do his duty as he saw it, even
in the face of strong opposition and unpopularity.
From as early as 1619, X'irginia had from time to time passed
laws looking to the improvement in the quality of tobacco grown.
These provided for an inspection of tobacco shipped from every
port, and any that failed to come up to the quality of the lowest
grade acceptable to the English merchants, was to be burned on
the spot. There was always a great deal of trouble to get inspectors
who would do their duty in the matter and not be governed by
feelings of friendship for their neighbors and relatives. When
one did what he thought was right there was always a great
cry that he was partial to some and vented a private spite toward
others. Joseph Carter was accused of an overbearing temper,
partiality, and injustice toward many. Colonel Edwin Conway
was the spokesman of this faction and several of his letters
to the Governor have been preserved. The trouble began about
1727 and by 1732 was widespread, as the greatly inferior crops
I GEXEAL'OGY OF THE CARTER FA:JILV
of those years made it necessary for the inspectors to exercise
their authority more. Several letters ¦ of Colonel Conway in
1732 are very bitter, but he does not seem to have been able 10
persuade the Governor and Secretary, John Carter, that Inspector
Joseph Carter had done anything but his duty, as they held him
in the office until he removed to Spotsylvania, and then appointed
Dale Carter in his stead. In one letter Colonel Conway wrote :
"Yesterda}' I presumed to write to yor Honr to inform you
how the Secretary had baffled me ''e are willing
the Secretary may Nominate whom he pleases to be in Mr.
Carter's room. Enough are willing to take the office, so that his
Honr may have great Choice and I hope we shall have no Occasion
to be troublesome anymore." At a later date he v.-rites : '"Surely
the Secretary may find a friend in Lancaster as worthy as ]\\Ir.
Carter ; if not in Lancaster, he may in Virga \emdash we think none will
do Less Justice." On the other hand such men as Mr. Richard
Lee, Mr. Edwards (the minister at Christ Church), and ]Mr.
Philip Smith, Jr., of Northumberland, wrote the Governor and
Secretary very strong letters in favor of Joseph Carter. Mr.
Smith said of him and the two inspectors associated with him :
"I consider them very honest men, and as far as I see very
careful in their office not to pass any tobacco but what was good,
and in my opinion have done equal justice to all."
In 17 19 Joseph Carter married Catharine Stevens, daughter
of James Stevens, of King and Queen county, from whom he
had a deed of gift for a negro woman, "Bet." Joseph Carter,
of St. George's parish, Spotsylvania, made his will Feb. 19, 1750,
probated May 7, 1751. Wife Catharine to have the home planra-
tion of 215 acres and two negroes; son Joseph, the Wheeler
land, a negro man, young horse and a gun called "Mary" ; son
John to have the Matthews land, negro man, young horse and
a gim called "Ye Reed" ; son George, the Brown land and thirty
acres adjoining, a negro man, choice of other three guns and
£3 current money; after death of wife, son Robert to have
the home place, choice of other two guns and £30 current
money; a negro girl to daughter, Mary Elizabeth (wife of James
Davis); £33 current money to daughter, Elizabeth; £30 cur-
154 C-EXEALOGV OF THE CARTER FAMILY
rent money to daughter, Catharine. Sons to all share alike in
his brandy still and residuary estate. Wife, son, John, and
friend, Mr. John Minor, to be executors. The appraisement of
the personal estate of "Mr. Joseph Carter" amounted to £404.2.2
and besides a lot of good household goods, included a "parcel
of books, a pair of silver buckles and four silver spoons." Catha-
rine Carter was still living in 177 1, when she made a deed to
her son, John Carter.
Joseph Carter seems to have inherited the family seal men-
tioned in the appraisement of his father, Thomas Carter, Jr.'s,
estate, as on Jan. 2. 1739. "Joseph Carter of ye Psh of St. George
in the County of Spotsylvania Planter" made a deed to his
daughter, Mary Elizabeth, and her husband, Jam.es Davis, for
two negroes, and sealed the deed with a seal showing a crest
of the Bedfordshire Carters \emdash a demi talbot out of a mural
crown, and below the crest the initials "T. C."
Joseph and Catharine Carter had issue (Bible Records) :
I, Thomas Williamson Carter, bom May 8, 1720; killed by
the accidental discharge of a gun Christmas week. 1738.
' 2. Mary Elizabeth, born Dec. 2, 1721. in King and Queen
county, married James Davis, of "Broadfield," Spotsylvania.
3. Edward Dale, born June 2, 1723, died prior to 1750.
4. John, born June 8, 1725.
5. George, born Dec. 18, 1728.
6. Elizabeth, born Sept. 20, 1731.
7. Joseph and Catharine, twins, born May 3, 1733.
8. Robert, born Aug. 12, 1735.
Joseph Carter
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 3 May 1733 117
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Parents
Father: Joseph Carter
Mother: Catherine Stevens
Judith Carter
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Parents
Father: Thomas Carter
Mother: Anne Hunton
Judith Carter
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 22 Jun 1702 - Gloucester Co., VA
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Parents
Father: Edward Carter
Mother: Elizabeth Thornton
Katharine Carter
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 1 Feb 1700 - Gloucester Co., VA 25
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Parents
Father: Edward Carter
Mother: Elizabeth Thornton
Katharine Carter
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 4 Apr 1686 25
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Parents
Father: Captain Thomas Carter Sr.
Mother: Catharine Dale
Spouses and Children
1. *John Lawson
Marriage: 16 Jun 1703 25
Status:
Keziah Carter
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 1831
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Parents
Father: John Carter
Mother: Elizabeth Knight 76
Spouses and Children
1. *John D. Zeigler
Marriage:
Status: