Caleb Carr, 16th Colonial Governor of Rhode Island

Anderson's Great Migration series assigns no origins or parents for brothers Robert and Caleb Carr.

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L6LN-RDY

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43349523/caleb-carr

Governor Caleb Carr was elected Governor of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in May 1695. He died in Newport, Rhode Island on December 17, 1695, having served for just seven months. Carr was born in London, England, on December 9, 1616, and emigrated to North America in 1635, with his older brother, Robert Carr. He served the Colony as general treasurer. In 1687-88 he was justice of the General Quarter Session and Inferior Court of Common Pleas.

Caleb Carr was married three times. He was buried in a small family burying ground in Newport, but on 8 September 1900, the bodies of Caleb and his second wife Mercy were disinterred and moved to the small private family cemetery family on the island of Jamestown. The graves are marked with the stones that marked their graves in Newport.

Caleb's first wife was Ann Easton, b. ~1631, d. unknown, m.BEF 1654.

Caleb's second wife was Mercy Vaughn, b. 1630, d.12 Sept 1675, m.BEF. 1655.

Caleb's third wife was Sarah Clarke, b.1651, d. 1706, m.~1677.

Excerpt from: TheCarrFamilyRecords_10536403.pdf.

Note: In 1635, Caleb is listed as 11 on the Elizabeth & Ann passenger list. His gravestone says d. 1695 in 73rd year of life. Both agree with a 1623 birth year.

Biography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleb_Carr_(Governor)_

CALEB CARR, immigrant ancestor and progenitor, was born in London, England, December 9, 1616, the son of Benjamin and Martha (Hardington) Carr [SIC: unproven] he embarked in the ship 'Elizabeth and Ann', at London, in 1635, coming to America with his older brother, Robert Carr, in whose family he remained until he reached his majority. At an early age he became active in public affairs in Newport, and in 1654-1658-59-60-61-62 he served the Colony as general treasurer. On January 30, 1671, he was allowed L4 for services done by him. On April 11, 1676, he was appointed one of the commissioners 'to take care and order the several watches and wards of this island and appoint the places.' This year he bought the services of an Indian captive (taken by Providence men). In 1679-80-81-82-83-84-85-86-90-91 he was assistant for Newport. In 1687-88 he was chosen justice of the General Quarter Session and Inferior Court of Common Pleas. In May 1695, he was elected governor to succeed Governor John Easton, who had been in office for the five preceding years. Up to this period, for most of the time, public service had been rendered gratuitously by civil officers. It was now enacted that the governor should have ten pounds a year, the deputy governor six pounds, and the assistants four pounds each. Governor Carr did not live long enough to reap much reward for the discharge of his duties as chief magistrate. He died in Newport, December 17, 1695, the fourth governor who died while in office. He was buried in a small family burying ground on the north side of Mill Street [moved to Jamestown], between Thomas and Spring streets, Newport. Caleb Carr married (first) Mercy; (second) Sarah Pinner, daughter of Jeremiah and Frances (Latham) Clarke, and widow of John Pinner; she was born in 1651 and died about 1706.

Disputed Origins

Anderson's Great Migration series assigns no origins or parents for Robert and Caleb.

Birth date

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Carr-182

Different sources claim different dates for his birth:

9 December 1616. From The Carr Family Records: There is an old bible come down to the current generation (1894), printed in London in 1585. On the first blank page written in a woman's hand. "My maiden name was Susan Rothchild. I was born .... I married William Carr ... My husband has a brother Benjamin Carr ... I am acquainted with him and his family. He has four sons, Robert Carr, born Oct. 4, 1614; Caleb Carr, born Dec 9, 1616; Richard Carr, born Jan 5, 1621; Andrew Carr, born Dec 5, 1622. ..."[3]
Caleb's Find-A-Grave entry uses this date.[4]

About 1624. Sailed on the Elizabeth and Ann bound for New England. Boarded ship 9 May 1635. Robert Carr, 21, A Tayler; Caleb Carr, 11[5] This would make Robert born 1614, but Caleb b. about 1624. The Carr Family Record makes the claim he was 19 at the time of sailing. Was Caleb's age at migration perhaps a transcription error?

9 Dec 1624. This comes from The Carr Book (1947) [6] and looks like the date from the earlier Carr Family Records with the year from Hotten's Lists of Persons to reconcile the difference between the two.

Even his tombstone inscription has not clarified his birth. It read "Here lieth interred the body of Caleb Carr, governor of this colony, who departed this life ye 17th day of December 1695, in ye 73rd (79) year of his age."[3] 1695-72=1623. 1695-79=1616. Was the Carr Family Records author trying to correct the age, adding (79) so it agreed with their bible birth, 1616. Or perhaps the stone was unclear.

Anderson in his Great Migration profile about Caleb uses born about 1624.[7]

Notes

From http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~whosefamilyisit/carrfamily...:

Caleb Carr (Benjamin3, Robert2, Thomas1) b 9Dec1616 London, Eng, settled Newport, RI c1640, d 17Dec1695 when still Gov of RI m1 Mercy Vaughn who d 12Sep1675 Newport, RI; m2 Sarah Clarke who d 1706; m3 Ann Easton from Tercentenary of New England Families 1620-1920, Am Historical Soc, 1919 p 215-216 : Caleb Carr, immigrant ancestor & progenitor, b London, Eng, Dec 9 1616, son of Benjamin & Martha (Hardington) Carr; he embarked in ship 'Elizabeth & Ann', at London, in 1635, coming to Am w/older bro, Robert Carr, in whose family he remained until he reached his majority. At early age he became active in public affairs in Newport, & in 1654-1658-59-60-61-62 he served Colony as genl treas. Jan 30, 1671, he was allowed L4 for svcs done by him. Apr 11, 1676, he was appointed commissioner 'to take care & order the several watches wards of this island & appoint the places.' This yr he bought svcs of Indian captive (taken by Providence men). In 1679-80-81-82-83-84-85-86-90-91 he was asst for Newport. In 1687-88 he was chosen justice of Genl Qtr Session & Inferior Court of Common Pleas. May 1695, he was elected gov to succeed Gov John Easton, who had been in office for 5 preceding yrs. Up to this period, most of time, public svc had been rendered gratuitously by civil officers. It was now enacted gov should have L10/yr, deputy gov L6, & assts L4 each. Gov Carr did not live long enough to reap much reward for discharge of his duties as chief magistrate. He'd in Newport, Dec 17, 1695, 4th gov who died while in office. He was buried in small family burying grd on north side of Mill St [moved to Jamestown], bet Thomas & Spring Sts, Newport. Caleb Carr m1 Mercy ----; m2 Sarah Pinner, dtr of Jeremiah & Frances (Latham) Clarke, widow of John Pinner; she b 1651, d c1706.

Children by 1st wife Mercy:

1 John b 1644 Newport, Newport, RI d 1714 Newport, Newport, RI

2 Nicholas b 22Oct1654 d 17Feb1708/9 Jamestown, Newport, RI

3 Mercy b 6Apr1656 d 1717

4 Caleb b 23Aug1657 d 10Oct1700 Jamestown, Newport, RI m Deborah Sayles

5 Samuel b 15Dec1659 d 1694 Newport, Newport, RI

6 Mary b 1Jan1660/1 m Thomas Paine

7 Edward b 1667 d 14Oct1711 m Hannah Station from Tercentenary of New England Families 1620-1920, Am Historical Soc, 1919 p 215-216: Edward Carr, son of Gov Caleb & Mercy Carr, b RI, Jun 1667. In 1698 he was made freeman, & thenceforward until his death took prominent part in official life. In 1669 he was deputy to Genl Assembly from Jamestown. He filled office again in 1702-03-05-06-07-09, serving at same time as clerk of Assembly. 1701-1707 he served as member of committee appointed to audit accts of colony. Edward Carr was resident of Jamestown, & large landowner there. Oct 6, 1686, he m Hannah Stanton, b Nov 7, 1670, d 1712. She was daughter of John & Mary (Harndel) Stanton, & granddaughter of Robert Stanton, founder of family in RI.

Children by 2nd wife Sarah:

8 Francis b 1678

9 James b 1680

10 Sarah b 1682

11 Elizabeth b 1684

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleb_Carr_(Governor)_
• page 16 The Carr family records. Embracing [sic] the record of the first families who settled in America and their descendants, with many branches who came to this country at a later date by Carr, Edson I. (Edson Irving), b. 1831 Published 1894

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Caleb “Governor” Carr BIRTH 9 Dec 1616 Greater London, England DEATH 17 Dec 1695 (aged 79) Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA BURIAL Governor Carr Lot Jamestown, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA Add to Map PLOT GPS: N 41 31.234 W 071 21.974 MEMORIAL ID 43349523 · View Source

Governor Caleb Carr was elected Governor of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in May 1695. He died in Newport, Rhode Island on December 17, 1695, having served for just seven months. Carr was born in London, England, on December 9, 1616, and emigrated to North America in 1635, with his older brother, Robert Carr. He served the Colony as general treasurer. In 1687-88 he was justice of the General Quarter Session and Inferior Court of Common Pleas. Caleb Carr was twice married. He was buried in a small family burying ground in Newport, but on 8 September 1900, the bodies of Caleb and his second wife Mercy were disinterred and moved to the small private family cemetery family on the island of Jamestown. The graves are marked with the stones that marked their graves in Newport.

Parents Benjamin Carr 1592–1672 Martha Hardington Carr 1593 – unknown

Spouses Mercy Vaughn Carr 1631–1675 (m. 1654) Sarah Clarke Pinner Carr 1651–1706 (m. 1675)

Siblings Robert Carr*1614–1681 Richard Carr*1621–1689 Andrew Carr*1622–1653 Nicholas Carr*1654–1708 Samuel Carr*1659–1694 John Carr*1664–1714 Edward Carr*1666–1711 Sarah Carr Hammett*1682–1765

References

• The Carr family records. Embracing [sic] the record of the first families who settled in America and their descendants, with many branches who came to this country at a later date by Carr, Edson I. (Edson Irving), b. 1831. Publication date 1894. Page 39. Archive.Org