Capt. Thomas Carter, of Barford

There is no proof of Capt. Carter's ancestry but primary researchers believe that he was either the son of William Carter and Jane Myles or Thomas Carter and Jane Bellamy (poss. Bellay). From the time he arrived in Virginia, his life is well-documented. I have chosen to attach him to the William Carter line due to names of his children being commonly used in William's line. -- mez

http://www.scribd.com/doc/10207483/All-Articles-by-Miller-on-Carter...

CAPTAIN THOMAS CARTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS

By One of Them

Dr. Joseph Lyon Miller, Thomas, West Virginia

Of the ancestry of Captain Thomas Carter of Christ Church Parish, Lancaster County, Virginia, we know nothing, though it has been suggested that he may have been a brother or cousin of Col. John Carter of the same county and parish.

Captain Thomas Carter was a brother to John Carter, Sr., Colonel. John's son, Robert "King" Carter was later known as "the richest man in Virginia," owning 330,000 acres and having 1000 slaves. He was the first of the family to come to Virginia from England. According to WFT, Vol 8, Family 570, he sailed from London aboard the SAFETH on August 10, 1635. By 1650 he was in Nansemond Co., VA. He bought 800 acres of land in Lancaster Co., on the Corotoman River, from Col. John Carter. By 1663, although as yet unmarried, he had a home in Lancaster county named "Barford" and was paying tithes on 20 people. He was a Captain in the VA Militia and member of Council of Burgess 1677.

This Thomas Carter was also a planter, merchant and tobacco trader. In 1650, Thomas Carter of Bedfordshire England arrived in Virginia. He was twenty-one years old at the time, and it has been suggested that he was forced to come to the New World by circumstances of his birth. As the youngest son, he had no interest in the family estate, and life in Virginia offered the prospect of acquiring wealth and status through hard work. He became eminently successful as a tobacco planter and trader. Thomas first settled in Nansemond County, VA and later Barford in Lancaster County, VA. Thomas was magistrate, Captain in the Militia, 1667, a vestryman of Church Christ and a member of the House of Burgess.

Records indicate he was a tobacco planter and merchant in Lancaster County. He purchased his first plantation of about eight hundred acres on the "Easternmost branch of the Corotoman River from Col. John Carter," and on l June 1654 acknowledged the debt in court--"12,852 pounds of tobacco to be paid the following October at ye dwelling house of the said Mr. Tho. Carter." In 1656, he purchased an additional 560 acres from George Marsh and in 1658 purchased another plantation from Edmund Lunsford. He also acquired over the thirty years patents of ownership to well over a thousand acres of land, indicating that at the time of his death about 1700 he was well situated.

Lancaster Land Records. On 8 December 1674 Edward Dale, Gentl., gave his daughter Katharine and her husband a 500-acre plantation in Lancaster County, he referred to her husband as Thomas Carter, Merchant.

Old court records show Thomas Carter served occasionally as an attorney for various nonresidents of Lancaster County who had legal business in his area. The 1670 marriage of Thomas and Katherine was recorded in the old Carter Prayer Book as follows: With this Book per Rev Mr John Sheppard on Wednesday ye 4th Day of May 1670--was married Mr. Thomas Carter of Barford in ye County of Lancaster in Virginia & Katherine Dale ye eldest daughter of Mr. Edw. Dale ye same County.

He married in 1670. He was a Captain in the Virginia Militia and member of Council of Burgess 1677. One of his sons (John Carter born 1674) married Francis Ball - daughter of Joseph & Elizabeth Ball who were the parents of Mary Ball, mother of General George Washington.

Captain Thomas Carter was a planter, merchant and tobacco trader. He was born in 1631 at Kimpson, Bedfordshire, England, the son of Ansyll Carter. Captain Thomas Carter immigrated in 1650 to Nansemond, VA, US.

He was in the tax list paying tithes for himself and four servants in 1653 at Lancaster, VA, US.

He held the office of burgess in 1667 at Lancaster.

He married Katherine Dale 4 May 1670 at Lancaster, VA.

Captain Thomas Carter died on 22 October 1700 at Lancaster, VA. His estate was probated on 14 November 1700; Property was divided as follows: Wife Catherine to have the home plantation, a negro named Dick, the great table, and one third of the remainder of his personal property; Sons Edward, Thomas Henry (then in England) and John to each have 100 acres of land; son James to have the land left to Henry if he did not return from England. Daughters Elizabeth and Katharine and sons Peter and Joseph had been provided for by their grandfather Dale. Son Thomas to have the home plantation after the death of his mother. The rest of his personal estate to be divided equally among all children. The estate was valued at 236 pounds and included a parcel of books a silver drinking pot, tankard and twelve silver spoons in addition to the normal furnishings of a plantation

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Mar 10 2016, 2:50:40 UTC

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• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Mar 13 2018, 3:45:54 UTC

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GEDCOM Note

The Descndants of Captain Thomas Carter of "Barford", Lancaster County, Virginia, by Joseph Lyon Miller, M.D. gives the following: Of the ancestry of Capt. Thomas Carter, of "Barford" Christ Church P arish, Lancaster County, Virginia, we know nothing certain. The tradition preserved by a branch of the family in Lancaster and recorded in 1858 says that he was the son of a London merchan of good fa mily. Page 1

"The arms used by Col. John Carter of "Corotoman," Virginia, and by Capt. Thomas Carter of "Barford", Virginia, indicate taht both belonged to the Carters north of London, though not the same family, " page 1

"Capt. Thomas Carter of Virginia may possibly have been the youngest son of Ancell Carter, born 10, 28, 1591, son of William and Mary Carter of Kimpson, who settled in London. At the visitation of th e Heralds from the College of Arms in 1634, Ansyll (Ancell) Carter of London, Grocer, had six sons living as follows: George, eldest son, John Ansyle, William, James and Thomas, youngest son, who cou ld not have been over three or four years old in 1634. Capt. Thomas Carter of was born 1630-31." Page 2

Page 3-4. "The first written account we have of Thomas Carter, Gent., the emigrant, is in a MSS account of the family in 1850 by John Carter of "The Nest" Lancaster County, who derived most of his tr aditions from a maiden aunt- Miss Fanny Carter, born in 1738, died in 1830, who seems to have known a great deal about the family. The account of Thomas Carter is as follows:

"Our ancestors cam to Virginia about two hundred years ago and settled in lancaster County. The first on of the Carters was my grandfather's, grandfather, Thomas Carter son of a London merchant of go od family.

"Capt. Carter's will, date Aug 6, 1700, was probated Nov 14, 1700 by his second son Thomas Carter, Jr. He divided his estate as follows: Wife Catharine to have the home plantation for the rest of he r life, a negro man named Dick, the great table, and one-third of the remainder of his personal property. Sons Edward, Thomas, Henry (then in England) and John to each have a hundred acres of land; s on James to have the land devised to Henry if the latter did not return from England. Daughters Elizabeth and Katharine and sons Peter and Joseph had been provided for their grandfather Dale. Son-in -law William George to account for 1,560 pounds of tobacco that he had advanced him on the Dale estate due to his wife from her grandfather. Son Thomas to have the home plantation after the death o f his mother. The rest of his real and personal estates to be divided equally between all children. "Capt. Carter sealed his will with a seal showing the crest of his father-in- law, Edward Dale, which doubtless was more convenient at the time of signing the paper than his own, though they are know n to have possessed one with their own crest on it." Ibid pp 9-10.

Selected excepts from Paul Carter's New Origin's work:

Carters trace their history back to England and King Charlemagne. They have distinguished themselves in many ways, socially, politically, culturally, and in the contributions they have made to the Uni ted States. A fitting introduction is to quote from Some Colonial Mansions and those who lived in them, as follows:

"Among the prominent families of the historic Old Dominion, illustrious in colonial days for personal worth and talent, for their distinguished social position, for the prestige that came from the pos session of high political office, and for the consideration that attached to the ownership of large landed estates and many slaves, none took precedence over the Carters..."

The purpose of this treatise is to provide new research conducted by Carter researchers and genealogists. And, 1.) propose that CPT Thomas Carter of Barford Plantation likely had a father in Lancaste r named Maj. Thomas Carter; 2.) shed new light on the origins of the Thomas Carters, and 3). argue a familial connection, or kinship, between the "Corotoman Carters," Thomas and John.

There were far too many Carter immigrants to America dating back to the early 17th century to establish solid lineal descent for each family. However, there are a number of "major" Carter family group s which are known about, due to the enormous social, political, and economic status they obtained.

One of the most noted Carter family's was COL John Carter of "Corotoman" who had son Robert "King" Carter, America's first millionaire and the wealthiest man in Virginia when he lived. Among his direc t descendants are a number of presidents, many military leaders, including Gen. Robert E. Lee, whose mother was Anne Carter, Roberts direct descendant. Many genealogies have been written on this famil y. However, many argue the CPT Thomas Carter family of Barford Plantation actually attained greater social and cultural prestige due to their royal lineage and early Virginia heritage. They also broug ht a great amount of wealth and political power in their own right. CPT Thomas Carter, of Barford Plantation, on the Corotoman River, Lancaster County, lived just a few miles from COL John Carter. Hi s offspring produced Supreme Court justices, governors, U.S. senators, colonial vestrymen, militia officers, famous journalists and authors, U.S. Attorneys General, legislators, colonial sheriffs, U.S . congressmen, corporate giants, and U.S. Army generals and Naval admirals.

An interesting story was told to me by Charles Warner of Lancaster Virginia, an important Carter researcher. His grandfather's sister, Elizabeth Hoskins Montague was married to Virginia Governor Andre w Jackson Montague (1862-1937), had a favorite story concerning a conversation with a later Virginia Governor, Henry Carter Stuart (1855-1933). When she asked Gov. Stuart if he descended from Robert ' King' Carter, his reply was "Oh no, I am descended from the important Carters!" Mrs. Montague liked to tell the story so much because she was descended from CPT Thomas Carter as well. Now historians b elieve these two families were kin, and that COL John Carter of 'Corotoman' and Major Thomas Carter 'Ye Ancient Planter' (likely the father of CPT Thomas Carter of 'Barford') were brothers. For hundre ds of years this was not known. Thus, the social distinctions are shared by one family.

Charles Warner writes in The Early Carters of Corotoman: "The family of CPT Thomas Carter I ('Barford'), by its 17th century blood tie with the Dale and Skipwith families, were allied very definitel y and at an early age with well established gentry both in Virginia and England. This was an historic connection as it was the first marriage of the Virginia Carters into a family of considerable poli tical and social position. In service to Lancaster, mother county of all the Carters (of Virginia), they had few rivals. The descendants of CPT Thomas Carter I were numerously represented on the count y court and vestries. Every generation saw members of this family render service to these bodies. The old records show the title of "Gentlemen" following their names. Only those of the best social pos ition were accorded such a title. From 1738 to 1756, all four Carters on the vestry of St. Mary's Parish were of this family - Joseph, Dale, Henry, and Charles Carter. Other factors of interest are th at it was the father-in-law of CPT Thomas Carter I, Major Edward Dale, who was an agent for the Northern Neck Proprietary before Robert 'King' Carter held such a position. It is but reasonable to beli eve, in light of other family associations, that it was this man who first familiarized the Carters with the vast possibilities offered for close observation, approval of and access to all land lease s in the Northern Neck, which so aided Robert 'King' Carter and his manager, CPT Thomas Carter II (Jr.), in building the largest estate in the history of colonial Virginia."

There was a noted Carter from New Jersey, John Carter Sr. (1730-1811) who moved to Greene County Tennessee after long sojourns in Monongalia Co. Virginia, and Surry Co. North Carolina. There were als o many Carters who migrated to New England, including the Rev. Thomas Carter (1610-1684) who immigrated from England to Dedham Massachusetts, and left a large number of descendants all over New Englan d and points south.

Dr. Joseph Lyon's Miller wrote in his noted monumental work of 1912 entitled The Descendants of Captain Thomas Carter about the early Carters in Virginia saying they were:

"1st . William Carter, who patented more than two thousand acres in the county of James City between 1635 and 1640; and doubtless was the ancestor of the Carter families found in James City County an d Surry and adjacent Southside counties in the next century, among whom were Dr. James Carter, of Williamsburg, about the middle of the 18th century, and Dr. Thomas Carter of the Revolution. The los s of the James City records precludes the writing of a history of this family.

2nd Col. Edward Carter, who settled in Nansemond County prior to 1650, was a member of the House of Burgesses, Council, colonel of militia, etc. He purchased large plantations on the Rappahannock in L ancaster County, but probably never lived on them; returned to England, where his will was probabted in 1682 styles him as "Edward Carter, Esq. Of Edmonton, Middlesex." So far as known he has no desce ndants in Virginia.

3rd . Col. John Carter, who settled in Nansemond County prior to 1650, was a colonel of militia, justice, Burgess, member of the council, etc. About 1650 purchased several thousand acres of land on Co rotoman River, Lancaster, to which he removed and founded the famous "Corotoman" estate of this Carter family. He died comparatively young in 1669, but in the meantime had had fives wives, one of who m was a daughter of Cleve Carter of England. In this connection the following notes may be of interest: Thomas Carter of Somerset, descended from Thomas Carter, Gent. of Crumdale, County, Kent, died i n 1603 leaving issue - George, eldest son; Thomas of Winchauk, yeoman (born in 1592), Christopher, Jonas, Richard, and Cleve.

This Cleve Carter may have been Clyve Carter, aged 25 years, of St. Alphage, Canterbury, Woolendraper, who obtained a license April 17, 1624, to marry Elizabeth Boys, aged 19 years, daughter of Edwar d Boys of Boneington, parish of Goodnestone. They might have had a daughter who married Col. John Carter of Va. Col. John Carter of "Corotoman" left three sons - John, the eldest, died without male is sue; Charles, the youngest, died unmarried, and Robert, the second son, was the famous Robert Carter of "Corotoman" (King) and ancestor of all this family of Carters. Numerous accounts of this famil y have been published, and the late Mr. Robert Carter of "Shirley" and his daughter some years ago prepared an extensive chart of this family.

4th . Capt. Thomas Carter, who came to Virginia prior to 1652-it is thought to Nansemond County-was a captain of the militia, justice, deputy clerk of his county, Burgess (?), etc. Purchased a large p lantation on the Corotoman River from Col. John Carter and was settled there in 1652. Of his descendants this volume (speaking of Dr. Miller's book) is the first published account, except some prelimi nary notes in the William and Mary Quarterly.

5th . Giles Carter, who came to Virginia several years later than the others, and died in Henrico County in 1701 at the age of 67 years, leaving sons Giles and Theodorick, and daughters Mrs. Davis an d Mrs. Williamson. So far as known he never held any military or political position, and is supposed to have belonged to the Gloucester Carters. His descendants were chiefly settled in Henrico, Goochl and, Prince Edward, and Halifax counties. An interesting account of them has been published by Gen. W. H. G. Carter, U.S.A."

So, Dr. Miller outlined some of the major Virginia Carter family progenitors. Noel Currer-Briggs devoted more detail to Col. Edward Carter, and describes some other early Carter settlers such as Franc is Carter, Beadle of the Virginia Company, James Carter the Mariner and Planter, John Carter of Sherley Hundred, the Thomas Carter's, one of Archers Hope, the other of Isle of Wight County, early immi grant Henry Carter, and William Carter of Surry County.

There were early English variations of the name Carter as follows: Cartere, Cartier, Cartee, Le Carter, Carder, Carectar, Carteret (from the Channel Islands), Caritarius, among others. The name Carte r appears in England as early 1361. The name is probably of Norman descent (the Normans invaded England in 1066 from Normandy France) because the Norman name for the trailer pulled behind a horse is c art, while the Saxon name is wagon. Also, supposedly the Anglo-Saxon term for chariot is "Craet" and the ancient Roman (Latin) name for chariot is "Carrus." Supporting the Norman origin of the name Ca rter is that the name Cartier is found in France, as in Jacques Cartier the famous French sailor and new world explorer. A number of Cartiers migrated to Quebec and other parts of Canada during earl y settlement. One family, living near the American border in the mid-1700's, changed their name to Carter when they moved across the border into New York. Some accounts say there was also a Welsh an d Gaelic variation, and that in 1645 when the English attempted to force the Irish to take English names, a number of McCartheys changed their name to Carter. I personally have examined no evidence o f this, although I have seen the name McCarter. In North Carolina, there are variations of Carter family with the name Cartter, Carteret, Carte, Cartee, and Cartwright.

Dr. Miller stated in his book: "The use of the talbot, buckle, and catharine wheel, in various combinations in the arms of the different Carter families settled to the north of London in the small adj oining counties of Bedford, Hertford, Middlesex, Buckingham, Oxford, and the more northerly shires of Northumberland and York, would seem to bind them all more or less closely to one fountain head o f this blood, the original seat of this family probably being in Bedford or Hertfordshire. The other Carters were located to the south of London in Kent, Cornwall, Somerset, Devon, and Ireland, with n o similarity whatever between their arms and those of the northern Carters, the original seat of the southern Carters probably being Kent. In the century preceding the settlement of Virginia a great m any of the Carter families, both north and south, sent a number of their younger sons to London to seek their fortunes in business."

The period of English history from 1096 to 1204 was the beginning of English feudal society, of which one of the most significant developments was the rise of the merchant middle class. Whereas befor e most people had made their living off of the land, people were now beginning to trade. One of the most important trades, essential to this new flourishing class, was "carting" or transporting goods . Every farm or village had someone who transported goods to and from markets, known as Carters. As will be seen later, members of the Carter family became important merchants in London, which spawne d their arrival in the new world in order to open new markets. In the 14th and 15th centuries surnames began to become hereditary and therefore many men, unrelated by blood, but whose forbearers had f ollowed the trade of carter, took the name Carter. From the number of Carters in England, one can see they were a healthy, prolific stock. Families of 10 to 15 children were the rule, and large number s of these survived into adulthood, which was unusual for those times. This trait has made the Carters one of the most common names in America. The Hundred Rolls of Oxford County, 1273, bore the name s of Jocius Caritarius and Nicholas Le Carter. John Le Cartere lived in Norfolk County in 1273 and Robert Le Careter and Margaret Le Careter lived in Huntsford County in 1273, according to the Hundre d Rolls of those counties. The 1379 poll taxes of Yorkshire County included the names Ricardius Carter and Thomas Bell Carter. References to Carters can also be found in the manorial records of the Pa rish of King's Langley, site of an ancient royal palace, some 25 miles northwest of London. The records are now located at the Hertfordshire record office and public record office in London. In 1369 t wo laborers, William Le Carter and Richard Carter helped build the palace. Among the more amusing references to Carters were: "The King's highway blocked by dung through the neglect of John Carter: h e is to remove it" (1381); "Richard Carter fined for hunting (poaching) in the park and warren with dogs" (1435); In 1386 John Carter's wife, Joan, got into trouble for brewing ale and breaking laws c oncerning its sale.

According to Currer-Briggs in his work The Carters of Virginia: Their English Ancestry, a survey of English manorial property in 1557 lists seven Carters. They were: Thomas Carter of the Mill (also kn own as Thomas Carter Molendine). He held a freehold tenement and 15 acres (probably of the King's Langley Carters, Mill Branch); John Carter of Pinselgate, held 16 freehold acres (probably of the King 's Langley Carters, Pinselgate Branch); John Carter Sr, held 10 freehold acres called Tirpes (probably of the previous branch); William Carter, held 20 freehold acres 'formerly of Thomas Carter of Ber khamsted,' a neighboring parish (probably of the previous branch); Robert Carter, had a cottage and 300 "roods" called Balles Wyck, King's Langley (probably of the previous branch); Henry Carter, hel d 20 freehold acres part of Wayward hill (probably of the previous branch). As Francis L. Berkeley of the University of Virginia, a Carter researcher who did many years of Carter research, stated in t he introduction to the Currer-Briggs work: "Carters originally by trade as well as by name, ... were craftsmen, artisans, and yeoman farmers, during the medieval centuries, becoming landowners in earl y Tudor times. Always fecund, they sent many of their younger children to nearby London, where in the Elizabethan and early Stuart reigns they became commercial venturers. Some of them were mariners , and an extraordinary number of them were vintners and freeman of the great Vintner's Company."

Many Carters migrated from England to Canada, South Carolina, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey (where a large portion of Tennessee Carters are descended from) and other eastern coastal state s. Most of the Carters of Kentucky, of which there are many, migrated from Virginia. Looking at the early new world passenger lists, more Carters seem to have come into Massachusetts than any other st ate. I will mention some of the earliest Carter settlers in Virginia. Most settlers came to the new world as a "headright" of some man. Quoting from the book Cavaliers and Pioneers by Nell Nugent: "Fo r the purpose of stimulating immigration and the settlement of the colony the London Company ordained that any person who paid his own way to Virginia should be assigned 50 acres of land 'for his own e personal advanture' and if he transported 'at his owne cost one or more persons' he should for each person whose passage he paid for be awarded 50 acres of land." Perhaps slightly different, accordi ng to Nash in Red, White, and Black by 1609 the London company realized they needed farmers in the Virginia colony instead of soldiers of fortune because of the failures of the previous three years. T hey recruited with the promise of free land after 7 years labor. These were indentured servants. By 1616, however, the colony dwindled to 350, so the company again reorganized and offered 10 acres o f land to anyone who would make the journey and settle in Virginia. Tobacco soon became king, and for close to 200 years when a person's estate was settled, its value was described in pounds of tobacc o. "As tobacco proved successful in Virginia... landowners clamored for indentured servants... to increase the amount of land under cultivation. Brought to the colony by the shipload, they were auctio ned off at the dock to the highest bidder." Land was plentiful, so the amount of tobacco one could grow and thus wealth one obtained depended upon the number of indentured servants one had.

Sir George and Phillip Carteret figure prominently in New Jersey History; there is a town named Carteret in New Jersey, and a Carteret County in coastal South Carolina. Sir Philip Carteret was a note d English explorer associated with the Pitcairn islands (which themselves are associated with the famous mutiny on the English ship "Bounty.")

The first English settlement in Virginia was Jamestown, founded in 1607. The first Carter to be connected with Virginia appears to be Francis Carter, who was Beadle of the Virginia Company (the compan y owning the Jamestown settlement) from 1609 to 1623. He was assigned 40 shares of land in Virginia for sale and transfer to other settlers. In 1622/23, he disposed of a block of 30 shares to James Ca rter, a mariner, and possible relative. James Carter was captain of the ship 'Truelove' of London, a vessel of some 50 tons which made her first voyage to Virginia in 1622. He gave evidence in April 1 623 to the inquiry concerning the infamous Indian massacre of 1622. He made numerous trips between England and Virginia. In his will, dated 5 September 1626, he left a ring and 30 pounds to his brothe r John Carter, and to his children he left "fifty acres of land which I bought of my Lady Dale in Sherley Hundred Island (sic) to the parish whereof Mr. Proby is minister now to be a place of residenc e for him and such as shall succeed him in that parish." In 1625, a list of all the titles and estates of land in Virginia was sent to England by Sir Francis Wyatt. John Carter is listed as having 4 0 acres on Sherley Hundred, which was yet to be planted, and in the 1624/25 Muster of Virginia, a John Carter is listed as having 100 acres at Warrisquoyake 'continuing downward from Hogg Island 14 mi les by the river side' (this is now known as Isle of Wight County).

Noel Currer-Briggs argues that these John Carters (40 and 100 acres) were the same, and is the same John Carter that is mentioned above as James Carter's brother. Furthermore, he states John Carter' s granddaughter, Anne Carter, in about 1656 became the third wife of John Carter of Corotoman (Robert 'King' Carter's father). Briggs states this John Carter's coat-of-arms is almost illegible, but be gin with the words 'Arms Argent....' The Carters of Garston and of Wartford/London begin with these words, while the coat-of-arms for the Carters of Kempston, Bedfordshire begin with the word 'Azure. '

A Thomas Carter is mentioned on the 1625 list, and is recorded as an ancient planter (a distinction described later) who was in Virginia before 1624. He owned 150 acres of land in Archers Hope Creek , a few miles upstream from the previous mentioned John Carter. Evidence now shows that this Thomas Carter was likely the father of CPT Thomas Carter and the brother (or possibly father) of John Carte r of Corotoman. There is no evidence to suggest that he was ever a headright. This Thomas Carter, "Ye Ancient Planter," is my 9th great grandfather (provided he is the father of CPT Thomas Carter Sr) . Two other Carters are recorded in the 1624/25 Muster of Virginia. A William who was living at James Island, and Erasmus, who came in the ship 'George' in 1621. Erasmus had a small grant of land on t he south bank of the James River, now the site of the Pipsico Boy Scout reservation in Surry County. He possibly belonged to the same Carters as Francis (and therefore James and John) and it is unknow n if he left any descendants. To put these years in perspective, the ship 'Mayflower' did not sail until the year 1633. William Carter, born probably around 1600 in England, was granted two tracts o f land in May 1636 in Surry County. One was 700 acres three miles south of the James River between the head of Lower Chippokes Creek and the Sunken Marsh, now known as College Run. The second grant wa s for 100 acres in the area of modern-day California Crossroads. On the west of his tract was his neighbor Stephen Webb, who appeared as a witness in June 1638 along with John Carter (of Corotoman?) i n the case of the 'Elizabeth' (an English ship attacked and taken by eleven Spanish ships - John was taken to Spain and held until released to London along with the other passengers). William had at l east two sons, William Jr. and George. Upon his death, his estate was split up, part of it being granted to Samuel Huby and John Carter of Corotoman. Some of his descendants include Dr. James Carter o f Williamsburg during the 1700's and Dr. Thomas Carter of the Revolution. There are many Carters in the U.S. today who trace their ancestry back to William of Surry.

COL Edward Carter, another early settler, was a close friend, neighbor, and associate of COL John Carter of Corotoman and CPT Thomas Carter of Barford. Evidence shows he was likely a member of the Kin gs Langley Carters, but his origins are uncertain. He possibly was kin to Thomas and John Carter. He also lived at Nansemond and later at Lancaster County. He had a distinguished career in Virginia an d was a member of Council in 1659. He died in England in 1682, and his will in 1659 asked he be buried in London. He left three children all under age 21 (Elizabeth, Edward, Anne) who received two pla ntations called Monasco and Brice. Upon his death he was buried in London.

Resided in Kempston, England, but died in Lancaster Co., Virginia. Apparently Captain Thomas Carter was the first of the family to migrate to Virginia from England..Thomas was one who made unfortunat e alliances with Charles I. When that Monarch lost his Kingdom by decapitation, Thomas fled to Virginia. He came to the colony of Nansemond, Virginia about 1650 and established Barford Plantation in L ancaster Co. on Rappahannock River, Va. His first wife and small children died. He was married in Lancaster Co. to Katherine Dale, daughter of Major Edward Dale, who likewise escaped to Virginia whe n Cromwell grasped the reins of Government. Here he lived the remainder of his life, filling many offices of honor & trust. He served in the House of Burgesses, was Captain of Melitia, Clerk of the Co unty Court.He held some position almost continuously while Gov. Spottswood was executive. His Seven sons were the first branches of this Carter family tree in America.

Selected excepts from Paul Carter's New Origin's work:

Carters trace their history back to England and King Charlemagne. They have distinguished themselves in many ways, socially, politically, culturally, and in the contributions they have made to the Uni ted States. A fitting introduction is to quote from Some Colonial Mansions and those who lived in them, as follows:

"Among the prominent families of the historic Old Dominion, illustrious in colonial days for personal worth and talent, for their distinguished social position, for the prestige that came from the pos session of high political office, and for the consideration that attached to the ownership of large landed estates and many slaves, none took precedence over the Carters..."

The purpose of this treatise is to provide new research conducted by Carter researchers and genealogists. And, 1.) propose that CPT Thomas Carter of Barford Plantation likely had a father in Lancaste r named Maj. Thomas Carter; 2.) shed new light on the origins of the Thomas Carters, and 3). argue a familial connection, or kinship, between the "Corotoman Carters," Thomas and John.

There were far too many Carter immigrants to America dating back to the early 17th century to establish solid lineal descent for each family. However, there are a number of "major" Carter family group s which are known about, due to the enormous social, political, and economic status they obtained.

One of the most noted Carter family's was COL John Carter of "Corotoman" who had son Robert "King" Carter, America's first millionaire and the wealthiest man in Virginia when he lived. Among his direc t descendants are a number of presidents, many military leaders, including Gen. Robert E. Lee, whose mother was Anne Carter, Roberts direct descendant. Many genealogies have been written on this famil y. However, many argue the CPT Thomas Carter family of Barford Plantation actually attained greater social and cultural prestige due to their royal lineage and early Virginia heritage. They also broug ht a great amount of wealth and political power in their own right. CPT Thomas Carter, of Barford Plantation, on the Corotoman River, Lancaster County, lived just a few miles from COL John Carter. Hi s offspring produced Supreme Court justices, governors, U.S. senators, colonial vestrymen, militia officers, famous journalists and authors, U.S. Attorneys General, legislators, colonial sheriffs, U.S . congressmen, corporate giants, and U.S. Army generals and Naval admirals.

An interesting story was told to me by Charles Warner of Lancaster Virginia, an important Carter researcher. His grandfather's sister, Elizabeth Hoskins Montague was married to Virginia Governor Andre w Jackson Montague (1862-1937), had a favorite story concerning a conversation with a later Virginia Governor, Henry Carter Stuart (1855-1933). When she asked Gov. Stuart if he descended from Robert ' King' Carter, his reply was "Oh no, I am descended from the important Carters!" Mrs. Montague liked to tell the story so much because she was descended from CPT Thomas Carter as well. Now historians b elieve these two families were kin, and that COL John Carter of 'Corotoman' and Major Thomas Carter 'Ye Ancient Planter' (likely the father of CPT Thomas Carter of 'Barf

GEDCOM Note

Life Sketch

There are at least three Thomas Carters in Lancaster County around 1650-1670: (1) Major Thomas Carter, 1610-1658; (2) Thomas Carter, Sr. born circa 1626, married Elinor Cooke; and (3) Captain Thomas Carter (of Barford) born 1630, married Katherine Dale.

Birth: 16 October 1630, London, City of London, Greater London, England Death: 22 October 1700, Lancaster County, Virginia, British Colonial America

He embarked from London for the British colonies in America and settled on land in Lancaster County in the Colony of Virginia. He spent the rest of his life there on his Barford Plantation where he died 22 October 1700 and was buried. He had two spouses, the first, name unknown and the second, Katherine Dale, daughter of a British military commander assigned to duty in the colonies. Thomas and his second wife, Katherine, were members of the Church of England and their twelve children are listed in the Captain Thomas Carter Prayer Book in the possession of the Historical Society of Richmond, Virginia.

Children by 2nd spouse Katherine Dale (1) Edward Carter I 1671-1743, (2) Thomas Carter, Jr. 1672-1733, (3) John Carter 1674-1750, (4) Henry Carter 1675-1743, (5) Diane Carter 1678-1680, (6) Nicholas Carter 1679-1680, (7) William Carter 1679-1680, 8) Elizabeth Carter circa 1680-?, (9) Daniel Carter 1682-1682, (10) James Carter 1684-?, (11) Katherine Carter 1786-?, (12) Joseph Carter 1690-1764. [Blanche Keating Collie, descendant and family researcher]

Thomas Carter came to America from England prior to 1652, married Catherine Dale in 1670, and is the ancestor of the Carters of North Carolina. He was a Captain in the Virginia Militia and a member of the Council of Burgess, 1677.

One son, Thomas Carter, Jr., of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, 1672-1733, married in 1695, Arabella Williamson.

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TRANSCRIPT OF EDWARD CARTER WILL, RECORDED RABUN COUNTY, GEORGIA, MARCH 15, 1838 Edward Carter's Will Georgia, Rabun County

The last will and testament of Edward Carter, who now being in his right mind but in a weakly situation, and now in my 76 years of age and knowing by the co

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Ref- "THE COLONIAL GENEALOGIST" Volume I

Ref- "THE COLONIAL GENEALOGIST" Volume IV,#2 Fall 1971 Captain Thomas CARTER came to Nansemond County, Virginia, in 1649/50, about the time Charles I was beheaded. John CARTER of "The Nest", Lancaster County, Virginia, writing in 1858, said Thomas' "brother John" came dto Virginia with Thomas and settled south of the river in Essex. Thomas appears in Lancaster County, Virginia, before the year 1653, aged 22, when he paid tithes for himself and four servants. (See William Armstrong Crozier, ed., "Virginia County Records", Vol. 5, "Virginia Heraldica, Being a Registry of Virginia Gentry Entitled to Coat Armor", [Baltimore: 1965, reprint of the 1908 edition], pp. 87-88.) From Colonel John CARTER, who had gone to Lancaster County from Nansemond County, Virginia about the time Thomas landed in Nansemond County, Virginia, Captain Thomas CARTER bought 800 acres in Lancaster County on the "Easternmost" branch of the Corotoman River and, 1 June 1654, acknowledged the debt in court: 12,852 pounds of tobacco to be paid the following October "at ye dwelling house of the sd Mr. Tho: Carter", and 130 pounds sterling on 18 September 1655. By 1663, although as yet unmarried, he had a home in Lancaster County named "Barford" and was paying tithes on twenty persons. He was comissioner of Lancaster County Court, 1663; deputy clerk of the county, 1663-1665; burgess in 1667; vestryman of Christ Church and of St. Mary's Whitechapel; captain of militia. Captain Thomas acquired land by transporting eight persons, by purchase, and by gifts from his father-in-law, Major Edward DALE, totalling about 3,200 acres of land. Ref- "THE COLONIAL GENEALOGIST" Volume IV,#2 Fall 1971 Captain Thomas CARTER came to Nansemond County, Virginia, in 1649/50, about the time Charles I was beheaded. John CARTER of "The Nest", Lancaster County, Virginia, writing in 1858, said Thomas' "brother John" came dto Virginia with Thomas and settled south of the river in Essex. Thomas appears in Lancaster County, Vi rginia, before the year 1653, aged 22, when he paid tithes for himself and four servants. (See William Armstrong Crozier, ed., "Virginia County Records", Vol. 5, "Virginia Heraldica, Being a Registry of Virginia Gentry Entitled to Coat Armor", [Baltimore: 1965, reprint of the 1908 edition], pp. 87-88.) From Colonel John CARTER, who had gone to Lancaster County from Nansemond County, Virginia about the time Thomas landed in Nansemond County, Virginia, Captain Thomas CARTER bought 800 acres in Lancaster County on the "Easternmost" branch of the Corotoman River and, 1 June 1654, acknowledged the debt in court: 12,852 pounds of tobacco to be paid the following October "at ye dwelling house of the sd Mr. Tho: Carter", and 130 pounds sterling on 18 September 1655. By 1663, although as yet unmarried, he had a home in Lancaster County named "Barford" and was paying tithes on twenty persons. He was comissioner of Lancaster County Court, 1663; deputy clerk of the county, 1663-1665; burgess in 1667; vestryman of Christ Church and of St. Mary's Whitechapel; captain of militia. Captain Thomas acquired land by transporting eight persons, by purchase, and by gifts from his father-in-law, Major Edward DALE, totalling about 3,200 acres of land.

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Descendants of Captain Thomas Carter of Barford

https://archive.org/stream/descendantsofcap00mill/descendantsofcap0...

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This is not proven, and many questions about the assumptions made.

Captain Thomas Carter, son of Ancell Carter and Jane Myles Carter, was born in London, Middlesex, England, 16 October 1630. He embarked from London for the British colonies in America and settled on land in Lancaster County in the Colony of Virginia. He spent the rest of his life there on his Barford Plantation where he died 22 October 1700 and was buried. He had two spouses, the first, name unknown and the second, Katherine Dale, daughter of a British military commander assigned to duty in the colonies. Thomas and his second wife, Katherine, were members of the Church of England and their twelve children are listed in the Captain Thomas Carter Prayer Book in the possession of the Historical Society of Richmond, Virginia.

Children by 2nd spouse Katherine Dale (1) Edward Carter I 1671-1743, (2) Thomas Carter, Jr. 1672-1733, (3) John Carter 1674-1750, (4) Henry Carter 1675-1743, (5) Diane Carter 1678-1680, (6) Nicholas Carter 1679-1680, (7) William Carter 1679-1680, 8) Elizabeth Carter circa 1680-?, (9) Daniel Carter 1682-1682, (10) James Carter 1684-?, (11) Katherine Carter 1786-?, (12) Joseph Carter 1690-1764. [Blanche Keating Collie, descendant and family researcher]

Thomas Carter came to America from England prior to 1652, married Catherine Dale in 1670, and is the ancestor of the Carters of North Carolina. He was a Captain in the Virginia Militia and a member of the Council of Burgess, 1677.

One son, Thomas Carter, Jr., of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, 1672-1733, married in 1695, Arabella Williamson.

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BIOGRAPHY: CAPTAIN OF MILITIA, JUSTICE,

BIOGRAPHY: CAPTAIN OF MILITIA, JUSTICE, MEMBER OF COUNCIL, DEPARTMENTCLERK AND BURGESS IN LANCASTER COUNTY, VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY: SON OF A LONDON MERCHANT,CAME TO NANSEMOND CO, VIRGINIA ABT 1650. BIOGRAPHY:CAPT. THOMAS CARTER LIKELY WAS THE FIRST OF THE FAMILY TO COME TO VIRGINIA FROM ENGLAND AND WAS IN NANSEMOND COUNTY IN 1650. HE BOUGHT 800 ACRES OF LAND IN LANCASTER CO. ON THE CAROTOMAN RIVER FROM COL. JOHN CARTER. BY 1663 HE HAD A HOME IN LANCASTER COUNTY NAMED "BARFORD" AND WAS PAYING TITHES ON 20 PEOPLE. HE WAS CA CAPT IN THE VA MILITIA AND MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF BURGESS IN 1677. HE WAS ALSO A MERCHANT PLANTER AND TOBACCO TRADER. BASED UPON WFT 18, FAMILY 1907, HE LIKELY WAS THE 6TH SON OF ANSCELL CARTER, A MERCHANT IN THE CITY OF LONDON. THOMAS FLED ENGLAND UPON THE BEHEADING OF KING CHARLES I, COMING TO VIRGINIA BY 1650 AND ESTABLISHING BARFORD PLANTATION IN LANCASTER CO. IT IS BELIEVED HIS FIRST WIFE AND CHILDREN DIED AND THEN HE MARRIED KATHERINE DALE, WHO WITH HER PARENTS HAD FLED ENGLAND WHEN CROMWELL TOOK CONTROL. HE MARRIED MARY ANCESS-PARKHURST ABT. 1662 IN ST JOHNS, BEDFORDSHIRE,ENGLAND. SHE WAS BORN ABT 1635 IN ST JOHNS,BEDFORDSHIRE,ENGLAND. HE MARRIED KATHERINE DALE 04 MAY 1670 IN CHRIST CHURCH PARISH,LANCASTER CO,VIRGINIA, THE DAUGHTER OF EDWARD DALE, MAJOR AND DIANA SKIPWITH, LADY. SHE WAS BORN 04 MAY 1649 IN PRESTWOULD,LEICESTERSHIRE,ENGLAND AND DIED 10 MAY 1703 IN BARFORD,LANCASTER,VIRGINIA

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In the old Carter Prayer book This is ho

In the old Carter Prayer book This is how Thomas birth was recorded. "Thomas Carter son of Thomas was born on the 4th day of June 1672 betw'n 3 & 4 aclock in ye Morng and was Baptzd att ye new Church Augt 5th. Captn John Lee, Mr Th: Hayne, ye Lady Ann Skipworth & Elizh Dale godparts." !April 24, 1728, "Thomas Carter of the County of Lancaster Gent." made his will, probated Oct. 10, 1733. He left all estate to wife Aarabella during her widowhood, after which it was to be divided among his eight sons. The account of Thomas Carter's will is in the book "The Decendants of Captain Thomas Carter". Page 104/105 *Thomas Carter is my direct line.

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Little Barford Bedfordshire England

Little Barford From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Little Barford is a hamlet and civil parish in the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England about 7 miles (11 km) northeast of the county town of Bedford.[1]

Geography Little Barford is 2 miles (3 km) south of St Neots, 17 miles (27 km) west of Cambridge and 48 miles (77 km) north of Central London. The East Coast Mainline railway runs north-south through the parish.

Area The civil parish covers an area of about 481 hectares (1,189 acres). The parish's northern boundary is the A428 road, Cambridgeshire is to the east and Central Bedfordshire to the south. The River Great Ouse forms its western boundary.

Landscape The hamlet lies within the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Claylands as designated by Natural England.[3] Bedford Borough Council classifies the local landscape as the Great Ouse Clay Valley around and west of the village, and the eastern part of the parish as within the Biggin Wood Clay Vale that extends northwards from Central Bedfordshire. The surrounding area is mostly arable farmland. The northernmost part of the parish between the railway and the Great Ouse is taken up by the power station and industrial units.

Cottages A row of four Grade II listed 18th century rough cast, thatched cottages stand by the roadside. One is detached, the remainder are terraced.[4] At the northern end of the hamlet are four pairs of late 19th century semi-detached estate cottages having yellow brickwork with red brick dressings.[5]

Elevation The hamlet is 20 metres (66 ft) above sea level. The whole parish is mainly low lying and flat, although the land does rise to 60 metres (197 ft) in the southeast corner of the parish.[6]

Geology and soil type The hamlet lies mainly on first and second terrace river gravel and glacial gravel. Boulder clay is to the east. Alluvium borders the Great Ouse. Underlying these superficial deposits and also in part at the surface is Oxford clay and Kellaways beds.[7]

Around the hamlet the soil has low fertility, is freely draining and slightly acid with a loamy texture. The eastern part of the parish has highly fertile, lime-rich loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage. By the Great Ouse are loamy and clayey floodplain soils with naturally high groundwater.[8]

The manor of Barford was held by the de Leyham family from about 1194, and then passed by inheritance into the de la Dale family in about 1316:[12] the de la Dales owned Barford for two centuries, after which it passed by inheritance to the Fettiplace family, and subsequently to the Brownes.

A deserted medieval settlement in fields near to St Deny’s Church is visible as earthworks on historic aerial photographs.[13]

The parish church is dedicated to Saint Denys. The church became redundant in 1972 and is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.

Notable residents Thomas de la Dale, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, was born here in about 1317

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Barford Marker Lancaster Virginia

Barford

1. Barford Marker Inscription. Located one mile south on land lying between the eastern and western branches of the Corotoman River. It is the site of Barford, the dwelling of Captain Thomas Carter who was living there by 1674. A gift from his father-in-law, Edward Dale, the property remained in the Carter family until 1782 when it was sold to Colonel James Gordon, Jr. by Edward Carter, great-grandson of Captain Thomas Carter.

Marker is near Lancaster, Virginia, in Lancaster County.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Major Edward Dale (approx. 2.2 miles away); White Marsh Church (approx. 4 miles away); St. Mary’s White Chapel (approx. 4.2 miles away); Queenstown (approx. 4.3 miles Barford Marker image. Click for full size. By J. J. Prats, September 5, 2009 2. Barford Marker away); Corotoman (approx. 4.3 miles away); Christ Church (approx. 4.3 miles away); Christ Church Lancaster (approx. 4.3 miles away); St. Mary’s Whitechapel (approx. 4.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lancaster.

Regarding Barford. Thomas Carter "of Barford" refers not to Barford Plantation in Virginia, but to the home town of his Carter ancestors: Barford, in Bedfordshire, England. His ancestors going back to at least 1425 owned property in BARFORD. The Barford Plantation was named for their ancestral property in England.

Additional comments. 1. The site of the Barford plantation? This could not possibly be the site of the Barford plantation. The earliest reference to "Barford" is the Prayer Book discovered by Mrs. John Scarlett Smith stating that "Thomas Carter of Barford in ye county of Lancaster... married Katherine Dale". Edward Dale gave them the land in 1674, four years after they were married. He was already "of Barford" when he was married so the Dale land could not have been the Barford plantation.

Also, Thomas Carter of Barford was never "Captain" of anything. Captain Thomas Carter was his uncle.

Editor's Note: Thank you for your interest in the Historical Marker database. I regret we cannot confirm the history behind the marker, as we have no affiliation with the organization who researched and erected it. — Submitted January 14, 2011, by Jeff Carter of Peachtree City, Georgia.

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Barford Plantation on the Corotoman Riv ===
Barford Plantation on the Corotoman River, Lancaster County

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Short Bio

Birth: Oct. 16, 1630 London Greater London, England Death: Oct. 22, 1700 Lancaster County Virginia, USA

Capt. Thomas Carter, son of William Ancell Carter and Jane Myles Carter, was born in London, Middlesex, England, October 16, 1630. He embarked from London for the British colonies in America and settled on land in Lancaster County in the Colony of Virginia. He spent the rest of his life there on his Barford Plantation where he died October 22, 1700 and was buried. He had two spouses, the first, Mary Anscell Parkhurst and the second, Katherine Dale, daughter of a British military commander assigned to duty in the colonies. Thomas and his second wife, Katherine, were members of the Church of England and their twelve children are listed in the Capt. Thomas Carter Prayer Book in the possession of the Historical Society of Richmond, Virginia.

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Came to Namesond City, Virginia in 1650/

Came to Namesond City, Virginia in 1650/52 from London in the "safety". This was about the time that Charles I was beheaded. Thomas appears at 22 years of age as paying tithes on himself and 4 servants. He bought 800 acres in Lancaster City, on the eastern branch of the Corotoman River from Col. John Carter. He later moved to Lancaster County, Virginia and purchased a large plantation on the Rappahannock River. Thomas Carter Senior served as commissioner of the City in 1663, Deputy Clerk of City in 1663-65, and as Burgess in 1667. Captain of the Lancaster Militia. A vestryman in Christ Church and Saint Marys White Chapel. A planter and trader. Thomas Carter named his estate in Lancaster County, Virginia, probably after Great Barford, Bedfordshire, England.

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Will Abstract

CARTER, Thomas. Will. 24 Apl. 1728. Rec. 10 Oct. 1733. Wife Arabella; sons: Thomas, land where I now live;. Peter, land in King George Co., James, Dale, Charles, Edward, Joseph and Daniel. Gr.sons Jesse Carter and Thos. Carter. Extrs. Wife and son Peter. Wits. John Harry and Job Carter. W.B. 12, p. 279. Source: Ida J. Lee, Abstracts Lancaster County, Virginia Wills, 1653-1800 (Richmond, Virginia: The Dietz Press, Inc., 1959), pg. 40

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!From the Old Carter Prayer book printed

!From the Old Carter Prayer book printed in 1662 which contain many valuable records of this family. Capt. Carters' Will dated 16 Aug. 1700, was probated 14 Nov 1700 by his second son Thomas Carter Jr. Will in book "The Descendants of Captain Thomas Carter. Book also contains Ancestry of Katherine Dale, Wife of Captain Thomas Carter. Thomas Carter second son of Capt. Thomas Carter, and Katharine Dale is my direct line. From the book by Joseph Lyon Miller, M.D. Ancestery of Capt. Thomas Carter of "Barford" Christ Church Parish Lancaster County, Virginia. Although not certain the tradition preserved by a branch of the family in Lancaster and recorded in 1858, says that he was the son of a Londen Merchant of good family. The circumstantial evidence of the Crest and Seal, the naming of his home "Barford", and the striking similarity of the baptismal names of his children and their descendants with those of Bedfordshire, makes it appear strongly probable that he was of the ancient Carter Family of "Kimpson" Bedfordshire. I am of the oppinion that he was a son of one of the sons of William Carter, Gent. of Kimpson, Bedfordshire (bur. 1 Dec. 1605) and his wife Mary Ancell (bur. 1 Mar 1619), daughter of Thomas Ancell, Esq. of Barford, in County of Bedford. They had issue seven sons and ten daughters. (see book for names. Capt. Thomas Carter of Virginia may possibly have been the yougest son of Ancell Carter, born 28 Oct 1591 William and Mary Ancell Carter of Kimpson who settled in London. At the visitation of the Hearlds from the College of Arms in 1634. Ansyll (Ancell) Carter (see book for names) In the Ancestral File Thomas was B: 26 Nov 1934 E: 1 Dec 1936 ss: 24 Jan 1958 It has his father as William Carter and his mother as Jane Myles and his wife as Mary Ancell. I did'nt know this and had his work done in the Boise Temple. B: 18 Jul 1987 E: 9 Sep 1987.

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Three Unnamed Children From First Marriage

“I have heard said there was two brothers of them the other being a John Carter who settled south of the river in Essex but further I can’t say. And I have heard said we are kin to old Robert Carter who is buried at old Christ Church in this County bur nave never found out how. He was very rich -some say the richest man in Virginia. Our old ancestor Thomas Carter was about 21 years old when he came to Lancaster and he was a man of substance and position as a planter and tobacco trader. He was married twice. First to an English woman whose name I’ve never heard, they had 2 or 3 children who all died young. She died and he married a Miss Dale of good connections and had seven sons and two daughters named Thomas, Edward, James, John, Henry, Peter Joseph and the girls was Betty and Katy.

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Different Thomas Carters

There are at least three Thomas Carters in Lancaster County around 1650-1670: (1) Major Thomas Carter, 1610-1658; (2) Thomas Carter, Sr. born circa 1626, married Elinor Cooke; and (3) Captain Thomas Carter (of Barford) born 1650, married Katherine Dale. The following are facts associated with at least one of them.
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According to Gary Boyd Roberts writing for The American Genealogist in 1995: The sons of John Carter and Elizabeth Benion (Thomas and John), mentioned in their father's will, have been suggested as the immigrants Thomas Carter of Isle of Wight County, Virginia (there by 1637) probable patrilineal forebear of John Carter of 'Corotoman,' Lancaster County, Virginia, d 1669. John and Elizabeth (Benion) Carter are believed to be the parents of Colonel John Carter and Major Thomas Carter, both of whom emigrated to Virginia, but this is not proven. John Carter's 1630 will (PCC 6 May 1630) names five sons: George, William, Thomas, John and Robert. The London Apprenticeship Abstracts has an entry for this Thomas in 1631: Carter Thomas, son of John, London, vintner, to Lawrence Frith, 9 Jun 1631, Pewterers' Company.
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Evidence of a family is found in the continuing merchant links between Major John Carter and his uncle Gabriel Benyon in London. Gabriel Benyon and his son Daniel, then aged 24, were involved in merchant trade to Virginia with Major John Carter with the ship the “John and Thomas” which sailed in October 1651 as factors for Richard Glover. Part of their cargo left Virginia in the “Seven Sisters” with other ships of the English fleet in June 1652. The remainder of the tobacco consigned to Gabriel Benyon and Richard Glover in London was put aboard the Dutch ship “Fortune” at James River and given leave by the Governor to carry it to England or Holland, as there was no room on any English ships. The “Fortune” was seized by the English frigate “HMS Warwick” and carried to Plymouth. Researchers disagree, but according to Rare Book Reprints' website, author Paul Carter, in his New Origins, argues that this Major Thomas Carter was not only the brother of Colonel John Carter, but also the father of Captain Thomas Carter of Barford. Any indication of parents for this Major Thomas Carter is based on circumstantial evidence, at best. There is no certainty about who his parents were. Major Thomas Carter is often assumed to have been the Thomas Carter aged 25 who sailed aboard the "Safety" from London to Virginia in 1636. Also aboard was a John Carter aged 22. However this is based solely on these two names on the passenger list, and the names are not listed near each other. It is not certain whether of not this is the record of Thomas' immigration.
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Birth: 16 October 1630, London, City of London, Greater London, England Death: 22 October 1700, Lancaster County, Virginia, British Colonial America

Captain Thomas Carter, son of Ancell Carter and Jane Myles Carter, was born in London, Middlesex, England, 16 October 1630. He embarked from London for the British colonies in America and settled on land in Lancaster County in the Colony of Virginia. He spent the rest of his life there on his Barford Plantation where he died 22 October 1700 and was buried. He had two spouses, the first, name unknown and the second, Katherine Dale, daughter of a British military commander assigned to duty in the colonies. Thomas and his second wife, Katherine, were members of the Church of England and their twelve children are listed in the Captain Thomas Carter Prayer Book in the possession of the Historical Society of Richmond, Virginia.

Children by 2nd spouse: (1) Edward Carter I 1671-1743, (2) Thomas Carter, Jr. 1672-1733, (3) John Carter 1674-1750, (4) Henry Skipworth Carter 1675-1743, (5) Diane Carter 1678-1680, (6) Nicholas Carter 1679-1680, (7) William Carter 1679-1680, (8) Elizabeth Carter circa 1680-?, (9) Daniel Carter 1682-1682, (10) James Carter 1684-?, (11) Katherine Carter 1786-?, (12) Joseph Carter 1690-1764. [Blanche Keating Collie, descendant and family researcher]

Thomas Carter came to America from England prior to 1652, married Catherine Dale in 1670, and is the ancestor of the Carters of North Carolina. He was a Captain in the Virginia Militia and a member of the Council of Burgess, 1677. One son, Thomas Carter, Jr., of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, 1672-1733, married in 1695, Arabella Williamson.

Thomas CARTER Capt. B-26 Oct 1630 D-22 Oct 1700 M- Katherine (Catherine) DALE B-1652

IN STORY BELOW SEE HER LINE ABOVE SEE HER FAMILY LINE IN KING ALFRED LINE

ID: I368 •Capt. Thomas CARTER • FOR Transcription of Prayer Book of Captain Thomas Carter SEE HOWARD / DALE FILE - Passed down to son Thomas Carter, Jr. - Passed down to son Peter Carter

Capt. Thomas Carter: ntitled to Coat of Armor, William Armstrong Crozier, Southern Book Co., Baltimore, 1953 & Genealogical Book Co., Baltimore: & from Predigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemagne's Descendents, Vol. II Carter, Lancaster Co. Crest: On a chapeau gules turned up ermine, a heron argent, beaked, leggeAwarded Knight of the Garter, Eng.'s most prestigious award. ?? This award is questionable! From: A Registry of VA Gentry Ed & ducally gorged or.

The above seal is used on the original will of Thomas Carter, gent., recorded in Lancaster Co., August, 1700, also on a deed in Sptsylvania Co., made by Joseph Carter in 1739, a grandson of Thomas, & it is also used on the will of another grandson, Dale Carter, gent., recorded in Lancaster Co. in 1776.

By referring to the Dale pedigree & arms it will be seen that the above is not a Carter crest, but the crest of Catherine Dale, his wife, who was a daughter of Edward Dale & his wife Diana Skipwith, sister of Sir Grey Skipwith, Bart., & daughter of Sir Henry Skipwith, Baronet, of Prestwould, Leicestershire, Eng. 1653 there appeared in Lancaster Co., Mr. Thomas Carter, who paid tithes upon himself & four servants.

His home plantation was one he had purchased from Col. John Carter of Corotoman. It is not known if they were related. Thomas Carter was Justice in 1683 & in 1670 Deputy Clerk of the Co., his father-in-law, Edward Dale, being Clerk 1655 to 1674.

Sometime prior to 1674 he M- Catherine Dale, (Katherine)

Colonel. John's son, Robert "King" CARTER was later known as "the richest man VA". owning 330,000 acres & having 1000 slaves. He was the first of the family to come to VA from ENG. According to WFT, Vol 8, Family 570, he sailed from London aboard the SAFETH on August 10, 1635.

Thomas was one who made unfortunate alliances with Charles I. When that Monarch lost his Kingdom by decapitation,

Thomas fled to VA. By 1650 in Nansemond Co., VA. He bought 800 acres of land Lancaster Co., on the Corotoman River, from Col. John CARTER (HIS UNCLE OR COUSIN?).

By 1663, he had a home Lancaster Co. named "Barford" & was paying tithes on 20 people. In 1650, Thos. CARTER of Bedfordshire ENG arrived VA. He was twenty-one years old at the time, & it has been suggested that he was forced to come to the New World by circumstances of his birth. As the youngest son, he had no interest the family estate, & life VA offered the prospect of acquiring wealth & status through hard work. He became imminently successful as a tobacco planter & trader. Thos. first settled Nansemond Co., VA & later Barford Lancaster Co., VA.

He was a Captain the VA Militia 1667, magistrate, a vestryman of Church Christ & member of Council of Burgess 1677. Records indicate he was a tobacco planter & merchant Lancaster Co. HE MARRIED 1662 in St. John’s, Bedfprdshire, Eng. (She was born 1635 in St. John’s, Bedfprdshire, Eng.). It is believed his first wife & CHILDREN died & then he married KATHERINE DALE, MAY 4 1670 in Christ Church Parish, Lancaster Co., VA.

The daughter of EDWARD DALE, MAJOR & DIANA SKIPWITH, LADY. Who with their daughter fled England when Cromwell took control. (She was born 04 MAY 1649 in Prestwould, Leicestershire, England & died MAY 10 1703 in Barford, Lancaster, VA His Seven sons were the first branches of this CARTER family tree America. He purchased his first plantation of about eight hundred acres on the "Eastermost branch of the Corotoman River from Col. John CARTER, " & on June 1 1654 acknowledged the debt court--"12,852 pounds of tobacco to be paid the following Oct. at ye dwelling house of the said Mr. Tho. CARTER." 1656, he purchased an additional 560 acres from George Marsh & 1658 purchased another plantation from Edmund Lunsford.

He also acquired over the thirty years patens of ownership to well over a thousand acres of land, indicating that at the time of his death about 1700 he was well situated. -- Lancaster Land Records. On 8 December 1674 Edward Dale, Gent. gave his daughter Katharine & her husband a 500-acre plantation Lancaster Co., he referred to her husband as Thos. CARTER, Merchant.

Old court records as follows: With this Book per Rev Mr John Sheppard on May 4 1670--was Married- Mr. Thos. CARTER of Barford ye Co. of Lancaster VA & Katherine Dale ye eldest daughter of Mr. Edw. Dale ye same Co. show Thos. CARTER served occasionally as an attorney for various nonresidents of Lancaster Co. who had legal business his area. OLD CART

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GENEALOGY OF THE CARTER FAMILY

GENEALOGY OF THE CARTER FAMILY

Of the ancestry of Capt. Thomas Carter, of Barford, Christ Church Parish, Lancaster County, Virginia, we know nothing certain. The tradition preserved by a branch of the family in Lancaster and recorded in 1858 says that he was the son of a London merchant of good family. The circumstantial evidence of the crest on his seal, the naming of his home “Barford” and the striking similarity of the baptismal names of his children and their descendants with those of Bedfordshire, makes it appear strongly probable that he was more or less closely connected with the ancient Carter family of “Kimpson,” Bedfordshire. I am of the opinion that he was a son of one of the sons of William Carter, Gent. Of Kimpson, Bedfordshire (buried Dec 1 1605,) and his wife, Mary Ancell (Buried March 1 1619), daughter of Thomas Ancell, Esq., of Barford, in Co. Bedford. They had issue seven sons and ten daughters as follows: Thomas, eldest son and heir, born Sept 19, 1575; Nicholas, William, Ann, Winifred, Mary, Oliver, Amye, Elizabeth, Temperance, Anne, Ursula, Anccl, Robert, Katharine, Alice, John the youngest, born Nov. 5 1599 The names Henry, Edward and Daniel appear among the children of those sons of William and Mary Ancell Carter, of whom we have record. Capt. Thomas Carter of Virginia may possibly have been the youngest son of Ancell Carter, born Oct 28, 1591, son of Wm. and Mary Carter of Kimpson, who settled in London. At the visitation of Heralds from the College of Arms in 1634 Ansyll (Ancel) Carter of London, Grocer, had six sons living as follows: George eldest son, John, Ansyle, William, James, and Thomas, youngest son, who could not have been over three or four years old in 1634. Capt. Thomas Carter of Virginia was born in 1630-31 No original paper of Capt. Thomas Carter bearing his own seal has been found (he sealed his will with the Dale crest), but his grandson, Joseph carter of Spotsylvania, in 1739 used a seal bearing the initials “T.C.” surmounted by a crest showing a demi-talbot out of a mural crown. This is one of the crests of the Kimpson Carters and of Ancell Carter of London. Though the parentage of Capt. Thomas Carter is not known as it likewise the case of Col. John Carter of “Corotoman” and a number of other prominent emigrants to Virginia, there is a number of other prominent emigrants to Virginia, there is plenty of evidence to show that he came of a good family whose claim to gentility was unquestioned. He lived in an age when …..

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! Information from The Descendants of Ca

! Information from The Descendants of Captain Thomas Carter of "Barford" Lancaster County, Virginia. and the William and Mary College Quarterlies. Contained in the Colonial Genealogist, Vol IV, Number2, Fall 1971.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202006193/capt_thomas-carter