New Origins Book

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 United 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 possession 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 Lancaster 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 groups 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 direct 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 family. 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 brought 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. His 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 Andrew 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 believe 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 hundreds 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 definitely 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 political 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 county 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 position 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 that 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 believe, 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 leases 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 also 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 England 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 and 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 loss 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 Lancaster 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 descendants 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 Corotoman 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 whom 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 in 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 Edward 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 issue; 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 family 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 plantation 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 preliminary 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 and 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, Goochland, 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 Francis 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 immigrant 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 Carter 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 cart, 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 Carter 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 early 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 and 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 of 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 adjoining 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 of 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 no 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 many 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 before 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 spawned 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 followed 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 numbers 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 names 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 Hundred 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 Parish 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 two 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: he 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 concerning 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 known 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 Berkhamsted,' 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, held 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 the 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 early 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 states. 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 state. 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: "For 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 owne 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, according 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. They 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 of 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 tobacco. "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 auctioned 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 noted 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 company 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 Carter, 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 1623 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 brother 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 residence 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 40 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 miles 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 begin 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 Carter 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 the 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 unknown 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 of 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 was 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?) in 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 least 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 of 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 Kings 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 and 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 plantations called Monasco and Brice. Upon his death he was buried in London.