Marty and Karla Grant

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Edward Carter (1761-1838) and Mary Brown and Isabella Gross of Orange and Chatham and Randolph and Buncombe Co., NC and Rabun Co., GA

[Carter Home] - [Table of Contents] - Edward Carter

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Edward and Mary Carter are my 6 times Great Grandparents.

Reference the book Those Who Were and Would be Named Carter The First 300 Years in America (1682-1982), Charles Marcus Liddell, II. 1982; 2 Vols. This title is currently available from the Mars Hill University book store.

Also reference the book Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Volume I, North Carolina, William Wade Hinshaw, 1969.

Edward Carter was born 29 May 1761 (per his son John’s Family Bible), either in Chester Co., PA (now Delaware Co., PA) or perhaps in Rockingham Co., VA. He is a proven son of Samuel Carter and Mary Barnes as named in Quaker records and Samuel’s 1802 Will.

Edward’s parents were in what his now Chatham Co., NC by ca 1763, so he would have grown up there. The area was part of Orange County until 1771 when Chatham was formed.

On 3 Jun 1780, Edward and John Carter (his brother) were received into the Cane Creek Monthly Meeting upon request, having a “one half” birthright. I believe this is a reference to the fact that their father was not a member of the Quaker church when they were born, having been dismissed, though he was back in by this time.

Edward’s membership in the church didn’t last long for he was dismissed on 6 Oct 1781 for marrying “outside of unity” meaning he married a non Quaker. Their records do not say who he married, however, we know his wife was Mary Brown as proven by their son John’s Family Bible. Liddell has their marriage date as 1 Sep 1781, but includes no source for it. Her family resided in Randolph Co., NC (not far from where the Carters lived in Chatham), so they probably married in that county as was the custom.

Mary Brown was born 20 May 1758 per son John’s Family Bible. Liddell, and perhaps others, assumed Mary was a daughter of Daniel Brown and Grace Thompson, and sister to Jane Brown who married Edward Carter’s brother John Carter also in 1781. However, this is an error, repeated many times since then. Daniel did have a daughter named Mary, but that’s not who Edward Carter married. Edward’s son John’s Family bible gives us this:

Edward Carter was born May the 29 in the year of our Lord 1761.

Marey Carter his wife was born May the 20 in year of our Lord 1758 her father his sur name was Brown Joseph. (Bible record shared with me by Werner Howald, 2016.)

There is no doubt the Bible record is genuine and contemporary. Thus, we now know that Mary Brown Carter (wife of Edward) and Jane Brown Carter (wife of John) were not sisters. See the Brown pages for more on Joseph Brown.

Edward and Mary apparently remained near her father in Randolph Co., NC instead of going back to Chatham County. They are listed in Randolph on the 1790 census. The census taker alphabetized the listings, so we can’t determine “next door neighbors” but the sorting was done within communities. His grouping also included his father-in-law Joseph Brown as well as Robert Brown, Daniel Brown (same one formerly thought to be Edward’s father-in-law), Samuel Brown and Henry Brown. No other Carters were listed in that community.

1790 Census - Chatham County, North Carolina

Page	Name	Males 16+	Males under 16	Females	Others	Slaves
294	Edward Carter	1	3	3	~	~

Enumerations                                         Who it might be

1m 16 and up (before 1774)                Edward Carter (1761)

3m under 16 (1774/1790)                    1. Jesse Carter (1784) son

                                                                  2. Samuel Carter (1786) son

                                                                  3. Daniel Carter (1788) son

3f any age (before 1790)                      1. Mary Brown Carter (1758) wife

                                                                  2. Grace Carter (1780/90) daughter

                                                                  3. Daughter?

On 25 Jun 1793, Edward Carter made land entry for 150 acres in Randolph Co., NC, described as being on Mountain Run joining the lands of Joseph Brown. It was surveyed on 21 Nov 1793. Joseph Brown and John Fincher were the chain carriers. We know Brown was his father-in-law. Fincher could be related or perhaps a friend/neighbor. The land was granted to Carter on 1 Dec 1796 or 23 Dec 1796 per the deed. (North Carolina Land Grants, and Randolph Co., NC Deed Book 7, p. 126.)

I couldn’t find “Mountain Run” on any maps. It does seem to be a branch of Richland Creek which rises near Asheboro and flows easterly until connecting to the Deep River not too far from the Chatham line.

On 5 Feb 1795, a survey was made for Joseph Brown for 375 acres on Richland Creek. Edward Carter and William Brown (Joseph’s son) were chain bearers.

On 4 Jan 1797, Edward Carter of Burke County sold the 150 acres of Mountain Run land to Richard Lawrence of Randolph County. There was no signature or witnesses listed. It was proven in February 1797 court by Abe? Dollarhide. (Randolph Co., NC Deed Book 7, p. 81.)

This shows that the Carters left Randolph Co., NC between ca 1795 and 1797 for Burke Co., NC.

A road order was issued by the Burke court in January 1799 for a jury to view and mark a road leading down the North Cove from Joshua Young’s to the Double Ford above James Ainsworth’s Mill tracts. The jurors named were: John Anstot? , John Willson , John Chandler, James Lloyd, Thomas Knight, Shawbridge Young, William Anstot?, Isaac Coxe, Charles Hopper, Thomas Hopper, Joshua Curtis, Joshua Young, Westly Young, Thomas Young, Edward Carter. (Burke Co., NC Civil Action Papers 1799-1801.)

This road order gives us an idea where Edward lived, and who his neighbors were. Road juries were almost always residents of the general area where the road was. North Cove is in what is now McDowell Co., NC (formed 1842 from Burke and Rutherford). This is north and west of Morganton, and north and east of Asheville. Most early Burke County records are lost, so we may never know if Edward Carter owned any land there.

I was unable to locate Edward Carter on the 1800 census. He was not listed in Randolph, Burke or Buncombe county, nor elsewhere as far as I could find. He was either missed, or perhaps he moved over into Tennessee briefly. The 1800 census is lost for that state. Alternately, he was on the move from Burke to neighboring Buncombe at census time and not picked up by either census taker.

Edward was named in his father Samuel Carter’s Will dated 3 Nov 1802 in Chatham Co., NC in the list of “my children” as Edward Carter. Edward’s place of residence was not given, though he was likely still in Burke then, or perhaps had already moved to Buncombe.

On 15 Jul 1805, Phillip Hoodenpyle, Esq, of Buncombe Co., NC deeded 25 acres to Edward Carter, Blacksmith, of the same place (showing he was already in Buncombe by 1805). The land was described as being on both sides of Linseys Creek. Hoodenpyle signed as “Ph. Hoodenpyle.” No witnesses were listed, and Hoodenpyle himself acknowledge the deed in court in Oct 1805. (Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book 10, pp. 327-329.)

I haven’t figured out where Lindsey Creek is yet. The original grant to Hoodenpyle for the 25 acres referred to the land as on the “Main branch of Linseys Creek.” Another grant to him in the same area refers to land on the “right hand fork of the left hand fork of Linseys Creek” which isn’t confusing at all.

Edward Carter is on the 1810 census in Buncombe. No other Carters are listed in Buncombe that year.

1810 Census, Buncombe Co., NC, p. 252, Edward Carter, 02101-02101-0-0

* Solomon (1791), Daniel (1788) and Samuel (1787) all fit here, but it can only be one of them, so I’m listing it as Solomon only because he’s the youngest and most likely to still be at home.

On 12 Nov 1810, Edward Carter made a deed to Blake Piercey for the 25 acres on “Lindzey’s” Creek purchased in 1805. Edward Carter signed. Witnesses were John McElroy and Edward Wilson. (Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book 11, pp. 34-35.)

On 8 Oct 1812, Thomas Whitson of Murry (sic) Co., TN, made a deed to Edward Carter for 150 acres on Big Ivy. Thomas Whitson signed. Thomas Forster and Griffith Dickerson witnessed. (Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book G, pp. 240-241.)

“Big Ivy” now known as North Fork Ivy Creek, rises in north eastern Buncombe (right at the Buncombe / Yancey line) and flows southwesterly several miles, joining Dillingham Creek wherein they become Ivy Creek.

On 13 Oct 1817, Edward Carter deeded land to Robert Roberts. The land was described as being on Sugar Creek on Hays Branch, a part of Big Ivy River. No acreage was given, but it was a part of the land he purchased from Whitson. Solomon and Daniel Carter’s lines were mentioned. Edward Carter signed. Witnesses were M? C. Tatum and Ambros Sutton. (Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book 13, pp. 153-154.)

Edward Carter received a state land grant on 26 Nov 1817 for 50 acres. It was entered 2 Jun 1816, described as on the north side of Big Ivy joining land he now lives on. The survey was dated 21 Oct 1817. His sons Daniel Carter and Solomon Carter were chain bearers. (North Carolina Land Grants and Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book 11, p. 17.)

On 25 Jun 1818, Edward Carter of Buncombe made a deed of 55 acres to [his son] Solomon Carter for $300. The land was on Big Ivy and Sugar Creek bordering Robert Roberts and Daniel Carter. Edward Carter signed. Witnesses were John (X) Carter and H. C. Tatum. (Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book 17, pp. 82-83.)

Edward Carter is listed on the 1820 census in Buncombe Co., NC. Son Solomon Carter was a few houses away.

1820 Census, Buncombe Co., NC, p. 96, Edward Carter, 000101-10101-0-0

Edward Carter moved to Rabun Co., GA in the 1820s. Rabun (often pronounced and misspelled Rayburn) bordered what is now Macon and Clay Co., NC.

They are listed on the 1830 census in Rabun, next to son Jesse Carter. Sons Josiah H. Carter and grandson Josiah Carter (son of Jesse) were also listed, but not nearby.

1830 Census, Rabun Co., GA, p. 233, Edward Carter, 0000000010000-0000000001000

On 15 Nov 1830, Edward Carter of “Rayburn” Co., GA, made a deed for 50 acres to [his son] John Carter of Buncombe Co., NC for $200. The land was on the north side of Big Ivy joining land John Carter lived on. Edward Carter signed. Witnesses were Henry Hunt and John S. Roberts. (Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book 17, pp. 195-196.)

On the same date (15 Nov 1830), Edward Carter made another deed to John Carter, this one for 75 acres for $1100. This land was also on the north side of Big Ivy. It mentions Wiggins Branch and Solomon Carter’s line. Edward signed. Same witnesses as the prior deed. (Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book 17, pp. 203-204.)

Mary Brown Carter died on 27 Feb 1833 (per John Carter Family Bible record), in Rabun Co., GA. She was 74. She is probably buried at Head of Tennessee Baptist Church cemetery.

On 29 Dec 1835, Edward Carter obtained a marriage license in Rabun Co., GA to marry Isabella Groce. They were married that same day by Robert Woods, Justice of the Peace.

Isabella Gross was born ca 1784/85 in North Carolina, both facts per her 1850 census entry. Considering she was about 51 when she married Edward Carter, it’s reasonable to assume that she was a widow and that Gross wasn’t her maiden name but her married name. However, I could be wrong about that. Regardless, I don’t know who her parents were, or her first husband, assuming there was one. I didn’t find anyone named Gross/Groce on the 1830 census in Rabun. There were none on the 1836 tax list either. The nearest one I found in 1830 was Thomas Gross (1750/60-1840) in Macon Co., NC. He was certainly old enough to be Isabella’s father, though I have no information to prove they were even related. There were Gross families in Rutherford Co., NC. Perhaps she’s connected to them somehow.

Edward Carter is on the 1836 tax for Rabun Co., GA, Capt. Allen’s company listed next to James Dillard. He has no “polls” (white taxables), presumably because he was exempt due to his advanced age. He had no slaves. He had 70 acres of 2^nd rate land and 380 acres of 3^rd rate land, 450 total acres. Son J. H. Carter was on the same page.

Edward Carter made his Will on 31 Oct 1837 in Rabun Co., GA, stating he was “in my 76 year of age.” He named:

∙           Wife Isabel

∙           daughter Gracy Sutton

∙           son Jesse Carter

∙           son Samuel Carter

∙           son Daniel Carter

∙           son Solomon Carter

∙           daughter Polly Husk

∙           daughter Elizabeth Roberts

∙           son John Carter

∙           son Josiah H. Carter

∙           Jesse Carter and wife Isabel executors.

He signed the will. Witnesses were John N. Moore and Robert Woods. The Will was proven in court on 15 Mar 1838 meaning he was dead by then.

According to son John’s Bible record, Edward Carter died on 11 Mar 1838. He is thought to be buried at Head of Tennessee Baptist Church Cemetery in Rabun Co., GA.

Isabella was listed on the 1840 census in Rabun Co., GA residing by herself, two houses from James Dillard and two from Rosanna Johnson Stroud Stewart neither of whom are known to be related to the Carters, but are related to me, the author.

1840 Census, Rabun Co., GA, p. 215, Isabel Carter, 0-0000001000000

On 28 Dec 1840, John Steel obtained a marriage license in Rabun Co., GA to marry Isabella Carter. They were married six months (!) later on 8 Jul 1841 by James Beck, Justice of the Peace.

There was a John Steel on the 1840 census in Rabun Co., NC, a man in his 70s (born 1760s) living alone. He was three households from Jesse Carter, son of Edward, and about 10 households from Isabella. Therefore, I assume this is the same man she married. At his age, he was probably a widower, though I don’t know that for certain. There was no John Steel in Rabun back in 1830. There were several men of that name elsewhere in Georgia and in other states, including one in Buncombe Co., NC who was in his 60s, which is a good match with the one later in Rabun. I don’t know that they are one and the same though. However, if they are, the one in Buncombe had an apparent wife and children at home, none of whom were with the man in Rabun in 1840.

John Steel, husband of Isabella, apparently died in the 1840s, presumably in Rabun Co., GA.

Isabella, widowed again, was listed on the 1850 census by herself. She was two houses from her step-son Jesse Carter (1784), who was basically her same age. There were no Steel or Gross families in Rabun in 1850 other than Isabella.

1850 census, Rabun Co., GA, 436^th Dist G.M., House # 249, Family # 249

I didn’t find Isabella on the 1860 census. She may have died by then, or perhaps married again to someone yet unidentified. I checked the 1860 census of Rabun for anyone named Isabella, Isabel or Ibby or similar. None were found of compatible age, thus our Isabella was either dead, or no longer living in Rabun by 1860.

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Children

Edward Carter and Mary Brown had nine children together, all proven by his 1837 Will. Edward and Isabella apparently had no children together.

 

1.         Grace Carter (c1780s-c1838) married Ambrose Sitton (often listed as Sutton). She is named in her father’s 1837 Will as “Gracy Sutton.” They also went to Rabun Co., GA.

 

2.         Jesse Carter (1784-1871) married 1: Lavina Sams, married 2: Martha Burch Davis. Jesse was named in his father’s Will as son and Executor. Jesse and Lavina are my ancestors. See their own page for more information.

 

3.         Samuel Carter (c1786-1852) married Nancy Ramsey. They remained in Buncombe Co., NC. Samuel was named in his father’s 1837 Will.

 

4.         Daniel Carter (1788-1849) married Margaret Jennings. They either lived in the part of Buncombe that became Yancey County (in 1833) or they moved there in the 1830s. Daniel was named in his father’s 1837 Will.

 

5.         Solomon Carter (1791-1873) married Elvira Hooper. Solomon was named in his father’s 1837 Will.

 

6.         Mary Carter (1790/94-1840s) married James Hurst. She was named in her father’s 1837 Will as daughter “Polly Husk” which is a badly written (or translated) Hurst.

 

7.         John Carter (1795-1859) married Lucinda Jennings (sister of Daniel Carter’s wife Margaret Jennings). They moved to nearby Washington Co., TN in the 1830s. John was named in his father’s 1837 Will.

 

8.         Elizabeth Carter (c1799-aft 1850) married John S. Roberts. They moved to Gilmer Co., GA. She was named in her father’s 1837 Will as daughter “Elizabeth Roberts.”

 

9.         Josiah Henry Carter (c1800-c1860) married Jane Pinson. Josiah was named in his father’s 1837 Will as son “Josiah H. Carter.” He typically included his middle initial in records to avoid confusion with his slightly younger nephew Josiah Carter (1807-1880), son of Jesse.

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For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Edward Carter.

Revised: January 24, 2025

Copyright © 1996-2025 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

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