Robert Carter (c1665-1751) and Lydia Walley of Chester and Delaware Co., PA

Marty and Karla Grant

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

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Robert and Lydia Carter are my 9 times Great Grandparents.

I first learned of this set of ancestors via 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.

Some of what I have on this family comes from the aforementioned book and has not been confirmed by me.

Another source, probably used by Mr. Liddell, is Memorial of Jeremiah Carter Who Came to the Province of Pennsylvania in 1682, Thomas-Maxwell Potts, 1883. Chapter 1 contains “A Short Account of Early Pennsylvania Settlers bearing the name of Carter” and includes some information on our Carters.

Robert Carter was born ca 1665 in England, a son of Edward and Margaret (—) Carter.

Robert, with his parents, departed on 5 Sep 1682 from Aston, Parish of Bampton, Oxfordshire, England and arrived at Upton, Pennsylvania on 29 Oct 1682. (Per Liddell.)

Robert Carter married Lydia Walley 8 Aug 1688 in Chester (now Delaware) Co., PA. This is proven via the Quaker records.

At a monthly meeting at Walter Faucetts 10th day of 7th mo 1688

Robert Carter and Liddia Walley proposed their intentions of marriage being the first time.

At a monthly meeting at Walter Faucetts 1st day of 8th mo 1688

Robert Carter and Liddia Walley proposed their intentions of marriage being the second time. and things being found clear concerning them they are left to their liberty to accomplish their marriage according to the good order of faith.

Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes

From: Ancestry.com. U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Lydia Walley was born ca 1670, presumably in England. Her parents were not named in the Liddell book. I found some Walley mentions in the Quaker records that might be relatives of hers.

There is a Demarris Walley with brother Shadrack Walley in Middletown Monthly Meeting (Bucks Co.,PA) in 1688. Perhaps related to Lydia?

Shadrack Walley married Mary Sharp 1687, same place.

William Berry married Naomiy Walley 1686, Falls Monthly Meeting, Bucks Co. PA.

Potts stated this about Lydia, “She was probably a niece of Robert Wade, or his wife, who had settled at the mouth of Chester Creek about 1675 and were very prominent in the early history of that locality.” Potts, p. 11.

He didn’t say why he thought Lydia was related to Wade.

Potts mentioned that Alice Tremain of Aston, a widow, made a will dated 17^th day of 2^nd month 1699 in which she devised legacies to John Baldwin (written Baldon) [who married Katherine Turner, nee Carter,] and to his wife and daughter; also to Edward, Margaret and Robert Carter, and to John, Prudence, Hannah and Lydia Carter, the children of Robert. Edward and son Robert Carter were executors.

The above suggests that Tremain was related to the Carters, and that Katherine, widow of a Mr. Turner and then wife of John Baldwin, was also related.

Potts said, “Robert Carter was the “only son and heir” of Edward above. He was for many years a resident of Aston township, and succeeded to the title of the land located by his father. In 1702 he was the owner of 375 acres in that township. In 1717 the Aston land passed to his son John. He was elected a member of Assembly from Chester county in 1698 and 1699, and again in 1703. He was settled in Marlborough in 1722, but removed to Kennett before his death in 1750 or 1751.” Potts, p. 11.

Robert Carter was listed on various tax lists in Chester Co., PA. Note that there were apparently two men named Robert Carter in Chester for the 1734/35 and 1735/36 tax lists.

Year Township

1715 Aston

1718 Marlborough

1719/20 Marlborough

1720/21 Marlborough

1721 Marlborough

1722 Marlborough

1724/25 Marlborough

1725 Marlborough

1729 East Marlborough

1730 East Marlborough

1732 East Marlborough

1734/35 East Marlborough

1734/35 East Nottingham

1735/36 East Marlborough

1735/36 East Nottingham

1737/38 East Nottingham

Source: https://www.chesco.org/1729/18th-Century-Tax-Records

Lydia Walley Carter died sometime before 1750 for she was not named in her husband’s Will from that year.

Robert Carter made his Will in Chester Co., PA on 29 Nov 1750, listed as Robert Carter of Kennet. He named:

∙ my son John Carter

∙ my daughter Hannah Harlan

∙ my son in law Caleb Pusey

∙ my son in law Joseph Coebourn

∙ my granddaughters Anne Harlan and Susannah Doyle

∙ my grandsdon Isaac Harlan

∙ my granddaughter Lydia Cloud

∙ to my grandchildren not mentioned 1 shilling each

∙ my grandson Thomas Harlan, also my sole executor

Robert Carter signed the Will. David Webb and Abraham Parker were witnesses. The Will was proven in court 20 May 1751, meaning he was dead by then.

Children

Robert Carter and Lydia had seven children per the Liddell book. Quaker birth records confirm the first three (Prudence, John and Hannah), while other records confirm the rest, except possibly Edward.

1. Prudence Carter (1689-before 1750), married Caleb Pusey. Prudence is proven by her birth record. Her husband was named in Robert’s Will as his son-in-law.

2. John Carter (1691-1693). Died young. He is proven by his birth and death record.

3. Hannah Carter (1692-aft 1751), married Stephen Harlan. Hannah is proven by her birth record.

4. John Carter (1695-c1760), married Isabell Atkinson. John was named in his father’s Will and in Alice Tremain’s 1699 Will as a child of Robert. See their own page for more information.

5. Lydia Carter (1697-bef 1750), married Joseph Coeburn (Jr). Lydia was named in Alice Tremain’s 1699 Will as a child of Robert. Joseph was named in Robert Carter’s Will as his son-in-law. There is a marriage record for him and Lydia Carter.

6. Edward Carter (c1698-bef 1750). I don’t know what proof there is that Edward is Robert’s son. He wasn’t named in the 1750 Will.

7. Mary Carter (1699-bef 1750), married Thomas Harlan. She is proven by Thomas Harlan’s Will in which he names her, and her father Robert Carter. There is also Quaker marriage record for Thomas Harlan(d) and Mary Carter in 1720. Both Mary and Thomas were dead by the time her father Robert made his Will, so he named all of their children instead.

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

Revised: January 21, 2025

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