The children of Giles Carter-1 and his wife, Hannah
Susannah Carter-2, born before 1676, and mentioned in James Crewes’ will, the first wife of Daniel Price, Sr.-ii, the man to whom James Crewes left his best clothes. Daniel-ii was also the child mentioned in the will of John Rowan in the 1660’s. Her second husband was Thomas Williamson. She was the mother of Daniel Price, Jr.-iii Daniel, Sr.-ii was the son of John Price-i mentioned in John Rowan’s will. His mother had married, as her third husband, the man who was James Crewes’ business partner.
Ann Carter-2, was probably born after 1676, as she was not mentioned in the Crewes will. Married James D. Davis.
THEODORICK CARTER-2, born before 1676, and mentioned in James Crewes’ will, married a woman named ELIZABETH, possibly surnamed WEBB, and they were the author’s ancestors. THEODORICK-2 died in 1736/7 leaving his widow and a child just born. He would have been in his sixties, so his wife must have been several years younger than he was. She died about 1751, when her will was probated.
Giles Carter-2, born after 1681, married a woman named Mary [Henrico Co. Deeds 1706-1737, pg 174] and died in King George County in 1745. Giles-2 and Ann-2 were the only known children of GILES-1 and HANNAH not mentioned in the Crewes will. Giles-2 was a minor when his father wrote his will in 1699. The guardian for Giles-2, William T. Sewell, left his entire estate to Giles-2. William Sewell was probably related to HANNAH or GILES and may have been HANNAH’s brother, or less likely, her father. William Sewell was listed in the 1705 Quit Rent Rolls as owning 59 acres. His widow’s name was Elizabeth.
Mary Carter-2, born before 1676, married Thomas Davis, and was mentioned in the Crewes’ will.
From 1620 to 1720 Henrico Parish was referred to as Varina Parish and the principle church in the parish referred to as Varina Church. In 1680, the Reverend John Ball was the minister of Henrico County, serving Varina Parish and the half of Bristol Parish north of Appomattox. Ball was replaced in 1685. At one point he had been publicly referred to as “fitter to make a hangman than a minister.” Reverend James Blair was the minister from 1685 to 1694. Apparently, the early ministers that came to Virginia were not of the “best” sort and were men who could not find parishes in England. They were certainly not heroic “missionaries” who cared much for their flocks.
In January 1686, the Middlesex County Records contain an order for:
Stephen Cocke having moved this court to assigne certain gentlemen of this countye to meet such as shall be appointed by the court of Charles Citye County to view and receive the bridge over Turkeye Island Creek, it is ordered that Captain William Randolph and Captain Frances Epps doe meete these gents. As shall be appointed.
GILES’ will was written December 14, 1699, and recorded in Henrico County. The proving witnesses were Thomas Smythes, William T. Sewell, and James D. Davis, his son-in-law.
Will of Giles Carter, Sr.-1
In the name of God Amen. I Giles Carter Senr: being of a weake and infirm body yet [blessed be God] of a sound and perfect memory: and Considering the frailty and incertainty of man’s life and not knowing the time of my departure hence: I doe make constitute and appoint this my last will and testam’t: hereby revoaking all other wills by me heretofore make whatsoever imprs: I comend my soul into the hands of my Blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ Relying only upon his merits for Salvation. My body I commit to the earth to be decently therin interred. And for what worldly goods and possessions God hath bestowed upon me, it is my will and desire they may be disposed of in form and manner folowing.
I give and bequeath to my son Theodorick Carter five shillings sterl’g to be paid by my deare wife Hannah either in silver or to the full value thereof as to her shall seeme most convenient. Item I give to my daughter Susannah now ye wife of Thos. Williamson five shillings sterling to be paid as above sd. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary now ye wife of Thomas Davis five shills. Sterl’g to be paid as aforesaid. Item I give to my daughter Ann now the wife of James Davis, one fether bed and bolster, one rugge, one blanket, one cow. Item I give to my son Giles one mare called nanny with her increase forever. It being a mare formerly given to him by William Sewel, she being but a philly.
These legacies being paid as also wt. Debts have or shall be lawfully by me contracted being fully satisfied, It is my will and desire that what Of my estate shall remaine [one feather bed and furniture only excepted] for my wife Hannah which I give unto her may be equally divided into two parts, the one part thereof belonging to my wife Hannah the other to my son Giles. It not being my intent or design’d in any wise hereby to disannul or make voide a deed of gift formerly by me made to my son Giles and entered upon records. But I doe by this my last will and testament rattifie and confirm the same. Item it is my will and desire that what estate shall appertaine to my son Giles that he may receive the same when he shall arive to the age of eighteen years; and also enjoy the benefit of his labour, my wife Hannah not being any wise mollested or disturbed upon the plantacon wee now live during her life.
And lastly I make constitute and appoint my dear and loveing wife Hannah full and sole execx. Of this my last will and testament, the which I own to be my last; all others being hereby disannulled and made voide. As witness my hand and seals this 14th day of December 1699.
Giles Carter [Seal of Red Wax]
Witnesses: Thomas Smythes, William T. Sewel, James D. Davis.
Probated: February 2, 1701/2 in Henrico County Court Virginia [Henrico Co. VA. Will & Deed Book 1677-1692, pg. 256.]
GILES CARTER, Sr., was about 65 years old when he died. The life expectancy in that era was about 40 years of age.
GILES’ will principally conferred a life estate in all his lands to his wife, HANNAH, and the division of the personal property was greater than she would have received by law in her “thirds” or dower. He mentioned “a deed of gift” given to Giles, Jr., and reaffirmed the title to what was conveyed. HANNAH was entitled to at least a dower, or life-estate in one-third of the real estate.
No slaves were mentioned in the will and any that GILES had owned at the time the will was made might have already been divided or given to the children, or they would go with the real estate and other items to Giles-2 when he inherited the estate. GILES-1 had apparently already given real estate to the sons and divided most of the personal property as well. It would not be unusual if GILES-1 only mentioned those things in his will that were special bequests. Since the property laws set out how the property of a man who died intestate would be divided, a person who made a will might only mention those things that he wanted done differently than the law had already set out. The notice that he wanted HANNAH to live on the plantation for her entire life indicates that he had land in fee simple. The other items mentioned in his will were all personal property. It is quite likely that the items mentioned in the will were only the special bequests, rather than the entire estate.
Susannah Carter-2, who was the wife of Thomas Williamson when her father died, first married Daniel Price, the man mentioned in James Crewes’ will in 1676 to receive the clothing of James. Daniel died and she married Thomas Williamson. She had one son, Daniel Price, Jr., by her first husband. Her brother, THEODORICK-2, was called into court to testify that her second husband would take care of the estate of her son. Daniel Price, Jr., later gave a release to the court that he had received all his inheritance from the hands of his step-father. [Henrico County, VA Deeds 1706-1737, pg 40.]
Daniel Price, Sr.’s mother, Ann, whose maiden name is unknown, married a man named Hallom after John Price, the father of Daniel Price, Sr., died. She was widowed again, and was last married to Daniel Llewelyn, who had been the business partner of Captain James Crewes. The Price family, as well as the CARTER family, apparently had some ties with the Crewes family.
In seventeenth-century Virginia, a funeral was an occasion for the gathering of friends and neighbors and family from afar. Many times, the deceased would be buried in a family plot marked off on his plantation. Family and friends would gather and refreshments would be served. It was not unusual for the estate to expend the value of 1,400 pounds of tobacco on food, drink, and gunpowder for a funeral of even modest proportions. The firing of guns was a custom in seventeenth century Virginia that was eventually outlawed due to the waste of powder and lead as well as the many deaths caused by heavily drinking men shooting off weapons at funerals.
The funeral would usually include a funeral sermon as well as the festive affair of the gunfire and the feasting.
After GILES’ death, THEODORICK-2 transferred lands on March 2, 1701, to John Pleasants. The land was called “The Lowgrounds,” laying on the north side of the James River on a Run of Turkey Island Creek, for 10,000 pounds of tobacco. John Pleasants traded the property known as “Round Hills” on the south of the Chicahominy Swamp. [Henrico County, VA Deeds 1677-1705, pg 120.] This “Round Hills” land later identified John Carter-3 as the son of THEODORICK-2 to whom it was willed. THEODORICK-2 and Giles-2 also witnessed a deed December 1, 1708, from John Pleasants transferring lands to William Cocke. [Henrico County, VA Deeds 1706-1737, pg 15.]
John Pleasants was an early Quaker of Henrico during the time when Quakers were persecuted and fined, even whipped for their beliefs. Pleasants was a wealthy and influential man, however, and managed to escape the worst of this persecution. Eventually, after the Act of Toleration was passed, his fines and other difficulties with the law were negated and he was allowed to build a meetinghouse for the Quakers in Henrico. [History of Henrico, pg 64-67.]
In 1702, there were 863 tithables in the original county, and this number increased by 52 in 1703. The census of 1703 reported 2,413 souls in the county, excluding the French refugees. Of this figure, 915 were tithables, and 1,498 were women and children. A total of 148,757 acres of land had been patented in the county and 98 horses were reported. This small number of horses in the county shows just how valuable the horse given to Giles, Jr.-2, by William Sewell was. Obviously, with only 915 adult males or slaves in the area very little of the 148,000 acres was actually under cultivation. The average number of acres per tithable was 150, and obviously one man could not cultivate 150 acres by himself. At first the colony tilled the soil with a hoe and mattock. Later, oxen were the primary draft animals used for plowing on the farms in this era. Horses were used more for a mode of transportation. Roads were very poor and few. Even in places where there were roads, carts, buggies and wagons were seldom used due to the roads’conditions. A rough sled, usually pulled by oxen, was the primary method of transporting heavy or large items.
Today, there are millions of pairs of oxen used throughout the world, and even a few thousand pairs of steers are working in the United States. The term “oxen” is a job title, rather than a specific breed of cattle. It simply means “working cattle.” The plantion owner or farmer would pick a pair of young male cattle, neuter them, and train them to work. This was done by first training the animal to lead and respond to voice commands to go forward, left, right, and back. A yoke, or wooden beam, was placed either on the animal’s neck or behind the horns. Traditional English yokes were “neck” yokes, fitting on the top of the animal’s neck, and being held in place by bent wooden bows. Canadian oxen would usually work in a head yoke, or a wooden beam strapped behind the horns of the animal. All oxen must have horns. This is necessary for holding the yoke, of whatever type, onto the head or neck of the animal. The oxen, if fully trained, would not have lines, a bridle, or halter, like a horse, but would respond to cues from a stick, called a goad, or to the owner’s vocal commands. A pair of oxen is called a “Yoke of oxen” and more than two are called a “team.” Any breed of cattle can be used, but dairy breeds were preferred and usually available. Even a cow can be used to pull sleds or wagons, but neutered males, called steers, are the preferred animal. Before the animal is mature, about four years of age, he is referred to as a “working steer” and after age four, as an “oxen.”
William Sewell’s wife, Elizabeth, relinquished her dower in a deed dated February 1, 1708/9 in Henrico which was witnessed by Giles Carter-2. William was transferring lands “in the low grounds” to William West. The lands were also noted as being on the north side of the James River, and “bounded as in a deed from Theodrick Carter to John Pleasants.” This would indicate that Giles Carter, Jr., was born at least before 1688. [Henrico County, VA Deeds 1706-1737, pg 16.]
In 1697, the population of Virginia was estimated at 70,000 people. In 1698, Governor Andros resigned and his successor was Francis Nicholson, the former Governor of Maryland. Nicholson promised “freedom and liberty of conscience” to all religions and the Act of Toleration was passed. Williamsburg was the new capitol of the colony. This act did not entirely release the dissenters from persecution and fines, or even from having their young men conscripted to serve in the militia against their wills, but it did some good in reducing the persecutions such as whippings and bannings against the Quakers. The CARTERS were apparently members of the established churches and had their children’s baptisms recorded in the vestry books. Infant baptism was the established church’s practice and custom.
THEODORICK CARTER-2, son of GILES and HANNAH, married a woman named ELIZABETH. Many researchers think her name was ELIZABETH WEBB, and that she was the daughter of John Webb, born in 1688. The birth of a child named Elizabeth, the daughter of one of the men named John Webb, is recorded in the Henrico Parish records in 1688. If she is that Elizabeth, it would have made her 12 years younger than THEODORICK-2. This is possible, but after looking at all the records available, the author thinks that she may have been the daughter of a Webb family, but not necessarily this one. There were several men named John Web in the area. The daughter of THEODORICK-2 and ELIZABETH married the son of one of the John Webbs, also named John Webb. The land of one of the men named John Webb abutted the lands of THEODORICK-2.
THEODORICK-2 and ELIZABETH both signed as witnesses on the will of the John Webb who died in 1725. Some researchers think that this might be her father or her brother, or that he was the father of her son-in-law, John Webb. Some people have even proposed that the John Webb who married ELIZABETH’s daughter was her brother, i.e. uncle marrying niece. The author is more inclined to believe that the John Webb-ii, her son-in-law, was her nephew, and that John-ii and her daughter were first cousins, and that she was the sister of John Webb-i, the one who died in 1725, and whose will she and THEODORICK-2 signed. Marriages between first cousins in Virginia were very common, and actually encouraged. Marriages between uncle and niece are extremely rare and would have been considered incest! Genealogical Evidence, by Noel C. Stevenson states, on page 77, about prohibited marriages, “a man may not marry his brother or sister’s daughter.”
This standard was established in 1653 by Archbishop Parker. There were other prohibited unions as well. Marriages between first cousins was not prohibited in any group except the Quakers.
Marriages in early Virginia were considered a uniting of estates and families, and so cousin marriages were encouraged to keep the estates “in the family.” In some cases, this resulted in the decreased viability of the offspring, when inherited weaknesses would be perpetuated in the lines when the marriages of cousins continued for several successive generations. This was true in the Randolphs of Virginia, for example, producing insanity in come cases. President Jefferson’s mother was a Randolph, and several of his cousins and nephews were frankly insane.
THEODORICK-2, was an “affluent” planter in early Virginia by the standards of the day, but he was not one of the ruling “elite.” Nor had his father been one of the “elite.” They apparently lived their lives in the quiet pursuit of their business and plantation building. They were members of the established church and their births and baptisms were recorded in the parish registers. However, THEODORICK-2 did associate with some of the “elite” and wealthy planters in the area.
THEODORICK-2 and his brother, Giles Carter-2, lived in Henrico County and raised their families. Some of the birth records are recorded in the St. Peter’s Parish records in New Kent County. The reason for this was that the same minister served both parishes for several years during the 1730s. We find land patents in Henrico for Giles-2 in 1724 and in 1725. In the vestry of the parish, an Act of Assembly was recorded for settling the titles and bounds of the lands and for preventing unlawful shooting and ranging thereupon. Giles-2 witnessed this document on March 1736 in Henrico. THEODORICK-2’s land was processioned the year before and the lands of his neighbors, Gerrard Ellyson, Robert and William Ferris, were also processioned at this time.
Pursuant to an Act of Assembly of this Colony, and in obedience to the order of Henrico County court, made at a Court held for ye said County, this first day of December Ano. 1735; The Vestry do order that John cock, Gerrard Ellison, and Giles Carter, with the Assistance of the neighboring free holders, do sometime before the last day of march Next coming goe in procession and renew the lands of all Lands from Bore Swamp, on Chickahominy Swamp, to the lower bounds of ye parish, thence Southerly to the place where the long bridge road parts with Bottom Bridge Road and that the said John Cocke, Gerrard Ellison and Giles Cocke [sic] [or any two of them] do take and return to their Parish Vestry an account of every person’s lands by them processioned. [Moore, History of Henrico Parish and St. John’s Church, Richmond Virginia 1611-1904, Part Two, pg. 24.]
Page 27 of the above reference gives the following list of signers of the processioning list after it was accomplished: THEODORICK CARTER-2, his land processioned, John Webb, Garrard Ellyson, John Spear, Sam Bugg, Francis Brothers, Francis Amos, John Moss, William Clarke, Robert Ferris, William Ferris, Jr. & Sr., Edward Goode, Ann Austin, John Bottom in behalf of Philamone Smith, Richard Truman, Jr., Michael Hartwell, John Roper Watkins, and Richard More. It also mentions “the lines between John Cocke and Giles Carter that is in the County.” It was dated March 31, 1736.
John Cocke and William Parsons, both agreed in the presence of Giles Carter and Thos. Jolley.” [Moore, History of Henrico Parish, pg 33] and goes on to mention the “line between John Cocke and Thomas Watkins” and the line between “Thomas Watkins and Joseph Woodson processiooned …and the line between Thomas Watkins and Thomas Watkins [Jr & Sr. or the same man?] and William Porter, Sr. And the line between Thomas Watkins, and Thomas Binford and Edward Mosby Page 34 mentions lands of Francis Rowlins not processioned in 1736 because no one would appear to do it for him. [May 3, 1736, the Vestry Book.]
He appears to have been unable to come himself for some reason. At the same meeting in which the above processionings were noted, the parish hired a new minister, the Reverend Mr. William Stith.
Tobacco prices had fluctuated due to the government control and taxing vs. the fluctuating of production. In 1730, Governor Gooch had reorganized the entire tobacco industry. It required the planter to take his tobacco to a warehouse for inspection before shipping it to England. It reduced fraud, raised the quality, standardized weight, and reduced surplus. Taxes were proportionally very high for the planters, and all taxes together took from one-third to one-half of the gross income [cash and produce] that the planter produced. Many years the planters had little left to feed and clothe their families. This also probably caused some hardship and transportation problems.
Since the planters had settled primarily along the “necks” of land in between the fingers of water that they used for transportation instead of roads, frequently ships could tie up at the private plantation docks right in the planter’s back doors, thus saving the planter having to transport the tobacco very far. By having to have it inspected in a central warehouse, however, the planter could no longer ship produce right out of his back door. This did cut down on some of the fraud, however. This was especially important since the tobacco was essentially the currency of the colony.
Giles Carter-2 moved to King George County after 1736, a few years before he died in 1745. His will is recorded there, naming sons William Carter-3, Giles Carter-3, and John Carter-3. His wife was named Mary.
The Children of Theodorick-2 and Elizabeth _?_ Carter
born before 1676-died 1736 born 1688?- died 1751
THEODORICK CARTER-3, born before 1706, married ANN WADDILL. He was mentioned first in his father’s will, and may have been the oldest son. A deed in 1730 witnessed by “Theodorick Carter, Sr., Theodorick Carter, Jr., and John Webb” also indicates his majority before 1730. [Henrico County, VA Deeds 1706-1737, pg 15.]
John Carter-3, born about 1710, mentioned in THEODORICK’s-2 will as being the child of ELIZABETH.
Ann Carter-3, married a man named Ferris. The Ferris family lived very close to the CARTERS. A man named Ferris had been one of the partners of GILES-1 in his land dealings. [Moore, History of Henrico, Part 2, pg 28.]
Susannah Carter-3, married a man named Scruggs, she was not named in THEODORICK’s will, but is named in her mother’s.
Martha Carter-3, married a man named Gathright, she was not named in THEODORICK’s will, but is named in her mother’s. It has been theorized that the above daughters were not THEODORICK’s children, but were ELIZABETH’s from a previous marriage, and that was the reason they were not mentioned in his will, but are mentioned in hers.
Mary Carter-3, was apparently the woman named Mary who married Drury Scruggs. His will mentions her and their children. It was written in 1782 in Cumberland County and named sons John Scruggs, Theodorick Scruggs, Drury Scruggs, Edward Scruggs, and Carter Scruggs. The daughters were Jane Scruggs Easley, Ann [Nancy] Scruggs Minton, and Fanny [Frances] Scruggs Anderson. Mary is mentioned for a bequest in the will of her father in 1736 as “Mary Carter” so was probably not married at the time of the will. Since she was unmarried at the time of her father’s death and he gave her the “traditional” items given to a daughter at marriage, we may “guestimate” her age as about 16 and think that her wedding was possibly in the near future at the time of her father’s death. Therefore, this author’s estimation of the birth date of Mary, based on those assumptions, is around 1618 to 1620.
An unnamed daughter-3 [Martha?] who married the John Webb, born 1693, who died 1736, and had a son named Cutbord [Cuthbert] Webb [named in ELIZABETH’s will] and sons named Giles Webb, Theodorick Webb, Henry Webb, and Jacob Webb. [There were several men named Giles Webb.] The use of the names Cutbord and Giles in the Webb family predated this connection. This daughter predeceased both parents. One of the earlier men named Giles Webb, was shown on the 1705 Quit Rent Rolls as owning 7,260 acres of land in Virginia. Her descendants state that this woman may have been named Martha. In trying to “date” the ages of the children, this daughter would have had to have married about 1724 if she was to have had time to have several children [all with Carter family names] by the time of her husband’s death, and then herself have died. Assuming that she was at least 16 when she married, this would give an approximate birth date of 1708 for this child of ELIZABETH’s with a CARTER surname. This would mean that this daughter was probably one of the older children of ELIZABETH and THEODORICK-2.
Elizabeth Carter-3, born about August 22, 1736. She may have been a posthumous child of THEODORICK’s, the record of her baptism is in New Kent. She was born near the time of her father’s death. His will was written in July before she was baptized in August. She eventually married a man named Martin. Since we know that her father had to be about age 60 when she was born, this would indicate that her mother was indeed about 12 or more years younger than her father. For ELIZABETH to be much older and still bearing children would be suspect.
THEODORICK-2 and ELIZABETH continued to reside in Henrico County until their deaths. His will is recorded in Henrico and he named some of the children. ELIZABETH’s will names the rest of them as well as some that he had named. A deed dated December 5, 1737, mentioned lands near the “mouth of Round Hill Brach” near lands of “Theodorick Carter, deceased” [Henrico County, VA Deeds 1706-1737, pg 166]
In the name of God, Amen. I Theodorick Carter of the Parish and County of Henrico being sick but of perfect memory do this twenty second day of July One thousand seven hundred thirty six [1736] make this my last will and testament, and first and principally I commit my soul to almighty God in whom and by whose Mercy and thro. The Merits of my Blessed Saviour and redeemer Jesus Christ I trust and assuredly believe to be saved, my body to the earth to be decantly buryed at the discretion of my Executx. Hereafter named, and as for disposing of my estate I give and devise the same in manner and form following. I give and devise unto my beloved wife, Elizabeth, so long as she shall live sole my plantation land and appurtenances and after her death or marriage, I give unto my son, Theodorick and his heirs forever my said plantation with two huyndred eighteen acres of land thereto belonging I give and devise untoo my son John Carter and his heirs forever one hundred and twenty acres land to be the same more or less within the following bounds, beginning at a corner Beach standing on Round Hill Branch then along a line of marked trees to a corner Hickory on Round Hill Branch thence along a line of marked trees to a corner hickory on the dividing line between John Spears and this land to a corner oak on the farther side of the road thence along the line of John Webb to a corner Tree on Chickahominy Swamp then up the same to ye place began at; my wife is not to be excluded the use of this land so long as she shall remain sole, during which time I give her my negro named Will and after that time I give him to my son Theodorick with a negro child named Dick [Note: Theodorick-2’s will mentions a negro man named Dick.] I give unto my son John and his heirs after the death or marriage of his mother my negro woman Judity and a mullato girl named Lucy with what children they may have when he has a right to the possession of them. I give unto my son John one fether bed rugg and blanket, one gun, my great chist [chest] one pot and hooks and two cows, I give unto my daughter Mary Carter one cow and calf one fether bed rugg and blankets, two ews, one pot and hooks, two pewter dishs and two plates and one poringer, I give unto my beloved wife Elizabeth all the rest of my estate of what kind soever and do make her executrix of this my last will and testament, hereby directing that my estate shall not be inventoryed or appraised. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year aforementioned.
Theodorick Carter [seal]
Witness: Thomas Watkins, John Spear, Will W. Loathan.
[Henrico Co. VA. Will & Deed Book 1677-1692, pg. 606.]
The fact that this will dictated that the estate not be inventoried or appraised deprives us of knowing exactly what he owned.
The names of the witnesses to this will were very significant in establishing the right Theodorick Carter from his cousins of the same name.
Thomas Watkins and the Watkins family were apparently very close friends with THEODORICK-2 and subsequent generations. Thomas Watkins was appointed vestryman in 1773, along with Daniel Price [Jr.]]They were both designated “Gentlemen” in the records. [Moore, History of Henrico.]
of Thomas Watkins of Chickahominy, [Note: he was the son of the Thomas Watkins who signed the will] I have heard very full accounts from my mother. He was a man of the highest respectability, in every point of view, and in particular, a man of indefatigable industry.” [Notes for the History of Henrico Parish, pg. 189].
It goes on to say that Thomas Watkins, of Chickahominy, was the eldest son of Thomas Watkins of Swift Creek , who died in 1760, leaving eight children.
The will of THEODORICK-2 was probated in Henrico the first Monday of April, 1737, and ELIZABETH was executrix. He had not named all of the daughters who were later named in ELIZABETH’s will. The last daughter, Elizabeth-3, was probably not born until either shortly before or shortly after his death. The parish records state “Elizabeth, daughter of THEODORICK and ELIZABETH CARTER, born August 22d, baptized September 26th, 1736.” The mention of John having to wait to get the slaves until the “death of his mother” would indicate that ELIZABETH was the mother of the children named, however, it does not preclude ELIZABETH having other children from a previous marriage.
THEODORICK-2 had been born at least by 1676 [as he was mentioned in James Crewes’ will that year] and died about the first of 1737, so he was at least 61 years old when he died, and maybe several years older. ELIZABETH was probably in her late forties, but was either pregnant or had just had her last child shortly before or after he died. Since ELIZABETH was still fertile, this underscores that there must have been some difference in their ages, and might mean that ELIZABETH was indeed, the Elizabeth Webb, born in 1688, the child of John Webb-i
However, John Webb-i was definitely the father of John Webb-ii, ELIZABETH’s son-in-law, so that eliminates ELIZABETH as the daughter of John-i because her brother could not have married her daughter. A more likely scenario is that John-i Webb might have been a brother to ELIZABETH.
“At a Vestry held for Henrico Parish on the twentieth day of Dec’r anno 1739” [St. John’s Vestry book] the vestry agreed to build a new church “near the spring” on Richardson’s Road. The minutes also contain a note that the undersigned have processioned their lands: it names Thomas Watkins, John Hales, John Speare, Genet Ellison, Samuel Bugg, Ann Austin, Edward Goode, John, Robert and William Ferris, John Cocke, and was certified by Thomas Watkins, Samuel Bugg, John Carter, James Powell Cocke, and James Cocke. This list is almost identical with the 1736 list of processioning, except now THEODORICK-2 is not on the list and John Carter-3 replaces his name.
THEODORICK-3 married about the time his father died, somewhere around 1736 or 1737. John Carter-3 is mentioned in the will of their father to receive several basic household articles that were not given to THEODORICK-3 who appears to be the older of the two men, and was probably already married at the time the will was written. THEODORICK-3 received almost twice as much land as John-3 did, however, again reinforcing our belief that he is the older of the two. THEODORICK-3 married a woman named ANN, who is apparently the daughter of WILLIAM WADDILL. Her birth is recorded in the parish register as “Ann Waddill, the daughter of William Waddill christened 24 January 1713” and recorded in New Kent. Since we know that THEODORICK CARTER-3 was born prior to 1706 we can see that ANN WADDILL was a few years younger than he was.