William Carter
Born: 9 Jul 1760, Prince Edward County, VA
D 1810, Falifax County, NC
Father: Theodorick Carter Jr.
Mother: Unknown
Married: Unknown
Our child - Joseph Carter

From Joyce Hetricks book

William Carter-4

Giles Carter-1; Theodorick-2; Theodorick-3; William-4; Joseph-5; Elizabeth-6

WILLIAM CARTER-4 was born and grew up in Prince Edward County, Virginia. We aren’t sure of the date of his marriage, but it was at least before 1760, since his first son, William Carter, Jr.-5, was born July 9, 1760 [per William-5’s Revolutionary pension]. By the time of THEODORICK-3’s death, WILLIAM-4 had apparently moved and settled in Halifax County, North Carolina.

In trying to decide just which “William “ was ours, several things had to be taken into consideration. The family was very particular about continuing the “heirloom ” names that were passed from generation to generation. The Christian name “Francis” for males seems to date from the friendship/kinship? of THEODORICK-3 and Francis Watkins. Two of THEODORICK-3’s sons named their sons Francis. That heirloom name seems to be found only in our line of Carters. While family heirloom names are not always “evidence,” in many cases, it can be almost a preponderance of evidence it itself. Fortunately, for us, this is one of those cases where it carries great weight. Fortunately, also, it is not the only evidence.

The Revolutionary pension record and family Bible record of William Carter, Jr.-5, the brother of our JOSEPH-5, shows that he was born July 9, 1760 in Halifax County, North Carolina, and lived there until 1802, when he moved to Warren County, North Carolina. In March of 1804, he moved to Smith County, Tennessee. This information solidifies our connection to the WILLIAM-4 whose will we have. William-5 also says in his pension that his brother, Francis-5, saw his discharge papers in his father’s trunk a few years before their father’s death in 1810, but thought they were of little value and destroyed them. Francis Carter-5 was executor of the estate of the father, WILLIAM CARTER. [Revolutionary Pension of William Carter.]

Theda Womack did the initial research on the CARTERS. She found WILLIAM-4’s will and it mentioned his children and wife, DEANITA. We assume that DEANITA is the mother of the children, but we have no proof that she is.

Children of William Carter-4

  1. William Carter, Jr.-5, was born July 9, 1760. He was apparently the oldest son. William, Jr., was a Revolutionary veteran and received a pension which contains quite a bit of information about the family and is helpful to researchers. He married his wife, Martha, January 11, 1778. He died about 1840 in Smith County, Tennessee. [Revolutionary pension and Bible records.]

  1. JOSEPH CARTER-5, was born May 7, 1766, probably in Halifax, North Carolina. He died June 14, 1839, in Sumner County, Tennessee. He and several of his siblings moved over to Caswell County, North Carolina, prior to 1790. There he married ANN MALLORY that year in a double ceremony with Stephen Mallory and Stephen’s bride on December 19, 1790. ANN, who was born July 15, 1761, appears to be the sister of Stephen Mallory and the daughter of JOHN MALLORY, Sr., of Caswell County. We are not sure of her birthplace, possibly North Carolina, and possibly Virginia. It is interesting to note, however, that ANN was not only five years older than JOSEPH, but was age 29 when they married. This was quite old, even “elderly,” for a woman to marry in that era. Especially a woman of some family substance. [Will of Joseph Carter, Sumner County, TN; marriage records Caswell Co., NC.]

  1. Theodorick Carter-5, born about 1773, also moved to Caswell County and married Dianah Mallory, another daughter of JOHN MALLORY on April 16, 1793. He died about 1835. [Marriage Records Caswell Co., NC.]

  1. Francis Carter-5, was born about 1770 and married Sally Newel on May 2, 1800, in Warren County, North Carolina. He died after 1810. His name is the heirloom name that helps trace the family. He had a son named William Carter-6.

  1. Mary Carter-5, born sometimes after 1760, married John Sawyer in 1799 in Caswell County, North Carolina, and died after 1810. [Will of William Carter, Halifax Co., NC.]

  1. Lucy Carter-5, married a man named Pike and died after 1810. [Will of William Carter, Halifax Co., NC.]

  1. Nancy Carter-5, married a man named Boston, died after 1810.

[Will of William Carter, Halifax Co., NC.]

  1. Martha Carter-5, married John Baker, died after 1810. [Will of William Carter, Halifax Co., NC.]

This list of WILLIAM-4’s children was taken from his will. Several grandchildren were also listed for bequests and that may indicate that there were some deceased children not mentioned in the will, but whose children were listed for bequests.

By 1775, Virginia had about 550,000 people in 61 counties. Patrick Henry’s “give me liberty or give me death” speech had fired up the rebels. The Revolutionary Government was evolving. Lord Dunamore had infuriated the people by taking the gunpowder out of the public storage, and therefore getting it out of the people’s hands. Patrick Henry married Dorthea Dandridge, the daughter of the spendthrift, Nathaniel West Dandridge. Dorthea and he inherited considerable land and slaves from her father. Many of the men who so ardently fought for “liberty” themselves held slaves, and apparently saw no conflict of interest in their opinions.

Apparently the CARTER family’s sympathies were with the rebels during the Revolution, true to the feelings of the 100-years-dead James Crewes and GILES CARTER-1. William Carter, Jr., was a Revolutionary soldier.

WILLIAM CARTER-4, continued to reside in Halifax County, North Carolina, until his death in 1810. His will is of record there in Book 3, page 500, #768, dated March 17, 1810, and probated May Court 1810. JOSEPH had been gone from Halifax at least 20 years when his father died.

The will abstract of William Carter-4

Lend wife, Deanita Carter negroes, etc. For her widowhood or life and at her decease to go to: William Carter, Theoderick Carter, Joseph Carter, and Francis Carter. Lend wife land whereon Francis Coley now lives Joining William Pike and Wood J. Hamlin containing 50 acres. Daughter Mary Sawyer negroes, and at her death the said negroes to go to her children [names not given] Daughters Martha Baker, Nancy Boston, and Lucy Pike negroes to each. Son Francis Carter land whereon he now lives which was bought of Mark Rickman and Nathan Rickman. Grandson William Carter son of Francis, Granddaughter Louisa Jones Carter, and Thornton Mallard son of John Mallard dec’d one colt. Witness Wood J. Hamlin, Jesse Carter, Benjamin Carter [all made marks] exects. Francis Carter and Wood Jones Hamlin.

A man named Jesse Carter was another resident of Caswell County, North Carolina, whose name is frequently seen on deeds and wills. No connection has been made between this man and our WILLIAM-4. He is most likely not the same man as the above-mentioned Jesse, who signed WILLIAM’s will as a witness.

The mention of “Thornton Mallard, son of John Mallard” receiving a colt raises the question…”is the name “Mallard” a misspelling of the name “Mallory?” Who were Thornton Mallard and John Mallard? This might be an area for more research.

“Granddaughter Louisa Jones Carter,” and “Wood Jones Hamlin” both being mentioned in WILLIAM’s will would indicate some form of kinship.