Thomas Carter (abt. 1590 - bef. 1652)

Born about 1590 in England

Descendants

Died before 25 Jun 1652 before about age 62 in Charlestown, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Thomas Carter migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 58) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Thomas Carter, Blacksmith, of Charlestown, Massachsetts

Caution, Several Thomas Carters

As Robert Charles Anderson points out, there were three early Thomas Carters at the same time in Massachusetts, each with a wife named Mary.^[1] This Thomas Carter (profiled here) was somewhat older than most of the Thomas Carters in the area, but a word of caution is still in order. He, too, had a wife named Mary.

• Thomas Carter, born c. 1610, eldest son of this this profile, Thomas Carter, the blacksmith of Charlestown
• Thomas Carter of the Planter arrived at Salisbury and Ipswich, freeman 9 Mar 1638 at Ipswich, d 1676.
• Thomas Carter, Reverend, Puritan and first minister of Woburn, also Watertown and Dedham.

Origin

Thomas' origin is assumed to have been England, but the exact place is unknown. His parents are also unknown.

Thomas' birth date is said to be 8 May 1566,^[2] at Branscombe, Devonshire, England. However the evidence for this is unclear. He was certainly born by 1586, which is 18 years before the estimated birth date of his oldest child in 1604-7,^[3] though many believe this seems too early. Norris Taylor places his birth at about 1580^[4] and because his children were marrying in the 1640s, Anderson places his birth by 1590.^[1]

Because his parents are unknown, the profile for James Carter has been disconnected as his father. Branscombe, Devonshire, England was previously reported as his birth place, but evidence is lacking.

Immigration

Thomas immigrated c. 1635^[2] or 1636 and settled at Charlestown, Massachusetts.^[1] However, he was certainly not the Thomas Carter aged 35, servant to George Giddings, who enrolled at London on 2 April 1635 as a passenger aboard the Planter.^[1] The Thomas Carter profiled here had children who were marrying in the 1640s, so he was too old to have been the passenger aboard the Planter.

This Thomas Carter was admitted to the Charlestown church on 8 January 1636/7 and was very likely made Freeman on 9 March 1636/7.^[1]

Marriage: Wife's Maiden Name Unknown

Thomas probably married before 1607 and certainly before about 1615^[1] in England, to Mary Unknown.^[5] She was admitted to the church 4 (9) 1643.^[6]

Positions and Property

Thomas was a blacksmith and a surveyor.^{[7] [4]}

Last Will and Testament

Thomas Carter's will was dated May 5, 1650. Inventory was taken June 25, 1652. (no date of probate given)

The last will and Testament of Thomas Cartar of Charlestown made the fifth day of the third month A thousand six hundred and fifty

I Thomas Cartar weak in body but whole in my understanding and memory do make here my last will and testament in menner and forme following imprimis I comitt ... my soule unto God ... I comitt my Body to be decently buried And for my outward estate I due dispose of it to be disposed of as followeth.

I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Carter my now dwelling house with the garden ground the Barne, and the five acres of Land which lies in the feild behind and above my house, with all my househould stuffe; alsoe two Cowes and three Cows Commons and a quarter alsoe halfe the Evry of all my ground and she to have all this as long as she lives; she each year fynding and allowing halfe the ear corn for all the ground.

I give and bequeath unto my eldest son Thomas Cartar after my wives decease my now dwelling hous garden and barne with the five Akers I bought of my son Samuell, and the three cows commons and a quarter And a Cow hay Lott lying without the Noll (by Ralph Mousalls Land) wch was given me in the divident, Also the Dwelling hous that Thomas Cartar my son now dwells in; Only out of this house I will and bequeath to my son Samuell Cartar to bee payd him by my son Thomas Cartar ten pounds Also I give and bequeath unto my two sons Samuell and Joseph the twoo Akers of ground that lies on mistick Syde ... to be equally divided amonst them, and to be theirs wthin a month after my decease. I also give unto my son Samuell Cartar after my wives decease on of my hay Lotts without the Neck, wch I bought of goodman Potter.

I also give and bequeath after my wives decease unto my son Joseph Cartar three Akers of Land lying at moltons poynt bought of Mikel Bastoe Also a hay Lott bought of mr Lyn without the necke, alsoe one cows Coman.

I bequeath and give after my wives decease unto my son John Cartar A cow and three heifers.

I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Brinsmead, and unto my daughter Hanna Gre-- [Green] four akers of land lying nere in Bunkers within the Neck and my will is that to this foure Akers there shall be added as much out of my houshould goods as shall make them up to be worth twenty pounds but this to be theirs after my wives decease.

I alsoe give an dbequeath after my wives decease, unto my beloved grand-children Caleb Cartar, Joseph Cartar, John Green, and John Brinsmead, A hous and the Ground belonging to it wch is about an Aker, wch Land and the ould hous I bought of goodman Robinson, and a new hous to be sett upon the garden platt where the ould house stands which I give amongst the four children aforenamed to be theirs forever.

witneses the marke of William Dad Thomas Cartar. John Green John Fuller.

Alsoe for the scotchman my will is that he shal be sould to mr Russel upon resonable agreement and upon his good demeanor I do give him three quarters of a year of the time he is to serve.

And I ordain my eldest son to be my executor of this my Last Will and Testament

A true record

Attest W.E. Rogers Register.

(Middlesex Probate, 28:20)

[The original will is still extant but is partly illegible, so a copy was also used] (Holman)^[8][6]

Death and Legacy

Thomas died in 1652 at Charlestown, Massachusetts.^[3] We do not have an exact date of death. His will was dated May 5, 1650, and inventory was taken on June 25, 1652. His wife, Mary, died March 6, 1664/5.^[6]

Children

Children of Thomas and Mary Carter:^[6][9]

1. Thomas Carter, b c. 1607, d 30 Dec 1694; m Elizabeth Unknown (poss. Jefts or Story)
2. Joseph Carter, b c. 1612, d 31 Jan 1676; m Susanna Chamberlain (Woburn)
3. John Carter (Capt.), b c. 1618, d 14 Sep 1692; m Elizabeth Unknown
4. Samuel Carter, b c. 1616 England, d 29 Aug 1681; m Winifred Harwood
5. Mary Carter, b c. 1619; m John Brinsmade/Brimsmead
6. Hannah Carter, b c. 1620 England (adm to church 2 (7) 1639), d c. 1658; m 1) William Greene, 2) Thomas Brown

Research Notes

Thomas' wife is sometimes reported as Mary Dalton. The source for this information appears to be user-contributed data bases and web sites such as Find a Grave. Primary evidence is lacking.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Anderson, Robert Charles, (1995) "Thomas Carter [of Salisbury and Ipswich]," Featured profile." Great Migration 1634-1635, C-F. AmericanAncestors.org NEHGS (Volume II, C-F, Pages 27-30, citing p 30).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Carter, Bob, [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bcarter/CarterHtml/0000/0000052.html#I4519 Thomas Carter, accessed December 2, 2014
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Taylor, Norris, Thomas and Mary (_) Carter Blacksmith, of Charlestown, Mass 1998
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Miller, Hugh Darrell, compiler, (1985) "Genealogy: Ethel Peters Miller/Hugh Darrell Miller" Manuscript, copy in possession of author
5. ↑ Williams, Alicia Crane, (2013) Early New England Families, 1641-1700. AmericanAncestors.org NEHGS (John Carter (m. 1642) Vol 1, Pages 1-5).
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} Wyman, Thomas Bellows, and Henry Herbert Edes, 1879 The Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown: in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1629-1818', Volume 1.' Boston: D. Clapp, , Archive.org accessed 6 April 2016, (Volume 1, Pages 186, 187).
7. ↑ Carter, Howard Williston, (1909) Carter, a Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas Carter of Reading and Weston, Mass., ... Palmer, MA: H.W. Carter, C. B. Fiske & Co., Archive.org (Pages 9-10).
8. ↑ Carter, Bob, [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bcarter/gendex/g0000214.html#I1754 Will of Thomas Carter, accessed December 2, 2014
9. ↑ Carter, Bob, Thomas Carter.

See also:

• Taylor, Noris, (1998) [http://ntgen.tripod.com/bw/crtr_notes.html#resources

Research Sources, Notes and Questions, Thomas Carter, Blacksmith].