Do we have evidence that the Thomas Carter of Great Barford is identical with the one of Virginia?

Question

We have come a long way in improving the profiles for the Carters of Great Barford and Kempston in England (thank you Eric), but what connects the English Carters with Capt. Thomas Carter of Virginia?

Even Miller, who studied the Carters extensively, was unable to prove Capt. Thomas Carter's parentage (Miller, p 2).

This is a difficult family, and we'll probably be researching them for many years to come.  I am just concerned that we might be making some assumptions which are not yet proved.  Thank you in advance!

Comments

Maybe at some point you could use the WikiTree Relationship Finder to find the connection.

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Hi Frank,

Thanks for taking the time to respond.  The thing is, the Relationship Finder is only as accurate as the data we put into it.  Don't they say, "Garbage in - garbage out"?

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As a matter of fact yes.

Answer 1

I have just returned from a trip to Bedfordshire and with the help of the Family Genealogy Society there, two proposed fathers of Thomas Carter of Lancaster, Virginia can be eliminated with a 1682 Bedfordshire will of Thomas Carter [b. 1632], son of William and Anne Emmery Carter, and the 1661 London will of Ancell Carter, who did not have a son named Thomas.  This leaves as a possibility Thomas the younger son of Thomas the older of Kempston in his 1647 Bedfordshire will.  He is identified as an apprentice in London in the 1634 Visitation of Bedfordshire, and seems to have disappeared from Bedfordshire.  Finding him in London is difficult, but I may have a possibility.   I can produce documents for these facts if someone will direct me.  I am new to WikiTree and just learning how to use it.

Robert Lumsden, Annapolis Maryland, rdlumsden@msn.com

Comments

Hi Robert,

Great to hear from you again.  Welcome to WikiTree!

Thank you for your answer - great info!  Please confirm, that the immigrant to Lancaster Co. was apparently this Thomas Carter, son of Thomas Carter and Jane Bellay?

I will be happy to help you add anything you like to the profile(s). Documents are most welcome!  (When we can all see the same primary documents, then we're all "on the same page," so to speak)

Right now, I am out of town for the rest of this week, but will do whatever I can from here (with limited internet). I will begin by sending you a private message from my profile page, Cynthia B.  That way you will be sure to have my email address. 

(By the way, you will want to edit your comment to remove your email, please - too potentially troublesome to post it here, which is open to the public)

Looking forward to seeing what you found in your travels.  Thank you!  and again, welcome!  You will be a great addition to our team.

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Hello Cynthia,

I have good evidence for who was not the father of Thomas Carter of Lancaster County, Virginia.  The genealogist at the Bedfordshire Family History Society has helped us locate a will that proves that William Carter oldest but deceased son of Thomas Carter of Kempston and Jane Bellay was not his father.  Also, she has helped us locate the will of Anscell Carter of London that also proves that Anscell, the brother of Thomas Carter of Kempston was not the father of Thomas of Virginia.  We have yet to prove or disprove that Thomas Carter the younger son of Thomas of Kempston and administrator of his will [identified as an apprentice in London in 1634] was the father.  She has shown us good evidence however that this Thomas died in Bedfordshire about 1659 but without a will that can be located at least.

I can provide the above documentation for the above if you can get back to me at your convenience. Robert Lumsden