The Carson Family
From
Washington County, Virginia
To Rockcastle County, Kentucky
To Jellico, Tennessee
To Davie, Broward County, Florida
Deputy Surveyor
David Carson was a Deputy Surveyor for Washington County, Virginia.
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The position of County Surveyor was the most lucrative position in county government and was much sought after. In 1777, the Preston family (who had represented the interest of the Col James Patton and the Loyal Land Company) and the Campbell family had a multi-year disagreement (including a duel) over the appointment of
Robert Preston as the Washington County Surveyor. (Note: Francis Preston married Sarah B. Campbell, the daughter of Col William Campbell.)
Source: Page 266 Summers “History of Southwest Virginia”
***
In April of 1777, the County Court employed John Coulter to lay off a part of the streets and alleys of the proposed town of Abingdon (Wolf Hills). In August of 1777, the County Court let a contract to Samuel Evans to build a courthouse and to Abraham Goodpasture to build a prison building.
Source: Page 269 Summers “History of Southwest Virginia”
In
1779, because Samuel Evans had not completed the building of the courthouse,
Abraham Goodpasture was paid to complete the work. Once the prison building
constructed by Abraham Goodpasture was (almost) completed, David Carson and Joseph Black
were ordered to lay off the prison bounds - five to ten acres.
Source: Page 290 and Page 623 Summers “History of Southwest Virginia”
Also see "Annals of Southwest Virginia" by Lewis Preston Summers, Page 1032 for May 20, 1779, Minutes of Washington County Court, Present: William Campbell, Daniel Smith, James Dysart, & John Kinkead.
June 17, 1779, Minutes of Washington County Court, Present: William Campbell, William Edmondson,
James Dysart, & Robert Craig.
David Carson was paid six pounds for laying off the prison bounds.
Source: "Annals of Southwest Virginia" by Lewis Preston Summers, Pages 1037 and
1274
***
In 1781 a number of men qualified to be deputies to Robert Preston, the
Washington County Surveyor, including: David
Carson, Walter Preston, and Charles
Campbell.
Source: Page 370 Summers “History of Southwest Virginia”
March 20, 1781, Washington County, Virginia
Court, Present: William Edmondson, James Dysart, James Fulkison, Alex.
Montgomery, and Alex. Burnett.
*Ordered that Robert Edmondson, Alex. McNutt, David Carson, and Samuel Buchanan
or any three of them appraise the estate of John Henderson.
*David Carson appointed Deputy Surveyor “if duly qualified after examination
of Arthur Campbell and Ephraim Dunlap.”
Source: "Annals of Southwest Virginia" by Lewis Preston Summers, Page
1072
***
May 15, 1781, Washington County, Virginia Court,
Present: James Dysart, Robert Craig, Benjamin Estill, and James Fulkison.
*David Carson took over for William Edmiston, deceased, as administrator of
Robert Reaugh Will.
*The Report of Arthur Campbell and Ephraim Dunlop for the Examination of David
Carson exhibited in Court and ordered to be recorded.
Source: "Annals of Southwest Virginia" by Lewis Preston Summers, Pages
1078-1079
***
In 1781, Virginia offered to cede its western
lands to the US government for the creation of new states. North Carolina
proposed to do the same. Some of the residents of the Virginia southwest
counties did not believe they were getting full value for the taxes paid to the
Commonwealth. Col Arthur Campbell led a movement calling for the residents to
not pay their taxes in 1782, 1783, and 1784. Because he would not collect taxes
in these years, Col James Dysart (an ally of Col Arthur Campbell) was denied the
office of sheriff. Col Arthur Campbell also proposed the southwestern Virginia Counties
joining with some of the new counties on North Carolina land to create a new
state to be called Frankland. Other Campbell supporters were Rev. Charles
Cummings, Robert Buchanan, and Captain Robert Craig. On the other side were
James Montgomery, William Edmiston, and Samuel Edmiston. The Virginia government
countered the Campbell movement by removing the current officials of Washington
County. A number of Washington County residents objected to the removal: James
Craig, Charles
Cummings, Thomas Cummings, John Campbell, Robert Campbell, Samuel Houston,
John Preston, James Cummings, James Moore, Gilbert Watson, Robert Craig, John
Cummings, David Watson, and William
Craig. Gov Patrick Henry said that Virginia could not afford to lose the
southwestern counties and reinstated the Washington County officials. The matter
seemed to die down. In the 1787 election Washington County elected Col Arthur
Campbell and Robert Craig to the Virginia Legislature.
Source: Page 391 Summers “History of Southwest Virginia”
In 1788, Virginia ratified the Federal constitution in spite of opposition from Patrick Henry and
Washington County delegates: Samuel Edmiston and James Montgomery. (Col Arthur Campbell and his followers supported it.)
Source: Page 424 Summers “History of Southwest Virginia”
***
November 20, 1781, Washington County, Virginia Court, Present: Arthur Campbell,
James Dysart, John Kinkead, Robert Craig, James Fulkinson, and Joseph Black.
* Ordered that William Kennedy and David Carson be appointed to lay off a road from the Courthouse to the Waggon Road.
* David Carson, John Campbell, and David Campbell witnessed a deed from Arthur Campbell and Margaret his wife.
Source: "Annals of Southwest Virginia" by Lewis Preston Summers, Page 1089
Records
of Washington County, Virginia abstracted by Ms. Shelby I. Edwards. 1983
Washington County, VA Deed Book 1
Page 6. Nov 16, 1781 Arthur Campbell to Billingsley Roberts. Test: David
Carson,
John Campbell, David Campbell.
***
February 20, 1782, Washington County, Virginia Court, Present:
James Dysart, John Kinkead, Robert Craig, Aaron Lewis, and Robert Campbell.
Ephraim Dunlop and David Carson examined and then certified Aaron Lewis as a Surveyor.
Source: "Annals of Southwest Virginia" by Lewis Preston Summers, Page 1094
***
Washington
CountyVA Survey Book 1 by Shelby Ireson Edwards shows surveys in 1782 - 1784 by
David Carson, DS and Robt Preston, SWC on page 138 for Thomas Edmondson; on page
162 for: Adam Keer, Josh Snicler and Robert Campbell, and Jacob Campbell; on
page 167 for: Joseph and Hugh Cole, John Keys, and John Ewing; on pages 168,
169, and 170 for: Thomas Woolsey, Thomas Johnston, Col Charles Lynch and Robt
Sanders, Archibald Scott, and James Campbell; on pages 203 – 205 for: Thomas
Montgomery, and Samuel Edmondson; on page 244 for Isaac Roman; on pages 247 –
248 for: Charles Bowen, and Oliver Alexander; and on pages 253, 254, 260 - 265
for John Ickis, John Scott, John Campbell, James Trimble, Michael Montgomery,
Samuel Henry, John Campbell, Alexander McNutt, Arthur Campbell, Henry Bowen. (DS
is Deputy Surveyor and SWC is Surveyor for Washington County).
***
Holston
Pastfinder Vol 18 No 1, Holston Territory Genealogy Society page 68-14
Washington Co VA Survey Book 1 by Shelby Ireson Edwards page 287
Aug 18, 1785. Survey for Andrew Henderson, heir at law for John Henderson,
assignee of Joseph Russell. 160 acres lying on south side of Middle Fork of
Holston River, beginning Samuel Buchanan’s patent land, corner to David
Carson, corner to Thomas Montgomery. David Carson DC and Robert
Preston, SWC.
***
Brief of Deeds Washington County Record of Deeds No 1
Page 26 November 6, 1785 Samuel Edmiston and David Carson, attorney for Samuel Buchanan, late of County of Washington, to Wm Long 259 acres on the Middle Fork of the Holston River for 250 pounds.
Source: "Annals of Southwest Virginia" by Lewis Preston Summers, Page 1276
***
Brief of Deeds Washington County Record of Deeds No 1
Page 92 Robert Preston, Jas Kincannon, Robert Allison, Thos Stewart, and
David Carson. Partition of the lands of Robert _______, deceased, between Hugh Johnson and Margaret Buchanan.
Source: "Annals of Southwest Virginia" by Lewis Preston Summers, Page 1282
***
Brief of Deeds Washington County Record of Deeds No 1
Page 334 Power of Attorney Charles Bowen of Pendleton County South Carolina to his brother Arthur Bowen Witnesses: Andrew Russell,
David Carson, Robert Campbell.
Source: "Annals of Southwest Virginia" by Lewis Preston Summers, Page 1301
***
Brief of Deeds Washington County Record of Deeds No 1
Page 349, September 3, 1793, Power of Attorney, James Boles of Knox County, Territory South of the Ohio, to
David Carson. Witnesses: Wm Carson, Wm Hutchison.
Page 350, August 19, 1794, David Carson, attorney in fact for James Boles of Knox County, Territory South of the Ohio, to James Snodgrass, for 105 pounds 207 acres on the north side of the Middle Fork of the Holston River.
Page 351, August 19, 1794, David Carson, attorney in fact for James Boles to Archibald McCullough, 220 acres more or less on the north side of the Middle Fork of the Holston River.
Page 352, August 19, 1794, David Carson, attorney in fact for James Boles to Archibald McGinnis, for 40 pounds 130 acres on the north side of the Middle Fork of the Holston River.
Source: "Annals of Southwest Virginia" by Lewis Preston Summers, Page 1303
***
Washington County Deed Book 1 abstracted by Ms.
Shelby I. Edwards.
Page 403. On March 24, 1795, a deed for James Kincannon was witnessed by: James
Dysart, Daniel Perkins, and David Carson.
***
On March 21, 1797 James Catchim for 10 pounds
sold to Samuel Carson 6 acres on the South Side South Fork of Holston River.
Witnesses: D. Craig, David Carson, Samuel Fulton, James Edmondson.
Source: “Annals of Southwest Virginia” by Summers page 1320
Question: Is this the Samuel Carson of
Washington County, Virginia who was the father of David, born April 15, 1774 who
on January 29, 1804 married Mary DeBusk; and Samuel, born about 1777 who
about 1805 married Katherine Margaret DeBusk? (Mary and Katherine
Margaret were the daughters of Elijah DeBusk and Catherine Rouse.)
***
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