The Carson Family
From Washington County,
Virginia
To Rockcastle County, Kentucky
To Jellico, Tennessee
To Davie, Broward County, Florida
David Carson
Born: About 1741(not documented)
Died: About 1803 Washington County, Virginia. Buried in old
Moore Cemetery in Lodi, Virginia.
*****************
David Carson was born about 1741 in Ireland and died about 1803 in
Washington County, Virginia. He lived and worked as a surveyor in
and around Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia.
He was active in religious affairs, community
affairs, and the military. Click here
for more info on the position of Washington Co surveyor.
[Note: William Schrader in an article "David Carson of Washington County, Virginia" published in the Bulletin (Series II, No. 45) of the Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia reports that the records of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution indicate that David Carson was born in Ireland in 1741.] Click here for Schrader article.
About 1765, he married Elizabeth Dysart who was born about 1745. Elizabeth Dysart is thought to be the grand-daughter of one of Samuel Dysart's brothers. [Samuel Dysart is the grandfather of James Dysart, the Long Hunter]. David and Elizabeth had the following children:
1. James Carson, born 1766 in Virginia and died January 1818 in Fayette County, Kentucky. On January 23, 1789 in Rockbridge County, Virginia married Isabella Gibson, the daughter of William McFarland and Elizabeth Gibson. (Note that Isabelle used the name Gibson, not McFarland.)
2. Mary Carson born about 1772 in Botetourt County, Virginia and died December 29, 1844 in Macon, Missouri. On April 8, 1790 in Abingdon, Washington Co., Virginia Mary married William Craig.
3. Margaret Ann Carson, born about 1774 in Washington Co., Virginia on February 28, 1793 in Washington County, Virginia married
David Craig (married by
Rev. Charles Cummings).
4. William Carson, born about 1776 in Washington Co., Virginia and died
in May of 1818 in Rockcastle Co., Kentucky. On July 30, 1801 in Washington County, Virginia William Carson married
Eleanor Dysart, the daughter of James Dysart
(Colonel in Revolutionary War) and Nancy Agnes Beattie.
5. Joseph Carson, born July 2, 1777 in Abingdon Washington Co., Virginia and died March 2, 1815 in Mt Vernon, Rockcastle Co., Kentucky. On March 30, 1797 in
Abingdon, Washington Co., Virginia, Joseph Carson married
Mary A. Evans, daughter of John Evans and Ruth Rowe.
6. David Carson Jr., born August 20, 1780 in Abingdon, Washington Co., Virginia and died June 28, 1839 in Fayetteville, Lawrence Co., Indiana. On September 26, 1799 in Cedarville, Washington County, Virginia, David married
Cynthia Meek, the daughter of Samuel Meek and Elizabeth Campbell. After he divorced Cynthia Meek Carson on December 13, 1820, David Carson Jr. on March 22, 1823 married
Elizabeth Cathers, the widow of Jonathan Sellers, and moved from Rockcastle
County, Kentucky to Indiana.
7. Samuel Carson was born September 19, 1783 in Washington Co., Virginia and shortly after he married
Mary Watson, he died about 1827 in Rockcastle Co., Kentucky.
8. Elizabeth Carson was born about 1784 in Washington Co., Virginia. On September 22, 1801 in Washington Co., Virginia, she married
John Brown, Jr.
9. Charles Campbell Carson was born July 18, 1786 in Abingdon, Washington Co., Virginia and died on March 15, 1863. On February 10, 1814 in Washington Co., Virginia, he married
Elizabeth Dysart, the daughter of James Dysart
(Colonel in Revolutionary War) and Nancy Agnes Beattie.
David Carson is the earliest family member in this Carson line that we are able to identify. There is no agreement on who are his parents or from where he came. He was in area of Washington County, Virginia known as Liberty Hall near Lodi as early as 1772. At that time he was already married to Elizabeth Dysart. Click here for discussion of who are the parents of David Carson of Washington County, Washington. Click here for photos of Liberty Hall near Lodi in Washington County, Virginia.
Washington County is located in the southwestern corner of Virginia at the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley.
In 1738, two Virginia counties were formed west of the Blue Ridge Mountains: Frederick in the north and Augusta in the south. At the time that Augusta County was organized, the Governor of Virginia Colony allowed dissenters from the Church of England to establish churches in the area. As a result, beginning in 1745, many Scots-Irish moved from Pennsylvania down the Shenandoah Valley. Source: Summers “History of Southwest Virginia”
In 1753, because the Virginia Colony wanted to
expand its foothold in Augusta County (to counter the influence of the French
who controlled the upper Mississippi River area), it passed a law saying that
any Protestants living in or moving into the county would be exempt from public
or parish levies for 15 years. Source: Summers “History of Southwest
Virginia”
The start of the French-Indian War (1754-1763) stopped the surveying and selling
of land in Augusta County and forced many settlers to move out of the area.
Source: Summers “History of Southwest Virginia”
The English and the French signed a peace treaty in 1762. However, the Indians
continued to fight in Southwestern Virginia for another year. The small number
of settlers (Col. William Preston, James Davis) that remained in the area were
confined to their forts. During this period, a number of white hunters visited
the area (Elisha Wallen, Scaggs, Daniel Boone, and Nathaniel Gist). Source:
Summers “History of Southwest Virginia”
In 1765, Fort Edmiston was built in the Liberty Hall (near Lodi) neighborhood of
Washington County, Virginia. William Edmiston (Edmondson) received a 1763 land
patent from Charles II because he was an officer in the French and Indian war.
His neighbors in the Liberty Hall ( near Lodi) neighborhood were the Buchanans and the
Moores. Source: Summers “History of Southwest Virginia”
In 1768, under the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, the Six Nations ceded all of the land
to King George. This resulted in large numbers of settlers moving into Augusta
County in the winter of 1768 and early 1769. Source: Summers “History of
Southwest Virginia”
Two sources confirm that David Carson was in Washington County, Virginia as early as 1772.
Article by Virginia Governor David Campbell
Land Records for David Carson
In April of 1773, David Carson was one of the Washington County, Virginia Presbyterians who signed the letter asking the Rev. Charles Cummings to serve as their minister.
In addition to being active in local religious affairs, David Carson was involved in local government. He is also listed in the Washington County, Virginia tax records.
David Carson also fought the Indians and the British during the Revolutionary War.
***
Abstracts of Washington County VA Will Book No 2, 1791 – 1812
(Part I:1791-1801) by Jack Hockett, 2002.
Pages 424-425. On Dec 20, 1803, the inventory and appraisement of the personal
estate of David Carson was submitted to the county court. David
Craig,
administrator. Appraisers: Wm Snodgrass, Jos Snodgrass, John Edmondson, and
William Moore.
Bk 2:424-425 1803 December 3, 1803 included:
Horse and saddle
Surveying instruments
Furniture
Books
Farm tools
Pots & pans
Accounts payable from Joseph Meek and Jas Harris.
DB3:225 Settlement of the estate of David Carson. (approved by William
Snodgrass, James Orr, James Snodgrass) Selected items:
Income of 473 39:
Sale of estate items: 190 39
Debt due from Meek for sale of land 250
Rent from land in Washington Co 33
An additional 316 66 was due from Harris, but Harris was supposed to be
insolvent, out of state, and residence unknown.
Some of the persons paid:
Andrew Buchanan
Major James Snodgrass
Joseph Meek
David Carson, son to Samuel
William King
John Evans
Mathew Buchanan
Samuel Edmiston on Russell - Carson note
Land tax in lower District
Samuel Carson
Charles C Carson
Clerk of Botetount for a ticket
Samuel Meek
Edward Campbell
D. Campbell for Matthew Buchanan
David Carson, one of the heirs
David Craig, administrator
***
Both David Carson and his wife Elizabeth are buried in old Moore Cemetery in Lodi, Washington Co., Virginia. (The grave stones in this cemetery are badly eroded. However, a Dec 25, 1932 article by Charles Hamilton Carson, a descendant, says that David and Elizabeth are buried there. Also, Juanita Witt of Mount Vernon, Kentucky, a descendant and the president of Rockcastle County, Kentucky Historical Society, reports this is the burial place.)
Location of the Moore Cemetery in Lodi
Standing on Chestnut Ridge looking south
Moore Cemetery looking southeast
Eroded Tombstones
Standing on Chestnut Ridge looking west
***
Two sons of David Carson (William and David, Jr) and
James Dysart first appear on the Lincoln County, Kentucky tax list in 1803 (in the area that would later be Rockcastle County).
In 1804 William, Joseph, and
David Jr, are listed on the Lincoln County, Kentucky tax list (in the area that would later be Rockcastle County).
***
A great, great, great grandson of Joseph Carson (born July 02, 1777 in Washington Co., VA) and
Mary A. Evans participated in a Y-DNA
study.
The test results were an exact 12 Marker Y-DNA match to another test subject, who is the great, great, great, great, great grandson of
David Carson, Jr. (born Aug 20, 1780 in Washington Co., Virginia) and
Cynthia Meek.
***
Settlement between David Craig and other heirs of David Carson
Dated June 19, 1809 in Lincoln County, Kentucky
Dated July 3, 1809 in Knox County, Kentucky,
Dated August 16, 1809 in Washington County, Virginia
Recorded in Washington County, Virginia Deed Book 4, page 201.
Participants:
David Craig of Washington Co, Virginia
and
William Craig and wife Mary of Knox County, Kentucky
William Carson and wife Eleanor of Lincoln County, Kentucky
Joseph Carson and wife Mary of Lincoln County, Kentucky
David Carson and wife Cynthia of Lincoln County, Kentucky
Samuel Carson of Lincoln County, Kentucky
Charles C Carson of Lincoln County, Kentucky
Consideration:
From David Craig, $1500
From other heirs, interest in land in Washington County, Virginia on a branch of
the Middle Fork of the Holstein River. Same land as was granted to David
Carson,
deceased, by patent dated June 20, 1785. Bounded by: Collin Creely’s land,
Thomas Montgomery’s line, Samuel Buchanan’s patent line, Robert Buchanan’s
land, except for the 53 acres sold by David Carson to William Moore on March 20,
1792.
Question: What about James Carson and Elizabeth Carson?
***
Notes from Dec 25, 1932 article by Charles Hamilton Carson.
David Carson:
* in 1778 laid out the bounds of the Washington Co prison.
* was a surveyor (1781 became a Washington Co deputy surveyor under Robert
Preston).
* was a Presbyterian (on June 2, 1773 one of the persons to call Parson
Cummings).
* fought in Indian battles (Aug 1, 1776 under Colonel
William Christian fought Cherokee).
* in Captain Edmondson's company under Colonel Campbell at Battle of King's
Mountain.
***
David Carson is in the Gordon Aronhime Papers -- Southwest Virginia Card File -- which lists all verifiable adult males in the Holston-Clinch River area in the last quarter of the eighteenth century.
Source: The Library of Virginia - Digital Collection
Card 1
Card 2
Card 3
Card 4
***
Descendants of Surveyor David Carson
***
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