Carter Ancestral Line - Part 3

Theodrick (Theodore) Carter – Tom’s 3^rd Great-grandfather

Theodrick Carter was born in 1791 in Powhattan County, Virginia. It appears that shortly after his birth the family moved to Prince Edward County as that is where his younger siblings were born.  Theodrick served with his brother in the War of 1812 from December 1813 to April 1814.  Both later received bounty land and pensions – and those files contain information about residences and spouses of each man.  It does not appear that the militia saw any action during their term of service.

A few years after the war, Theodrick married Martha Jane Baldwin.  The indexed records show this marriage as 4 May 1820.  In his pension file Theodore states that it was April 1822.  Regardless, they had two sons before Martha died.  In 1835 Theodrick married Elizabeth Baker, who apparently died shortly after.  Then in July 1838 he married Julie Ann Morgan.  They were married by a Presbyterian minister and went on to have three children.

The closest thing to a landmark where Theodrick lived was the community of Pamplin Depot.  This land straddled the line between Prince Edward and Appomattox counties – you could live in one county and the post office would be in the other.  In 1850 Theodrick was on the census in Appomattox County.  In 1860 and 1870 his residence was shown as Prince Edward County but the other schedules indicate property in Appomattox County.  Land records will be needed to determine exactly where the family lived.  Theodrick did receive some bounty land from his service in the War of 1812.  He sold the first patent and likely sold the second one also.

1879 Map

As noted above,Theodrick (58) is a farmer living in Appomattox County in 1850.  He is living with his wife Julia (40), his son from his first marriage, Samuel (23), and three younger children – Elizabeth (10), Theodrick (2) and Mary L (8/12).  There is also a man named William Overton (71) in the household whose occupation is teacher.  Real estate is valued at $2000.  The slave schedule enumerates 20 people as slaves, ranging in age from 76 to 2 years old.

In 1860 the family is listed in Prince Edward County with a post office at Pamplin’s Depot. The household consists of Theodrick (70), Julia (50), Theodrick (13) and Mary (11).  Oldest daughter Elizabeth (Bettie) had married and was living nearby with her husband and 2 small children – of course, the son was named Theodrick.  By this time the oldest boys Samuel and William had settled in Fayette County.  Theodrick’s real estate was valued at $8,000 and his personal property at $14,000.  The slave schedule enumerated 7 people as slaves, ranging in age from 45 to 9.  It is possible that some of his slaves had been given to the children as they started their own families.

The next decade would have been a time of stress for the family.  The Civil War produced many hardships with supply shortages, disease and family split by the war.  Many of the battles of the Civil War were fought in Virginia and near the end of the war the campaigns moved west to Prince Edward and Appomattox Counties.  There were likely skirmishes near the railroad that ran through Pamplin City and Robert E Lee’s last battle and surrender took place less than 30 miles away at the Appomattox Court House.

In 1870 Theodrick (79) and Julia (60) were living in Buffalo Township, Prince Edward County along with daughter Bettie and three children.  The value of their real estate was now only $400.  Theodrick died at home on 29 June 1873.  By 1880 Julia was living with her daughter Mary, her husband and 5 children.  She died in 1898.

Povall Carter – Tom’s 4^th Great-grandfather

The name Theodrick is a common name for several generations of Carter’s and can indicate relationships between different branches that are still being sorted out.  However, Povall appears to have his grandmother’s maiden name.

Povall Carter reported that he “was born in the year 1762 in that part of Cumberland Cty afterwards taken off & called Powhatan”. 

Powhatan County was formed in 1777 from the eastern part of Cumberland County between the Appomattox and James rivers. 

Born at the end of the French and Indian War (known in Europe as the Seven Years War), Povall came of age at the beginning of the American Revolution.  He was drafted into service in 1779 at the age of 17 or 18 and served several tours over the next two years, a few weeks or months each time.  After the war he remained in Powhatan County for a while, then lived in Amelia County for a year and finally settled in Prince Edward County where he raised his family.  

Before moving west, Povall married Martha “Patty” Davis on 12 December 1790.  His first son Theodrick was born in Powhatan County.  Some records say that his second son Wilson was born in Prince Edward County about 1793.  In 1795 he bought land from his uncle John in Powhatan County.  His wife Patty inherited property in Prince Edward County from her brother Walter in 1808.  It is about 40 miles from Powhatan to Prince Edward County.

In 1810 the family is enumerated in Prince Edward County as: males under 10 (1 - Matthew), males 16-25 (1 – probably Wilson), males 45 and over (1 - Povall), females 10-15 (2 – Henrietta and Pamelia), females 45 and over (1 - Martha), and slaves (8).

 

In 1820 the family is enumerated as: male 16-25 (1 – likely Matthew), male 45 and over (1 - Povall), females 45 and over (1 - Martha), slaves (7).  The earliest map that I have of this area is from 1820 and the Carter name shows up in the same area that shows it decades later.  Capt. Carter was probably a cousin – still working on that.  Note that on this map Pamplin is called by its former name Merriman.

On the 1830 census, the Povall Carter household is enumerated as: male 20-29 (1), male 60-69 (1), female 20-29 (1), slaves (12).  There is no mark for a female of Martha’s age so she may have died by this time.  Povall mentions his wife in his will that was written on 2 November 1826 so it is likely she died between those two dates.

In 1832 Povall applied for a pension for his service in the Revolutionary War, based on an Act of Congress that had passed that year.  It is that document that outlines his birth, residences and service during the war.  Povall Carter died before 19 February 1838 when his will was presented in court.

A few of the provisions of the will:

Item 3^rd – After the death of my wife I first give to my son Theodric Carter, one feather bed, bedstead & furniture – and three hundred dollars in cash in order to render his portion equal to what I have given my son Wilson.

Item 4^th – After the death of my wife, I give unto my son Mathew the tract of land wheron I live, containing 305 acres be the same none or less, also I give unto him any two of my negroes which he may make choice of; also one horse which he shall have the right to select; also ox cart and my best yoke of oxen; two walnut cupboards and 4 chairs – as his portion in full of my estate.

Item 5^th – After the death of my wife, I give unto my four children Theodric and Wilson, Henrietta and Pamelia, all the remaining of my estate, land, negroes, stock, crop, furniture and everything else not heretofore disposed of, to be equally divided among them.

Item 7^th – It is my will that in the final distribution of my estate, that none of my negroes be sold for a division, but that they be divided as equally by appraisement as practicable agreeably to my will, and that one legatee pay to another whatever shall be right and equal.

An appraisement of the estate was presented to the court in April of 1838.  It included household goods, farm equipment, land, and 10 people listed as property – Jacob, George, York, Tom, Charisa, Harriet & 2 children, Milly & child.