Marcus P. Carter and the Estate of Joshua Carter

I love it that while looking into one mystery, I find info on another.
One of the most frustrating mysteries that has been vexing me of late is the origins of Marcus Princeton Carter.

I covered Marcus in my post: Marcus Princeton Carter.

I just know he is connected to other Stanly County Carters, but how?

While looking for info on another 'parentless' Stanly County Carter, I came across the name of Marcus in an unexpected but reasonable place, in the estate records of Joshua Carter. 

Now, I know estate records normally lend no proof of relationship or suggest any. However, after perusing dozens of estate records of families I was very familiar with, I've discovered that a large numbers of persons mentioned in estate records are usually family members, and if not, usually neighbors. But especially those persons of the same surname. While it does not 'name that relationship', it hints that you might be looking in the correct pumpkin patch.

An example of this would be in the estate record of Job Davis, for whom this blog is named. I've so researched this family that I knew who each person mentioned in the papers was. Every Davis mentioned was the son or grandson of Job. And persons like Jeremiah Broadaway, who no one would devise as a relative, I knew was his hmmm, 'step-grandson-in-law'.  Two of Job's wife Sarah's sons by her first marriage, John W. and Jordan Howell, had migrated to Fayetteville, NC and settled there. After the death of Jordan, his daughters returned to Stanly County to live with their grandmother and step-grandfather, and met husbands who lived in this part of the state. Jeremiah Broadaway was one of those husbands and married Clarissa Ann Howell.

So, while I have discovered the name of Marcus Carter in the estate records of Joshua Carter, this by no means proves, mentions or suggests any relationship between Joshua Carter and Marcus P. Carter, but it could mean I need to search this pumpkin patch for more hints. I do believe that in the case of Marcus P. Carter, we have a case of what I call an "UnIdentified Dash".
Many times, descendants will start a family with only the children who show up in the 1850 census, while the 1840 and 1830 census show other, older "dashes" who could be children, possibly those who are grown up and on their own by 1850. If the parents die intestate and no land records indicate descendants, then there is nothing to tie these older, independent children to their parents.

I do believe this is what happened with our Marcus. I've poured over family trees and information on other Carters, and feel Marcus is just an unidentified dash in the 1840 and 1830 census of an established Carter family of early Stanly County. He did not fall from the sky.

And now for the estate record of Joshua Carter:

An Inventory of the personal property of Joshua Carter, deceased, which came into my hands as his Administrator-

-Account on David Crowell  .50
    "         on Peter Crowell    .50
    "        on Francis Locke    .52               total  1.52
 all desperate---

2 Head Cattle, 16 Head Hogs, 1 Rifle gun, 1 bed and furniture, 1 Wheel and Cards, 1 Loom,  2 Barrels, 1 bush. Salt, 1 Clock Reel, 1 paddock, 1 lot sundries, two mattocks, 5 axes, 1 shovel, 1 tub, 1 cutting knife, 1 lot ploughs, 1 single tee, 2 pots, 1 skillet, 1 oven, 1 cupboard, 1 lot Ware, 1 lot knives and forks, 1 pail, 1 piggin, 1 toilet, 1 chest, 1 weeding hoe, 1 pr. Hames and Traces, 1 pr Steelyards, 1 drawing knife, 1 adze, 2 planes, 1 croze cutter, 1 hand saw, 1 lot books, 5 chairs, 1 hammer and chizel, 1 lot Oats, 1 potatoe patch.
Note on MARCUS CARTER and James Parker                     17.43
"    Nathan Carter and Samuel Morton                                     3.85
"   John Morris and William Morris                                          1.65
"  Calvin Carter & James Parker                                               1.28 
"  Alex. Kirk & Samuel P. Morton                                            1.30
"  Josiah L. Carter and Nathan Carter                                   11.53
"   Nancy Carter and Nathan Carter                                         7.66 
" Benjamin New and Edmd. W. Lilly                                        1.27
"  James Parker, Sr.                                                                    1.87
"   Francis Locke                                                                          .55
"   Samuel S. Stone                                                                      .81 
"   Daniel Biles                                                                          1.00
"   Samuel P. Morton                                                                   .60
"  George C. Morton                                                                    .20
"  John A. Craven                                                                     23.62
                                                                           Travis Carter, Administrator
Returned to August Sessions 1842 & ordered to be recorded. 

Marcus Carter would have been a young man, just coming into himself and of age in 1842.

His note, in conjunction with James Parker, is the largest, with the exception of that of John A. Craven. Perhaps if I look into the relationships between Joshua Carter and the other Carter's mentioned in this document, I will discover a possible connection to Marcus.

James Parker is also mentioned on a note in conjunction with Calvin Carter. Then later, a James Parker Sr., to himself. I also want to know the connection to James Parker.

I have the advantage of knowing what individuals were businessmen in the community who had a financial interest in many local farmers and individuals. For instance, Samuel S. Stone, Daniel Biles, Edmund Lilly and Francis Locke. No relationship there, or not likely to be.

I also know my ancestor, Samuel P. Morton, was a minister.


So, finding Marcus Carter's name in a document involving other Carters is a big find. Proof of nothing, but hopefully a lead to something.