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The Carter Family History
Sarah Carter married Albinus Davis and it is therefore of interest to have a bit of history about the Carter family of Maryland and Virginia. Great grandmother Rozina Fairchild Davis had a small section in her manuscript relating what she was able to find about the Carters back in the 1920s-30s when she did her research. And here it is:
Ancestry of SARAH CARTER, wife of ALBINUS DAVIS
Until 1650, the whole western shore of Maryland was called St. Mary's County to distinguish it from the Eastern Shore of Kent County. In 1661, Talbot Conty was formed. Kent Island, the home of the Carters, was granted to Claiborne in 1630. In 1631, he established a trading post there. For many years it was a bone of contention between Maryland and Virginia and between Puritan and Catholic. In 1652, the oath of fealty was signed by about 60 inhabitants of Kent Island, probably all that were then living there. The names of the Carters are not found on this list. Kent Island was attached to Talbot County in 1695, to Queen Anne's County, in 1706.
The first mention of HENRY CARTER is this:
"At a Court holden in the County of Kent. Jan. ye 25, 1675, it is ordered that Henry Carter and others be summoned to ye next court to take ye oath of Constable. Henry Carter for ye upper hundred of Kent." (Old Kent by Geo. A. Hanson, p. 297-8)
In 1696, Henry Carter as vestryman signed a petition. (Maryland Archives, Vol. 20, p. 542)
A Richard Carter was appointed Justice of the Court for Talbot County, 1692 and later. (Maryland Magazine, Vol. 9, p. 228, Maryland Archives, Vol. XX, p. 138; Idem. Vol. XXIII, p. 129)
Richard Carter as Justice of Talbot Co. 1692-4, with other delegates and justices petitions for Wm. Helmsley to be the clerk. (Maryland Archives, Vol. XX, p. 542)
"Richard Carter, late of Maryland in America, Adm. granted Dec. 6, 1708, to Michaiah Perry Atty. for Elizabeth Carter, Relict." ("English Gleanings" in Maryland Magazine, Vol. 2, p. 337)
"Pleasant Valley, Talbot Co. 'Here lies interred the body of Richard Carter, son of Thomas Carter of Kirkly Wish in the County of York in Gt.Britain who departed this life the 4th of March, 1708, in his 71st year.' " (Historic Graves of Maryland by Helen W. Ridgely, p. 221)
We have found nothing to prove it, but it seems probable that Henry Carter and Richard Carter were brothers.