LIFE OF JOHN CARTER - Part 23 - THE FINAL CHAPTER

Portion of William's letter announcing John's death

           We know when John died from a letter written by his son William to his wife Sarah on 5 Feb 1854, though the letter has Boston listed on it, this letter was surely posted from Illinois as William was staying with his siblings in Lima and Tioga while he regained his strength following the illness he had contacted in India during his mission there that had caused him to be sent home.  In the letter William (LDS Church History Library – William Furlsbury Carter from Boston (sic), to Sarah Carter, 1854 Feb 5, Manuscript 19589 – this original was donated to the library by the author) it states simply – “Father Died in Illinois Hancock, Co. August 13 AD 1852.”[1]   

            This brings us to probably the most interesting document in existence related to John Carter – his last will and testament.  It was filed in Adams County, IL August 19, 1852, Probate Court, Box 167.  The following is a transcript of this interesting document:

“In the Name of God Amen I, John Carter, of the County of Hancock in the State of Illinois, being of sound mind and Memory (blessed be Almighty God for the same) do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in Manner and form following (To Wit.)

1^st.       It is my will that any funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid.

2^nd.      I give and bequeath to my Daughter Almira Trip, late Almira Carter, five Dollars to her

            and her heirs respectively.

3^rd.       I give and bequeath to my son Philip Carter five Dollars to him and his heirs respectively.

4^th.       I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary J. Dooley late Mary J. Carter, All the rest of my

            estate real personal or mixed of whatsoever kind description or quality of which I shall

            die seized and possessed or to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease.  To

            have and to hold the same during her Natural life.

5^th.       I give and bequeath to my Grand son John Dooley the reversion or remainder of my

            Estate Real person or mixed of what soever kind description or quality and all the profit

            in come and Advantage that may result there from.  From and after the Death of my

            said Daughter Mary J. Dooley late Mary J. Carter.

6^th.       I do nominate and appoint my Daughter Mary J. Dooley, late Mary J. Carter to be

            Executrix of this my last Will and Testament.

In testimony where of I have here unto set my hand and seal and publish and decree this to be my last Will and Testament in presence of these Witnesses named below the Ninth day of August in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and fifty two.

                                                                                    John Carter (seal)

Signed sealed declared and publish by the said John Carter as and for his last Will and Testament in presence of us who at this request and in his presence and in presence of each other have subscribed Our Names and Witnesses hereto.

                                                                                    Geo. Ensminger

                                                                                       His

                                                                                    Martha L.  (X)   Wilson

(seal)                                                                                            mark

Filed in Adams County, Illinois                                    Catharine Carter

August 19, 1852

Recorded, page 406.[2]

Will of John Carter

            This will is a classic genealogical record that teaches the genealogist to beware of single sources.  It clearly sets out that John has three living children Mary J. Carter Dooley, Almira Carter Tripp and Philip L Carter.  The interesting signature on the will is Catharine Carter.  For a long time we were not sure who she was.  In correspondence Joe Irvin Conover he mentioned that his great grandfather, Charles, mentioning an Aunt Catherine Carter.  Upon a little more research, I think Catherine Carter is actually the Catherine Carson who married Varanes Carter (son of Richard Carter Jr. our John Carter's brother.) This would make Catherine Carson Carter John's niece by marriage.   There is a Geo. Emsminger who witnessed the will too.  Emsmingers marry into the Varanes Carter line - though after the signing of the will - so they become family members and probably knew John’s family in the 1850's as neighbors, etc.

The will though is remarkable for what it doesn’t say rather than what it does say.  In this will John fails to mention his estranged wife, Hannah, and living children:  Dominicus, Hannah, William, Philip Libby, John “Harrison”, and Eliza Ann. (Son, Richard Harrison had died in 1848 as part of the Mormon Battalion march to California.) Therefore, John wrote out the entire Latter-day Saint part of his family.  This shouldn’t be viewed as unusual or vindictive in nature.  The LDS part of the family had left Nauvoo in 1846 and had probably never returned and may have had only sporadic, if any, communication with John after they left.  For all intents and purposes what John had left was a small acreage and the Utah part of the family wouldn’t be interested in that.

John Richard Dooley
(by Gregory Park at Findagrave.com)

            It might be noted that in the deed Philip and Almira are given $5 each.  It can be presumed that Mary Jane Carter Dooley was being rewarded for caring for her father in his old age.  John and the Dooleys were closely associated for the last twelve years of John’s life as he had lived around them when Mary Jane married Jacob and again when they were in Hancock County.  John had already sold a part of his land to Jacob some years earlier.  It is most interesting that John would single out his then four years old grandson, John Richard Dooley, to inherit all his property once his mother, Mary Jane, died.  This seems to show that John may have had a favored grandson (John Richard) and one can only imagine that he had grandpa twisted around his little finger.  This is a rare opportunity to see John as a living, breathing, feeling person.

Fletcher Cemetery (many stones missing)

            With the death of John recorded and his will noted, there is only one last topic to cover, the question of where he was buried.  John has been variously mentioned as buried at Fletcher Cemetery in Lima, Adams County, Illinois.  Lima is the nearest modern community but there is no evidence that John is in fact buried there.  Family members have been sent to the cemetery and to the county historical society, but no record of a burial was found for John in the Fletcher Cemetery.  At least one researcher stated that the cemetery had been hit twice by tornadoes and possibly the stone was lost to a twister.  That seems a little far-fetched.  In discussing this with Joe Irvin Conover he stated:  “As for the Fletcher cemetery, I know only what Charles’ daughter Dora (my grandmother) always said: that she understood from Daddy (Charles) that John was buried there.  Perhaps I mentioned once that a son and I searched the cemetery for a stone and found none, even those we were told had been discarded at the cemetery’s edge.  I was told (perhaps by a local historian in Tioga) that the cemetery records were lost in a house fire many years ago. I think I once looked for cemetery records in the Hancock County Courthouse without luck.  So, no, no actual evidence of John being buried in the Fletcher cemetery.”

Carter Hill Cemetery

Without discounting entirely the contention that John was buried in the Fletcher Cemetery, this writer would like to propose an alternative location. In the previously cited biography of Charles Carter is found the following in referencing his father and mother’s burial, he recorded, “…he (Philip) engaged in general agriculture pursuits and stock raising up to the time of his death, which occurred July 27, 1876.  His wife survived him for two decades, and died at the home of her son Charles in January, 1897, when her remains were interred in the family graveyard on the farm by the side of her husband.”[3]  This cemetery has been located in Walker Township in section 31 a little south and west of Tioga (Yelrome).  This same property was owned by Philip Libby Carter as can be seen on the 1874 Map of Walker Township.[4]   This is only an alternative, John’s last resting place is unknown to the modern generation, so with this last mystery we formally close his life story.

Epilogue

            With this the story of John Carter comes to an end. It is also time to consider a passage previously quoted from the Barton L. Carter biography of his son Dominicus: “Let us be kind in our judgment of those who stayed in Illinois.  John Carter was at the time nearly sixty-four years old.  Though he was not of the faith, his love for his wife and family had steeled him to endure the same hardships as they.”[5]  Hopefully after reading this, you have a better understanding of our ancestor John Carter.    Though he did not personally join the LDS church his posterity today number in the tens of thousands and a majority of them are members of the Church.  So LDS or not, many people owe their life to the complex man who traveled the path of the early Mormon pioneers all the way from Maine to Illinois.  John Carter, our honored ancestor, we salute you.

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[1] William Furlsbury Carter from Boston (sic), to Sarah Carter, 1854 Feb 5, LDS Church History Library, Manuscript 19589 – this original was donated to the library by the author)

[2] Adams County, Illinois, Probate Court, Box 167, August 19, 1852

[3] Biographical review of Hancock County, Illinois, op, cit.

[4] Historical Atlas of Hancock County, 1874, p. 95 (Family History Library Film # 954296, Item 2.)

[5] Barton L Carter, op. cit.

Pioneer Day Thoughts

Got to thinking at Church today as we sang "They, the Builders of the Nation" - Mormon Tab version: Mormon Tab version of They, the Builders of the Nation
I got to thinking that all of the family of John and Hannah Carter fit into this hymn. Traveling to at least Missouri (or in some cases to Illinois) qualifies all our family as Pioneers even if they didn't exactly all go to Utah. In my case I have(besides John and Hannah) these LDS pioneers: William Furlsbury Carter and Sarah York, Charlotte York Carter and Alexander Wilkins Jr., Alexander Wilkins Sr and Alice M Barney, John Gandsworth Wilkins and Nancy Adeline Kennedy, Edson Barney and Lillis Ballou. Thank you ancestors all for helping make our life what it is today!

LIFE OF JOHN CARTER - Part 22 - LIFE AFTER THE MORMON EXODUS

Mary Jane Carter Dooley

                The final years of John’s life were spent in more peaceful circumstances.  Since he wasn’t a Mormon he was probably treated tolerably well as he showed no inkling to move.  He appears to have lived with his youngest daughter Mary Ann Carter Dooley.  Two deeds from John to Mary Ann’s husband, Jacob Dooley, during this time would bear out the likelihood that John resided with Mary Ann and Jacob.

                The first deed was drawn on 8 August 1846 – just six months after the rest of the family had left town.  It was between John Carter of the County of Hancock and State of Illinois and Jacob Dooley of the same county and state.  For $150 John sold the same property he had purchased on 30 Mar 1846, from William C Wilson and wife Rose Ann, for $175.  Based on the size of the property – 3.9 acres – it probably contained the family homestead.  It was probably here that the aging John lived with his daughter’s family.^[1] 

                On 30 March 1848 John again sold some land to Jacob Dooley.  This time he sold the 40 acres he had bought from Alexander Hills and Eliza Ann his wife across the county line in Adams County that he had bought on 20 Apr 1843 for $150.  He sold it this time for $100.^[2]  John was probably retiring from active farming and was turning over the operation of the farm to his son-in-law.

                Interestingly on 6 Nov 1848, not 8 months later, John sold the same piece of land mentioned above to Adam Snyder for $40.  There must be a story behind this reselling of the property and for the low price mentioned here.  It wasn’t until 6 Mar 1850 when John actually recorded the deed so the $40 must not have been forthcoming following the initial agreement.^[3]

                The 1850 census was a real disappointment for finding John.  Tradition has been that John lived with his daughter Mary Jane Carter Dooley in his later years but no evidence of John is found on this census, though Mary Jane Carter Dooley in Hancock County and Almira Carter Tripp in Adams County were easy to locate.  Whatever the case John is nowhere to be found that year.  If we didn’t know that he was alive we could almost guess that he might have died.

Philip Libby Carter

                It is in this time period the last child of John and Hannah finally moved west.  This is detailed in the previously cited article on John’s grandson Charles Carter: “The father of our subject (I.E. Philip Libby Carter) was a blacksmith in Massachusetts and removed from New England to the Middle West, settling in Hancock County in May 1851.  He took up his abode in the farm which is now occupied by his son, Charles, in Walker Township, and there he engaged in general agriculture pursuits and stock raising up to the time of his death, which occurred July 27, 1876.”^[4]

Charles Carter and Dora Carter Bolt

Carter Hill Home of Charles Carter (built on the property where Philip Libby Carter lived and had his home.)

         

                It has been published in the past that during this time John married again.  There is no evidence in the county marriage records of any marriage of John subsequent to the time that Hannah left Nauvoo for the West.  If a marriage or a liaison did occur there has been evidence of this that has come to light.  So again it must be presumed that John probably lived out his life at the home of one of his children living in the Nauvoo area.

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[1] Hancock County, Illinois Deeds, Book S, p. 418 (Family History Library Film 954604).

[2] Adams County, Illinois Deeds, Book 4, p. 352 – 353 (Family History Library Film # 967548).

[3] Hancock County, Illinois Deeds, Book X, p. 215 (Family History Library Film 954606).

[4] Biographical Review of Hancock County, Illinois, op. cit.

LIFE OF JOHN CARTER - Part 21 - MORLEYVILLE BURNS

The story behind the two previous deeds (land purchased from his sons John Jr and William) was the end result of the schism in the family that had begun with the conversion of Hannah to Mormonism some 11 or 12 years earlier.  The family had since 1836 been moving apart and coming back together as the Mormon part of the family traveled and was driven by mobs with the other Saints from Ohio to Missouri to Illinois.   John had somewhat followed behind the bulk of the family but had finally settled with them in the far southern part of Hancock County.  Possibly he hoped that mob violence was finally over as they were in an area where the issues of North vs. South were not an issue as it was in Missouri.  Another possibility was that he felt that if there were mob problems in Illinois that they were far enough from Nauvoo that they might be able to avoid problems in Morleyville (or Yelrome) as it was known.

            Life in Morleyville, as a result of the anti-Mormon mobs, turned ugly:

            “While the residents of Yelrome had their share of blessings, they also had problems with persecution.  As pressures against the Saints in Hancock County increased, Yelrome became the target of mob attacks.  Yelrome was vulnerable to attack for several reasons.  First it was rather isolated.  Second, it was situated between Warsaw on the north and Adams County on the South – both of which contained strong anti-Mormon elements.

            The people of Yelrome were especially vulnerable to attack because of the presence of the noted anti-Mormon leader Colonel Levi Williams, who lived in Green Plains, about ten miles distant.”[1]

            In Hannah’s life story the following is recorded:

            “In the space of 5 years fertile farms had been developed and the community was a veritable hive of industry.  On June 15, 1844, a mob of two thousand men headed by the bitter anti-Mormon Col. Levi Williams, came upon the Saints at Morley’s Settlement and ordered them to make a choice of one of three alternatives.  First they were to take up arms, join the mob and go with them to Nauvoo and help them arrest the Prophet Joseph Smith and 17 other leaders.  They must abandon their homes and go to Nauvoo, or third give up their arms and remain neutral.  They were given until eight o’clock to decide and told that if they did not join the mob they would ‘smell thunder.’

Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith 

            These brave and devoted Church members did not join the mob or remain neutral, so they were compelled to leave their homes and flee to Nauvoo for safety.  The Prophet heard their story and sent messengers to report this outrage to Governor Ford.  Before any action was taken, however, the martyrdom of the Prophet and Hyrum occurred on June 27 at Carthage Jail.

           

            

Morleyville Burning

              In the months that followed the situation became more peaceful and the group returned to their homes in Morley’s settlement, and peace reigned until September 10, 1845.”[2] 

            This story can be continued from one of the life stories of John’s son William Furlsbury Carter:

Morleyville Burning

            “On September 10, 1845, another mob bent on destruction came upon the settlement at Morelyville.  For eight days and nights they fired upon the settlers, burned between seventy and eighty homes, all of their stacks of hay and grain, shops and other buildings.  The inhabitants were forced out into the cold night in a drenching rain.  The aged, sick, and little ones suffered intently, and many deaths occurred.  Brigham Young and the leaders advised them to abandon their homes and possessions to the mob, but to save as many of their families as they could and again flee into Nauvoo.  Teams and wagons were sent from Nauvoo to assist in bringing them in.”[3]  It was during this September persecution that town leader Edmond Durfee was shot and killed by the mob.

            In most of the records of the family there is never any mention of John and Hannah having to move or having their home burned.  William’s home and shop were burned in this September attack on Morleyville.  It isn’t known about the other family members but most likely those of the Mormon faith lost their homes.  The fate of John and Hannah’s home is actually noted in the biography of their grandson Charles Carter, son of Philip Carter who would eventually move to Hancock County.[4] In the article on Charles Carter (1846 – 1925) he states in referring to John and Hannah Carter: “With a band of colonists they came westward to Hancock County at an early day and were owners of a cottage which was torn down during the attack made upon the Mormons by settlers of this part of the state.”   It would have to be presumed that they then moved either into Nauvoo or more likely to the homestead of either Mary Jane Carter Dooley or Almira Carter Tripp.

            It was apparent by the beginning of 1846 that the Saints were going to have to move once again.  It was at this point that John finally put his foot down and refused to move yet again.  In Dominicus Carter’s life story this situation is well described:

            “Hannah Knight Libby Carter, Dominicus’ mother, had cast her lot with the Saints nearly twelve years previously in the waters of the Bear River in Newry, Maine.  Somehow she had managed to keep her family together through all the troubles in Ohio, Missouri and Illinois.  Now, however, her non-member children and husband refused to go further.  John elected to stay at Morley Settlement and there he died.  Hannah came west with Dominicus and was buried in the Provo City Cemetery.  Before leaving Nauvoo she was sealed for time and eternity to Isaac Morley.

            Let us be kind in our judgment of those who stayed in Illinois.  John Carter was at the time nearly sixty-four years old.  Though he was not of the faith, his love for his wife and family had steeled him to endure the same hardships as they.  He must have been at the end of patience and just plain tired and wanting to settle down.  He had worked all his life for that.  Sadly without the passion of belief, he chose rest and repose rather than his wife and her religion, his other children and the rigors of another trail.  If he had gone ahead, the others in the family might ultimately have followed.”[5]  Some of the “facts” in the forgoing are not accurate but the general picture is true.

            At this point the last two deeds, mentioned above can be put into context.  When John purchased these lands from John Jr. and William C Wilson it was at the height of the departure of the Saints from Nauvoo.  As the summer of 1846 arrived the Carter’s left in Nauvoo were John, and his children:  Almira Carter Tripp and family in Lima and Mary Jane Carter Dooley and family in Tioga (Morleyville), with whom he probably lived.  His remaining non-Mormon son, Philip Libby Carter and family were at this time living in Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts.

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[1] Reference Book for Nauvoo Family History and Property Identification Department, op. cit., p. 23.

[2] Anonymous, Biography of Hannah Knight Libby (1786 – 1867 in Arthur D. Coleman: Carter Pioneers of Utah, (Provo UT: J. Grant Stevenson, 1966), pp.137-145.

[3] Leora Carter Scharrer; Life of William F. Carter, op. cit., page 5.

[4] Biographical Review of Hancock County, Illinois : containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of today and also of the past,” Chicago : Hobart Pub. Co., 1907, pages not cited but transcribed by Leslie A Carter.

[5] Barton L Carter; Dominicus Carter, Latter-Day Pioneer, (self-published, no date), p. 30

LIFE OF JOHN CARTER - Part 20 - LAND TRANSACTIONS IN ILLINOIS

(It should be noted that in the previous post it was mentioned that John purchased about 22 and three quarters acres of land on 26 May 1841 in Section 31 due west from Morleyville.  This section of Walker Township along with Section 31 where Morleyville was located became the home of most of the Carter family upon their move to Illinois.)

The period of 1843 through 1848 was a busy time for John as far as land transactions go.  He bought and sold land several different times.  On 20 Apr 1843 John listed of Adams County, purchased 40 acres of land from Alexander Hills and Eliza Ann his wife, of Hancock County, for $150.  The description of the land was as follows:  being in the County of Adams in the state of Illinois viz: The North half of the East half of the South East quarter of Section No. Five in Township No Two of Range No Eight West.[1]  As best as can be determined, this land is due south of Tioga, Hancock County over the county line in Adams County.  With this purchase John now owned two parcels with a total of about 62 acres.  Less than a month later, John completed the sale of the land in Missouri and was now strictly an Illinois landholder. 

Next on 17 Feb 1846 John Carter Jr. sold a piece of land to his father, John Sr. for $50.  This must have occurred as the LDS members of the Carter family were leaving Nauvoo to Iowa.  The land was described as beginning at a Stone at the South East Corner of a certain piece of land conveyed by William C Wilson to Dominicus Carter thence North Fifty two Rods thence west twelve rods and six feet thence south fifty two rods then East to the place of beginning it being in the South West quarter of the North East Quarter of Section thirty one in Township 3 North Range eight West of the fourth principal meridian.[2]  This piece of land calculates out to about 624 sq. rods or 3.9 acres.  John now had approximately 66 acres in three parcels.

John’s next purchase, on 30 Mar 1846, was from the same William C Wilson and wife Rose Ann, who had sold William Carter the land that William later sold to John as his first purchase in Section 31.  This purchase for $175 was described as the North West quarter Section 31 Township 3 North Range 8 West of the principal meridian.  The legal description was to Commence Southwest corner of Adams Snyder’s tract; South 21 Rods; East 26 Rods 12 Feet; South to South line of said quarter; East to east line of said quarter; North to Southeast corner of land owned by Charles Woodworth; west to the beginning point.[3]  It can only be guessed at this time as to the size of this parcel but based on other purchase prices it could be guessed that $12.50 an acre seemed to be the going rate so this may have been for about 14 additional acres of land.  This would bring his ownership up to 78 or so acres in 4 parcels.

Assorted tax receipts for John Carter in Illinois

The above deeds can be found in their original form in the films listed at the end of this post.  We are indebted to Joe Irvin Conover, whose family preserved many early Carter documents, for the tax receipts posted here.  It is very unusual to see documents of this kind preserved for over 150 years.  They are presented here for your viewing.  Those of us who own land can only wish that our tax bills were of this size.

             (Our next entry will chronicle the mob violence in the Nauvoo area that lead to the final split of the family.)

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[1] Adams County, Illinois Deeds, Book W, p. 238 (Family History Library Film  967544).

[2] Hancock County, Illinois Deeds, Book 93, p. 92 (Family History Library Film 954282).

[3] Hancock County, Illinois Deeds, Book 19 (0), p. 505 (Family History Library Film 0954601).

Taking a few days off.

I have a speaking engagement in the SF Bay area this weekend so I am taking a few days off.  I will be back blogging in a few days.

Comments on Posts

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LIFE OF JOHN CARTER - Part 19 - JOHN MOVES TO ILLINOIS

           We will never know for sure when John moved to Illinois though we can approximate the date from records at our disposal.  John was in Missouri at least until August 1840 when he signed for Mary Jane to marry Jacob Dooley.[1]  We can place him in Hancock County in Illinois by 26 May 1841.  His children had already left Missouri and moved to Illinois.  Eliza Ann and Dominicus left Missouri in the early spring of 1839.  It wasn’t recorded when William actually left Missouri.  If he left at the same time as Eliza Ann and Dominicus isn’t known.  William was in Illinois by 26 May 1839 when he was in Quincy and appointed as one of the seventy messengers to the nations by Joseph Young, chairman of the Council of seventy.[2] 

            John was probably now between a rock and a hard spot.  He had avoided the persecutions in Ohio and Missouri and would have probably preferred to stay in Missouri.  Unfortunately, being a Northerner he probably felt uncomfortable staying in Missouri.  Add to this that the rest of the family was moving to Illinois and there were then several good reasons to move.  With these developments happening Hannah probably put pressure on him to move to Illinois and be with the family.  The fact that the family had settled in the far southern part of Hancock County may have encouraged John to move in hopes that the family was far enough from Nauvoo that any persecution would be less likely there.

            The Carters had moved to an area in Walker Township that was to become Yelrome. Today we know Yelrome or Morleyville as Tioga, Illinois.  Early Yelrome was described as follows:

Morley Settlement Sign (north east of original settlement)

Yelrome (Morleyville) Today

            “Yelrome, or Morley’s Settlement, was located twenty-five miles south of Nauvoo and approximately three miles north of Lima.  Although Lima is technically in Adams County, it was so close to the Hancock County settlements that for all intents and purposes it can be included with them.  Indeed, Lima, when combined with the minor colonies of Yelrome and Bear Creek, was one of the two major LDS colonies in Hancock County.  It was also referred to by Joseph Smith as one of the ‘spokes on the wheel.’

          Isaac Morley was the first member of the Church to settle in the area that was later to be called Yelrome.  Seeking refuge in Illinois after being driven from Missouri in 1839, the Morleys purchased a partially completed cabin, which they furnished and made suitable for a home.  A few other Saints joined them, and Yelrome began to grow.

         

…The small town where Yelrome once was located is called Tioga, a name that may also have LDS origins, since one of the early Latter-day Saints who lived there was Alpheus Cutler from Tioga County, Pennsylvania.”[3]

            John’s life in Hancock County is poorly documented other than in the government records he left behind.  John first obtained land from his son, William.  This land was first purchased by William (of Hancock County) from William C Wilson and his wife Rosana (of Adams County) on 27 October 1840 for $179.37.  The land was described as Part East/2 Northeast Section 31 Township 3 North Range 8 West.  The legal Description was:  Beginning Southeast corner Joshua Vance line on East/2 of the Northeast/4 Section 31; running East 71 ¾ Rods; North 50 Rods; West 71 ¾ Rods; South 50 Rods to beginning, being 22.765 acres.[4]   This exact piece of land was then sold to John Carter on 26 May 1841 for $250.[5]

Walker Township Sections 31 - 32
Red shape is approximately John's first land purchase

This land in was the eastern half of the northeast quarter in Section 31 of Township 3 (Walker Township) in Hancock County.  That placed the land adjoining Section 32 of the same Township 3.  Section 32 was known as Yelrome.  The actual community was located to the east of John’s property not much further than a stone’s throw.  Finally after some five years, the Carter family was getting reunited.  It is reported that John’s granddaughter, Mrs. Dora Bolt had copies of John’s tax receipts for 1842 and 1843 in Hancock County.  This would be in agreement with the fact that John did have land in Hancock County during that time. It is interesting that it was then on 15 May 1843 that John finally recorded the Missouri deed of sale as previously noted. His 40 acres of Missouri land had brought him $400 ($10 per acre).  His $250 purchase of 22.765 acres in Hancock County cost him about $10.98 per acre – basically a wash in cost.

 It is assumed that John was still actively farming in spite of his advanced age of 59 or so when he purchased his 22+ acres from his son, William.  The last child to marry, Richard Harrison Carter, may have still been living with John and Hannah but after his marriage, 29 Nov 1840, to Hannah Parker, he probably moved out as his children were born over the county line in Lima beginning in 1841.[6]  Even though Richard had been baptized for several years he appears to have stayed with his father and mother until he got married.  It is possible in part that it was for him that John and Hannah had moved to Illinois.

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[1] Ancestry.com. Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.  Original data: Missouri Marriage Records. Jefferson City, MO, USA: Missouri State Archives. Microfilm.  Marriage date – 27 Aug 1840 – Monroe Co., Missouri.  (NOTE:  John had to give permission for her to marry.)

[2] Leora Carter Scharrer; Life of William F. Carter, op. cit.

[3] Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nauvoo Family History and Property Identification Department; Reference Book for Nauvoo Family History and Property Identification Department, published by Nauvoo Restoration Incorporated May 1, 1990, p. 21-22 (FHL – 977.343/N1/K2r).

[4] Hancock County, Illinois Deeds, Book I, p. 227 – 228 (FHL Film 954,598). Transcription found in Susan Eaton Black, et. al., Property Transactions in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois and Surrounding Communities (1839 – 1859), Vol. II C-F, p. 749.)

[5] Hancock County, Illinois, Deeds, Book I, p. 300 – 301 (FHL Film 954598). Transcription in Susan Eaton Black op. cit.

[6] Jordan Dodd, Liahona Research, comp. Illinois Marriages, 1790-1860 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. (Family History Library Film #0954117).

LIFE OF JOHN CARTER – Part 18 – JOHN’S LIFE IN MISSOURI

                 In the previous episode we discussed the two main documents pinpointing where and when John was in Missouri.  First was the 10 November 1838 purchase of land in Monroe Co., Missouri.  The second was the 27 August 1840 marriage license, also in Monroe Co., Missouri for the marriage of Mary Jane Carter and Jacob Dooley that had to be signed by John as Mary Jane was under aged.

Northern Missouri - Kids settle in Caldwell and John in Monroe County

                John did not go to the center of Mormon settlement in Caldwell County but instead settled in the eastern part of Monroe County some 4 counties to the east of his children.  In fact, this location was only two counties south west of Adams County in Illinois on the other side of the Mississippi River.

              

Gov. Lilburn Boggs

                 As can be seen John and Hannah were in Missouri but not in the immediate area of the Mormon community in Caldwell and adjoining counties.  Problems had already begun in Missouri prior to the time that the Carters arrived.  In fact in the month prior to John’s purchase of land in November, 1838, the situation had reached an intolerable point for the Mormons.  On October 27, 1838, Governor Lilburn Boggs issued Missouri Executive Order 44 , also known as the Extermination Order.  The order was issued in the aftermath of the Battle of Crooked River, a clash between Latter Day Saints and a unit of the Missouri State Guard in northern Ray County, Missouri, during the 1838 Mormon War. Claiming that Latter Day Saints had committed open and avowed defiance of the law and had made war upon the people of Missouri, Governor Boggs directed that "the Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary for the public peace—their outrages are beyond all description". (Wikipedia – Missouri Exectutive Order 44)

Haun's Mill by C. C. A. Christensen

                Just three days later, on October 30, 1838, the Haun’s Mill massacre occurred when a mob/militia unit from Livingston County, Missouri, attacked a Mormon settlement in eastern Caldwell County, Missouri, United States, after the Battle of Crooked River. By far the bloodiest event in the 1838 Mormon War in Missouri, it has long been remembered by the members of the Latter Day Saint movement. (Wikipedia – Haun’s Mill massacre) 

To the best of my knowledge none of the Carter family was directly associated with either of these events but because of them it was imperative that the Mormons move out of Missouri or die.  John’s children and their families shortly began their journey by January,1839 as the Church “realized they would not be helped by the legislature, and determined to leave as best they could. Most families were destitute, so those who had extra pooled their resources, determining to leave no one behind. Those who had been fortunate enough to retain their property sold it to gain funds with which to leave the state, but they were only able to get a fraction of the properties’ values. The exodus from Missouri took place in the dead of winter, with many Mormons trudging eastward with bare feet and little to keep them warm.” (online source:  http://historyofmormonism.com/mormon-history/two-church-centers/tcc-1838)  For those that are interested the Saints left Caldwell County and the areas around there and headed generally Marion County, Missouri  where they crossed the Mississippi River and first stopped at Quincy, Illinois before moving on to Nauvoo.

Mormons Expelled from Missouri

John and Hannah, on the other hand we able to remain in Missouri from their relative safety of Monroe County.  John, not being a member of the Church, was able to live safely with the Missourians.  Surely they kept Hannah’s membership a secret or they would have had major problems.

Very little is known about John during the time he was in Missouri.  The family is found on the 1840 census for Jefferson, Monroe, Missouri^[1]:

                Male      age 20 – 29        Richard age 20

                Male       age 50 – 59        John age 58

                Female  age 15 – 19         Mary Jane age 17

                Female  age 20 – 29        ??? (no idea whom this might be)

                Female  age 50 – 59         Hannah age 54

Monroe Co., Missouri Land Map
Dooley family in purple, John Carter in Yellow

John and Hannah remained in Monroe County through August, 1840 when on the 27^th John signed for Mary Jane, who was 17 at the time, to marry Jacob Dooley.  This map of land owners in Monroe County will show that the entire Dooley clan appeared to own land in the area of John’s land.  The chance of Mary Jane marrying one of the clan is easy to see since a large portion of the neighbors were named Dooley.  Jacob Dooley probably lived with his father, Gideon Dooley at this time, and that is why Gideon’s land is highlighted on the map.

The land that John had purchased in 1838 was later sold and this sale provides a glimpse of the whereabouts of John and Hannah following the expulsion of the main body of the Saints from Missouri.  I personally suspect that John didn’t want to move for a while as he watched the events unfold.  Up until this time he had avoided the main areas of persecution and probably wanted to keep it that way. The subsequent sale of this property establishes that by 1843 John and Hannah were now in Illinois.  Here is a transcript of the deed of sale^[2]:

                This Indenture made this 10^th day of May in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and forty three (43) Between John Carter and Hannah Carter his wife of the County of Hancock State of Illinois of the first part and Clement Purceall of the County of Monroe State of Missouri of the second part… in consideration of the same of four hundred Dollars… a parcel of land… (known) as the North West fourth of the South East quarter and the South West fourth of the North East quarter of Section No. twenty five of Township No. fifty five of Range No. 9…

Witnesses:  Isaac Morley Marshall

                The recording of this document was actually originated in Hancock Co., Illinois where John and Hannah Carter took the deed to the Clerk of the Hancock County Court and with Isaac Morley, a constable, vouching for them the deed was recorded there on the 15^th day of May, AD 1843.  It then had to be sent to Monroe County, Missouri where it was finally recorded the 29^th day of August, 1843.  It can be inferred that prior to May 15, 1843 John and Hannah had sold this piece of land in Monroe Co., Missouri, but the purchaser had not had the cash in hand.  John left Missouri, probably leaving the purchaser, Clement Purceall, in possession of the land but without the deed until he could come up with the full $400 purchase price.  When the money was delivered to John he then sent the deed back to Missouri for recording after it was witnessed by Isaac Morley.  This was a somewhat unusual arrangement but good for us as it clearly places our family in Illinois and verifies that it was our John who owned the land in Missouri.

                Beyond these few facts nothing else is known about John’s time in Missouri.  Some suppositions can be made at this time.  John was not excited about living in proximity with the Mormons (relatives or not.)  He could have left Maine and gone to Kirtland but he didn’t.  For whatever reason he waited until the family was moving to Missouri before he left Maine to move closer to them.  Since mob violence was already occurring prior to his arrival it makes sense that John would not want to move into the middle of the mob violence.  After following John this far one might wonder why he would choose at this time to actually move to Illinois and place himself in the middle of the mob violence that would occur there.  The answer to this problem probably lies in the political climate of Missouri at this time.  This is only two decades before the Civil War and Missouri was initially settled by Southerners.  John was from Maine and would not have fit in with the bulk of the citizens in Missouri.  Most likely that social situation probably played a big role in John’s move.  If there hadn’t been serious North vs. South issues in Missouri, John might have stayed in Missouri.  His location in Monroe County placed him just two counties away from Adams Co., IL but of course on the other side of the Mississippi River.

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[1] "United States Census, 1840" index and images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org: accessed 17 February 2012). entry for John Carter, residence Jefferson, Monroe, Missouri; citing Census Records, FHL microfilm 0,014,856; National Archives, United States Federal Archives and Records Center, Washington D.C., United States.

[2] Monroe County, Missouri, Deeds, Book G, p. 308 (Family History Library Film 975064)