Disclaimer: What you are about to read is not based on fact and may or may not be of any worth in the search for twigs, limbs or branches of the Carter tree. Every family of the Carter tree probably has tales, stories and folklore that are passed from generation to generation and this is one from my twig side. Perhaps if it resembles some other twigs tale, story or folklore we can work on its origin.

Many years before I became interested in the family history I was told a story about how the first Carter generation came to America. I was told the story sometime in the 1940's and did not think a great deal about it until I became interested in documenting the family history in 1990. Recently I read that a first generation of a family had been brought to the States as a kidnapped person and unfortunately I do not remember where but it reminded me of this story. I have no one on my twig to ask or confirm it with because I am the oldest.

The tale, story or folklore:

The first Carter of my known tree came to America serving as a cabin boy aboard a ship. He was not happy serving as cabin boy and jumped ship and never returned to his ship. He was said to have been a thirteen or fourteen year boy at the time. I do not recall that a port was named.

To date, John Carter b. 1723 d. 1811 in Greene Co., TN, seems to have just appeared in the States. John Denton Carter in his paper titled, THE CARTERS OF GREEN COUNTY TENNESSEE, makes references to pension claims filed by sons of John Carter as having been born in New Jersey but have not found any other documentation that he, John Carter was from New Jersey or any where else for that matter. If in fact he or his forefathers jumped ship I am sure that a low profile was kept because they would have been considered a fugitive. They either signed on in England to complete the trip to and from America or could have been kidnapped or bought and would have been consider lost property. In either case there would be no documentation of the arrival time or place of entrance to the States.

If anyone else has a similar tale, story or folklore, please document it on this site and who knows someday all the pieces may fall in place. I have found that bits of information have a way over time of going together.

Thanks, Clarence Clayton Carter Kit # 14547