CHAPTER 20
THE TOMBIGBEE ADVENTURES
The First and Second Creek Wars, The Fort Mims Massacre, The War of
1812, and the Capture of Aaron Burr. Those were adventures that involved
the Carson family
Between about 1800 and 1820, there is a lot that is
not known
about the Thomas Jr. Carson family. In the chapters on the children of
Thomas Sr. (Chapter 2), and Thomas Carson Jr. (Chapter 3), as well as John (unk)
CARSON (chapter 19) there were
discussions of the family in the area of Southwest Alabama (Washington and
Baldwin Counties), along with what facts were known. This section of the
website is to summarize everything that his been derived to date on the matter.
FIFTH GENERATION (coordinated with the family of John C. Carson)
Thomas CARSON Jr. was in Washington County
AL (then Mississippi Territory), as he served on a jury in McIntosh's Bluff
in August of 1802, and in the vicinity of what is now know as the town
of "Carson" on 31 July, 1805. The 1805 tax roll shows that he owned
640 acres of the first quality on the west side of the Tombigbee river opposite
the mouth of the cut-off, 1 house of 37 feet by 18 feet, three outhouses, 25
acres developed, $3 per acre, total assessed value $1920. He resided in the
Tombigbee River area of Alabama in 1806.
He purchased land from John Jacob Abner, whose original
claim was in 1797, on 16 March, 1804 in West Tombigbee, AL. Nearby neighbors
were Thomas Bates and Joseph Bates, near the confluence of the Alabama and
Tombigbee rivers. Thomas Bates may have been the father of Sarah Bates,
wife of a John Carson, Thomas Carson died in 1807 in Washington County, Alabama.
See "MAPS" - one of which shows the lower Tombigbee River area and
Thomas Carson's land.
A Thomas Carson was a juror at the superior court at McIntosh Bluff, Alabama in
September of 1802.
The wife of Thomas Carson was (15) Jane
"Jenny" CARSON ,
who claimed on 25 Oct., 1815 in the Mississippi Territory, Baldwin County (next
to Washington County and Mobile, AL) "Jane Carson of the county of Baldwin
in the Mississippi Territory maketh oath that she verily believes on the best
information, that the Negro woman named Miley belonging to the estate of her
late husband Thomas Carson, of the value of four hundred and fifty dolls. Was
taken by the hostile Indians, that she has never recovered her, and is persuaded
from such accounts as she fully relies upon, that she was killed on her attempt
to escape from the Creek (Indian) nation. Signed, Jane Carson. Sworn before me
one of the judges of the Mississippi Territy, this 25th octr., 1815,
Harry Toulmin. Also, a map from 1813, which appears in the book on the History
of Washington County, Alabama, shows that a "Mrs. Carson" had a home
on the Tombigbee River, a very few miles from the confluence with the
Alabama River, and the date marked by her name was "1813". This would
conform to Thomas Jr.'s death in 1807, and Joseph Carson's death in 1817.
On 19 Feb., 1807, the sheriff of Washington County, Alabama, captured Aaron
Burr, who was fleeing federal authority in relationship to his attempt to
establish an independent nation in Texas and what had been part of the Louisiana
Purchase. Burr had been Vice-President of the United States, and had
killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel. One of the sheriff's posse had
borrowed a canoe from Joseph Bates, Sr., at Nannahubba Bluff in Washington
County during the pursuit. Bates is believed to be the grandfather of
Sarah Bates, wife of John S. Carson, father of Nathan Franklin Carson. While
escorting Burr to Pensacola, Florida, the sheriff and captive crossed the
Tombigbee River on Mrs. Carson's ferry, near Mount Vernon.
Jane Carson appeared on the US census of 1810, the Alabama tax list of 1811, the
Mississippi Territory census, and the Alabama tax list of 1816, all in Baldwin
County, Alabama. In the census of 1816, the following were listed: 2 males over
21 years of age, two males under 21, one female over 21, 1 female under 21, and
seven slaves.
SIXTH GENERATION
(1425) Joseph CARSON was the son of Thomas Jr. CARSON and was born
in 1785, most likely in South Carolina.
He accomplished a lot during his youth, as he
would have been 32 years old at the time of his death, Captain Joseph CARSON received a pass from
Georgia to Mobile, AL on 4 May, 1801, through the Creek Nation from the Governor
of Georgia. On 11 Nov., 1802, Major Joseph Carson was issued a pass by the
Governor of Georgia to pass through the Creek Nation. On 18 June, 1806, he was
commissioned as an Attorney at Law in Washington County, Mississippi Territory
(now Alabama). On 5 April, 1808 he was issued a pass by the Governor of Georgia
to pass through the Creek Nation, having been recommended by Elijah Clarke. On 8
May, 1809 he was commissioned a Captain in the 6th regiment, Militia of
Washington County. If "Captain" Carson is the same as
"Colonel" Carson, he would have been only about 16 years old when he
received the pass to Mobile.
He was Trustee of a lottery before 1811 in Washington Co., AL. The lottery of
$5000 was to benefit the establishment of Washington Academy, located at St.
Stephens. He was a militia colonel in the First Mississippi Regiment, United
States Volunteers. He forced the evacuation of the Spanish post on the Perdido
River, 27 April, 1813. He was military commander of the territory between the
Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers, where was located Fort Glass and Fort Madison. He
fought the Creek Indians at their "Holy City" in 1812. He served under
General F.L. Claiborne from Dec. 27, 1812 as a Lieutenant Colonel until 30
April, 1813, when he was promoted to Colonel. He served then until 28
Feb., 1814. He received a salary of $75 per month plus $12 per month for forage.
He also had two private servants paid by the government. Serving under him was a
Private Joseph Carson - whose kinship is not known.
On 15 Oct., 1815, in Mobile AL, he made this claim: "I certify that about
the first of November last I was ordered by General Jackson with a detachment of
mounted gunmen under my command to form a junction with Major Woodruff of the
Third Regiment of U.S. Infantry near the ferry on the Perdido River between
Mobile and Pensacola and did form the junction with him as soon as possible he
had under his command about three hundred men of the Third Regiment and upward
of one hundred Choctaw Indian warriors. We were ordered to drive off all the
cattle found near the Perdido River to prevent the British and hostile Indians
(then in Pensacola) from getting them. I was informed by Major Woodruff that he
had previous to my arrival destroyed a large said boat at the Perdido ferry with
belongings of Francisco Suarez, a Spaniard by birth who then resided on the
American side of the Perdido River, and that he had orders from General Jackson
to destroy all the boats on that river. I afterwards destroyed conformably to
said orders a small canoe belonging to said Suarez worth about ten dollars, the
Choctaw Indians took of a number of small horses from that neighborhood. Some of
which were said to belong to the hostile Creek Indians and some to the said
Suarez, the said Francisco Suarez then and on several former occasions when I
was at his house professed to be much attached to the American government, and
submitted cheerfully to his losses as they were said to be necessary, but
expressed his hopes at the same time that he would be remunerated for his losses
by the American government ---Joseph Carson.
He was appointed Attorney General for counties west of the Pearl River on 1
April, 1813, but resigned on 28 Sept., 1817 due to declining health. He appeared
on the census in 1816 in Washington County, AL (Mississippi Territory Census of
1816). He died in 1817 in Washington Co., AL, as a result of a skirmish with
Indians and was buried in the Old St.
Stephens cemetery, Washington Co., AL. Caroline C. CARSON, wife of Col. Joseph
Carson, was executor of his estate. A descendent, professor William Waller Carson, who laid
out Carson Station (a town on the Southern Railway) in honor of his grandfather,
Col. Joseph Carson, visited his gravesite a couple of miles south of Old St.
Stephens, and about four or five miles northwest of Carson Station. He visited
in 1870 or 1873, and found it to be a desecrated and vandalized grave, located
in a heavily wooded area. The vault next to Joseph’s is supposed to be that of
his nephew, who had come back from Texas. (note- who could that be?)
His home was described as follows: "... a tract of good level land about
two miles out (of Old Saint Stephens). There is a large commodious house
and all convenient out buildings, something over 100 acres clear, good part
fresh land. The land is thin but level and kindly, well adapted to cotton.
... it was occupied by Col. Carson an attorney near Baldwin's ...".
In 1817, he had been appointed as one of the three
councilors of the new State of Alabama, but when the first Council met on 7
Feb., 1818, Joseph Carson had died. He signed a will on 18 April, 1817 in
Washington County, Mississippi Territory. The bulk of his estate went to his
wife, Caroline Charlotte (Green) Carson. Executors were brother-in-law James
Green and wife Caroline. Witnesses were Wm, Baldwin, Robert Catter, and B.
George Buchanan.
He was married to (54) Caroline Charlotte (Green) CARSON on 16 May, 1814 in Adams
Co., MS. She was born in 1794 in Adams County, Mississippi. She was
in Washington Co., AL on 7 April 1825. She signed a will on 7 July, 1831 in
Adams Co., MS, naming James Green Carson as an only child. She died after 7 July
1831 in Adams Co., MS. The only child of Joseph CARSON and Caroline Charlotte
(Green) CARSON was:
+47 James Green
CARSON MD
There was an illegitimate child of Joseph CARSON and (56) Mrs. Patsy (Brewer)
JOHNSON of Pascagoula, based on the last will and testament of Joseph
Carson, previously shown above.
Joseph stated in his will that his mother resided in Pascagoula, Mississippi,
which is close to Washington and Baldwin Counties, Alabama. She must have
moved there sometime after the death of Thomas Carson Jr.
2006 John (?) CARSON was born in 1786 in Abbeville Co., SC. His parents
were Thomas Jr. Carson and Jenny (or Jane) Carson. He appeared on the
census in 1810 and the Alabama tax list in 1811 in Baldwin Co., AL. A John
Carson was married to (62) Sarah (Bates) CARSON in McIntosh Bluff, Washington County, but
the last will and testament of Sarah Bates' father, Thomas Bates Jr., does not
mention John Carson. The will
also mentions a son of Sarah's that is not known to be a child of her marriage
to John. [see chapter 19 for more information on John (?) Carson]
1425 Joseph CARSON, Jr. appears in the
records although it is not possible to distinguish between the Joseph Carson
described as follows and Colonel Joseph Carson, described above. It is
known that his mother was Jane Carson, and the wife of Thomas Carson Jr. was a
"Jane". He appeared on the census in 1810 in Tensaw, AL. He was
in Baldwin Co., MS Territory on 24 Nov., 1815, and signed a petition concerning
loss of livestock by his mother, Jane (Jenny) in the War of 1812. His wife was
(75) Jane CARSON, who appeared on the census in 1810 in Tensaw, AL. It is
not known if they had any children. Joseph had served as a private in the
First Regiment of Mississippi Territory Volunteers under Brigadier General
Claiborne and Colonel Joseph Carson (kinship has not been proven) from 30 Nov.,
1812 to 2 March, 1814. He was paid $8 per month and for his horse he
received a total of $146, with a clothing allowance of $23.22. He was
posted in the Washington County and Mobile areas of (now) Alabama. He appeared
on the US census of 1810 and the Alabama census of 1811 in Baldwin County,
Alabama (now), listed as "Joseph Jun. Carson". On 22 Dec., 1815, he
was commissioned as lieutenant in the 6th regiment, Washington Militia.
2020 Ann (Carson) CHAMBERS was listed in vital records in 1814 in Baldwin Co.,
AL. She was married to (72) William BATES on 12 Feb., 1814 in Baldwin
Co., AL. She was the daughter of Thomas Jr. and Jane Carson. She later married a
Mr. Chambers, but nothing is known of him.
Thomas and Jane CARSON also had another son (2019) Thomas S. CARSON and two
other daughters, (2021) Sallie (Carson) HOLLINGER and (2022) Elizabeth CARSON.
Nothing is known of these children and it is possible that one or more died at
the massacre at Fort Mims.
In 1819 the St. Stephens newspaper listed a letter at the post office for Margaret
Carson and for Enock Carson. In 1820 there was a letter for
John B. Carson and in 1821 a letter for Hugh Carson.
In 1820, a Robert Carson was Justice of the Peace in Washington
County.
SEVENTH GENERATION
47 James Green
CARSON MD, was born on 8 March, 1815 in Washington County, Alabama, and whose daughter, Katherine (Carson)
BRECKENRIDGE married Clifton Rodes BRECKENRIDGE, member of Congress and Ambassador to Russia.
Upon the death of his father, Colonel Joseph Carson, his mother Caroline
Charlotte (Green) CARSON returned to her parents' home in Natchez, Mississippi
with James, then two years old. James Green was living in Tyler, Texas in 1847,
along with his uncle, Thomas S.(?) Carson. He died there on 11 Aug., 1863,
and is buried there.
[See chapter 2 for a continuation of the James Green Carson family]
In summary, there is a lot of information on the Carson family in the Tombigbee
area of Alabama in the early 1800's, but it is not possible to establish their
relationships!!!!
SOURCES:
1. "The History of
Washington County, Alabama", by Jacqueline Anderson Matte,
Washington County Historical
Society, Chatom, Alabama 36518.
2. "Frontier Claims in the Lower South", by
Richard S. Lackey, Polyanthos, New
Orleans, LA (1977).
3. Last Will and Testament
of Joseph Carson, dated 18 April, 1817.
4. "Encyclopedia of
Mississippi History", Volume I, Edited by Dunbar Rowland,
Madison, Wisconsin, Selwyn A. Brant,
1907.
5. Last Will and Testament of Caroline Charlotte Carson,
Adams County, Mississippi, 7 July,
1831. Certificate of Death #4026.
6. Military service records from the United States National
Archives, Washington, DC.
7. "Old St. Stephens Historical Records Survey".
Compiled by Jacqueline Anderson
Matte, Doris Brown, and Barbara Waddell.
St. Stephens Historic Commission.
8. "Family Records, 1845-1930, William Waller
Carson", LSU Library, Mss.2919
9. 1816 Baldwin County Mississippi Territory Census.
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