Prayer Book of Captain Thomas Carter of Barford, Lancaster County, VA

Editor’s Notes:
• Original Prayer Book at Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia
• Handwriting recording births and marriages of Capt. Thomas Carter was assumed to
be his, but later marriages occurred after his death. This oldest handwriting will be
identified as “First Author”
• Editor arranged information in chronological order, as much as possible.
• Transcription of Prayer Book of Captain Thomas Carter of Lancaster County,
Virginia
Born: circa 1630, London, England
Died: 1700, Barford Estate, Lancaster County, Virginia
• Passed down to son Thomas Carter, Jr.
Born: June 4, 1672, Lancaster County, VA
Died: September 30, 1733, Lancaster, County, VA
• Passed down to son Peter Carter
Born: 1706, Lancaster County, VA
Died: circa 1790

Transcription:
[First Author]
Tho: Carter His Book
--1669 --
[Second Author]
Thomas Carter Gent. His Book
Lancaster County Virginia

[Births recorded by First Author]

Edward ye eldest Sonne of Tho: & Kathn Carter was born on ye 9h Ap’ll 1671 of Sunday
at 8 aClock in ye Morng and was baptz on Sunday the 30h. Mr John Carter, Mr Edwn
Conaway & Mr Edw: Dale Gdfathrs & Mrs Diana Dale & Msz Lettys Corbyn G’dMothrs.
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
Thomas Carter son of Thomas was Born on the 4th day of June 1672 betw’n 3 & 4 aclock
in ye Morng and was Baptzd att ye new Church Augt 5th. Captn John Lee, Mr Th: Hayne,
ye Lady Ann Skipworth & Elizh Dale godparts.
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
John 3d son was bornd ye 8th May 1674 and bapd Sunday ye 24h and had for God parents
Coll. Jno: Carter, Mr Jno Stretchley and Mrs Ball
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
Henry Skipwith, 4 sonn Tho. & Kath. Carter Born of a Wedn the 7h June & was
th d dy

baptzd att Home by Rev Mr Dogette on Sunday aftr Service ye 18th. Capn Wm Ball, Capn
David Fox and Mrs Srah Fleete standing
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
Diana y Eldest Daugh Th: & Kathn Carter was born on the last Day of Apll 1678 near 5
e r

in the Aftrnoone and Christnd on Sunday 12 of May by Mr Doggett when was Entertaind
a large Company. Mrs Diana Dale, Mrs Mary Willys & Capn Ball God parents. She
Departd this Life of a Putrid Soar Throate at ye age of 2 yeares and 3 days.
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
W & Nich twinn sonnes of Tho: Carter born 2 Nov 1679 and dyed on the 11th and 12th
m o d r

July 1680 of a Cholrey.

___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
Elizabeth 2d Dauter was Bornd 4h day of Feby 1680 about Sunrise & weighd 11 lbs.
Baptzd at St Marys Sunday 15 May Mrs Margaret Ball, Mrs Elizabeth Rogers & Captain
Ball standing for her.
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
Daniel son of Thomas & Katharin Carter born 22d Oct’br 1682 and died on the 30h of a
Fit.
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
James 8 sonn was Borne on Christ Day 1684 it being Thursday at 2 in the morng &
th mas

was Chrisnd at Home on Sundy. Mr. Jno Edwards, Mr Tho. Wilkes & Mrs Edwards
standing as God parts.
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
Katharine 3 Dau. was born at 6 aclock Easter Morning 4 Ap 1686 Bapd on Whit-Sundy
d h l

Mr David Fox Mrs Hannah Fox & Mrs Sarah Perrotte Gdpts.
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
Peter 9th Son was Born near Midnight 23d May 1688 & Baptzd on 3d June Mr Edwin
Conaway, Mr Tho. Dudly & Mrs Ann Chowning standing.
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
Joseph Youngest son born Friday 28 Nov 1690 & Christ at home on 10th Decr Mr Robt
r nd

Carter & Mr Joseph Ball Godfathrs & Mrs Judith Carter Godmother.

[Death of Edward Dale, father-in-law in Capt. Thomas Carter’s handwriting]

Mr. Edw: Dale Departd this life on ye 2d Day Feb: 1695 and Mrs Diana Dale on ye last day
of July.

Hic Despositum
Spe Certe Resurgendi in christo
quicquid habuit Mortale
EDWARDUS DALE, ARMIGER.
Tandem hornorum et Dierum Obiit
20 Feby: Anno Dom: 1695.

He descended from an Ancient Family

in England & came into ye Colly
of Virga after the Death of his Unhappy
Master Charles First.
For above 30 years he enjoyed
various Employments of Public Trust
in ye Coty of Lancaster wch he
Dischred wth great Fidelity & Satisfacn.
to the Governor & People.
As neighbor—Father—Husband he Ex
celled and in early yeares Crownd
his other Accomplishments by a
Felicitous Marriage
wth Diana ye daughter of sr Henry Skypwith
of Preswold in ye Coty of Leicester Bart
who is left a little while to Mourn him.

[Death of Capt. Thomas Carter and wife Katherine in Thomas Carter, Jr’s handwriting]
Thomas Carter Senr Departed this life on the 22d of October 1700 Aged about 70 years.
Catharine Carter Departed this life the 10th Day of May 1703 in the 51st Year of her Life.

[Marriages of children recorded by Capt. Thomas Carter]

Elizabeth Carter was Mard to 2dm George on Wednesday the 15 June 1698.
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
e e h
Kath Carter was married to Jno: Lawson on y 16 June 1703
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
d d br r
James Carter was mar ye 3 Oct 1715 to Hannah Neale dau . to Danl Neal
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
d e e m
Peter Carter was mar y 23 Sept 1712 to Kath Rogers dau to --- W Rogers.
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
e th
Henry Carter & Ann Davis was married y 6 day of May 1701.
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
r
Joseph Carter & Ann Pines was married on 23 Dec 1713.
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
d t
James Carter & Mary Brent was mar on 12 Aug 1724.
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
r d e
Tho: Carter Jnn & Arabella Williamson was Mar on y 22 Augt 1695
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________
John Carter & Frances Ball was married on Tuesday the 21 Day Novbr 1698
st

___________ _____________ ___________ ____________

Edward Carter of y co of Lancs & Eliz Thornton Dau: to M . W . Thornton of ye
e ty ter h r m

Coty of Gloucstr was mard 3d June 1697. It being a Thursday.

Edward & Elizh Carter had daur Margt born 1t June 1698—Judith born 22d June 1702—
Katha 1 Feb: 1699/1700 & son Thomas Born 1 Feb: 1699/1700-- in Gloucester att Mr Wm
Thorntons
And Edward born Augt 1704 & Elizh Born 8 May 1706 in Lancaster to this ---
___________ _____________ ___________ ____________

With this Book pr Rv Mr John Shepperd on Wednsday ye 4h Day of May 1670—was Mard
Mr Thomas Carter of Barford in ye County of Lancaster in Virga & Katherine Dale ye
eldest Daughr of Mr Edw: Dale ye same County.

[Second Author]
Francis the loving dear Wife of John Carter and Dau. of Mr. Joseph Ball and Elizabeth
his Wife Departed this Life at 5 mins to 8 a clock in the Morning of ye 3d day of Sept
1699 three hours after she was delivd of a Son in the 18th year of her life. And was buried
on the 5h day at St Marys White Chapell attended by an affectionate and sorrowing
Husband and a large concorse of Relatives and friends.
Joseph Ball Carter followed his mother to the Grave on the 1st Day of July 1700 of a flux
and was burd at So. Marys on ye 2d.

[Recorded by Peter Carter]

January 14th 1777. Today came a letter from Edward Carter of Lancaster with the
intelligence that my Brother Mr. Dale Carter Departed this Life on the 12th Day
December last and our cousin 10 days earlier [Thomas Carter written in margin]. Now
indeed am I the last of my generation—the lone leaf on the tree waiting the last frost.

Ye Datte of this Holy Book is at it stands from the printer as follows MDCLXII [1662] in
the year of my God 1775 and in ye year of my Nattral Life 69.
Romans ye 10 Chap & 9 vers. If thou shalt confess with thine mouth the Lord Jesus; and
shall Believe in thin heart tht God hath Rased him from the Dead thou shalt be saved.
Romans ye 10 & 9 vers my Natral Life 82 in ye year of my God 1788.
Peter Carter
in the year 1788 & in ye year my Life 82. 58 years last May Day [May 1, 1730] I was
Married to Judith Norris who passed on ye 15h day May 1765. We was Blest with 9 sons
and 4 daughters viz.—Dale & Thomas on ye 24h April 1731. Judy on ye 2d Novm 1732.
Job on ye 1st Jan’y 1734. Joseph on ye 4th September 1736. Arabella Catharine on ye
17th August 1738. Solomon on ye 25 Septr. 1739. Frances Ball on ye 8h Jan’y 1741.
Peter on ye 9th March 1743. Sarah on ye 16h June 1744. Daniel on ye 22d Dec. 1746 ye
same Day and year as Danl son of my cozen Robert Carter. Norris on 8h November 1748
and George on 15 March 1757. of which Thomas, Joseph Peter, Norris, George, Frances
and Sarah are now living. George with me Peter in Amherst and the others on Clinch.

Robert Carters children born William born 1st May 1745, Daniel 22 Decmbr 1746, Robert
14 Febry 1748, Mary 21 May 1750, Jedisah 29 July 1752, Milly 22 May 1755, Henry 28
Janry 1757, John Novmbr 1758, Winny Born Decm 4 1762, Fredn 28 July 1767. These
Dattes give me by Henry Carter.

Mrs Hannah Carter departed the Life on 9th Octo. 1722 and left a sorriful husband and 4
tender children Tho. Danl Presly & Hannah

Job Carter past to his Reward the 8h Novem 1782.

Solomon Carter on 28h day September 1786.

[Third Author]
James Davis & Mary Elizabeth Carter married December 25, 1738
Children
Jno: Fielding born Jany 1, 1740
James C. born March 5, 1741
Benjamin born Jany 10, 1743
Elizabeth born Feby 22, 1745
Snead born May 16, 1748
Wm Dale born August 26, 1750
Mary born May 24, 1753
Felix Carter born April 27, 1755
Charles Edwin born Oct. 22, 1758
Thomas Wyatt born Nov 30, 1761
_____________

Thomas Davis & Susanah Hieatt was married May 1, 1783

Children
Elizabeth born Oct. 16, 1784
Mary Carter born Dec 22, 1786
Fielding born May 9, 1789 in Caintucky

Birth Record
Tho: Davis son of Jno: & Susannah born August 8 1693

Sarah Davis dau of Ewd: fielding Esqr born May 12th 1695
Children
Ewd Fielding Davis born May 6, 1718
James C. Davis born Nov 3, 1719
Wm Davis born April 30, 1727
Susanah Davis born Sept 9, 1729
Richd Davis born June 15, 1725
John Davis born July 3, 1723

__________ ___________
[First Author]
Children of Jos & Catharine Carter
Thomas Carter was born May 8, 1720
Mary Elizth Carter was born Dec 2, 1721
Ewd Dale Carter was born June 2, 1723
John Carter was born June 8, 1725
George Carter was born Dec 18, 1728
Elizabeth Carter was born Sept 20, 1731
Joseph Cater } was born May 3, 1733
Catharine Cater }
Robert Carter was born Aug 22, 1735