In the 1780s, after the Revolutionary War had ended and the United States became a reality, many soldiers were eager to redeem the land grants they had received. Others sold their grants and began moving west over the Allegheny Mountains, following early Kentucky pioneers such as Daniel Boone.–
During this period, several members of the Carter family settled in what is now Nelson County, particularly around the town of Boston. Among those who arrived were Nicholas Carter, his brother Barnabas, and others including Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego, Thomas, Samuel, and Benjamin Carter.
We know from old records that Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego were brothers. I have attempted to connect these three to Nicholas and Barnabas, but no definitive proof exists. At the very least, they were likely cousins.
This era of settlement was marked by frequent conflicts with Native Americans. Several stations (fortified settlements) were built in the Nelson County area, where the Carters likely took refuge. Thomas Carter lost his life in one of these battles.
Sometime between the end of the war and 1785, Nicholas Carter married a woman named Catherinah. I have been unable to find any marriage records, so it is possible they were married in Pennsylvania. They went on to have five children—three girls and two boys:
- Mary Carter, born in 1785, married Thomas Scott and moved to Indiana.
- Sarah Carter, born in 1790, married Thomas Spencer and also moved to Indiana.
- Nicholas Carter Jr., born in 1796, married Rachel Gardiner and settled in Nelson County.
- James Carter, born in 1798, married Mary Essex and settled in Nelson and Larue Counties.
- Jane Carter, born in 1800, married Seth Duncan and settled in Nelson County.
Nicholas’s brother, Barnabas Carter, moved to Nelson County around the same time. His Revolutionary War pension application, submitted on September 27, 1827, mirrors the testimony of Nicholas. In his statement, Barnabas reported that he was 71 years old, placing his birth around 1756. He lived with his wife and three children, owned 100 acres of land valued at approximately $30, and possessed one cow, seven hogs, and one horse. He was awarded a pension of $8 per month, which would be roughly equivalent to $164 per month in 2020.
Barnabas died in 1841 and was buried somewhere in Nelson County. Unfortunately, I have not found any records indicating the location of his grave. Further research into land deeds may reveal where his 100-acre property was located. In rural Kentucky at that time, it was common for people to be buried on their own land, as few formal cemeteries existed.
Although Barnabas was Nicholas’s brother rather than a descendant, I include him here due to the interesting story of one of his well-known neighbors—details of which I will share in a future post. You won’t want to miss that one.