Joseph Carter

Joseph Carter

"Carter, J., Bear Lake p.o., Freehold, was born in Columbia county, N.Y., in 1829, and settled in Warren county in 1838. He was married in 1854 to Mary Howles, by whom he had a family of twelve children, eleven of whom are now living. Mr. Carter enlisted in the Eighty- second Pennsylvania Regiment, was captured and taken prisoner at Shenandoah Valley by Mosby, but with one other man made his escape. The rest were never heard from; (he) was again captured on the Weldon Railroad by Willcox's brigade of sharpshooters, December 31, 1864, and remained a prisoner in Pemberton and Libby prisons, Richmond, forty- seven days. He has been an almost constant sufferer from chronic diarrhoea, rheumatism and a kind of scrofulous sore on his leg."


"History of Warren County", J.S. Schenck & W.S. Rann, Syracuse, New York: D. Mason, 1887

Joah Carter 1786-1871

Joah Carter was born the 3rd of April, 1786 in Ripponden, Yorkshire, England the son of William Carter and Elizabeth Riley.  He married Elizabeth Mitton in Halifax, Yorkshire, England on the 5th of March 1810.  

The couple had the following children:

1. Hannah Carter, b. 24 Jun 1810, Ripponden,Yorkshire,England, married James McFarlane
2. Elizabeth Carter b. 1812, Ripponden,Yorkshire,England, married Stephen Crouch
3. Mary Carter b. Jan 1815, Yorkshire, England, married Stephen Mercer, d. 29 Jan 1899, Onondaga Valley, NY.
4. John Carter b. 1818 - went to sea and last heard of was on a ship trading between the East & West Indies.
5. Priscilla Carter b. 1821, Yorkshire, England, d. 07 Apr 1897, Lakewood, Chautauqua, NY.
6. Maria Carter b. 24 Dec 1822, Yorkshire, England, d. 11 Oct 1890, Gowanda, NY.
7. Mitten Carter b. 1824, d. 1833 Columbia County, NY.
8. Joseph Carter b. 12 Feb 1829, Hudson, Hudson Valley, Columbia Co, NY, married Mary Howles Jan 19, 1854, d. 07 Jul 1889, Bear Lake, Freehold Township, Warren, PA.
9. Joshua Carter b. 21 Dec 1830, Columbiaville, Columbia Co, NY, d. 30 Dec 1905, Shawnee Co, Kansas 

Sometime between 1824 and 1829 the Joah Carter family immigrated to the United States settling in Columbia County, New York. Joseph and Joshua Carter were born in New York. 

Carter Farm - Barns - Warren County, PA

In about 1838 the family moved to Freehold Township in Warren County, Pennsylvania.  Joah and his family settled on a tract of uncleared land and this was his home for 28 years.  

Joah Carter and Family 1850 census - Pennsylvania

As mentioned in earlier posts, Joah Carter became very active in the Underground Railroad.  He gave money to the cause, and serving as a Station Master provided a haven for escaping slaves - risking is own life and property for the cause.  His son, Joseph Carter, further contributed toward the abolition of slavery.  Joseph joined the Union Army on the 26th of August 1863 - the very day his daughter, Nellie (Ellen) Carter was born. Joseph served for almost 23 months - participating in 14 regular engagements before being taken prisoner to the notorious Libby Prison.  

Joah Carter and the Mary Carter Mercer Family - 1870 census 

Joah must have been thrilled when the Emancipation Proclamation became a reality at the end of the Civil War.  In about 1866, he and Elizabeth returned to the Onoudaga Valley of New York to live with their daughter, Mary Carter Mercer.  Joah died there on the 13th of April 1871.  A life well-lived.  

Veteran's Day

We have extensive document military service for the Upton / Carter families beginning with Benjamin Upton.

He ran away from home (Maryland) as a teenager and enlisted for service in the War of 1812 in Ohio.  He was born about 1793 and after the war ended he moved to Pennsylvania where he married Ellen McCray and raised a family.  He died the 3rd of March 1877 and is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery near Garland, PA.

Benjamin's son, James Upton (1834-1877) served with Company I of the 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry in the Civil War.  He too is is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery near Garland, PA.

Lastly, Joseph Carter (1829-1889), father-in-law of James Monroe Upton (1863-1943) also served in the Civil War in Company B of the Pennsylvania 82nd.  He is buried Bear Lake Cemetery, Warren Township, PA.  

We are most fortunate as a family to have a privately publish manuscript with the Civil War letters Joseph wrote his wife Nellie (Ellen) Carter, and those she wrote to him in return.  Their love and respect for each other is omnipresent, as is the suffering and sacrifice which each made.