Luckin Link
Marriage certificates
Census Records
Baptism Records
Leslie Carter
 

The Carter Family History Pages.

 

 

In the next few pages you will see the work that I have carried out with the help of my Father.

The Carter Family History 2005

My father first got me interested in the research of our family history two years ago in 2001. While talking about our family history I mentioned that it would be a good idea to try to go back a bit further in time. During the research I am indebted to my Father for the way that he has helped me with the research and explaining to me who people were all those generations ago as well as contributing to the history that we have together now updated.
My father (Leslie Bernard) had put together in 1994 what we all thought at the time was a very impressive family history. Up until 2003 no one in the family had really thought of going in to the history in more detail and checking some basic facts from information that has been around since the early 1800's.
When I started to get involved with the help of my Father, research tools available on a modern PC was quite unbelievable. I started by looking at the 1901 census. This we found to be very useful in that we could check all the facts that my father had put on paper and found them all to be true. However what we did not realize is the can of worms that we were about to open by moving back to the 1881 census on the Church of the Latter day Saints web site.
My father knew through records that his dad (Harold) was one of 5 children born to Amos and Alice Carter. We all thought that Amos was the only son of Henry and Harriett Carter. How wrong you can be. Henry and Harriett had in all 5 children. Four sons and a daughter. Whilst investigating the history it became quite apparent that the family could be traced back as far as Henry's granddad a John Carter to probably the 1770's. I traced this far back by some good fortune on the Internet where I found the Ashurst Historical society. I made contact with a man called Don Cox who then put me in touch with a Mary Churchill who had done extensive research into the Carter family history. Her connection with the Carters comes through William's Sister Elizabeth (John and Frances Daughter). A copy of her original letter to me is on the Photos page (3)
The revised history to go along with the wonderful album that my father put together is as follows.
Links down through the tree of the direct line are shown in Red. I hope that you all enjoy reading what is in effect your history. Let me know if you see any glaring mistakes or if you have any more information

Rob Carter

 

John Carter

John Carter was born around 1770. We do not know where he was born or exactly when he was born. We do know that he Married a Frances Iford. We have a strong incline that he was born in and around the Newport area of the Isle of Wight. To date we have not found any of his records. We do not know what his profession was but that he may well have travelled. John Carter may have lived to quite a old age. He was still alive in 1856 as we have a record of him being at Henry and Harrietts Marriage. This would make him 70 to 80 years old.
 

William Carter

The son of John and Frances. He was born in 1800 but we are not sure where. He may well have been born in West Sussex or the Isle of Wight. He was Baptized in Ashurst which makes us think that he was born in the former rather than the latter. His Baptism record shows that he was the son of John Carter and Mary Iford of West Grinstead, West Sussex. He married Anne. (date unknown) but tragically she died at a very early stage of their Marriage. William Re-marriedto Elisabeth Brock. They were both found to be living at Malthouse Lane in Ashington on the 1851 census. Henry was the son of Williams first Marriage. Elisabeth and William had 3 daughters and a son. William was by trade a Carpenter.

 

Henry Carter


Henry was born in 1828 the son of William and Anne. He was baptized in the parish of Shipley in 1832. The abode put down for William and Anne on Henry's baptism . certificates is of Newport Isle of Wight. This would tie in with the idea of Williams father (John) having moved around. By 1851 he had left the household and we know that he had met his future wife as I have found documentation of both Henry and Harriett being witnesses to Harriett's sisters Wedding. Harriett's maiden name was Coleman. This as you will see later on as the tree unfolds was quite a coincidence. This document was dated 1855 April 22nd.
Henry and Harriett were married on March 21 st 1856 at the parish Church of West Grinstead. There is a strange thing on their marriage certificate in that John Carter not William was put down as his father. Whether this was to do with his Mother having died and his father William was remarried by this time is quite unkown. We have a record of Henry and Harriett in the 1861 census living at East Land at Billingshurst. They had Amos and Jane with them by then. In the 1871 they are recorded on the census at that time as residing at College Wood in Ashurst, College wood was owned by the Wiston Estates, indeed all the places that Henry and Harriett lived were owned by the Wiston Estates. From this we can assume that Henry was a Tenant Farmer. He ran some fairly substantial farms Harriett and Henry had 5 Children
Amos, Jane, William, James and Arthur. William, James and Arthur can all be traced back Through the census documents available. However Jane either got married in which case the marriage certificate needs to be found or she died.
Our line comes through Amos and it is this line that we will be concentrating on.
Henry and Harriett lived at College Wood until at least 1881 and indeed they may have moved anytime between the intervening 10 years. BY 1891 they are now living at Upper Buncton Farm. They moved again in the next 10 years as the 1901 census shows them living at Beggars Bush Farm in Ashurst again for the Wiston Estates. Henry Died in 1905, four years after the census. Harriett followed him that very same year. Henry was 77 years old when he died. He had lived all his life we think as a Sussex Farmer. Henry we believe gave up his tenancy of Beggars Bush farm at Michelmas in 1905, to a Robert Tweed. At the time of his death the burial register shows "from "Beggars Bush, died in the union".
This would mean that Henry Died in a work house.

Henry Carter

Harriett Carter

 

Amos Carter

Amos was the first son born to Henry and Harriett Carter. Amos was born in 1857 in West Grinstead, West Sussex. His baptism record shows that he was baptized on February 26th 1857 in the parish of West Grinstead. This would tie in with Henry and Harriett having been married and either living or working a farm. Amos was still living at home in College wood with his parents at the time of the 1881 census. His occupation at this time was a farmer's son, which we presume meant that he was helping his father on his farm. Amos married Alice (nee Luckin) . Their Wedding certificate has shown us that they were married on 24th September 1883 at the parish Church of Wiston The witnesses at their Wedding were Amos's sister Jane and a Mr John Bristow. My father has a record of the bible given to her by the rector of Wiston a Rev Charles W A Napier on that date. He also has a wedding list made up for their wedding. On this list are names of the guests and what they gave them. Among the names that are relevant is the surname of Wells and Bristow. We almost certainly think that Alice and Fanny were maybe orphaned at an early age and were maybe left money in trust. The 1881 census tells us that Alice and Fanny were living with John and Mary Wells at the time. At the time of the 1881 census they were all living at Abbotts farm in Wiston. Alice the census informs us was born in Washington West Sussex. Alice had strong ties with the Bristow family and the Wells family.
We also know from my Fathers records that Alice was lending large sums of money after she 'was married. We have records of Alice lending money to John Wells (see above) her guardian for nearly £1000.00, not small amounts, to people whose average weekly wage would have been maybe £1.00 per week. Through the old chequebooks my father has we have a record of Alice signing cheques for people for amounts that at the time would have been a years money.How she came into money like this we will never know (see Luckin Link). Could it have been her connections with the Bristow or the Wells family? Amos was now a farm bailiff and traveling Sussex with his family. We know this because the 1901 census shows Amos living at Dunsboro farm with his wife Alice and their 5 Children. Marion and Charles both born in Ashurst. Harold (my fathers father) and Leslie born in Buxted and Gladys born in Shipley (Batts). We know from my fathers records that Gladys and Leslie were both born at a famous house called Batts near Steyning although the records show different. Batts however contains another link to another Carter Family as you can see by Mary Churchills letter. We know that Amos had a carriage licence with the address Batts on it dated late 1800's a copy of which is in the original family history and picture page (4). but we also have a letter from solicitors acknowledging the rent paid for a half year. The link after Amos moved from Batts was quite significant because when Amos left Batts as one Carter family left another Carter family from London moved there.
Amos Carter in 1880 was fined 10/- with 13/- costs, for taking a pheasant in the prohibited season on land belonging to the Rev John Goring (Wiston Estates). A fuller report was published in the West Sussex Gazette for October 14th 1880. Please read the original document that has been photocopied (1)
Alice died at an early age of 45 June 28th 1906. She was buried in a churchyard in Keston in Kent. Amos died August 24th 1920 buried in Sompting Abbotts churchyard in Sompting, West Sussex.

Amos Carter

Alice Carter

 

Harold Carter

Harold was the third son born to Amos and Alice. Harold was born June 3rd 1883 in Buxted West Sussex. Harold and Mary Robinson (Dublin) were married and had a son Bernard (my Father). Born 13th May 1928. Harold, like lots of young men of that time fought in the 1 st World War. We think that he may have been in the West Sussex Regiment and was maybe assigned to a transport corp. Certainly his Brother Leslie was in the Royal Sussex regiment. Leslie died during the War and is commemorated at the Royal Sussex Regiment Chapel in Chichester West Sussex.. A plaque with his number is there. He is also commemorated in the Chapel at Findon, West Sussex. There is also the Commonwealth War graves commission where he is remembered in France. Harold survived the War and returned to life as a "Carter" driving a horse and cart from Brighton to Worthing. He then went to work on the railway as a platelayer. As far as we know he worked on the railway until he retired. Harold lived most of his life in Lancing ,West Sussex. Mary was of Irish descent. We cannot trace back her line or seem to gain any useful information. Mary used to work as a cleaner to earn extra money for the family.
Harold died June 3rd 1969 aged 76 and Mary died September 17th 1986 aged 87.


Harold during the first World War

Mary Carter

Harold Carter

Harold at Home

 

Bernard Carter

I am not going to try to tell my fathers story. I do not think I can do justice to some one that I have looked up to for all these years. My father wrote an abridged version of his and my Mums story so far in the wonderful family history book he kindly gave to us all as children. What I will say is that my Mother and Father have given all their children and grandchildren nothing but love over the years. My Mum and Dad were not wealthy but we never went without. They both worked extremely hard for all four of us. My dad often tied down two jobs for the sake of the family. I can also say that I feel very lucky to have two parents that I adore and respect for what they have done for me during my life.
My Mum and Dad were married on September  1952. They had four children. Susan, Robert, Anthony & Tracy.
They have lived all their married life in Shoreham-by-sea, in West Sussex. My Dad had a variety of Jobs. He started on the Railways ,like his father, at Lancing carriage works . He then worked in a variety of jobs from major road schemes to going back to work for British Rail for a time. My dad has always had a love for the railways and is a keen model engineer enthusiast.
My Mum worked mainly in the retail business. She got an interest in Scounting when my brother and I were in the cubs. Today she still continues to be involved even though she is past retirement age and of something which has been in her blood for such a long time she cares passionately about it. On the picture page is two pictures taken some 8 years apart of Mum and Dad's Clan. Please look at pictures 5 & 6

Mum and Dad's Wedding Day

My Mum's Mother (Amelia) and Dad (Horace)with her sister Gloria and family friend Brenda as Bridesmaids. My Dad with Mary and Harold with Dads best Man Doug.