John Carter (1850)

Born 1850 in Blackheath, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Mary Jane (Troman) Carter — married 27 Apr 1873 in Halesowen, Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

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Biography

John Carter was born in 1850 at Blackheath, Rowley Regis, Staffordshire, the son of William Carter and Emma Bent. ^[1]

In the 1851 census John was living with his parents William and Emma [written as Emah in this census] Carter at Blackheath. He was aged 8 months. Of interest his father was working as a brick layer. ^[2]

The family was still living in Blackheath in 1861. John was aged 10 and attending school. ^[3]

In 1871 John was living with his widowed mother at High St, Blackheath. Aged 20, he was working as a brick layer. ^[4]

John Carter married Mary Jane Troman/s on 27 April 1873 at St. John’s Church in Halesowen, Worcestershire. Their marriage certificate recorded John was a bachelor aged 21 years and a bricklayer. His father was named as William Carter, a bricklayer. Mary was a spinster aged 19 years and a rivetmaker. Her father was named as John Tromans, a gas tube maker. Both gave their residence at the time of marriage as The Hill. Their witnesses were Reuben and Elizabeth Parkes, Mary’s sister and her husband.
It should be noted the church clerk wrote Mary’s surname as Tromans, as he did with her fathers surname, but she clearly signed her name as Troman. ^[5]

Known children of this couple were Emmeline Elizabeth Carter born 1 June 1874, William Carter born 1875, Emma Jane Carter born 4 November 1876, Louisa Carter born 1879, Walter Carter born 13 March 1881 and Florence Carter born c1890. Emmeline, William and Walter were all born at Oldbury, Worcestershire, Emma and Louisa at Blackheath, Staffordshire and Florence in New York, USA.

In the 1881 census John and Mary were residing at 31 Birmingham Road, Oldbury. John, aged 30, was working as a bricklayer. Mary was aged 28. Elizabeth [sic] was aged 6, William aged 5, Emma aged 4, Louisa aged 2 and Walter aged 3 weeks. ^[6]

The family immigrated to the US in 1883. The family, excluding John, departed from Liverpool aboard the S S Ohio and arrived in Philadelphia on 11 January 1883. Ship records stated Mary J was aged 30, Elizabeth was aged 8, William was aged 6, Emma J was aged 4, Louisa was aged 2 and Walter was an infant. ^[7]

It is assumed John travelled ahead to find work and accommodation.

Mary and four of their children returned to England aboard the City of Paris, sailing from New York to Southampton, arriving on 3 October 1894. Mary J was then aged 40, Lizzie [sic] aged 19, Emma aged 17, Walter aged 11 and Florence aged 3. ^[8]

It is uncertain when John and William returned to England but it has been confirmed that both did so. However no further information has been found about Louisa and accordingly it is believed she probably died in the US. Further, in the 1911 census, Mary stated of her 6 children one child was then deceased.

In the 1901 census the Carter family was living at Park St, Cakemore, Worcestershire. John, aged 50, was still working as a bricklayer. Mary was aged 46, Emmeline was aged 26 and Florence was aged 10. ^[9]
William, Emma and Walter were all then married and living at separate addresses.

Of interest when Mary's father John Troman wrote his will in 1907 he made the following stipulation to exclude John Carter from inheriting if Mary had died before her father - I also declare that in case of the death of my said daughter Mary Jane Carter in my lifetime leaving lawful issue her surviving such issue shall take equally between them if more than one share and share alike as tenants in common the share which my said daughter Mary Jane Carter would if living have taken under this my will But in case of the death of either of my other before named daughters in my lifetime leaving her present husband her surviving I declare that such husband shall take the share which his deceased wife would if living have taken under this my Will. ^[10]

John Carter returned to live in New York, date unknown.

In the 1911 census Mary was living on her own at 2 Highfield Road, Blackheath, Rowley Regis. Aged 57, she stated she was still married. She was working for herself as a grocer from home. ^[11]

On 10 June 1911 Mary sailed from Liverpool aboard the Lusitania, arriving in New York on 16 June 1911. US Immigration recorded that her nearest relative living in the UK was her brother Alfred Tromans of Birmingham. Mary intended to live with her husband John Carter at 141st Street, Southern Boulevard, New York. Physically Mary was described as 5 feet, 4 inches in height, with a fair complexion, black hair and green eyes. ^[12]

Daughter Florence returned to New York in 1913. She travelled with Ethel Parkes, daughter of Frederick James Parkes, the son of Mary's sister Elizabeth. They sailed aboard the St Paul, leaving Southampton on 1 January and arriving on 10 January 1913. They both gave US Immigration the name of their nearest relative in the UK as R. Parkes of 26 Park St, Blackheath, Ethel's paternal grandfather and Florence's uncle. Ethel was returning home to her parents at 3830 White Plains Ave, Bronx and Florence to her mother at 345 Concord Ave, Bronx. Florence, a servant aged 22 years, was described as being 5 feet, 2 inches with a fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. ^[13]

Mary and Florence returned to England, sailing from New York aboard the Adriatic and arriving in Liverpool on 16 August 1914. Mary was aged 60 and Florence aged 24. ^[14]

Mary Jane Carter died in 1926 aged 72 years. ^[15]

From the 1927 Index of Wills and Administrations – CARTER Mary Jane of 7 New John-street Blackheath Staffordshire widow died 14 September 1926 Probate London 17 January to Alfred John Troman retired pottery worker. Effects £82 16s. 6d. ^[16]

Her will read -
THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me MARY JANE CARTER of 28 John Street Black Heath Birmingham in the County of Stafford made this day of October 2nd in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twenty three
I hereby revoke all Wills by me at any time heretofore made
I appoint my brother Alfred John Troman to be my EXECUTOR and I direct all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses shall be paid as soon as possible after my decease
I hereby give and bequeath unto Alfred John Troman upon trust all my worldly goods and money to pay and divide the balance unto my daughters Emmeline Elizabeth Pearson and Emma Jane Strong and Florence Oxley In addition I bequeath my gold watch and chain to my daughter Florence Oxley after paying funeral expenses
Mary Jane Carter
Signed published and declared by the said testatrix as and for her last will and testament in presence of us who at her request in her presence and in the presence of each other have here unto subscribed our names as witnesses: A J Troman and A Churchill ^[17]

When and where John Carter died is unknown.

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp
   GRO Birth Index
   CARTER, JOHN Mother's maiden name BENT
   GRO Reference: 1850 S Quarter in DUDLEY Volume 18 Page 294
2. ↑ 1851 census HO107/2028 100 Pg 36
3. ↑ 1861 census RG9/2038 39 Pg 36
4. ↑ 1871 census RG10/2993 42 Pg 39
5. ↑ FamilySearch - Church of England. St. John's Church (Halesowen, Worcestershire)
   Viewed at a Family History Centre
6. ↑ 1881 census RG11/2839 10 Pgs 13 & 14
7. ↑ Find My Past - Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Passenger Lists, 1800-1948
8. ↑ Ancestry.com. UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.
9. ↑ 1901 census RG13/2752 64 Pg 10
10. ↑ Copied from the Will of John Troman
11. ↑ 1911 census RG14PN17360 RG78PN1064 RD372 SD1 ED11 SN96
12. ↑ https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/passenger-details/czoxMjoiMTAxMTQ2MTIwNDk5Ijs=/czo4OiJtYW5pZmVzdCI7
13. ↑ https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/passenger-details/czoxMjoiMTAwNTQ2MDIwMTYwIjs=/czo4OiJtYW5pZmVzdCI7
14. ↑ Ancestry.com. UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.
15. ↑ https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp
    GRO Death Index
    CARTER, MARY JANE Age at death 72
    GRO Reference: 1926 S Quarter in DUDLEY Volume 06B Page 757
16. ↑ https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills
17. ↑ Copy of Will from above