The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Photos displayed courtesy of Scott Giltner, KYSSAR
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Author: James Edward Mitchell
Christopher McCarter, militiaman enlisted in South Carolina (SC) company of Horse Dragoon militia raised for York District during 1780; served tours totaling 60 days and, discharged in 1782.
Patriot #: P-336594
Christopher’s parents were Scots-Irish Presbyterian Abraham McCarthy McCarter (1738-1798), a native of County Down, Northern Ireland and Elizabeth Carson, born 1730 at Chester County (Co.) Pennsylvania (PA), a daughter of Samuel Carson and Sarah; see, Chester County Wills recorded at Chester Co., Archives -Pennsylvania Wills, 1713-1825, “Samuel Carson” dated, 28 Aug 1766, Proved 16 Oct 1766, daughter (dau.) Elizabeth McCarter, wife of Abraham -2 shillings and, see: US and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, “Abraham Mccarter” Spouse, Elizabeth Carson, Yr.: 1756, Number Pgs.: 26.
Christopher’s mother, Elizabeth married (m.) Abraham McCarter in 1756 either at Pennsylvania or the Carolina Piedmont, presently York County (Co.) SC. Christopher was a 3rd surviving child, born on 27 Jul 1758 to his parent’s holy Presbyterian union.
Revolutionary War for the SC Piedmont (Upcountry) was contemptuously hard-fought after three (3) separate British Crown assaults were led 1st by British LieutCol. (Cavalry) Banastre Tarleton at Buford’s (Virginia Continentals -Waxhaws) Massacre 29 May 1780, and two more by Lord Charles Cornwallis. Obviously, (SC) Whig militia recruited early in 1780 Christopher McCarter, age 21-2 to enlist in a militia company of Horse Dragoon raised for [York District, (present-day, Clover, SC)] not too distant from the Kings Mountain action on 7 Oct 1780. Christopher’s company logically would have been ordered raised by Col. (later, BrigGen’l.) Thomas Sumter the Commanding Officer for [New Acquisition District Regt., (York Co.), militia] led by LieutCol. Andrew Neel with 12 known companies after the victorious British assault and Waxhawsmassacre. Source, The American Revolution in South Carolina, The Privates, Horsemen, etc.https://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/patriot_military_sc_privates_etc.html
By searching online, above “McCarter, Christopher”, one can observe a RevWar service recorded between 1780-82 for 60 days in Militia. Unit unknown. Recorded with Christopher McCarter, were individuals identified separately as Alexander, David, James (1780), James (1782), John, Moses and Walter McCarter.
One company CaptainWalter Carson (perhaps a McCarter family relative) was determined by the writer, to be characterized as: “Known Patriot Participant”whose unitrepulsed an attack at Rocky Mount, Fairfield Co., SC on Sunday morning, 30 Jul 1780 at a Loyalists camp of Provincials commanded by LieutCol. Geo. Turnbull.
Lastly, the writer recommends strongly that one read, Before They Were Heroes at King’s Mountain by Randell Jones, Copyright 2011 publ., by Daniel Boone Footsteps; pgs 259-261 covers “Buford Massacre 1780” (pg 260) and mentions that Cornwallis augmented distribution of British Troops and units of Provincials forward to occupy Georgetown, Cheraw, Hanging Rock and Rocky Mount. At Waxhaws Massacre, Alexander “Buford’s one volley had succeeded with one particular effect, dropping the horse from under Colonel Tarleton”
At age 24, Christopher m. during Nov 1782, Hannah Adams, a dau. of Robert Adams (Scotch-Irish ancestry) and Elizabeth Fleming, b. 1737, died 1796 at York Co., SC, a year after Christopher’s father -Abraham McCarthy McCarter. Among Christopher and Hannah Adams McCarter’s recorded children were James A. McCarter, b. 10 Jul 1788 at York Co., SC, married (m.) 1811 and died (d.) aft. 1850; source, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Ancestor Search as Christopher McCarter identical with Ancestor #: A074746.
Buried at Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery mapped at 2445 SC State Hwy 557, Christopher’s upright, headstone was found inscribed with his name…, “departed this life Oct 19th 1823, aged 6_ [unreadable (63 or 65)] years.” A notation was recorded for Ancestor #: A074746, that the DAR marked Christopher’s grave during Nov 2008. See: Christopher McCarter/Find A Grave Memorial #: 157897508; Children: James Adams McCarter (1782-1842) and Elias McCarter (1800-1884); and, Siblings: John McCarter (1769-1851) and Mary McCarter Cunningham (1774-1852).
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