William L. Carter (1842-1926)

William Carter

William L. Carter
Born: 20 April 1842 (note: this year would be the same as Thomas, his brother; not sure if it is correct; I believe William was one year younger than Thomas) in Ireland, probably Northern Ireland
Mother: Mary Fitzpatrick (1805-1885)
Father: Andrew Carter (1806-1886)
Married Eliza Wiley (1850-1935)
Died: 1926 

Children with Eliza:
1. Anna Leedom Carter  (1868-1955) Married Cornell, then possibly Sabbott and Pitman 
2. Mary V. 1870-1885
3. Thomas Wiley 1872-1952
4. Emma W. 1874-1885
5. James Wesley 1882-1883
6. Lillie 1885-1885

William L. Carter was my great-great-grand-uncle. He was born in Ireland, probably Northern Ireland. I have not been able to determine when he and his family immigrated to the United States. He lived in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, working as a farmer for most of his life. 

William Carter is listed with his brother Thomas (my great-great-grandfather) on the U.S. Civil War Draft Registrations Records for Bucks County, PA., but have not been able to determine where or if he served. 

He married Eliza Wiley on 27 Dec. 1866 at the Dutch Reformed Church in Richboro, PA. (This is documented in the Pennsylvania Church and Town Records 1708-1985.) She was born in New York; both her parents – Sampson Wiley and Margaret Clark – had come from Ireland. 

Eliza and William on their 50th wedding anniversary

Four of their children died young; Mary (15) and Emma (10) died of scarlet fever in 1885, within two days of each other, and James and Lillie died in infancy. Only two children survived to adulthood. His daughter Anna was troubled; she left her two young children by her first husband, and eventually married at least once, and perhaps twice more. 

The 1920 Federal Census shows William and Eliza living in Newtown, Pennsylvania. 

William and Eliza and an unknown man in front of their house in Newtown, PA.
Photo courtesy of Lynn Curtis

 

Eliza with two great-grandsons,
probably Charles and William Walton.
Photo courtesy of Lynn Curtis.

On the funeral home document, William is listed as a “gentleman” and cause of death is listed as “carcinoma of prostate gland.” He is buried in the Union Cemetery in Richboro, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with his wife and four of their children.

Union Cemetery in Richboro, Bucks County, Pennsylvania