I assume Mike is asking what the question marks in my post represent. The one after Shirley is a quote from the book's author--I think he meant that he didn't know Elizabeth -- Shirley Carter's maiden name. The others are the computer's "translation" of the pound character that I typed. On Sat, Apr 16, 2011 at 12:01 AM, Mike wrote: > ? > > ________________________________ > From: Kathleen Much <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Thu, April 14, 2011 2:59:27 PM > Subject: [VA-NORTHERN-NECK] Edwin Conway's 2nd wife, Part 2 > > Continuation of my reply to Mike Marshall's question. > Probably the most comprehensive treatment of John Carter's wives is in > Clifford Dowdey, _The Virginia Dynasties_: > "During the years of his rise and power at Corotoman, John Carter's > personal > life was made turbulent by deaths and remarriages. When he built his house > about one hundred yards back from the riverfront, his family consisted of > his wife, formerly Jane Glyn, his sons John II and George, and his daughter > Elizabeth. His wife soon died, and he married a widow, Eleanor Brocas, from > Lancastershire [sic; s/b Lancashire], England. She did not live long and > died without having borne any children. Then he married Ann Carter, the > daughter of Cleave (Cleve) Carter, thought to be an English cousin of her > husband. She also died soon, leaving no children. Then came the wife who > produced Robert: Sarah Ludlow was her name, and all known about her was > that > she was the daughter of Mr. Gabriel Ludlow: the 'Mr.' was carved on her > tomb, and that designation was not used loosely. She was also the mother of > Robert's sister Sarah. This fourth wife lasted a little longer than her > immediate predecessors. She died in early 1668, when Robert was five. > "Later in the year 1668 Colonel Carter took his fifth wife, Elizabeth > Shirley (?), a widow from Gloucester County. This last, late venture - for > he was near his own end then - seemed to be his first sour marriage. He > died > June 10, 1669, leaving his new wife about eight months pregnant. Carter's > will showed what he thought of the mother of his unborn child and of his > progeny by her. > "She was to have ?500 (which was part of the marriage contract), a Negro > boy, 'her' necklace of diamond and pearls and 'her own books,' and share > with Carter's sons John and Robert in the residual personal estate. To > these > bequests he pointedly added two books from the library (which otherwise > went > to John and Robert): Byfield's treatise _The Whole Duty of Man_ and > _David's > Tears_, an 'appropriate legacy for a mourning widow.' > "Assuming that her child would be a boy, 'whose name is intended Charles,' > and never referring to this future Carter exept as 'her son,' he provided > for this heir as meagerly as decency would permit. His executors were to > allow the widow ?12 a year for his education and '[my] son John is to allow > my wife's son necessary clothes.' . . . He provided for the contingency of > the widow putting 'her son out [to] apprentice.' . . . > "The widow's child was a boy whom she dutifully named Charles, after which > he disappeared from the records. He was presumably alive at twenty-one, for > John Carter II made provision for him in his will--one-third of the > personal > estate--though nothing indicated that he claimed his share." > > There is no mention of a Carter sister or sister-in-law who might have > married Edwin Conway. >

Mike Marshall was in the MBW library today and he thinks he has solved this problem. He had sent an earlier post which far exceeded the 10k b limit. Since it had already been bounced back to him, and after his discoveries today, I will look forward to his own research report. I am sure it will be very good, because Mike Marshall is a very good researcher. So, stay tuned all! I can only hint that yes, there really was an ELIZABETH SHIRLEY woman of Gloucester County who married a John Carter of Lancaster County, one of his many wives. Mike will explain it far better than I. Mike: Remember: JUST THE FACTS MA'AM, JUST THE FACTS. Craig P.S. I am not beyond making fun of myself. Mike made what I can only call an "aside" remark today about my "MISSOURI ATTITUDE." When pressed for an explanation of that meant, he said , "That whole "Show Me" Thing Attitude." I proudly plead guilty. On Apr 16, 2011, at 7:46 PM, Kathleen Much wrote: > I assume Mike is asking what the question marks in my post represent. The > one after Shirley is a quote from the book's author--I think he meant that > he didn't know Elizabeth -- Shirley Carter's maiden name. The others are the > computer's "translation" of the pound character that I typed. > > On Sat, Apr 16, 2011 at 12:01 AM, Mike wrote: