Militia Man ~ Christopher McCarter

My 4th Great Grand Uncle, Christopher McCarter lies beside his wife, Hannah Adams, in the historic Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Clover, South Carolina.

He was born the son of Abraham McCarter and Elizabeth Carson, my fifth great grandparents, in Pennsylvania, in the year , 1758.

Christopher was a brother to David L. McCarter, born 1757.

David was my fourth great grandfather.

Christopher married Hannah around 1782 and they had at least ten children.

Hannah was the daughter of Robert Adams and his wife, Elizabeth.

The marker that stands over his grave is remarkably easy to read, still.

The headstones are in neat rows, standing straight,

in remembrance of the souls long gone here.

Bethel Cemetery has quite a number of heros listed among her departed.

There is a monument to the Revolutionary soldiers standing at the side of the cemetery.
Christopher’s name is listed with the others that served their country proudly.

Turner Family Crest ~

An English occupational name, meaning

"one who works with a lathe."

Originally from Old French.

In Search Of David Ross Ellis~

A heavily wooded lot beside a country road, crowded with deadfalls and briar patches.

My 3rd great grandpa was in there and I was going to find him.

I had instructions from two sources and I knew I had the right location.

Or so I hoped..very near the 'Old Ellis Ferry' site.

This was a son of the Ellis line.

David Ross Ellis.

My 3rd Great Grandfather.

There we were, parked alongside the ditch, along a lonely country road..pretty much a 'country mile' from any where..

There was a stand of pine trees before me, that were standing in rows, as if they were planted that way.

To the left of those towering pines was a mass of deadfalls and brambles..

Now I have seen ‘brambles and briar patches’ before, and this was pretty bad.

This graveyard rabbit was up to it.. Not going to keep me from ‘visiting my kin‘!

　

Russ cast me a look that said.. ‘Are you telling me, that you are really going in there?’

I cast him a look right back, that said..‘You Betcha'.

He stayed with the car.

I headed up the road looking for a way in, or a place that looked like an easier entry.

Could not really find one, but went on anyway.

There was a huge pile of limbs and deadfalls that snapped like dry dust underfoot in places.

I made my way through and got to the other side..First major hurdle accomplished.

The rest of the way consisted of pretty easy going for about six feet or so, through high weeds, and then stopping to climb over yet another fallen tree..

Quite a workout.

But I made it.

Further up, there was a slight clearing. I kept looking to the left for a barbed wire fence that I was supposed to climb through..never saw one.

But then, in the dappled sunlight that was cast through the tall trees, I saw something.

I stooped lower and looked in, there was a headstone..sure as can be.

That feeling, at that very moment,

is something very hard

to describe in words.

Discovery...

Lump in the throat...

Very intense happiness... Elation...

Triumph...

"Emotional Triumph", yes, maybe that comes the closest to a real description.

My heart lept! Tears welled. Big smiles.


A big, spoken underbreath, Yes!

The trees were so thick that I began marking my way in, leaving chalk marks on the tree trunks, but I was “home”. Already 'Home'.
　
I reached down and touched the marker of a man I never knew.
A man born and gone long before I came.

In Memory Of David R. Ellis, who departed this life Feb, 13th, 1857 in the 47 year of his age.

"Our life is ever on the wing,

And death is ever nigh.

When we begin to live,

We all begin to die."

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I never saw a picture of his face, and I do not know what he looks like.

But, I came seeking this man, anyway.

He is important to me.　
He is my family.


David Ross Ellis.
　






　
Also buried here are at least ten family members.





















Ellis Children, laid to rest.



























Philip Vandorn Turner,

Son of Elijah and Edy Turner.

Brother to our 3rd Great Grandmother,

Sarah A. "Sally" Turner.



Also his wife Nancy P. Lancaster.












Arreny Turner Hopper ~

Sister to our great grandmother,

Sarah Turner Ellis and sister to

Philip Vandorn Turner.











She was eight years younger than Philip and six years younger

than Sarah. She died at the age of 34.





Another important person lies beside David Ross Ellis.




His wife, Sarah A. "Sallie" Turner Ellis.



My third Great Grandmother!



I could not find a marker for her. It is lost, apparently.

Also here are Sarah's parents:




Elijah Turner, her father. My fourth Great grandfather.

















Elijah's wife, Edith "Edy" Jane Sarratt.
Sarratt? Yes.

Edith was a sister to Anthony Sarratt. My Fourth Great Grandmother.


　
　
　
Eady Amelia Ellis ~ Daughter of Charles Heberton Ellis and Nancy Turner
She married John W. Brem.
She died in childbirth, apparently. The child is buried along with her. She was only 17 years old.
　　 　
　
　
In the quiet stillness of that deep wooded area, I heard a snap.
A loud, close by snap of a branch.





Alarmed, I stood up, and peered through the trees.
Heart racing. What was in here with me??












And, then, there was Russ.

He just couldn’t stand , not being there.
He half smiled and said.."Well, I had to see, too , didn’t I?"






He had came in after me, through the thick brambles, despite having perfectly good sense.






I smiled.
　
　
　

The Trail to the Nest~ Why?

I come from a sturdy lot of people.

People not afraid of who they are, or where they have been.

Not wealthy people, by any standard, but hard working folks.

Some would call them "hillbillies", some would call them the "salt of the earth". Me? I simply call them mine. I began looking with very little to go on. I knew my great grandparent's names on my father's side and it turned out they were only nicknames...as was the case, often, in rural areas. Names were used and handed down generation after generation until they became more of an endearment than the original name. This searching has become my passion. I am addicted to finding more information about them, who they really were; how they lived, how they loved, and how they died. The search to know them has been a rewarding one.

My search seems to be smiled on by the angels, because I have found whatever I was searching for, fairly easily.

Angels or not, I'd like to think that I am being smiled down on.

Every one of those that have come before me, have left a tiny speck of themselves in me.

I want to know each and every one. Maybe I will find a little more of myself along the way....

I cannot begin to tell you what it has meant to me, to stand at the grave of my fourth , fifth, and sixth great-grand parents. Imagine!

To know they have walked that very same path before. To run my fingers through the grooves that the engraver made, forever etching their names in the stone.

I wonder sometimes if I am alone as I visit, or is there a whisper of them in the rustle of the leaves in the trees?

Go ahead, call me a romantic sap. I thrill to the hunt. And the finding, well that is just the icing on the cake. It leaves me with a big smile and a tad emotional. This is who I am, who I came from, and without them, I would not be here. For that, I am more than grateful.

If you haven't sought out your ancestors..maybe it is time you did.

A Scotsman Named MacArthur

MacArthur Ancient Tartan ~

The forename Arthur may owe its origins to the Greek word "arktouros" meaning keeper of the bears and in the Celtic world it came to mean "strong as a bear". The name is now known around the world as a result of the legendary King Arthur who may have been a Celtic chieftain around the 6th century. The first reliable record of the name is in Adomnan's "Life of Columba" which tells of a king of the Scots called Aedan mac Gabhrain named his son Arthur, also in the 6th century.

The MacArthur clan is believed to have the same roots as the Campbells, but claims that further back they are descended from the legendary King Arthur, are unprovable. The clan is certainly regarded as ancient and there is a Gaelic saying "as old as the hills, the MacArthurs and the Devil". The more established records show that they originated from the district of Lennox, part of the old kingdom of Strathclyde and moved into Argyll. The clan seat was established at Strachur, on Loch Fyne.

The clan was at its peak in the 14th century when a MacArthur married the heiress of the progenitor of the Campbell lords of Loch Awe. The MacArthurs from Loch Awe supported Robert the Bruce and fought at the Battle of Bannockburn. Their leader, Mac-ic-Artair, was rewarded with land previously held by the MacDougalls of Lorne (who had supported the Comyns). The MacArthurs became keepers of Dunstaffnage castle.

When King James I attempted to subdue the Highland clans who were becoming too powerful in the 15th century, the MacArthurs were amongst those who bore the brunt of his actions. The clan chief, Iain MacArthur, who could summon 1,000 men, was executed in 1427 and most of the clan lands were confiscated. For all practical purposes that was the end of the clan; unlike others who suffered setbacks and managed to recover, the MacArthurs never regained their clan lands, though the name survived as many of the clan dispersed.

In more modern times, US General Arthur MacArthur, whose parents came from Glasgow in Scotland, became Lieutenant-General in the Philippines in 1906. His son, General Douglas MacArthur, became even more famous in the Pacific and the Philippines during WW2 as commander of the US forces in the Far East.






David L. McCarter

A blacksmith by trade.

Born 1758 ~Died March 05, 1818

He died in York County, South Carolina
and was buried at Bethany ARP Church Cemetery, just outside Clover, South Carolina.

He married Sarah Catherine Dickson and she is buried alongside him.



David McCarter ~ My 4th Great Grandfather.
He and Sarah Catherine had at least six children together.

The last child born to this couple, was Minor McCarter.




Minor is my 3rd Great Grandfather.

We went one sunny day to Bethany ARP Church to seek them out.




The tombstones there are scattered about, no doubt some are missing in between.

The cemetery slopes down and away from the church, studded with old trees that stand sentinel over those souls that are long gone.

It is a beautiful old place.

The grounds are well cared for, and well loved.

There is just a feeling you get, when you are on hallowed ground.

We walked among the stones and we each read the names aloud, until we had found those, that we were searching for.

A couple of hours and about 200 plus pictures later, we were done.

Russ is a trooper. He is convinced that I should have “found them all” by now.

But I am quiet about that for the most part.

(I have really just gotten started), but there is no need to tell him that.

Sly grin.....

Thomas McCarter, Son of David L. McCarter, brother to Minor McCarter. Our 3rd Great Grand Uncle.


Loutishe McCarter, Daughter of Thomas McCarter.




Once the markers were found I felt that old familiar feeling.





My family.








If you are ever in Clover, stop in and see them .

As with all the others, they will be waiting for you.












There are McCarter cousins all over the place...just about 114 McCarter's or McArthur's here in this cemetery alone.. Lots and lots of cousins.

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Thomas MacArthur & Janet Chalmers,

Born in Kilmadock, Pertshire, Scotland ~ 6th Great Grands

Abraham McCarter & Elizabeth Carson,

Born Colony of Pennsylvania ~ 5th Great Grands

David L. McCarter & Sarah Catherine Dickson,,

Born Colony of Pennsylvania ~ 4th Great Grands

Minor McCarter & Mary Anne Huffstetler,

Born North Carolina ~ 3rd Great Grands

William M. Barber & Margaret Ann McCarter,

Born South Carolina ~ 2nd Great Grands

Robert Samuel Parrott & Nancy "Nannie" Ann Barber,

Born South Carolina ~ Great Grands

Wilburn Larry Parrott & Ethel Blanton ,

Born South Carolina ~ Maternal Grandparents

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