SEVENTH GENERATION

80. Colonel John Hazzard Carson⁽¹⁵⁾ was born on Mar 24 1752 in County Fermanagh, Ireland. He died on Mar 5 1841 in Buck Creek, North Carolina. Colonel John Carson, of Scots-Irish descent, was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, and emigrated to America about 1773. He settled in Burke County, North Carolina, in an area that later was made into McDowell County.

According to John H. Wheeler, North Carolina historian, "He possessed naturally a powerful intellect, great decision of character, much capacity for business, quick, resolute, impulsive. He was consequently a man of prominent character and of much influence in his county, and for many years its leading magistrate."

Carson became very prosperous by means of land speculation and by the end of his life owned over 8000 acres of prime bottom land in the Buck Creek area.

Carson was a noted Indian fighter and earned his military title from his service in the North Carolina Militia. During the Revolution he became part of a famous incident, one that would have deadly and equally famous consequences many years later. To save their cattle from soldiers, many families, rebel and Tory alike, had hidden them in the wilderness. Carson accompanied Major Patrick Ferguson, a British officer, who was searching for cattle to feed his men. Carson led them to a herd that he knew belonged to several Tory families and only after the British had slaughtered over a hundred head, did he tell Ferguson the truth. While Carson was a patriot, because of this incident he was occasionally accused of having aided the British during the Revolution. When a political opponent of Carson's son, Congressman Samuel Carson, made the accusation in a public speech, the younger Carson challenged him to a duel and shot him dead.

He represented Burke County in the Fayetteville Convention that ratified the United States Constitution in 1789. In 1805 and 1806 he served in the state legislature representing Burke County. He played a leading role in county government through most of his long life.

His house is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a museum. When McDowell County--named for his brother-in-law Joseph McDowell--was formed in 1843, his house served as the headquarters of county government until the courthouse was built in the County seat, now called Marion. He was married to Rachel McDowell.

81. Rachel McDowell. Children were:

i. James Carson.
ii. Jason Carson.
40 iii. Joseph McDowell Carson.
iv. Rebecca Carson.
v. John Carson.
vi. Charles Carson.
vii. Sarah Carson.

Return to Table of Contents