George CARR

Male 1599 - 1682  (82 years)


Personal Information    |    Sources    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name George CARR  [1, 2, 3
    • George Carr, son of Sir William Carr of Northumberland County, England, was born in 1599 and, according to family records and tradition, which are borne out in published histories of the Carr families, was one of the shipwrights on board the "Mayflower" in 1620. He brought with him his bride, Lucinda (Davenport) Carr, and a copy of the coat-of-arms of his family, which is still in the possession of his descendants. The young wife of George Carr was among the unfortunate forty-one to died in the first sickness at Plymouth. William Carr, brother of George, came to new England in the ship "fortune" in 1621, bringing the old family Bible, still preserved by his descendants. In this Bible are the baptismal records of the brothers and also a diary kept by Susan (Rothchild) Carr, relating to the history of the family. Wm. Carr also brought a copy of the coat-of-arms of his line, which is still preserved and is an exact counterpart of that owned by George Carr's descendants. No other proof has been found of the "Mayflower" passengers of this name, but recent English research has strongly strengthened the family tradition.

      George Carr, first of the name in New England, remained with the Pilgrims at Plymouth the first winter, and soon after removed to Ipswich, locating later with the first settlers at "Colchester" (Salisbury), Massachusetts. Here he received land in the first division, and is honored with the title of "Mister," a distinguishing mark of respect in the days of Colonial settlements.....

      The importance of keeping the ferry established at Carr's Island, lopen for the transportation of troops and ammunition during the progress of King Philip's War, was carefully provided for in orders passed by the General Court, establishing a garrison of the full number of men, which Mr. Carr was to maintain at his own expense for the security of the ferry. (Massachusetts Colonial records, Vol. V, pg. 89) At this time and for many years after, the only route from Boston to the eastern frontier was by way of this ferry at Carr's Island. largely patronized by the settlers in this immediate vicinity, by soldiers engaged in various expeditions against the Indians, by any by traders and travelers of every description, the income derived from the "great ferry and the bridge and privileges thereunto belonging," rapidly increased the estate of Mr. Carr, and at his death, which occurred April 4, 1682, his real and personal property was valued at nearly fourteen hundred pounds, a very large estate for those early days.

      In the division of his property, made by a committee appointed by the county court, and recorded, Sept. 25, 1683, in Probate Records, the bridge and ferry were assigned to Richard and James Carr, sons of george Carr, and they continued in undisturbed possession for several years; but the establishment of the rival ferry in 1687 was the beginning of long and tedious litigation, with varying success to each of the contestants, until the increase of population gradually diverted the tide of travel from the old ferry and it was finally abandoned. A large part of the island remained in the possession of the lineal descendants of George Carr, but the subsequent division of his estate, resulting from inter-marriages and conveyances, largely increased the number of owners, and interfered with careful and prudent management of the property [1]
    • George Carr was born in London, Eng., about 1599. He married Lucinda Devenport and came to America in 1620, on the Mayflower, as a ship carpenter, bringing his young wife with him. He located with the pilgrims at Plymouth, and his wife was one of the unfortunate forty-one who died the following winter and early spring. A few years later he settled i Ipswich, and from there removed with the first settler of Cloechester, (Salisbury) Mass. He was granted an island in the Merrimac river for a home and the purposes of a shipyard, and it was called Carr's Island. The action of the town in relation to the grant of the island was as follows: "At a general meeting of the freeman of the town of Colechester, the 3rd day of the 5th month, 1640, it was ordered yt (that) George Carr shall have the island where he now dwells, as well as the marsh and upland, it being the greatest island within the town limits, in the Merrimack river, to him and to his heirs and assigns forever." Oct 7, 1640, it was ordered by the General Court that "Colechester is henceforth to be called Salisbury."

      The island was home of the Carrs for a number of generations, and the possession of this island gave the family the monopoly of the ferrying business across the river in ye olden times. This ferry at George Carr's death was considered to be worth L400. Two of the family were downed while attending the ferry. The large house on Carr's Island was destroyed by fire, May 9, 1797. George Carr died in Salisbury, April 4, 1682, and his second wife Elizabeth, died in the same place, May 6, 1691. [2]
    Birth 15 Aug 1599  London, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 3
    Gender Male 
    Death 4 Apr 1682  Salisbury, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 3
    Person ID I72647  Main Tree
    Last Modified 24 Jan 2024 

    Father William CARR,   b. 16 May 1542, London, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. London, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Relationship Birth 
    Mother Ursula BRANDING,   b. Abt 1552, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Relationship Birth 
    Family ID F35913  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Lucinda DAVENPORT   d. 1620-1621 
    Family ID F29407  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 26 Jun 2013 

    Family 2 Elizabeth OLIVER,   b. 1600, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Elizabeth CARR,   b. 21 Apr 1642, Salisbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  [Birth]
     2. Richard CARR,   b. 16 Mar 1646, Salisbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 25 Apr 1649, Salisbury, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 3 years)  [Birth]
     3. George CARR,   b. 15 Apr 1644, Salisbury, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  [Birth]
    +4. William CARR,   b. 15 Mar 1648, Salisbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  [Birth]
    +5. James CARR,   b. 28 Apr 1650, Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 Aug 1726, Salisbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 76 years)  [Birth]
     6. Mary CARR,   b. 29 Feb 1652, Salisbury, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  [Birth]
    +7. Sarah CARR,   b. 16 Dec 1654, Salisbury, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. North Kingstown, Rhode Island Find all individuals with events at this location  [Birth]
     8. John CARR,   b. 14 Nov 1656, Salisbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 25 Dec 1689 (Age 33 years)  [Birth]
    +9. Capt Richard CARR,   b. 2 Apr 1659, Salisbury, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 11 Sep 1727, Salisbury, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 68 years)  [Birth]
     10. Ann CARR,   b. 15 Jun 1661, Salisbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  [Birth]
    Family ID F29406  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 31 Oct 2019 

  • Sources 
    1. [S5608] Florence McCutcheon McKee, (Mrs. S.W.) - 1931, "The McCutcheon (Cutcheon) Family Records, Allied Families of McClary, Tripp, Brown and Critchett", (Commonwealth Printing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan).

    2. [S10824] Edson I. Carr, The Carr Family Records.

    3. [S8970] Northern New York American Canadian Genealogical Society: Lifelines, Vol. 33, Issues 1 and 2, Whole Nos. 63 and 64.