GUIDE TO THE CARTER PAPERS

Creator: Carter, W.A. (William Alexander)

Title: Papers

Location: Miscellaneous Manuscripts

Dates: 1835-1946

Call number: Misc. Mss -- Box 4 (#93-32)

Volume: 4 folders—folders 3A, 3B, 3C &3D

Medium: Papers & copies

Restriction on access:

None

Processing status and condition:

All items in plastic enclosures and copies w/copies in same folders.

Biographical and historical note:

William Alexander Carter was born in Prince William County Virginia. He enlisted in the army on July 1, 1836 at the age of 18 at Warrenton, Virginia. He was a farmer and his Mother, Lucinda W. Lane gave him permission to enlist in the Second Seminole Indian War. He was assigned to Company A, 2nd US Dragoon. He was discharged on August 12, 1837 at St. Augustine as a Sergeant with reason given as disability. After discharge he was a sutler for the US military.

Summary & scope note:

Folder 3A

Items pertaining to the donation ranging in years 1934-1946.

Folder 3B

Item 1) 1 leaf folded addressed to J.B Mahan, Ft. Lauderdale containing a list of soldiers and the amount due to WA Carter dated Ft. Pierce? April 24, 1837? Letter is from WA Carter and states there are lots of goods at the Key and refers to a Mr. Walker who is the clerk at New Smyrna.

Item 2)Dated 11/1/1837 from a London Carter Henry at Ft. Russell to WA Carter in St. Augustine. Reports nothing much has happened since Carter left except Capt. Burke & the troops left for the Miami River.

Item 3)1 sheet writing both sides dated 6/25/1839 from WA Carter at Key Biscayne to Mr. Daly. He requests supplies to be sent by 1st boat. Daly signed a $200 note to be repaid in 90 days. Talks of problem of getting goods.

Item 4)1 sheet with writing on 1 side from Ft. Dallas dated 1/15/1840 to WA Carter, sutler at Key Biscayne from Martin Burke asking Carter to pay Lt. Sherman $14.00 and charge it to Burke’s account.

Folder 3C

Item 1)Letter is 1 sheet w/ writing on 1 side to WA Carter, sutler of the artillery, St. Augustine dated 3/11/1840 from W.A. Brown at Fort Brown E. Florida. States that Carter wants to establish a sutler store at Ft. Hanson. He wants Carter to send a wagon & then he lists the items he wants. Mentions Lt. Ridgely and Private Miller who are commissary clerks.

Item 2) 1 sheet folded with letter on 1 side & address on other. Refers to previous letter. Addressed to WA Carter, St. Augustine from Randolph Ridgely from Adj. office 3rd Artillery, Fort Peyton dated March 12, 1842. He spoke with Lt. Brown and Carter supplying goods from store at Fort Hanson.

Item3)1 sheet with writing on both sides. Promissory note signed by WA Carter, St. Augustine, March 12, 1840 to Augustus W. Walker for $180 at the office of the Southern Life Insurance Co.

Item 4)Letter on 1 sheet folded with writing on 4 sides from Randolph Ridgley, Adj. Office 3rd Artillery, Fort Peyton dated May 4, 1840. Addressed to WA Carter at Key Biscayne and recounts in detail events of April, 1840 when Indians wounded Capt. Gabriel Rains at Fort Peyton. Rains was later given a medal for the incident.

Folder 3D

Item 1)1 sheet folded with short letter on 1 side & address on other. Letter from B.D. Carr dated St. Augustine 8/29/1840 to WA Carter at Key Biscayne. Carr has items for Carter but no way to ship them. He mentions Capt. Poinsett’s name.

Item 2)Letter on 1 sheet folded with writing on 2 sides and address on back. Letter dated Tampa 1/30/1840 is from [Franklin?] Saunders and is addressed to WA Carter sutler at Key Biscayne. Talks of 260 Indians at Tampa, 72 at Ft. Clinch and others at Ft. Fanning. Talks of Capt. Beale, Fayette Robinson.

Item 3) Receipt on ½ piece of paper signed by F.O. Wyse, Lt. 3rd artillery. Received Ft. Lauderdale 4/1/1841 of Lt. Ord in partial payment of note with WA Carter for $35.01.

Subject headings:

Carter, William Alexander

Rains, Gabriel Seminole Indian War, 2nd (1835-1842)—Personal narratives.

Fort Peyton

Key Biscayne—Seminole Indian War, 2nd (1835-1842).

Forts—Seminole Indian War, 2nd (1835-1842).

Personal narratives—Seminole Indian War, 2nd (1835-1842).