m. ELIZABETH OLIVER (d. of Thomas Oliver of Boston, d. 6 May 1691 Salisbury, will 18 Mar. 1683/4-30 June 1691)
d. 4 Apr. 1682 Salisbury, MA

George's brother Richard arrived in the "Abigail" in 1635 aged 29 years.(1) Supposedly George was in Ipswich in 1633 and had a house lot there in 1635. George received grants in the first division of Salisbury in 1640, 1641, and 1644. The town granted him "Carr's Island" in 1640 and he established a ferry there in 1641. In 1662 he was to have a common right in Amesbury when any of his sons came to live there and he received land in Amesbury in 1668.(2)

On 29 Dec. 1649 William Hilton sold "James my Indian & all ye interest I have in him" to George in payment for one-quarter part of a ship. Abraham Tappan, John Bond, and Edmund Greenleaf were witnesses to the bill of sale to which "James ye Indian" gave his consent. (10)

It was ordered that George Carr shall have the land where he now dwell s; as well Marsh as upland; it being the greatest land within the Town b ounds in the river Merrimack: with his 3 acre house lot more or less l ying upon the east of Mr. Winsleys house lot and upon the west of Mr. F rancis Dows house lot, for the whole of his first division.

On December 18, 1648, George Carr was permitted to maintain the ferry o ver the Merrimack River to his home on "Carr's Island." On April 9, 16 50, he was allowed to construct a floating bridge to the island. The br idge was under construction for five years, and was completed June 29, 1 655. This was the first floating bridge in America.

"The importance of keeping the ferry established at Carr's Island, open f or the transportation of troops and ammunition during the progress of K ing Philip's War, was carefully provided for in orders passed by the Ge neral Court, establishing a garrison of the full number of men, which M r. Carr was to maintain at his own expense for the security of the ferr y. At this time and for many years after, the only route from Boston t o the eastern frontier was by way of this ferry at Carr's Island. Larg ely patronized by the settlers in this immediate vicinity, by soldiers e ngaged in various expeditions against the Indians, and by traders and t ravellers of every description, the income derived from the 'great ferr y and the bridge and privileges there-unto belonging,' rapidly increase d the estate of Mr. Carr, and at his death, which occurred April 4, 168 2, his real and personal property was valued at nearly fourteen hundred p ounds, a very large estate for those early days."

June 7, 1716. The following ORDER pass'd in COUNCIL. AND sent down for CONCURANCE DECLARED upon the HEARING had yesterday before this COURT upon the within PETITION of Richard Carr, THAT the setting of Marches Ferry over Merrymack River from Whites Point in Salisbury in the COUNTY of Essex is no infringment to any former GRANT to George Carr, THE PROVINCE having reserved to themselves the LIBERTY of SETTING up other FERRYS as should be found needful, AND the PETITION being groundless

Ordered that it be dismiss'd, UPON which the HOUSE of REPRESENT, pass'd a non-concurrence, viz'.

Resolved that Mr. George Carr, his HEIRS and ASSIGNS, had a RIGHT to the whole Ferry on both SIDES of the RIVER between Newbury and Salisbury by VERTUE of a GRANT of the COURT at Salisbury 1650, being impowered by the GENERAL COURT to make such GRANT, Wh. GRANT was confirm'd by the GENERAL ASSEMBLY May, 1669, AND that no Ferry and Ferrys were to be sett up without his having the REFUSAL of the same, AND altho the GENERAL-COURT reserv'd a LIBERTY to themselves to order a Ferry or Ferrys to be sett up, YET that the said George Carr nor HIS HEIRS never forfeited their RIGHT by any REFUSAL.(7)

"3d (12th) mo Also att ye same meeting it was ordered
1650     yt all whose names are here under written, shalbe accompted townesmen &
        Comoners, & none butt them, to this prsent, that is to say... Georg Carr".(3)

"Mr Wosters rate for 30ls: the 25: of December 1650... George Carr 16/6."(4) George's tax to pay the minister decreased to 15/7 in 1652.(5)

In 1657 Samuel Hall sold his 100 acre farm to the town of Salisbury and in 1665 the town sold the lots: "Names of those that paid ye purchase of Mr. Hall's farm, with each man's proportion and The no. of the lots in Mr. Hall's farm belonging to each person... Lot No. 12 Mr: Carr � 2 5/7."(6)

George controlled about 400 acres of farm land in Salisbury, he owned a shipworks there as well as operated the main ferry over the Merricmack River. At his death his estate appraised for more than �1,000. At his death George's widow and two of his sons moved to hold the family businesses under their control. In a bitter protest filed with the courts in June 1682 several members of the family charged that in settling the estate the widow Carr and her two sons, who had been appointed executors, were cheating the three Carr daughters and their husbands out of their righful portions. The protest had little effect as 60% of the estate including the shipyard and ferry business went to the two sons with the remaining six children receiving comparatively modest cash bequests.(8)

Court being informed that by petition to the Ipswich court last September and to the General Court last October, there was "an unhansome" and unequal appraisement of the estate of Mr. George Carr, late deceased, which was irregular, and the General Court referring it to this court, Capt. Daniell Pearce, Mr. Thomas Noyce, Mr. Henry Short, Mr. Nath. Cleark and Mr. Caleb Moody were appointed a committee to make a new appraisal for the next Ipswich court to settle. The parties concerned were to defray the charges of the appraisers.

Warrant, dated 10 : 8 : 1682, for their appearance, signed by Hilliard Veren, cleric, and served by Henery Skerry, marshal, by attachment of a chest, table and bedstead of defendant.

Copy of petition to the Ipswich court, Sept. 26, 1682, by William Carre, James Bayley, Thomas Baker and Thomas Putnam: "Whereas It pleased the most high (in whose hands our Hues are & whose are all our wayes) to take away our honred Father Carre by death, and he dying intestate left a considerable estate (which according to ye law of god and man) ought by a proportionable equity to be divided betwixt his relict widow and theyr Children they all of them (excepting one who was providentially absent) did consent to agree to choose severall persons of knowne piety & Judgment, (viz) Captn Pierce & Mr Tristram Coffin of Newbery, Ensign Buswell & Goodman Brown of Salisbury & goodman Weed of Amsbery to draw up an invintory & apprize the Estate as money who accordingly did apprize it at 1400 pounds in money or thereaboute, which many thought (together with two of ye appraisers themselves) that It was rather under then aboue the value of it, yet (after this was done) our mother Carre with George & James her sons went and (got power of Administration, and then notwithstanding our mutall agreement about the first and fore-mentioned apprizers of ye estate they (to the great wrong and prejudice of your humble petitioners, if things should rcmaine as they have got them stated haue (without our knowledge or consent) procured another invintory and apprizall to be drawn up by persons that could not be well acquainted with ye estate or the worth of it (theyr choice seeming rather to be intended for theyr own ends, than any designe for peace and equity amongst us) one of them (viz) Walter Fairfcild ( a man of unknown Piety and judgment) being sent for from Wenham Nigh twenty miles And another from Hampton not under our jurisdiction, And the 3d and last from Salisbery (viz) Goodman Osgood of whose sufficiency for such a design ye hon" may judge which prizers have now prised the estate at about eleuen hundred pounds in common pay raising the price of the outlands (being the most inconsiderable part of ye estate) aboue the worth of it, as also the stock which ye administrators endeaur to turn us off with, and unreasonably undervaluing the principall part of ye estate (viz Hands & ferryes & meadow and upland about home with houshold goods, most of which the administrators have now carved out among themselves. Besides (as we are informed, the apprisers last chosen neuer went to see the outlands, but judged the worth of them only from the information of others, And one of them, the most considerable of ye said apprizers has since given that as the reson of theyr so valuing the estate as aforesaid (viz) that if they had prized the estate as those that were formerly chosen had done then the administrators could never have kept and payd legacyes, but it must have been torne in peices; whereby it may appear that the choise of the apprizers was only for theyr own interest, and to the great damage of those that were the heires or legatees; yet notwithstanding such an inventory as this, it was carryed to the last Court at Salem and attested and sworn to by ye administrators: Although (as we conceive) no rule of rightcousnesse was attended in prizing the estate some part of it being not valued to half the worth of it, and some part aboue the worth, and some things put into the invintory which ought not to have been there, being called debts though never due to the estate, and much left out of the inventory of the estate, which we conceive could not be unknown to the administrators, And so it having pleased the honord Court at Salem, through theyr misinformation to order a distribution of yc estate according to ye last inventory, allotting for a single portion 90 poundes) the administrators first served themselves and then the two youngest sons & then ordered that we should come and take what they had allotted to us, which we (seeing how unequally thinges were managed refused to do, but made severall propositions for a peaceable agreement to them, which they refusing to comply with, we thought it our best way to draw our humble petition to this honred Court for help and relief in this case And wheras the honord Court were pleased to allow to James Carre a double portion on account of severall yeares service &c, we humbly conceive your honors were not informed that he was for many yeares very sickly, and capable of very little buisnesse and for severall yeares before our fathers decease built vessells upon his own account & in copartnership with others, receiving seuerall considerable sumes of money for the same so that we cannot conceive how our fathers estate should be so much indebted to James Carre unlesse he will returne what he hath received upon his own account to the estate. The premises being Considered, our humble petition to your honrs is that the first Invintory wch was drawn up by persons of such known worth and ability for such a worke and that by a unanimous agreement of all, and in such season before any embczlement of the estate may stand in force and that we your humble petitioners may have an equall distribution according thereto, or that your honrs will be pleased to choose a Comittee of unbyassed persons to prize the estate and set out our proportions to us that the administrators who haue hitherto had the use of the whole estate well nigh may not haue such power to serve theyr own turns and wrong us we being children as well as they, and having as just right as themselves, which is all that your humble petitioners desire, it being far from us to desire more than our due proportions." Received Sept. 29, 1682, among the records of lands for Essex, liber 4, page 468 and 469, by Robert Lord, recorder, and copy made by Hilliard Veren, cleric. Court at Ipswich 26 : 7 : 1682, declared that considering "the Awfull prouidence of God hath since [the last Salem court] in removing by death the Major Denison presedent of that Court doe not thinke it Fitt for them to call ouer the matter again or allter the Former settlement without aduice from the Generall Court and suposeing the petitioners haue sume ground for their complaint do aduise them to make application for that end where if they obtain order to this court for a Rehearing or consideration of that case it shall be attended accordingly.'' Copy made by Robert Lord. Recorded Sept. 29, 1682, among the records of land for Essex, book 4, page 469, by Robert Lord, recorder. Copy made by Hilliard Veren, cleric.

Copy of petition to the General Court at Boston, 11:8: 1682, by James Bayley, Thomas Baker and Thomas Putnam, jr., for a rehearing of the case. Copy made by Hilliard Veren, cleric.

At a General Court at Boston 11 Oct. 1682, court referred the matter to a new hearing at the next Salem court. Copy made by Edward Rawson, secretary.

Nathll. Weare certified at Hampton, Oct. 6, 1682, that "wheras seuerell gentelmen of worth & honour hath giuen mee Information yt it is reported if not euidenced that I should say, that if wee that aprized the estatt of M' George Carr: deasesed had prized it as those had done yt did prize it before, had don, then ye administrators could neuer have keept it but it would haue bin toron: in peces which semes to carry a bad face: on ye prizers, with a doubt of an unjust aprizall therfore this may signify to all To whome it may Concerne yt the substance of ye words I owne I spake in a Gokinge sort to one of ye gentelmen yt was one of ye first aprisers, hee begininge Gokingly, with mee; but becaus he should rightly understand my meaninge I gaue him my meaninge which sepose he will also euidence: hee beinge an honest man, my meninge was that they hauinge prized, the house & Hand and ferry, ram Hand & pastuer oucr ye bridge: all in a lumpe at 8 hundred or 1000 pound in money, I thought yt not one of ye persons Concerned in it Could keepe it & pay y e money: and if thay had not money to pay the pticuler parts must bee againe prised becaus non could know ye worth of ye Hand or ram Hand or ferry: or pastuer as they had prised it in ye lumpe, & if I did use ye word toron, it might imply yt law sutts might arise & for want of money teken by execution but for ye aprisment I doe profes I prised it acordinge to the true ualue to my best Judgment & conscience, & was no way concerned to bee biast aney way in yt Case."

"Nathaniell Ware wrote to me to request me to under writt it as owned by him as full as may be he (by Reson of sicknes in his family) not being in capasity to com himself this 9th of Octob. 1682 Robt. Pike, Assistant."

Propositions made by John Allin, James Bayley, Thomas Baker and Thomas Putnam, jr.: "1. that our Honoured Mother shall Injoy the Hand and Ferry duering her naturall life: 2ly that our Brother Gorge shall take thee Ferry att Amsbery att 130 pounds: or elce lett us haue it att 150: pounds. 3ly that we will giue our Brother James Carr: 60 pounds prouided he will take For it Enock Grenleafs lott wc is prized att tweenty pounds and the Land aboue osgoods milles wc is prized att 40: pounds: 4ly that the Rest of the estate may be proportionable diuided that euery one may know his part."

Receipt, dated 18 : 6 : 1682, of Richard Carr, son of George Carr, for 90li., his share in the estate. Wit: Ephraim Winsley and Walter Fayerfield.

Propositions made by William Carr, James Bayley, Thomas Baker and Thomas Putnam, jr., Aug. 17, 1682, that the matter be settled by arbitration.

Receipt, dated 18:6: 1682, of John Carr, son of Georg Carr, for "eighty and nine wanting one shilling in the land oner the bridg and in a gun and a sword and a belt," his share in his father's estate, wanting twenty-one shillings. Wit: Walter Fayerfield and Zorobabel Endecott.

Warrant. dated Boston, Oct. 18, 1682, for the appearance of Mrs. Elizabeth Carr, Mr. George Carr and Mr. James Carr, administrators, and Mr. Richard Carr, at the next Salem court, in answer to a petition to the General Court by James Bayley, Thomas Baker, Thomas Putnam, jr., signed by Edward Rawson, secretary, and served by Nathaniell Browne, constable of Salisbury.

Division of the estate by the administrators. George Carr, Elizabeth Carr and James Carr, 26 : 5 : 1682: to Elizabeth Carr, the widow, and James Carr, the Hand and the housing on it, the ferry and the bridge, 3301L, the old boats, 10li., and commonage, 10li., they to pay the debts of the estate; to James Woodmancie, son of Mr. John Woodmancie, 24li., in a lot of land bought of Enoch Grenlef above Osgood's mill, 16li., 2 acres of marsh in Hal's farm, so called, 7lL, 20 shillings in moveables. They tendered, 17 : 6 : 1682, in the presence of Walter Fayerfield and Ephraim Winsley, to William Carr at the latter's house, two cows and the land mentioned in the court's order, with a bill of 10li. 4s.; to Mr. James Bailie, one horse; to Thomas Baker, the land and three cows and two heifers; to Thomas Putnam, the land and four steers, a bull and two cows, etc. Sworn Oct. 7, 1682, before Robt. Pike, assistant.

Division of the estate by the administrators, George Carr, Elizabeth Carr and James Carr, 26 : 5 : 1682: to George Carr, the ferry at Almsbery at S01L and he is to allow for the 33li. 12s. for the mortgage in the Inventory 3li. more, 116li. 12s.; with one-half his father's wearing clothes, a pair of shoes, one old spinning wheel, 3li. 8s., and 3-4 of Ram Island, 60lL, total, 180lL; to William Carr, 20 acres of land bought of Enoch Grenlef, 201L, higlede pigledy meadow, 301i., commonage bought of Grenlef, 5li., already received, 19li. 3s. 6d., due by bill, 14li. 4s., and 31i. 12s. 6d. in moveables; to Richard Carr, one-half of his father's clothes, 3li. 5s. 6d., scale, compass and other instruments, Hi. 18s., quarter part of Ram island, 201i., land at Gunner's point, 50 acres, at 50IL, higledy pidgeldy lot at the River's mouth, 9li., the piebald horse, 2Ii. los., a pair of boots, shoes, a carbine, a back, sword, pair of fetters and a rest, 3li. Is. 6d.; to John Carr, the land over the Bridge, 35a., 87li.; one musket, sword and belt, Hi. 9s., 21s. in pay from James, Hi. Is.; to Mary, wife of James Daily, 8 acres of meadow in the cow common, 28lL, already received, 23li. 1Is., 33 acres of land at Holt's rocks, 36li., and 2li. 9s. in moveables; to Thomas Baker, for his wife, 67 acres at Holt's rocks, 741L, and 16li. in moveables; to Thomas Putnam, for his wife's portion, 90 acres above Osgood's mill, 40li., already received, 20li. 8s. 6d., 4 acres in the cow common bought of Enoch Grenlef, 15li., and 141L 11s. 6d., in moveables.

James Freeze and Richard Goodwin testified that when they were at work in 1679 with George Carr, jr., at Almsbury, his father George Carr, sr., came up there and received the ferry out of the hands of Wm. Sammon and he delivered it to his son George to keep until he called for it. They understood that it was in the nature of a gift. Sworn Mar. 13, 1682, before Nath. Saltonstall, assistant.

William Sargent testified that since George Carr's death, Mr. George Carr, jr., desired him to fell and make two or three thousand staves on said Carr's land, and he also sent his man Samuell Marsear to felling timber. Deponent had worked up the timber into staves. Sworn Oct. 7, 1682, before Robt. Pike, assistant.

William Carre testified that George said he would fell enough timber to make ten thousand staves, etc. Sworn Oct. 7, 1682, before Robt. Pike, assistant.

Tristram Coffin, aged fifty years, and Stephen Greenleaf, jr., aged thirty years, testified that last July they were with Nathaniel Wiar of Hampton in Hampshire and they asked him how it was they appraised the estate so low, etc. Sworn by Greenleaf Sept. 26, 1682, before James Russell, assistant, and by Coffin Sept. 27, 1682, before Robert Lord, cleric.

Joseph Bayley deposed, Oct. 20, 1682, that his brother Jams Bayley, being bound to the southward and destitute of a horse, desired him to go over to his mother Carr's for that horse due to him for his wife's portion, which he did. Wit: Jacob Joy, John Carr and Richard Carr.

James Freese, aged about forty years, testified that in 1677 George Carre, jr., and James Carre built a ship at old Mr. Carre's island for Mr. Allen of which Mr. Henry Wheeler went master and the said James built upon his own account and made bargains with men as a partner with his brother. Old Mr. Carre charged both of them for their diet at his house and that of their men. Sworn Sept. 25,1682, before Robert Pike, assistant.

Daniel Peirce, aged about forty-three years, testified that he heard Mr. Bayly say that he hoped to have the ferry and islands appraised at 2001i. more than they were. Sworn 25 : 9 : 1682, before Robt. Pike, assistant.

Answer of the administrators to the "false, fallacious & reproaehfull petition" presented to the Ipswich court: that the trouble began upon the night of her husband's burial; that it was hardly to be paralleled that sons-in-law should so impose upon the widow and natural sons; that all of the land about the home consisted of but 109 acres, much of which was very rocky and much of the marsh very bad, yet with the house appraised at 387li. 10s. is at its full value; that the ferry is held only by maintaining the bridge which will cost 30li. this year to make it good, yet it was appraised at 110li.; that Georg, the eldest son, had Amesbury ferry given him by his father many years since; that our law books do not give equal portions to daughters and sons only where there are no sons, "yett or loue would haue borne itt, had nott their husbands grasped att our All," etc.

Copy of mortgage deed, dated Apr. 6, 1678, from James Freeses of Amsbury, to Mr. Thomas Woodbredge of Newbery, for 110li. due on bill and assigned to George Carre, sr., and James Carre, his dwelling house and six acres of land at a place called Jamaica in Amesbury, also forty acres between land of Nathan Gold of Amsbury and John Davis of Newberry near a place called Cobbler's brook bought of Wm. Barnes of Amsbery, said Freeses to pay 60li. in money or work within three years. Wit: George Carr, jr., and Richard Carr. Acknowledged Apr. 6, 1678, before Jo. Woodbridge, commissioner. Recorded in the records of Norfolk, book 3, page 77, Apr. 8, 1678, by Thomas Bradbury, recorder. Copy made by J. Bayley.

Richard Carr, aged about twenty-three years, testified that James Carr had an interest in that ketch built for Mr. Longfellow and afterward sold to Mr. Tho. Woodbridg and lastly to Mr. Greene, etc. Sworn Sept. 23, 1682, before Robt. Pike, assistant.

Joseph Bayley, aged about thirty-three years, testified that Mr. Carr asked him several times which of his sons he should give his Island to, "truly Sir said I to which you please then Mr Carr did say to mee Jams Carr shall haue it for he haue been the best boy." Sworn Oct. 9,1682, before Robt. Pike, assistant.

Ephraim Winsley testified that he was present when Bayley, Puttman, Baker and William Carr refused to accept what was tendered and they were told they might have the household stuff if they would accept it. They then were tendered chairs, forms, old pewter, a saddle and 4li. worth of cask, also 10 or 15li. in the land granted by the General Court. Thomas Putnam should have if they could procure it, etc. Sworn 27 : 9 : 1682, before Robt Pike, assistant.

John Bullock had his license continued until the next Salem court, in June, which is the time of renewing licenses.

William (his mark) Osgood, St., and Walter Fayerfield testified that they were desired by the administrators to appraise the estate, which they did. Sworn Oct. 7, 1682, before Robt. Pike. assistant.

Elizabeth Carr informed the court that it was her husband's will that James should have the Island as a gift from him in consideration of his filial duty for eleven years, etc.

John Stokman, aged twenty-nine years, testified that he had heard Geoge Carr say that he would not take 2,000 pounds for his Island and ferry. Sworn Oct. 10, 1682, before Robt. Pike, assistant.

Richard Smith, aged forty years, testified that he had heard Mr. Carr say that he was offered 1,500 pounds for his home living. Sworn Oct. 10, 1682, before Robt. Pike, assistant.

Bounds of Mr. Georg Carr's Island where he lived, divided into two parts: "from the building place at the south sid of the Island on a square to the north side is 77 Rods and from said square to the west End is in length 87 1-2 which being computed with the bredth at the west end amounteth to 22 acres and 155 Rods and from the square line aforsaid to the eastward end of the medow on said Island it is 98 Rods and at the said east end it is 35 Rods broad which by computation amounteth to 34 acors & 48 Rod which is in all 57 acors and 43 Rods of which ther is about twenty acors of very Rockey land soe that ther is not an acore that is tillable and in the wholl Island ther is but about four acors of plouable land and that of it which is marsh or medow the greatest part is very bad and the land at Ram Hand is by mesur but about sixten acors and 159 Rods about four acors of which is contained in four or fiv Rokey hills which is very littill worth and the pastur ouer the bridg being farr the greater part of it Exeding Rocy land, by mesur is found to be but 35 acors and 65 Rods and the wholl sum of the land by acors of the Hand and Ram Hand and the pastur ouer the bridg by mesur is 109 acors 42 Rods."

Petition of Elizabeth Carr that administration be granted to herself, her eldest son George and to her son James Carr, who had the management of his father's business.

Letter from Caleb Moody, Nathll. Clarke, Tho. Noyes and Henry Shortt, Mar. 22, 1682-3, to the administrators asking if they wish to have the inventory completed according to court order, df not, they will not trouble themselves further about it.(9)

Issue- all children born in Salisbury