The Carrs: A Musical Family

The Carts A Musical Family HELEN E. DAVIS J OSEPH CARR, "Music Seller, of Middle Row, Holborn, London," came to the United States in 1794. Born about 1739, his parents were probably part of the musical life of London, but they have not been definitely identified. His brother, Benjamin Carr, born eight years earlier,' a "Musical Instrument Maker, at the Sign of the Violin and Hautboy, Old Round Court, Strand," has been identified through his will filed at Somerset House, London. In the will Benjamin Carr named as executors "my wife, Elizabeth, and my brother, Joseph Carr, of Middle Row, Holborn, in the Parish of St. Andrews." Joseph Carr married MARY JORDAN, born about 1739, in London. The parish register of St. Martin-in-the-Fields (facing Trafalgar Square) carries this entry: "Joseph Carr of this parish, B[achelor], and Mary Jordan of the parish of St. Peter le Poor (Cornhill), Sp[inster], London, were married by License of Bishop of London this thirtieth day of January, 1766. By me, R. Dixon, Curate. This marriage was then solemnized between us, Joseph Carr. Mary Jordan. In the presence of us Jane Thompson. Steph. Brown." The Middle Row, Holborn, where Joseph had his shop, was torn down in 1867. "It was a block of houses which stood half blocking up the street at the south end of Gray's Inn Lane." John Stow, in writing of Middle Row calls it "a parcel of buildings raised up in the middle of the street, next the Bars • • . to the southward of the street . . . 'Groot Card Index, from Parish Register of St. Martim.in-the-Fields, London, Society of Genealogists, London. Joseph married 30 Jmuary 1766, at age 27. Benjamin married 10 August 1719, at age 28. Earlier Carr music sellers and publishers of London were John Carr, located at Middle Temple Gate from 267210 1695, and his son, Richard Carr, at Middle Temple Gate from 1685 to 1487. Both were associated with the well-known musicians and music sellers, John Playford and his son, I-lenry. See Charles Humphries and William C. Smith, Music Publishing in the British Isles (London, 1954), 99. 2 London Wills, Collins, 162, 1780, Somerset House, London. Walter Thornbury, Old and Nnu London (London, n.d.), II, 527. after cited are available in The Free Library of Philadelphia. A majority of the books herein- 57 58 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine a place of very good Trade for Retailers • • . but this Row of Buildings takes off much of the Prospect of this street into Holborn Hill. . . ."' "Come, Britannia" (ca. 1770), is one of Joseph Carr's earliest publications. Other music was published by him at his London address. He began issuing his Musical Journal before he left that city.' Joseph Carr probably sent from his London shop most of the material for the Carr music stores which were opened in Baltimore and Philadelphia, after the family's emigration, but he still had much to dispose of before leaving London. The first page of his sale catalogue reads: A Catalog of the valuable stock in trade of Mr. Joseph Carr of Middle Row, Holborn, Music Seller quitting business, consisting of A Vanety of harpsichords, grand pianofortes, organs, guitars and dulcimers, twisting-machines and working tools, an assortment of printed music by the best composers, copper plates, etc. — together with the remaining household furniture, books, an 8 day clock, and other effects which will be sold at auction by Mr. Weak on the premises on Fnday, the 14th of February, 1794 precisely at 12 o'clock — To be viewed on Thursday proceeding the sale. Catalogs may be had on the premises, at Garraway's Coffee House; and of Mr. Weak, sworn Exchange Broker, Castle Street, Holborn. The household goods included the contents of the "Front Chamber . . . Back Chamber - . . Front Garret . • • Kitchen . . . Cellar . . . Shop." Among items listed was an illuminated Roman Missal manuscript on vellum, Rapin's "Acta Regia," and Latin dictionaries.° Much material was evidently shipped to Baltimoa Beginning 6 August 1794, and continuing for several weeks, The Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser carried a notice: "J. Carr, Music Importer, lately from London, Respectfully informs the public that he has opened a store entirely in the Musical line, and has for sale, Finger and barrel organs, double and single key'd harpsichords, pianofortes and common guitars. . . ." Joseph Carr became the organist of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Baltimore, and continued there for several years. He "evidently took charge of some of the musical affairs of Old St. Paul's Parish in Baltijab. grow, London (London, 1754), 1, 729. 5 In the Joseph Muller Collection of musk "are a number of vocal pieces bearing the notation 'Printed for J. Carr, Middle Kow, Holborn.' " See Joseph Muller, comp., The Star Spangled Banner, Words and Musk - • (New York, 1935), 39, hereinaf ter cited as Muller. See also Humphries and Smith, 99, cited in Note I above. Knowles Collection. Courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Mahlon Bunting Knowles. This co.11ection contained a great deal of music, some correspondence, a family Bible, portralts, jewelry and other Carr memorabilia which had belonged to Elizabeth (Carr) Knowles and Mary (Carr) Merryman, granddaughters of Joseph Carr and daughters of his on Thomas Carr. The Carts, A Musical Family 59 more, since the parish receipt-books show various disbursements made to him from 1800 to 1805, ranging from $8 to $369.56, a munificent sum in those days." From his music store in Baltimore, Joseph Carr continued to publish the Musical Journal which he had started in London. In 1813 he began publication of Cart's Musical Miscellany in Occasional Numbers. Much English and early American music came from his plates. When Francis Scott Key brought him the poem he had composed after the British bombardment of Fort McHenry on 13 - 14 September 1814, to be set to music, the popular air, "Anacreon in Heaven," composed by John Spofford Smith was used. The music was arranged by "T. C." (Thomas Carr). Thus the first edition of "The Star Spangled Banner," with words and music combined, was published by Joseph Carr in 1814. Copies of that edition are in the Library of Congress and the Maryland Historical Society.' On 20 September 1819, when Joseph Carr was in his eightieth year, he turned over the music business in Baltimore to his younger son, Thomas. Joseph died a month later on 20 October 1819. The Federal Gazette and Baltimore Daily Advertiser on I November 1819, carried the following obituary: Departed this life on Wednesday night last, Mr. Joseph Carr in the tiOth year of his age. Mr. Carr was a native of England, but for the last twenty-five years resided in this city; his strict integrity and obliging disposition procured him the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He was an affectionate husband and father, and a kind and useful friend. Joseph's wife, Mary (Jordan) Carr, had died four years previously on 8 November 1815, aged 76 years.' Their children were born in London; all died young, except the eldest and youngest. Virginia Larkin Redway, "The Cares, American Music Publishers," Musical Quarterly, XVIII, 154, 177, hereinafter c.ited as Redway- Joseph Carr is listed therein as a music muter and musical instrument maker, as well as proprietor of a music store. The store locations, as listed by Miss Redway from Baltimore coy directories (first published in 1796), were: 1796-1802, 6 N. Gay Street; 1803, cor. of Baltimore and N. Gay Street; 1804, Baltimore cross N. Gay Street; 1807, 48 Baltimore Street; 1810, e.vr. roe. Baltimore and Gay; 1814-1819, 36 Baltimore Street. This Redway article on the Cares is one of the best and noon comprehensive. 9 Ibid., 152. The poem, called stone," was published first as a broadside, with the suggestion that it be sung to the tune of "Anacreon in Heaven." See Oscar G. Sonn.k, comp., RePort m "The Star Spangled Banner" (Washington, D. C., 1914), 2, hereinafter cited as Sonneck, Report. Occasionally someone claims to have found an earlier edition of the words and music combined, but authorities miss the fint edition, with music, to the Carr imprint. See also Robert A. Gerson, Manic in Philadelphia (Philadelphia, 19401, 332, hereinafter cited as Genoa. See also Muller, cited in Note I above, the standard work on the National Anthem. Besides a chapter on the Cara (pp. 39-46), this book also contains portraits of Joseph and Thomas Carr. A copy of the Carr first edition, of which few have survived, was sold at auction in New York, la D.ember 1917, for 53,600. S. American Book Prices Current, 1958, A Record of literary Properties sold at auction . . . (New York, I918), 221. a Carr Bible, Knowles Collection. 60 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Issue of Joseph Carr and his wife Mary Jordan: i. BENJAMIN CARR, b. 12 September 1768; d. unrn. 24 May 1831. He received a good musical education, studying under Dr. Samuel Arnold and the Wesleys," and was a member of the organization known as the London Ancient Concerts. He made his "debut as a composer "m London at Sadler's Wells on 16 October 1792, with a pastoral piece called "Philander and Silvia, or Love crown'd at Last." In 1793, when 24 years old, he emigrated to Philadelphia, where he established his store called the "Musical Repository" at 122 High Street. Shortly after, he also opened one in New York." However, he soon sold his music establishment in New York to a friend, James Hewitt. After arriving in Philadelphia, he applied himself to the promotion of music there. "His extended period of active participation in all phases of music (1793-1831) has led him to be called the Father of Philadelphia Music." " He was a publisher, an editor of his father's Musical Joursuil, an organist, pianist, singer, composer, teacher and conductor. He was one of the founders of the Musical Fund Society m 1820. The directors met first at his home, No. 7 Powell Street.', His portrait, painted for that society by J. C. Darley, is now in the Athenaeum," of which he was a member. "A fine musician, he was a successful composer. As an orgarust he was one of the best performers of which the city could boast; and his services in Roman Catholic and Protestant Episcopal churches were always in demand. He was religiously inclined, and when he performed in compositions of sacred music, he was exalted with emotion and feeling. His compositions were generally of a sacred cast."" Some of his compositions ,6 Dr. Samuel Arnold (1740-1802), was a composer, producer, editor, organist at Wmaninster Abbey, and conductor of the Academy of Ascent Musk. See Dictionary of National Biography, (Oxford, 192760), I, 583, hereinafter cited 79 DNB. Charles Wesley, the composer and organist, and Samuel Wesley, the teacher of music and greatest organist of his day, were sons of Charles 'Wesley, the hymn writer, and nephews of John Wesley, the great divine. See ibid., XX, 1213, 1229. Eric Blom, Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians (London, 1954), 11, 91. Raynor Taylor, music director of Sadler's Wells Theatre, came to Philadelphia in 1792. See The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and BiograPhy, LXIX (1945), 118, hereinafter sited as PMHB. He may have influenced the Carts to follow. ta Redway, 177, cited in Note 7 above. Miss Redway Fats Ness York stores: 1795, 137 William Street; 1796, 131 William Street; and Philadelphia stores: 1794-1798, 122 High Street; 1799-1800, 36 S. Second; 1802, 29 Prune; 1804-1811, 161 Chestnut Street; 1813, 193 Spruce Street; 1817'1818, 106 S. Fifth Street; 1819-1830, 7 Powell Street; 1831, 72 S. Fifth Street. Benjamin is listed at varmus times as music and musical instrument seller, musical instrument maker editor, professor of musk and music master. "Gerson, el, card in Note g above. 14 George Morgan, City of Firsts . . (Philadelphia, 1926), 235. 10 A copy of the portrait, also by J , C. Darley (Jane Cooper [Sully] Dailey) was once in the Knowles Collection, but has been sold. One also a medrotint of the portrait in Henry Simpson, Lim of Eminent Philadelpgans . . . (Philadelphia, 1859), 186. The Collection of The Musical Fund Society, containing thousands of pieces of music, is now on deposit in The Free Library of Philadelphia. U, J. Thomas Scharf and Thompson Westcott, History of Philadelphia • • • (Philadelphia, 1884), II, 1077. See also Gerson, 62, cited in Note 8 above. The Carts, A Musical Family 61 are still in use. There are many accounts of his activities and his fine personal qualities.. Benjamin Carr never married. When his brother Thomas, with his large family, settled in Philadelphia, he took an affectionate interest in his nieces and nephews. He died in Philadelphia 24 May 1831, aged 62. His funeral was from his residence, 72 South Fifth Street, and he was buried in St. Peter's Episcopal Churchyard." In his will he left the income from his estate to his brother Thomas, the principal to his nieces and nephews after the death of their father. He also left Thomas his books, manuscripts, musical instruments, and such furniture and other moveables as Thomas might want. Some articles he asked his brother to keep as heirlooms, never to be sold, given away out of the family or destroyed... ii. ALICE CARR, d. 1770. JOSEPH GABRIEL CARE, d. 1771. iv. MARY CARR. v. ELEEZER CARR. vi. JOSEPH CARR. vii. MARY ANN CARR. viii. ELIZABETH CARR. I. ix. THOMAS CARE, b. London, 8 March 1780; d. Philadelphia, 18 April 1849, of whom further... I. THOMAS CARR, the youngest child of Joseph Carr and his wife Mary Jordan, came to Baltimore at the age of fourteen, with his parents. Four years later he became organist of Christ Church in that city, a position he held until 18 I I . He also became a music publisher, arranger, composer, soloist and teacher. On 27 February 1806, he had been married to MILCAH BELL MERRYMAN at St. James' Church, "My Lady's Manor," in Baltimore County, by the Reverend Mr. Coleman." She was the daughter of Benjamin Merryman and his wife Mary Bell, and was descended from an old and Dictionary of American Biography, (Near York, 1930), III, 514. See also Gilbert Chase, American Music . . . (New York, 1955), 118-119; John Tasker Howard, Our American Music (New York, 1954), 96-101; Oster G. Sonneck, Early Concert Life in America (New York, 1907), 94-96; Sonneck, RePoet, 46, and Gerson, 50-57, both cited in Note 8 above. "See notice in National Gazette and Literary Register, Philadelphia, Thursday, 26 May 1831, requesting members of The Musical Fund Society to assemble to attend the funeral of Benjamin Carr. The notice vlso included a resolution that the society's members "bear a last and sincere tribute to his talents as a professor of music; to his services as one of the founders and most effective officers of the Society; to his kindness and simplicity of heart; the uprightness and purity of his walk in life; his unobstructed modesty of deportment and to the warmth and constancy of his friendship," and a resolution that a monumental scone be erected near his grave at the society's expense, ..to record its gratitude, and the aense it entertains of his worth." As his special tribute, the monument was designed by William Strickland, the architect. It was executed by John Struthers. See PMHB, LXVII (1943), 273. 19 Philadelphia Will Book 10, 72, #94.1831, will of Benjamin Carr. 2 . Carr Bible, Knowles Collection. Ibid., and St. James Parish Records, Baltimore Co., Md. JOSEPH CARR 1739-1819 THOMAS CARR 1780-1849 0 ( ) 62 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine distinguished Baltimore County family. Besides her dowry, she also received from her father part of the grant called "Merryman's Inclosure Rectified," additional land on "My Lady's Manor," and a share of his personal property." Family miniatures show her as a beautiful companion to the handsome Thomas. Thomas doubtless made many trips between Baltimore and Phila. delphia. During one of his visits to the latter place, he appeared as a principal tenor in one of the ambitious concerts conducted by his brother Benjamin. "The first representation in Philadelphia of selections from Handel's 'Messiah' and Hayden's 'Creation' . . . embraced the principal solos and choruses of those pieces. The performance was under the direction of Benjamin Carr, Raynor Taylor and George C. Schetky. It took place in June, 1810, at the Roman Catholic Church of St. Augustine. The principal soprano [Mrs. French] was a young lady pupil of Mr. Carr and Mr. Schetky; the principal tenor, Thomas Carr, of Baltimore; the principal bass, Shapter, of New York. Thirtyfour ladies and gentlemen sang in principal parts and choruses. The orchestra was exceedingly strong, much beyond the general numbers of the orchestras of the day. . . . The organists were Raynor Taylor, Benjamin Carr, Thomas Carr and T. Meinecke, of Baltimore. Memminger, of Baltimore led the twenty-one violins. There were six violas, four clarionets, six flutes, five violoncellos, three bassoons, three double basses, four trumpets and horns, and one kettledrum. This performance was the most celebrated of the time and referred to frequently. The great number of participants was unexampled in the previous history of the city." " Thomas Carr was obviously a fine tenor, as well as organist. His friendly reception in Philadelphia on this occasion, as well as others, must have had much to do with his later removal to the city. When his father turned over the Baltimore music business to him on 20 September 1819, it was in a prosperous condition. According to an advertisement, he had 2000 music plates in the "oldest and only regular musical establishment in the city." Later Thomas advertised grand and square pianofortes of six octaves, lately introduced in Europe by Beethoven and Moscheles." As mentioned previously, Thomas Carr arranged the music of "Anacreon in Heaven" for the words of the "Star Spangled Banner," and in addition did other arranging. His compositions ranged from Baltimore County Will, -814, Benjamin Meeryrnm. 28 Scharf and Westcott, II, 1077, cimd in Note 16 above. Redway, 154, cited in Note 7 above. He removed to 704 Baltimore St., then to 20 North Gay St. before leaving Baltimore. The Cams, A Musical Family 63 patriotic songs such as "Old Tippicanoe's Raisin" to an opera called "The Pirate." It is not known whether he ever finished the opera. A Baltimore imprint shows him as composer and publisher of "Love wakes and weeps, while Beauty sleeps, a serenade from The Pirate, composed by T. Carr, Baltimore, Published and sold by the author at his Music Store, No. 78 /2 Market Street." " From the death of his father in 1819, to his own removal to Philadelphia about 1824, he published a great deal of music." Among his other activities in Baltimore, he had established a musical academy. The pupils, the music store and his large family probably became more than he could handle; he sold the music establishment to George Willing, Jr., in 1822. There is an interesting sidelight on the London cousins of the Carts. Among Thomas Carr's possessions was an oil portrait of his first cousin, Sir John Carr., painted by Eugene Duval of Paris." Sir John was the son of Thomas' uncle, Benjamin Carr, the musical instrument maker of Old Round Court, Strand, who also had other children— Anna Mary Carr, William Thomas Penning Carr, and Elizabeth Carr... John Carr, originally a barrister, gave up the profession of the law after he became a successful writer of travel books. In his The Stranger in Ireland . . . (London, 1 8 06), he said so many kind things about the Irish that he was knighted by the then Viceroy of Ireland, the Duke of Bedford.. During the Napoleonic Wars, wishing to get into Hol25 Musk Book of Sarah C Silver, No. 15. Library Company of Philadelphia. 00 A memormdum in the Knowles Collection referred to his publications; "A Catalogns of music, Printed for Thomas Carr, Baltimore and sold by B. Cart, Philadelphia Sacred music — IS, Sonatas— 10, Rondos —10, Duets for the pano-forte— 4, Airs with variations —10, Vocal duets-3, Songs-45, Miscellaneous —14, also musical spelling." 2, The portrait is now in possession of the writer. A much better portrait of Sir John, painted by Richard Westall, R. A., is reproduced as the frontispiece in sir John's Poems (London, 1809). 28 Ibid., 7, 78, 79. Sir John laments the death of his brother, William, who died aged about 20: "Cold is the hand which Music form'd her own," and notes that he excelled on the pianoforte. In another poem, "Ohl gentle Anna! at thy name alone, Genius and Grace and Virtu, smile in tears," Anna is identified in an explanatory note as "Mrs. Hodges, a sister of the author." Anna Mary Carr was called by Joseph Nollekens, RA., the sculptor, "the beautiful and musical Miss Carr." See John Thomas Smith, Nollehens and his Times (London, 1917), 269 She had married William Hodges, R. A., landscape pithier. Hodges had sailed with Capt. Cook on his second voyage, as draftsman, and later visited India under the patronage of Warren Hastings. His best paintings were his Indian scenes and those of the South Seas. Romney painted "the handful" Mrs. Hodges, full length, in 1798. See Arthur B. Chamberlain, George Romney (London, 1919), 156. In another line of the same poem, Sir John mentions his sister Elizabeth. "TM' wit thy mind, rho' beauty grac'd thy form," with an explanatory note: "Mrs. Fountain,, mother sister of the author, who accompanied her husband to Af rice, and died at the Governmenthouse, in one of the British settlements m that coat, where she survived but a short sirlIC the death of three of her children." 29 Joseph Farington, The Earington Diary, ed. by James Greig (New York, 1923), IV, 61. Farington mentions a party at Sir John's chambers in The Temple, where "Anacreon" (Tom) Moore and Tom Sheridan sang. Ibid., V. 57. Later Vestall said he had been a witness to the marriage mtlernent of Sir John Carr and Miss Mariana King of Goldingham Hall. Ibid., VI, 278. Sir John's brother-in-law, William Hodges, and Joseph Farington had been fellow pupils under Richard Wilson, the landscape painter. Both Hodges and Farington were members of the Royal Academy during the presidency of Benjamin West. See the frontispiece, Ibid., II, for a picture of the Academicians. Farington knew nearly all the eminent English men and women of the time: Pin, Fox, Sheridan, Scott, Lamb, Wordsworth, Carlyle, Turner, George III, the Prince Regent. His eight-volume diary is almost es fascinating reading as that of John Evelyn or Samuel Para 64 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine land where Englishmen were not welcome at that time, he borrowed an American passport and passed as a Baltimore merchant. "I was guilty of assuming a character respected in every country. . . I became an American . . . by act of temporary adoption, fixed upon Baltimore in North America as the place of my nativity. A fortunate correspondence M the personal description, except a slight variation, not easily discoverable, relating to my face and age, enabled a friend of mine, a legitimate American, 00 to accomodate me with his passport. . . . I was promised by my friend a full description of the principal places in Baltimore and the adjacent country . . . the description never arrived, or arrived too late, and I ascended my chaise ignorant of Baltimore. . . ." 8' Obviously the friend was his cousin, Thomas Carr, who looked very much like Sir John, but was eight years younger. They probably exchanged portraits at this time, and certainly continued friends. When Sir John made his will in 1832, three months before he died, he mentioned Thomas Carr in a friendly way. Sir John's "fortune," as he called it, of several thousand pounds (about fI50,000), was divided into five shares for five nieces and nephews: John Fountaine, John's wife, Serena, Caroline and Capt. Henry William Hodges. If either Serena or Caroline Hodges should not follow Sir John's instructions, the one-fifth share of either, or both, was to go to "my cousin, Thomas Carr of Philadelphia." 32 Apparently the nieces conformed. Several thousand pounds certainly would have been welcome to Thomas, Milcah and their eleven surviving children. Thomas Carr and his family moved to Philadelphia about 1824. He organized the St. Cecelia Society less than a year after his arrival from Baltimore and was its first conductor. He is listed in Philadelphia city directories, first as a "Professor and Vendor of Music," later simply as "Professor of Music." " Besides outside pupils he had enough children in his household to keep him busy; to all of them he gave musical training. His happy marriage of forty-three years with Milcah had made husband and wife so nearly one that family tradition avers they died on the same instant. Their deaths took place at their home, 183 North Eighth Street, on 15 April 1849. Burial was in Monument Cemetery, Philadelphia." 00 Thomas Carr became an American C162011 be BalMnore in 1797. His c.itixenship papers were preserved in the Carr Bible. He entered enthusiastically into the ways of his adopted country. In his later years he became an ardent Whig. 00 Sir John Carr, A Tour Through Holland (London, 1807), 2. Other books by the same author not previously mentioned are: The Stranger in France (1801); A Northern Summer, or, Travels round the Baltic (MO Caledonia's Sketches, or, A Tour through Scotland (1809); Descriptive Travels . . . in Spain (1811). All were first published in London and were illustrated by the author's own sketches. See S. T. Prideaux, Aquatint Engraving • • • (London, 19091, 217. 89 Middlesex Wills, London, 1832, Somerset House, London. Sir John's w;fe died at Featherstone Cottage, Turnham Green, in 1821. Sir Joke Carr died 17 July 11132 at his home, 7 New Norfolk St, Grosvenor Square. See obituary, The Gentleman's Magazine, CLII, 2, 102, 1832. See also DNB, III, 1079. 00 Gerson, 51, 89, cited in Note 8 above, and Redway, 177, cited in Note 7 above. Philadelphia addresses listed for Thomas Carr: 1820, 32 S. Second; 1828, 169 Pine; 1830, 19 Juliana; 0 831, 191 N. Sixth; 1810-1837, 201 N. Sixth; 1843-1845, 180 Vine; 1846- 1 849, 183 N. Eighth St. 09 Carr Bible, Knowles Collect:on. See also Public Ledger and Daily Transcript, Philadelphia, 17 April 1849, and Monument Cemetery Records for Section A, Lot 181- The Carts, A Musical Family 65 Issue of 1. Thomas Carr and his wife Milcah Bell Merryman:" 8. BENJAMIN CARE, b. Baltimore, 6 December 1806, bapt. Sr. James' Church, 10 May 1807; d. Baltimore, 20 August 1807." ii. JOHN CARE, b. Baltimore, 12 August 1808; d. Philadelphia, 10 April 1837. An artist, on 3 March 1829, he married MARGARET PEALE, b. 15 October 1810; d. 26 October 1847, daughter of the artist Raphaelle Peale and granddaughter of Charles Willson Peale.. The year of John Carr's death six of his landscapes were entered in the Philadelphia Artists Fund Society exhibit; two were entered the following year,. probably by his widow Margaret. The Philadelphia National Gazette for 11 April 1837, carried the notice: "Died on the 10th inst. Mr. John Carr, Artist, of Philadelphia, aged 28 years and 8 months. The friends of the family, and the artists, generally, are invited to attend his funeral. . . ." Even his tombstone in Monument Cemetery was inscribed "John Carr, Artist. . . ." Issue: 1. SOPHONISBA PEALE CARR. 2. VIRGINIA CARR. 3. JOHN CARR, JR. 4. ANNA CARR, who married and left descendants.. JOSEPH CARR, b. Baltimore, 5 May 1810; d. 20 September 1859. No further information known. iv. MARY JORDAN CARE, b. Baltimore 4 May 1812; d. Yardley, Pa., 1 September 1908. As she was the only one still living with her parents at the time of their death in 1849, she became the possessor of the largest part of the Carr music, portraits and other memorabilia. Married several years after her sisters, she became the second wife of a cousin, LEVI MERRYMAN, and lived on his plantation, "Hampden," near Sweet Air, Baltimore County, Md., until his death in 1868. She later had a house in Philadelphia, and in her last years lived at the home of her sister Elizabeth (Carr) Knowles, at Yardley. She died at the age of 96, and was the last of the family buried in her father's lot at Monument Cemetery. After her death the Carr memorabilia became the property of her executor and nephew, Thomas Carr Knowles. No issue. v. MILCAH BELL CARE, b. Baltimore, 25 November 1813; d. Philadelphia, 2 April 1889. She married 1st, BENJAMIN F. JOHNSON, and 2nd, J. SMITH HARRIS. Her Philadelphia home was at Barren Hill, Montgomery County, Pa. Among her descendants are Auges, Pricketts and Pennocks. vi. THOMAS CARE, b. Baltimore, 3 August 1815; d. Philadelphia, 11 June 1876, bur. at Monument Cemetery. No further information known. 01 The information given about the children and grandchildren of Thomas and Micah Carr, miles, otheranse noted, is from personal knowledge, correspondence, family Bibles, parish and cemetery mcords. . 0 St. James' Parish Records in Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore. Other children born in Baltimore were also baptized at St. James'. s, Information about Margaret (Peale) Carr and the Carr children, courtesy of Mr. Charles Coleman Sellers, author of the two-volume biography of Charles Wilson Peale. 38 Anna Was Rutledge, Cumulative record of exhibition Catalogues; The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 1807-1870 (Philadelphia, 1951), 44. After some search, none of his paintings have been located. 50 It is not known where John Carr was Rest buried, but his remains were transferred to his father's Ins in Monument Cemetery, 18 September 1850, along with those of his son, John Jr., and daughter, Vir ginia. Monument Cemetery now belongs to Temple University. The contents of the graves have been removed to Lawnview Cemetery. Rockledge. The Carr los, Broadlawn, Section 16, Graves 17320, is marked only with small, fat, bronze plate bearing the letter ..C." 66 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 2. vii. BENJAMIN MER.RYMAN CARR, b. Baltimore, 25 May 1817; d. Baltimore County, Md., 18 December 1894, of whom further. viii. ANN REBECCA CARR, b. Baltimore, 7 October 1818; d. Philadelphia, 10 December 1851. After her marriage to DR. ANDREW COMSTOCK, a doctor of medicine, they lived at 100 Mulberry Street, Philadelphia. Oil portraits of them, painted by Emanuel Leutze and dated 1840, are now the property of a Carr descendant.. An early exponent of phonetics, author of textbooks on the subject, and a professor of elocution in Philadelphia schools, in 1843 the doctor established a "Vocal Gymnasium." No issue. ix. WILLIAM GWYNN CARR, b. Baltimore, 3 February 1820; d. 23 March 1881. He married and lived in Wilmington, Del., and left descendants. a. ELIZABETH MERRYMAN CARR, b. Baltimore, 11 January 1822; d. Yardley, Pa., 1 September 1882; m. MAHLON K. KNOWLES of Yardley. A kind and generous woman, she welcomed her sister Mary Merryman to her home in her last days, and adopted the baby Eliza, daughter of her brother Benjamin Merryman Carr, when his wife died in childbirth. Issue: Timm/is CARR KNOWLES, whose son, Mahlon Knowles, had descendants. xi. CAROLINE CARE, b. possibly in Philadelphia, 11 January 1824; d. Philadelphia, 11 June 1855; m. DANA EAMES. One of her two sons, JANins Ludes, had a son Charles Eames who had descendants. ail. JAMES SMITH CARE, b. Philadelphia, 19 January 1827; d. there 12 April 1851, aged 24. He was buried in Monument Cemetery, as was SARAH F. CARE, aged 22, who died 7 February 1852, and is believed to have been his wife. 2. BENJAMIN MERRYMAN CARR, the seventh child of Thomas Carr and his wife Milcah Bell Merryman, was born in Baltimore 25 May 1817, and was baptized at St. James' on the following 29 October. Like his brothers and sisters, he received musical training. Much Carr music which has been preserved has his name written on the cover. In May of 1837, a month after the death of his brother John, the artist, Benjamin started out on his own. He was then twenty years old. At that time satlements were being encouraged in western Virginia, and here he had established himself by the time of his marriage. At Wheeling on 11 January 1841," he married ELIZA ANN NicoLL, born at Paterson, New Jersey, about 1818, the daughter of William Nicoll and his wife Hannah Ming." The officiating minister was the Reverend Henry R. Weed of Wheeling's First Presbyterian Church. 99 The Comstock portraits, now owned by Cicely A1112 (Canby) Post, were entitled "Portrait of a Gendeman" and "Portrait of a Lady" when exhibited in 1841, and the owner was listed as Dr. Comstock. see. Rudalge, 129, cited in Note 38 above. Emanuel Leutze (1816486g), is best known for his historical paintings: "Wsshington Croning the Delaware," now at Washington Crossing, Pa., and "Westward the Course of Erni." in the Capitol at Wuhington. Marriage Licenses of Ohio County, Virginia, Wheeling, West Virgmia, II, 68. Ohio County, Va., in 1863 became a part of the new state of West Virginia. 42 71te Nicoll sons were also born in Paterson, New Jersey, where the father died. Their mother tied 2nd, Ellis Boyden, They moved to Wheeling before 1834. 111121. The Cares, A Musical Family 67 Ohio County deed books record several transactions of real estate in Wheeling by Benjamin and Eliza Carr. There were lots on Chapline Street, South Wheeling, and on Market Street. The 1851 Wheeling city directory lists Benjamin Carr as a saddler at 113 Main Street, with his residence on Chapline Street. (His Nicoll brothers-in-law were also in the leather business.) The 1851 directory shows that Benjamin that year was active in political and civic affairs as a member of the city council for the Fifth Ward, as a trustee of the public schools, and on the Commission of the Board of Appeals. On 23 July 1854, Eliza (Nicoll) Carr died at the birth of their sixth child, Eliza. The mother was buried in Mountwood Cemetery, Wheeling, and the baby was adopted by Benjamin's sister, Elizabeth (Carr) Knowles of Yardley. The other children alternated between their father and the Carr and Nicoll aunts for some years. Finally Benjamin gave up his business in Wheeling and went to the home of his sister, Mary (Carr) Merryman, in Baltimore County, Maryland, and after the death of her husband, Levi Merryman, in 1868, he managed his sister's plantation. He married a second wife, by whom he had a son Harry Carr, and died in Baltimore County, 18 December 1894. Issue of 2. Benjamin Merryman Carr and his first wife Eliza Ann Nicoll: 3. i. MARY BELL CARE, b. Wheeling, 1841; d. Sweet Air, Md., 30 December 1871, of whom further. CHARLES B. CARE, b. Wheeling, ca. 1843; d. there 16 October 1897. He remained with his Nicoll aunts in Wheeling after the death of his mother. He established a livery business in the city and made his home at 707 Market Street. In 1867 he married OELLA STEWART. Issue: I. FRANK MERRYMAN CARE. 2. LULU BELL CARE. 3. BENJAMIN KNOWLES Carts.. 4 MARY BELL Cons. 1. CHARLES OLIVER Can. It is believed there were descendants. BENJAMIN THOMAS CARE, b. Wheeling, ca. 1845; d. Memphis, Tenn., where he was in the cotton business. He married LIJCINDA MELISSA YANCEY. Issue: 1. LUCINDA BELL CARR. 2. ELIZA /VIERRYMAN Casts'.. 3. NARCISSA MAY CARR. 4. BENJAMIN HALLER CARE. Of these children, Lucinda and Benjamin had descendants. iv- WILLIAM MING CARE, b. Wheeling, ca. 1848; d. Memphis, Tenn., where he also was in the cotton business. He married MARY WASHINGTON, daughter of Col. George Washington, a descendant of two of the brothers of President Washington. Issue: I. NELLIE 'WASHINGTON Carts.. 2. jUNE CARL Both daughters married and left descendants. v. ANN CARR, el. in infancy. vi. ELIZA CARR, b. Wheeling, 23 July 1854; d. Yardley, Pa., 11 January 1945, aged 92. Brought up by her aunt, Elizabeth (Carr) Knowles, on 10 De- 68 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine comber 1874, she married DR. JOSEPH ELY SMITH of Yardley. They had no children, but took an affectionate interest in the Carr, Knowles, Eames and Stansbury children. 3. MARY BELL CARE, born in Wheeling (then part of Virginia) in 1841, was the oldest child of Benjamin Carr and his wife Eliza Ann Nicoll. She spent much of her youth with her Carr aunts in Pennsylvania, and later with her father and aunt, Mary (Carr) Merryman, in Maryland at the Merryman plantation, "Hampden." At the time of her marriage during the Civil War, she appears to have been staying with her aunt Milcah Bell Carr and her second husband J. Smith Harris. Her marriage certificate shows that DIXON STANSBURY of Baltimore County, and Mary B. Carr of Roxborough, Philadelphia, were married at the residence of Mr. J. Smith Harris on 17 November 1864, by Andrew Culver, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Manayunk. Dixon Stansbury, born 13 March 1834; died 28 May 1892, was the son of Edward Bussey Stansbury and his wife Cordelia Frances Howard. The young couple lived on the Stansbury plantation "Mt. Prospect," which was near the Merrymans' "Hampden" in Baltimore County. Like so many of the Carr family, Mary (Carr) Stansbury was also a musician. Her unusual concert grand piano was made in Vienna in 1830 by Nanette Streicher geb. Stein und Sohn." Mary Bell Stansbury did not live long enough to enjoy it for any great length of time. She contracted tuberculosis and died at Sweet Air, Md., 30 December 1871, aged 30, leaving three small children. She was buried at Chestnut Grove Presbyterian Church, Sweet Air. Issue of 3. Mary Bell Carr and her husband Dixon Stansbury: i. DELLA STANSBURY, b. "Mt. Prospect," 1865; d. 1866. U. ELIZA NOBLE STANSBURY, b. "Mt. Prospect," 11 January 1867; d. Wycombe, Pa., 27 February 1938. On 15 September 1888, she married at St. James' Church on "My Lady's Manor," WILLIAM WARREN DAVIS, b. Horsham, Montgomery County, Pa., 3 April 1863; d. Philadelphia, 22 February 1939, son of William C. Davis and his wife Mary Ann Roberts. Both are buried at WrightsroWn Friends Meeting, Bucks County, Pa. Issue: 1. NORMAN STANSBURY DAVIS. 2. EDWARD WATSON DAVIS. 3. MARY BELL Davis. 4. JOSEPH PAUL DAVIS. 5. DOROTHY Dncori Davis, 6. HELEN ELIZABETH DAVIS. 7. WILLIAM CYRIL DAVIS. 8. LEIGH MERRYMAN DAVIS. 9. KENNETH BRUCE DAVIS. iii. EDWARD PHILPOT STANSBURY, b. "Mt. Prospect," 28 November 1868; d. there Ram. 28 May 1891; bur. in Chestnut Grove Churchyard, Sweet Air, Md. iv. ANNA BELL STANSBURY, b. "Mt. Prospect," 25 October 1870; d. 22 May 1899; married JOSHUA HOWARD SCARFF. They lived at "Pleasant Valley Farm," Monkton, Md., where she died at the age of 29. No issue. .,,na pais if Rim in ME puma Of MI MR,