Those who do not look upon themselves as a link connecting the past with the future do not perform their duty to the world.

Edward and Judith performed their duty to the world by linking sixteen children to the future, more than any other Carltons.

This is the oldest Carlton photograph. It was taken for Judith's sons in America. Both she and they knew they would never see each other again. The photograph was taken at the studio of J. Rayner late G. Absell at 45 Newington Causeway, London SE (Lambeth) around 1861-1864. This was only 20 years after the invention of photography.

ILLUSTRATION TO BE DONE of Edward the Carpenter (age 66) working on the Carlton Rocker in his carpenter shop in the house on Upper Street in Eythorne during the winter of 1840. Edward the Immigrant (age 12) should be shown helping him.

Edward was baptised on August 14, 1774 in Tilmanstone, the third Edward of the line. He was known at various times as Edward of Ashby (or Ashley) (Ashley is a hamlet east of Tilmanstone) and as Edward of Eythorne, although he apparently worked most of his life on the Waldershare estate of Lord North, Earl of Guilford just south of Tilmanstone and west of Ashley. Edward was born on the eve of the American revolution and was a young man when England was victorious in the Napoleonic wars with France. He lived during the reigns of George III and IV, William IV, and Queen Victoria.

As a child Edward must have seen the London-Dover express stage coaches, which were the pride of England, as they ran just a few miles south of Tilmanstone on their way into Dover. After 1784 and until the advent of the railroads and the steam coaches of the 1830s, these horse drawn coaches revolutionized travel on the new Macadam roads, averaging 7 miles per hour. They were capable of carrying up to 14 persons plus baggage and mail.

Edward Carlton of Eythorne married Judith Ann Preble of Northbourne on May 7, 1801 in Eythorne. Judith may have had red hair, one of her daughters certainly did, as her son Benjamin recalled many years later in America. The Carlton red hair, which has appeared in every generation since Judith, including this author, probably began with her. Dress was changing radically about this time. Where people had formerly dressed by occupation (carpenters wore paper caps) or station in life, now they began to dress in a more utilitarian style. Ruffles and frills disappeared and open necked shirts, long hair, and trowsers became popular instead of tight pantaloons and knee breeches.

Edward and Judith's family, which finally included a total of seventeen children, was not that unusual at the time. The major factor believed to lead to the largest family in Carlton history was related to the Speenhamland scale (a 1795 system of providing allowances from local taxes to make up for increasing inflation). This system provided an allowance for the quartern loaf (the money required to buy bread for a quarter of a year) based on the number of people in the family. Consequently, each infant might be worth as much as three shillings a year to the family. In addition, infant mortality was decreasing and life expectancy was increasing.

In 1816 the post Napoleonic war depression, which had it's primary impact on the small village landholders like the Carltons, began to cause great distress. Small landowners holdings were being bought up by the large estates. Typically a large landowner would persuade or force his poorer neighbors to surrender their copyhold rights for money or for privately owned land. However, the money could not be invested due to the economic conditions and the smaller private landholdings were often insufficient to support a large family. At the same time new agricultural methods such as improved breeding and grains, field drainage, new plows and new machines such as sowers, caused the capital expenditures for successful farming, for the first time in history, to require more than just human and animal labor. These factors were certainly felt by Edward as a carpenter although his brother William, who had retained the family holdings in Tilmanstone, was to experience the loss of the family holdings in the village.

We have speculated that Edward was always second to his younger brother, William. When their father, Edward the Gentleman, died in 1827, Edward received a fifth portion of the liquidated estate, just as William did. At one time William owned considerable landholdings ($1,500,000 US/1984). However, although he built The Laurels in Tilmanstone and expanded his butchering business to Dover and Calais, he lost the Carlton holdings in Tilmanstone. He was in debtor's prison for a time and died in poverty. (Refer to the section THE DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM (IV) CARLTON THE HOGBUTCHER for complete information on this branch of the family.

Edward grew up in an age when highwaymen, public riot, and savage sports dominated the public scene. Half of all children died before the age of 5 and small-pox scars were a normal feature of the population. Broadswords, press-gangs, lash, and gallows punishments were all within memory. Imagine the fascination of the modern age that must have dawned in Edward and Judith as they saw 16 of their 17 children live to adulthood, steam driven railroads cross the countryside, steam ships arrive in the ports, and Britain's star of Empire begin to rise to cover the world.

We believe Edward and Judith eventually came to live in Yew Tree Cottage, located at the southwest corner of the intersection immediately south of the Church in Lower Eythorne, a village just southwest of Tilmanstone. The cottage dates from the 1750s and was still being lived in during the 1990s. Edward worked as a carpenter and builder, possibly on the Waldershare Estate, and we believe he probably made furniture during the winter when construction and outdoor carpentry was in off-season. It is unlikely that he was apprenticed as he does not appear in the Dover apprenticeship records or the Freeman index.

This is the late Regency - early Victorian style, heavy arm rocking chair that was made in England around 1830-1840 which belonged to Edward before he died. An antique collector in DuPage County, Illinois in 1985 believed this chair to be "a poor provincial attempt at the popular later Regency - early Victorian style of the 1830 - 1840 period." We believe Edward may have built this chair himself (perhaps in the sheds that still stand at the rear of Yew Tree Cottage), beginning by emulating popular style but opting for comfort and durability by the time he had completed it (see photograph). R.J. White, in his Life in Regency England, describes the mood of the times as including objects in which "Their beauty was something inherent in the care and craft that had gone to the making rather than something consciously added or the studied beauty of the style." This description aptly fits this chair, which was brought to Illinois by Edward's 2nd son named Edward. It was most likely given to young Edward by his mother as he left England for America in December of 1841. The chair was in the possession of Rick Carlton after 1985.

By the summer of 1835 the local situation had deteriorated to the point where Edward's sons could no longer survive under the economic conditions in the area. The Long Point, Illinois Carlton branch was started when Benjamin and Joseph emigrated to America in the summer of 1835. The complete stories of their lives in America are included in their sections. Joseph was killed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1836 but Benjamin continued westward until he reached Livingston County, Illinois where he settled. When the first regular British census was taken in 1841, Edward was listed as a carpenter living with Judith and his children, Elizabeth, Jane, Edward, and Mary (who must have been a granddaughter) on Upper Street in Eythorne. He died sometime between June and September that year. He was 67 and in poor circumstances at the time. His sons Frederick and Edward, unable to make a satisfactory living after he died, emigrated to join Benjamin in Illinois in December of 1841 or January of 1842.

The economic conditions that dominate this period revolve primarily around the fact that Edward and Judith's children came of independent age between 1830 and 1850, a time during which England was sending millions of emigrants overseas in attempts to cope with the depression. Histories of this period indicate that the southern agricultural regions (including Kent) suffered greatly at this time. The Cambridge History of the British Empire quotes one witness, that "a gentleman in Kent is sending (emigrants) off by the wagon loads . . . Their fate seems to have been less dreadful that the method of riddance . . . for some of them were sending later for their relatives and friends." This may be precisely what Benjamin Carlton did after his brother Joseph died, in sending for his other brothers; Frederick and 13 year old Edward.

There is a family recipe for an English steamed pudding, now known as Carlton Steamed Pudding, that has been passed down through the women in 2 branches of the family in the United States (the descendants of David Henry and Absalom Carlton). The recipe was first recorded by Jennie Carlton in the 1920s. Although we cannot be positive, we suspect that the recipe was Judith's and was a favorite of her sons in America, who continued to enjoy it in Long Point. The complete recipe is included in the section on Daisy Mason Carlton Tirey and in the Recipe Appendix.

At the time of the 1851 census Judith was living in a house owned by Peter Lane, the Rector, in Upper Street, Eythorne. Her son William was living with her at this time. Between 1851 and 1864 Judith went to live with one of her daughters in London. We have a photograph of Judith from a carte-de-viste album of a type that was popular after 1855 and she looks to be between 72 and 82 years old, thus making her the oldest ancestor of whom we have a photograph. This photograph was taken at a studio on Newington Causeway in Lambeth, a section of London on the east side of the Thames from Parliament, probably between 1861 and 1864.

Judith died December 16, 1864 at the home of one of her daughters at 47 Walcot Square in Lambeth. George Edwards, who was probably her son-in-law, was present at her death and he registered it on December 19th. The cause of death was recorded as "natural decay." Edward and Judith had 17 children over the 27 years between 1801 and 1828, only 1 of whom died:

NOTE: Attempts to locate the Edwards family in London in hopes of finding a family bible and/or other Carlton family artifacts were fruitless. The census records indicate that 47 Walcott Square in Lambeth was a transient building with 4 different families in 1861, all of whom had moved leaving the building to 4 other families by 1871. None of the families were Edwards, thus proving that the Edwards family moved into the building between 1861 and 1864 and moved out between 1864 and 1871. The job of trying to locate a common name like Edwards in such a huge city is nearly impossible considering the state of the records in 1985. George Edwards' wife could have been Judith's daughters; Louisa (who was living in London without children in 1885), Miriam (Myrum) (who was still living in England with her husband and several children in 1886), Sarah (who died before 1886), Mary, or Jane (who was mentioned as living with her second husband in London in 1886). Of course Louisa and Jane are the most likely, although Louisa may not have passed anything on since she had no children.

William Carlton (Of Nonington)

William was baptised September 20, 1801 at Waldershare and he may have lived most of his life in Nonington. In 1841 he may have been living at Eythorne Green by himself. In 1851 he was living with his mother (who was a widow), his sister Jane, and niece Mary in Lower Eythorne. In 1861 he and his mother were living in Eythorne by themselves. In 1871 he may have been at Little Mongeham, although the William Carlton recorded there was listed as 66 years old (born in 1805) and baptised in Whitfield (which is only a couple of miles from Waldershare). He was mentioned as still living in England by his brothers in Illinois in 1886, although he may have died before 1882.

Ann Carlton Heritage

Ann was baptised April 10, 1803 at Whitfield. She died in June 1882. She married Henry Heritage of Nonington May 24, 1825 at Northbourne. Her marriage was witnessed by her older brother William and her younger sister Louisa. At the time she was recorded as "Ann Carlton of Northbourne" so she may have been working for a family at Northbourne prior to her marriage. Ann and Henry had 14 children.

Louisa Carlton

Louisa was baptized September 7, 1806 at Whitfield. She married and was living in London in 1885 with no children.

Henry Carlton (Of Waldershare)

Henry was born in Whitfield and was baptized there July 24, 1808. He married Matilda Roach May 14, 1830 at Northbourne. The 1841 census shows Henry as a gardener, living with Matilda at Aishley (now known as Ashley) in Northbourne. They remained there through 1861. By 1871 they were living at Waldershare Park Farm and in 1881 at Waldershare Farm Cottages. Henry died in December 1886 and is probably buried at Waldershare, where his name appears on the tombstone of his son and grandson (see John ad John William Carlton below). Henry and Matilda had 8 children:

Louisa Carlton

Louisa was baptised at Waldershare August 14, 1831. She died July 22, 1852 and was buried at Waldershare, where she shares a tombstone with her sisters Sarah and Elizabeth Carlton Watts. (The stone is located about 50 feet beyond the end of the nave on the left side of the path.) The inscription reads:

Charles (The Infant) Carlton

Charles was baptised at Waldershare December 29, 1833 and was buried at Northbourne July 21, 1837.

Sarah Carlton

Sarah was baptised at Waldershare November 15, 1835. She died September 22, 1856 and was buried at Waldershare, where she shares a tombstone with her sisters Louisa and Elizabeth Carlton Watts. (See inscription above.)

Elizabeth Carlton Watts

Elizabeth was baptised at Waldershare November 12, 1837. She may have been a servant for a family in Lower Street in Deal in 1851 when she was 13. She married John Watts and she died October 2, 1870. She is buried at Waldershare where she shares a tombstone with her sisters Louisa and Sarah. (See inscription above.)

Henry Carlton

Henry was baptised at Waldershare March 15, 1840. Nothing further is known of him.

Charles (II) Carlton

Charles was baptised at Northbourne around September 1842. He became a mariner out of Whitstable and he married a woman named Emma. At the time of the 1871 census he was probably at sea because Emma and their 1 year old daughter were alone at 37 Harbour Street in Whitstable. The 1881 census shows the family together at 77 Harbour Place in Whitstable. Charles and Emma had at least 5 children:

Ellen Louise Carlton

Ellen was born around June 1869 in Whitstable, the Blean PRO district.

Charles (III) Carlton

Charles was born around September 1871 in Whitstable, the Blean PRO district.

Elizabeth Carlton

Elizabeth was born around March 1874 in Whitstable, the Blean PRO district.

Florence Carlton

Florence was born around March 1877 in Whitstable, the Blean PRO district.

Henry Carlton

Henry was born around June 1880 in Whitstable, the Blean PRO district.

Mary Carlton Hobbs

Mary was baptised at Northbourne around June 1845. By the time she was 15 she was no longer living with her family. She married a man named Hobbs and she was living with her parents at Waldershare Farm Cottages in 1881.

John (II) Carlton

John was born around June 1849 and was baptised at Northbourne. He died March 24, 1927, aged 78 years. He shares a tombstone with his son in the Waldershare Churchyard (located about 50 feet beyond the end of the nave on the left side of the path). The inscription reads:

John's son was:

John William Carlton

John was born in 1880 and died February 1, 1919 at age 39.

Matilda Carlton

Matilda was born around December 1852 and was baptised at Northbourne.

Charles Carlton (Son of Edward the Carpenter)

Charles was baptised September 17, 1809 at Whitfield. He died before 1886.

Elizabeth Carlton Barthram

Elizabeth was baptised February 3, 1810 at Waldershare. She may have married John Barthram on October 13, 1827. She died before 1886.

Joseph Carlton

Joseph was baptised May 31, 1812 at Waldershare. He was the oldest of the emigrant brothers. He came to the United States with Benjamin in the summer of 1835 when he was 23 but died in Cleveland, Ohio some time between 1836 and 1841. In 1886 Benjamin stated that he died in 1836, however the Cuyahoga County Archives at the Rhodes House has estate papers on him that were filed on April 13, 1841. Among these 4 documents is an inventory of his effects:

deceased

1 note against John Wicken amt. 86 - 74

1 note amt. 31-59 endorsed 3-25 name cut off

2 Silver Watches Amt 20 - 00

1 Bank of Wooster note Amt 5 - 00

gloves socks etc 1 - 50

3 pair pantaloons 8 - 00

2 pair (onamers) 1 - 50

1 grey coat 5 - 50

1 velvet jackett 1 - 50

2 Blue vests x 2 col 5 - 50

1 Cap & Suspenders - 50

6 Shirts 2 - 50

1 green coat 3 - 50

1 pilot cloth coat 9 - 00

2 Shirts & 1 handercheif 00 - 50

2 books - 75

Powder flash & shot pouch 1 - 00

Pantaloons 50

Due from D. Whitehead 30 - 00

Cast - - 24



Cleveland july 10/41



(signatures of witnesses follow)



Frederick (I) Carlton

Frederick was born January 18, 1814. His name is listed as "Frederic" in the Waldershare baptismal record of May 15, 1814. As a boy, because of the many children in the family he was forced to earn his own living. He spoke with pride of the time he spent "in Gentleman's service." This was undoubtedly reference to the common practice of young men and women serving in the houses of estate owners. Other Carltons in the area had followed the practice for some time. Frederick married Sarah Winser on December 23, 1840 in Milton next Gravesend, a seaport in Kent County that was very busy with passengers bound for emigration. Sarah was born in England January 21, 1820. Frederick listed his occupation as "tailor" or "sailor" on his marriage certificate (it is difficult to read). Frederick and Sarah embarked for the new world with Frederick's youngest brother, Edward and Sarah's brother, James Winser. It is possible, although unlikely, that Frederick sailed as a crew member. He probably brought his 13 year old brother Edward with him, although Edward may have come by himself in 1842. There is no record in the National Archives of the United States in Washington, D.C. of when they arrived. It was not uncommon for the "lists" of passengers not to be submitted to government authorities, for the submitted lists to be lost, or for passengers not to report themselves. Frederick related coming to the United States in 1841 due to "poor circumstances" in England.

He first went to Bureau County, Illinois, where he taught school for a year. In 1842 he came to Long Point with his brother-in-law, James Winser. Frederick entered 160 acres of land and established residence in Section 10 of Long Point Township with his wife. During his interview of 1886 he is quoted as saying that only a few log cabins could be seen around the grove in Long Point when he first arrived from England. He also said that he used to send his produce to Chicago by wagon in his early days. James Winser became afflicted with ague and he tendered his share of the land to Frederick and returned to England.

Frederick later sold 100 acres and was farming 80 acres in 1886. We have a lithograph of his 180 acre farm on Section 10 in Long Point Township from this period. See the section on his brother, Benjamin Carlton, for more details on the aspects of farming at this time, and the section on his brother Edward Carlton, for details about farming in the later portions of the 1800s. Frederick kept many things to remind him of his early days in England but nothing is known of these articles as his Kinsey descendants have not been located.

Frederick and Sarah had 7 children and adopted a son, Alfred York. Six of their children died in infancy as well as the adopted son. In 1874 their petition to adopt Clarence Talbot was turned down. Only their daughter Charlotte Eva lived to adulthood. The six infants who died were between the ages of 5 days and 1 year, 11 months. Although there are numerous possible reasons, we speculate that they shared either a common birth defect (i.e., heart, lung, or stomach) or the water or milk they were given was contaminated. The medical science of the time was insufficient to determine the cause. Throughout their lives they were members of the Methodist Church and lived faithful to its teachings.

Sarah Winser Carlton died October 16, 1879. Although Frederick had been an uncomplaining cripple since about 1895, he retained all of his reasoning faculties, kept himself well informed on current events, and less than a week before his death, waited for the mail man and asked for the daily paper, that he might see it for reading as had been his custom for years. Frederick had given his land to Charlotte with the condition that he be allowed to live on it until his death. He spent the last years of his life there, waiting patiently for what he said, "was not death but transition." Frederick became very ill in mid May of 1905 and he died a few days later at about midnight on May 17. He had lived to be 91. David Henry Carlton, his nephew, was made guardian of his estate, which included only his personal effects, most notably numerous bottles of Perry Davis Pain Killer. His obituary in the Streator paper included the following poem:

Dear father you have answered to the roll call

And I am left an orphan lone;

But with God's help, I will follow in your footsteps,

And meet you at the throne

Because Frederick does not have a headstone in the Long Point Cemetery, we believe he may have been buried on his land. An interesting document has survived which [on the letterhead of Lea Filbey & Company (David Henry's son-in-law)] represents a bill in the amount of $4.75 "For Grave of Frederic Carlton." It is signed by Geo Bolex, Sexton, which may indicate that Frederick was buried at the Long Point Cemetery but without a headstone. None of the graves of the infants or Sarah's grave has been found and it is probable that they are all together. Frederick and Sarah's 8 children were:

Charles Carlton (Of Long Point)

Charles was born April 17, 1842, he died August 14, 1842 at age 3 months.

Caroline Carlton

Caroline was born July 21, 1844, she died September 20, 1845 at age 13 months.

Frances Carlton

Frances was born April 28, 1847, he died May 3, 1847 at age 5 days.

Jennie Carlton

Jennie was born August 22, 1850, she died August 20, 1852 at age 1 year, 11 months.

Betsey Carlton

Betsey was born September 20, 1852, she died November 6, 1852 at age 1 month.

Charlotte Eva Carlton Talbot Kinsey

Charlotte was born March 3, 1855. She married Fred Talbot and they had a son:

Clarence Talbot

Clarence's birth date is unknown but he died about 1907. He had no children.

Charlotte's second husband was Issac W. Kinsey. Ike died April 12, 1917 and Charlotte died about the same time. Ike's will left no property (it may have been disposed of earlier). Charlotte and Ike had 3 children:

Guy L. Kinsey

Guy was born in 1880. He may have moved to Florida, where he may have been living in 1976.

Ina Belle Kinsey

Ina's birth date is unknown but she died at 8 months.

Cecil Carlton Kinsey

Cecil was born in 1891. He may have moved to Florida, where he may have been living in 1976.

Alfred Carlton

Alfred was born November 13, 1859 and he died January 13, 1859 at age 2 months.

Frederick (II) Carlton (The Infant)

Frederick was born October 30, 1862 and he died August 10, 1863 at age 9 months.

Alfred York

Alfred was born November 6, 1860. He was adopted by Frederick and Sarah. He died August 10, 1868 at age 8 years.

Benjamin Carlton (The Immigrant)

Benjamin was born on August 21, 1815. He was baptised September 17, 1815 at Waldershare. He farmed in England until the summer of 1835 when he emigrated to the United States. He sailed to New York City on a 61 day voyage that he described as late as 1886 as "tedious." We believe that Benjamin came to the U.S. with his older brother Joseph. At the time they arrived in New York it was a city of about 250,000, the largest in the country. The Great Fire of 1835 had just occurred and the city was in the process of a rapid rebuilding. Andrew Jackson was then President of the United States. The Carlton brothers went first to Cleveland, Ohio, a likely route was thought the Erie Canal which had opened 10 years previously. Benjamin served an apprenticeship as a stone mason there. In 1836 Martin VanBuren was elected President and the depression in England began to be felt in the U.S. Joseph died before the year was out and Benjamin may have left Cleveland. By 1837 money was very tight with wages dropping and unemployment widespread.


Benjamin worked as a mason in Columbus, Ohio and then in St. Louis. He probably became disenchanted with the prospects of working as a mason and gave in to his instincts for farming. In fact, he was probably making his way west as he worked. Although it was not unheard of for single men to walk the entire distance, a popular route for those who could afford it was to take the Wabash and Erie Canal west, to Lafayette, Indiana. Benjamin could have gone to Columbus and then connected at Cincinnati or Portsmouth with an Ohio River steamboat to St. Louis. At this time the Illinois country was just opening for settlement. The 15 week long Black Hawk War of 1832 had driven the Indians from the region and the ensuing years had seen the removal of the last of the tribes into the Iowa territory. Benjamin certainly would have seen one of the many advertisements, such as the one below, that were posted throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania:

Philadelphia, Pa. 183

Dear Sir: We wish to call the attention of yourself and friends to the fact that we are the agents of the Central Illinois Emigrant Society, formed for the purpose of giving information and otherwise aiding those desiring to remove to the West, in selecting for themselves homes in that desirable locality. The Indian troubles are all settled, the Indians themselves having been removed to Iowa. A canal through this section of the country is projected, and will soon be built, putting this territory in close communication with Chicago and the East. The land, which has just come into market, is of an excellent character, and can be had at from sixty cents to $2.00 per acre. Wood is plenty, water is good and abundant, the soil is extremely fertile, producing crops that would astonish the Eastern farmer, and the climate is healthful. We shall be pleased to have you correspond with us and we will be glad to give you fuller information.

Your obedient servants,

J.M. Tidd & Co., Bankers,

Philadelphia, Pa.

One account of the prairie at this time said:

"Farms are made the quickest here of any place I ever read or heard of. No trees to cut down or stones to pick up. The only thing to do in making a farm is to fence, plough and plant, and the first year's crop will go a long way toward paying the price of the land and the fencing."

No doubt Benjamin knew better from his experience in Kent. Benjamin may well have read one of the two books which were very popular with aspiring immigrants to Illinois, Illinois In 1837-8 and Illinois and The West by A.D. Jones. The first book painted a picture of Illinois as being close to an agricultural paradise while Jones' book provided both sides of the immigration story and has withstood the test of time much better. Original copies of both books can be seen in the rare book room at the Newberry Library in Chicago. The map of Illinois which is included in this history was published in Jones' book.

If he passed through St. Louis, it is almost certain that Benjamin would have taken an Illinois River steamboat upriver as this was the heyday of the "floating palaces" of the rivers. Jones related his experiences in getting aboard an Illinois River steamboat several years earlier:

"I had waited at Alton during fortyeight long, weary hours for a boat bound up the Illinois River - many had passed bound up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers . . . Berths were long since taken up . . . we must take our chances with some sixty others at rough-and-tumble on the cabin floor. By a little management, and a bribe of a quarter-dollar to the Steward . . . I obtained a snug corner, where with my saddle-bags for a pillow, I passed a tolerable night."

Jones states that the boats would not go beyond Peru or Hennepin at most times due to the water levels. Benjamin went first to LaSalle County, which is near the head of the Illinois River, but then went south to Long Point Township in 1840 where he was considered one of the pioneers of Livingston County. At this time Illinois had been a state for 22 years and its total population was less than 500,000. William Henry Harrison was elected President that year and soon after John Tyler became President when Harrison died in office. Benjamin remembered killing wild game in the area about this time and related tales of herds of 100 deer bounding over the prairie or through a forest. At this time many settlers were simply building home sites without entering their land, but Benjamin purchased his land in January of 1849.

Farming was quickly becoming a lucrative, though difficult, business on the prairies. During the 1840s Cyrus McCormick's reapers began to sell very well and by 1847 the John Deere steel plow, which had been invented in 1837 near Moline (100 miles to the west) was in common use. Benjamin probably could afford to use day laborers to break the prairie for him at the going rate of $2.50 per acre. James K. Polk became President in 1844 and during this time a real flood of European immigrants began. Where 65,000 immigrants per year had been entering when the Carltons arrived, now 250,000 per year began coming. In 1846 the Mexican War over Texas began and in 1848 war hero Zachary Taylor was elected President. In 1849 the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in California rocked the world and many of the new immigrants set out for points farther west. In 1850 Millard Fillmore became President when Taylor died in office.

Farm marketing facilities were poor in those days with buyers usually paying one price for all qualities of produce. Buyers would often circulate false rumors to depress the price they had to pay. The situation in Long Point was undoubtedly better as the Vermillion-Illinois River System, the Illinois-Michigan Canal, and the new Rock Island and Illinois Central Railroad lines were all within useable distance (see map). See the section on Benjamin's brother, Edward Carlton, for details on various aspects of farming in the later 1800s.

Benjamin married widow Laura Eaton Miller of Troy, Pennsylvania in 1854. Laura was born October 25, 1812, the daughter of William and Asenath Lomis Eaton. Her previous husband was Lanson Miller, with whom she had 3 children, John L. Miller of Colorado, Deloss Miller of Idaho, and Laura J. Miller (she died in 1865 when she was 23).

NOTE: There is a letter that was written to Laura by Asenath Lomis Miller (her mother) November 3, 1846 with news of a death, probably her brother, and information on what others in the Miller family were doing at the time. At this time there was no established rate for mail and it was a year before the Long Point post office was established. The letter was in the possession of William Schallhammer of Elmhurst, Illinois in 1985.

Benjamin and Laura had one daughter:

Mary Louise Carlton Gould

Mary was born November 15, 1852 and she married Royal Rose Gould on May 11, 1876. She died March 31, 1928.

NOTE: Mary and Royal gave the name Benjamin to their son, he gave it to his son, and, although a generation was skipped, the name was once again passed on when Jathan Benjamin Lathers was born in 1978.

Refer to the section THE GOULDS for complete information on this branch of the family.

Leland (Stubb) Stanford George Gould recalls that his mother, Mary Louise Carlton Gould, lived in a log cabin with her father, Benjamin Carlton, until about 1858. 1858 was when Laura and Benjamin were divorced, probably on March 7th when Laura filed a Bill of Relief against Benjamin. The court records for this period were destroyed by fire but there are records of Benjamin and Laura going into court at least twice in this period before 1862 to gain injunctions and agreements to sell land. The obvious conclusion is that they were breaking up their estate as Benjamin began to devote his efforts to his new family with Jane Sillik (see below).

Benjamin built a new house for Laura and his daughter Mary Louise in late 1860 or 1861, probably to replace what was a mean log cabin. The house still stands and is referred to as "the homestead." This house may have come about as an out of court agreement between Benjamin and Laura, especially since there are no court records for either of them after this date. Benjamin did provide for Mary Louise Carlton Gould in his will of 1905. Laura Eaton Miller Carlton died August 13, 1878 and was buried in the Eaton plot in the Long Point Cemetery near the grain elevator. In 1940 Leland (Stubb) Gould replaced the old headstone with a new granite marker as a gesture of his fond memories of her stories of Laura.

On March 21, 1859 Benjamin married Jane Sillik. Jane is recorded as coming from Canada and Samuel Sillik, Jane's father, arrived in 1849, purchased land in 1850, and was one of 3 men who established the town of Long Point in 1873. Jane Sillik Carlton was born February 11, 1822 and she died October 18, 1891. Benjamin and Jane had 1 daughter:

Flora (Florence) Carlton Bosserman

Flora was born October 30, 1862. She married Frank Bosserman, who was born August 3, 1860. Frank was the son of Amos J. Bosserman, the first Chicago, Pekin, and Southwestern station agent for Long Point. A large, newer tombstone in the Long Point Cemetery marks Benjamin and Jane's grave site and the rear of the stone is inscribed with the names of Frank and Flora Bosserman but they were never buried there. They moved to Hollywood, California in 1908. Flora and Frank had 2 children:

Ansel Trorne Bosserman

Ansel was born February 20, 1886 in Long Point. He married Pearl Bass but they had no children. In 1980 he was living in Santa Barbara, California at 2621 Orella Street, Apt. #1. His correspondence with a Bosserman genealogist at that time (he would have been 94) is the last known of him.

Laura Carlton Bosserman

Laura (who may have been named Flora and known as Fay) was born December 1, 1891 in Long Point. We have a photograph of a child named Laura Carlton Bosserman, who looks to be about 6-8 years old, which was probably taken in the late 1800s. She died April 9, 1935 and had no children.

Benjamin did not serve in the Civil War. From 1885 on he specialized in stock raising on his 400 acre farm in Section 16 of Long Point Township. At one time he operated a brick kiln on the creek and several of the farm houses in the area were built with his bricks. We have a lithograph of his estate with its 3 tenant farms, old home, and new farm as it stood in 1886. We also have photographs of both Benjamin and Jane. Benjamin was reared in the Episcopal Church and adhered to the faith throughout his life. In his later years he was remembered for taking a chair outside to watch thunderstorms. He would tell his grandchildren that electricity was the greatest discovery made by man. He died September 20, 1905 at Frank and Laura's home. His obituary appeared in the Steator Free Press on September 28th. His estate passed to his son-in-law Frank Bosserman.

NOTE: In 1973 the Benjamin Carlton homestead property was owned and operated by Russell Loudon, who is a descendent of William Loudon of Northern Ireland, who came to Long Point in the late 1870s.

Josiah Carlton

Josiah was baptised on November 24, 1816 at Waldershare. The 1841 census shows him as a labourer in St. Stephen's Road, Hackington. In 1886 his brother Frederick said in an interview in Livingston County, Illinois that he never married and died after 1851 but "many years before" 1886. However, about 1843 he did mary. His wife was a woman named Sophia, who was born about 1819 in Chislet. By 1851 the family was living on Walmer Hill in Walmer St. Mary's Parish. Josiah's death was recorded around December 1859 in the Eastry district. Josiah and Sophia had 2 children:

Alfred Walter Carlton

Alfred was baptised on September 15, 1844 in Tilmanstone. He may have been known as Walter instead of Alfred. Around June 1866 he married Barbara, who was born around 1846 in East Peckham. Their marriage was recorded in the Hollingbourne district. In 1881 they were living in Lower Halstow in Milton. Alfred and Barbara had 6 children:

Alfred John Carlton

Alfred was born around September 1868 in Rochester, the Medway PRO district.

Walter William Carlton

Walter was born around September 1870 at Halstow in Milton.

Ernest (John?) (G.R.?) Carlton

Ernest may have been born around September 1871 in Halstow. Ken Wilson has the Blean PRO district recording an Ernest John Carlton about this date, however the census records indicate an Ernest G.R. Carlton was the son of Alfred and Barbara in 1881 at Lower Halstow in Milton.

Frederick Charles Carlton

Frederick was born around September 1875 in Halstow in Milton.

Ann Elizabeth Carlton

Ann was born around June 1877 at Halstow in Milton.

Harriet Barbara Carlton

Harriet was born around September 1879 at Halstow in Milton.

Alice Louisa Carlton

Alice was born around September 1846 in the Eastry district.

Miriam (Myrum) Carlton

Miriam was baptised on June 6, 1818 at Waldershare. She was still living in England with her husband and several children in 1886.

Edward (The Infant) Carlton

Edward was born in January 1819 and he was baptised on May 9, 1819 at Waldershare. He was buried on May 5, 1820 at Tilmanstone at the age of 16 months. The last son, who was the ancestor of the Long Point Carltons, was born in 1828 and was also given the name Edward.

Sarah Carlton

Sarah was baptised on May 14, 1820 at Waldershare and she died before 1886.

John (II) Carlton

John was baptised November 4, 1821 at Waldershare. He died before 1886.

Mary Carlton

Mary was baptised March 28, 1824 at Waldershare. It is probable that her grandfather [Edward (II)(The Gentleman)] left one fifth of his estate to her to be paid when she reached the age of 21 (which would have been in 1845).

Jane Carlton

Jane was baptised April 2, 1826 at Waldershare. In 1841 she was living with her parents in Upper Street in Eythorn. In 1851 she was living with her mother and brother William in Lower Eythorne. She may have married in Eastry district around December 1861. She was mentioned as living with her second husband in London when her brothers in Illinois were interviewed in 1886.

Edward (IV) Carlton (The Immigrant)

The fourth of the Edwards in the Long Point Carlton line, he was baptised September 14, 1828 at Waldershare. He emigrated to Illinois in 1841 when he was 13. He died in 1908. Edward is the ancestor of the main line of this history and his story is included in the next chapter.

NOTE: Although the passenger lists for ships arriving in all eastern American ports from England between 1835 and 1842 have been searched, there is no record of the immigration of any of the 4 Carlton brothers (Joseph, Benjamin, Frederick, and Edward). It is common knowledge that often during this period ship's lists were not properly submitted, misfiled, or have since been lost.

INDEX/Dedication/Preface/Direct Line/Interesting Facts/Titles/Heraldic Coats of Arms/Origin of Carlton Surname/Before 1500/John of Lyttle Harde & Ales (1480-1544 to 1571)/William of Little Hards 1525-1638))/Stephen of Ashe (1578-1630)/William of Ash & Ann Pollard (1610-1662)/William of Tilmanstone & Mary Brett (1640-1696)/Edward the Cordwainer & Dorothy Court (1674-1734)/John the Churchwarden & Susanna White (1709-1806)/Edward the Gentleman & Ann Pilcher (1745-1832)/Edward the Carpenter & Judith Preble (1774-1864)/Edward the Immigrant & Diadama Hallam(1828-1912)/David Henry & Elizabeth Swift (1852-1947)/Edward Arthur & Daisy Mason (1881-1983)/David Raleigh & Hazel Marie Crippen (1912-Present)/Richard Raleigh & Terry Zebell & Lynn Borre (1950-Present)/The Mayflower Pilgrims/The American Immigration

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You can contact me offline at 2012 Richard Cove, Jonesboro, AR, USA 72404, phone 1-870-931-9206

This page was updated on 3-16-98. If you have queries or comments, email rcarlton@arkansas.net