Corrections
How to read the labels. DOCUMENTED an original or contemporary record ·
SUPPORTED a credible published source or sourced tree; original not yet seen · FAMILY TRADITION a handed-down story, not yet proven ·
HYPOTHESIS a reasoned idea still to be tested · DISPROVEN-CORRECTED shown to be wrong, with the correction.
“Potts” means Thomas Maxwell Potts, Bi-Centenary Memorial of Jeremiah Carter (1883); “Court Record” means Record of the Courts of Chester County (1910).
A family history earns trust by showing its corrections. These are claims that have circulated in the family or online, and what the records say.
| Claim | What the records say | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah and Mary brought servants with them | The 1715 warrant says they themselves “came Servants” in 1682. Jeremiah later bought the land rights of two other servant couples, which may explain the confusion. | FAMILY TRADITION |
| Jeremiah arrived in 1680, before William Penn | The 1715 warrant says 1682. The 1680 date is still being researched (Board of Property minutes, ship lists, Chester court records 1681–82). | FAMILY TRADITION |
| Edward Carter (d. 1777) is in the direct line | He was Abraham’s brother; the line runs through Abraham. | DISPROVEN-CORRECTED |
| William H. and Lavinia Phillips were husband and wife | They were brother and sister. | DISPROVEN-CORRECTED |
| The Carter tract was 440 acres | The records show 285 acres in Chester Township; no source for 440 has been found. | FAMILY TRADITION |
| Edward Carter gave away 400 of 440 acres | Not supported. Edward the potter (1787–1875) held only part of the tract. | DISPROVEN-CORRECTED |
| Edward was the last Carter to own land in Carterville | Carter heirs were still on record in 1931. | DISPROVEN-CORRECTED |
| Samuel Phillips was killed in the Cornfield at Antietam | He died at Shepherdstown in September 1862 and is buried in Antietam National Cemetery, grave 3590. | DISPROVEN-CORRECTED |
| Jeremiah died on 6 Jan 1737 | That is the date his will was proved (6 Jan 1736/7); he died shortly before. | DISPROVEN-CORRECTED |
| Bessie and Howard Phillips were born in 1885–86 | Both were born in May 1884. | DISPROVEN-CORRECTED |
| The grandmother in generation 9 was named Virginia Alice Phillips | A Burke family note gives “Virginia Alice”. The Carter–Phillips records give Alice Virginia Phillips (1915–2002); her daughter was Virginia Alice Burke, probably named for her. | DISPROVEN-CORRECTED |
| Penn deeded out Pennsylvania from the Pusey house | Not found in Potts, Smith or Ashmead. | FAMILY TRADITION |