The Parentage of the Three Reverends…and the Lady
Subtitle: Rev. Marcus E. Carter, Rev. Valentine S. Carter, Rev. James Allen Carter, Susanna “Susan” Marena (CARTER) Carter
Publisher: Floyd Thomas Pratt F.H.C., M.A.G.I.
Published: 2013 revised 2nd Edition 2014
Place of publication: Bradenton, Manatee, Florida, United States
Format: .pdf on a cd
Number of pages: 73
Description: Those of us in the family history research arena have been wrestling with the identities of the parents of three distinct individuals; Rev. Marcus E. Carter born 1806 in Tennessee; Rev. Valentine S. Carter born 1820 in Tennessee and his brother; Rev. James Allen Carter born 1830 in Tennessee and the wife of Marcus...Susanna "Sally" Marena (CARTER)…known in this report as the lady.

In my case, I have struggled with this millstone around my neck for the last 38 years. In my pride, I hoped someone else would produce definitive proof of the parentage of these three men and dreading this day would come, I have been procrastinating the idea of having to put pen to paper with my thoughts and conjectures concerning this issue.

Ironically, I had written a M.A.G.I. course titled “How to Break Down Your Brick Wall” back in 2011 addressing this very subject, and all too familiar with the time, effort and money it takes to solve these issues, I was hoping I wouldn’t have to repeat that tedious task.

However, as my days grow shorter, if I don’t voice what I know now, concerning these men and the lady, others will not benefit from my insight and maybe, just maybe…someone somewhere will discover hard documents validating or disproving my theory.

Nevertheless, I shall present in a logical format, my reasons for my conclusions as to the parents of each of these people. I hope I am correct, or at least someone can refute my research based on hard evidence to the contrary.

It is in the spirit of advancing family history research, of which, I have donated the majority of my life, time, effort and finances in fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy, thereby benefiting the living as well as our kindred dead. I welcome additional input pro or con and encourage thought provoking comments.

Rev. Valentine S. Carter Auxiliary Folder

[1] 31 Page 7-generation descendancy chart of Valentine S. Carter
[2] Valentine Carter Auxiliary Folder…containing articles, stories, pictures, legal documents, deeds, obituaries  
[3] Rough Notes “Potential Parents born 1785-1805 of Valentine S. Carter” detailing a list of Carter candidates and potential parents of Valentine S. Carter through birth associations.
[4] Rough Notes “Potential Parents married 1785-1805 of Valentine S. Carter” detailing a list of Carter candidates and potential parents of Valentine S. Carter through marriage associations.
[5] Various related family flyers containing additional material of interest to Carter family researchers
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: One of the problems…; title: The players…; title: [1] Rev. Marcus E. Carter; title: Generic Parents…; title: Monroe County, Tennessee; title: The 1830 Census of Monroe County, Tennessee…; title: Caleb Carter Sr….; title: More Evidence…; title: Jesse Carter Sr.; title: Bradley County, Tennessee; title: 1840 Bradley County Census; title: 1840 Monroe County Census; title: Move to Missouri…; title: Other Potential Parents of Marcus E. Carter…; title: [2] Rev. Valentine S. Carter; title: 1837-1838 Marriage of Valentine and Maleta…; title: Looking for Carter Parents in all the wrong places…; title: Their Little Georgia Sojourn…; title: Cherokee Land Lottery of 1832; title: The Move to Georgia; title: Partners in Crime; title: Carters and Eppersons…; title: Potential Parents of Valentine S. Carter…; title: Will the real parents of Valentine S. Carter please manifest yourself?…; title: Allen & Elizabeth (TRIMM) Carter Family; title: Something about census takers…; title: 1830 Federal Census Monroe County, Tennessee  page 110; title: 1840 Federal Census of Bradley County, Tennessee; title: Parents of Susanna “Susan” Marena (CARTER) Carter…; title: Marriage association…; title: I Think We've Got Something Here…; title: Countdown to Convergence…; title: [3] Rev. James Allen Carter; title: The Great Convergence to Missouri…; title: Rev. Marcus E. and Marena (CARTER) Carter; title: Rev. James Allen and Magenia Emeline (PATTERSON) Carter; title: Rev. Valentine S. and Maleta "Letha" (EPPERSON) Carter; title: Harden T. and L. Amanda (PRATT) Carter; title: Lorenzo O. and Mary E. Caroline (MORELAND) Carter; title: James Jr. and Elizabeth (PRATT) Lynch; title: David and Bathsheba (CARTER) Campbell; title: What happened next?…; title: Circuit Roving Ministers…; title: In Closing…