Finding Aid to the James Overton Carr Diary

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VA 24501
(434) 846-0501
JAMES OVERTON CARR (1793-1863) DIARY
The diary [1851-1852] of a farmer, probably James Overton CARR of Albemarle
County, Virginia. The diary also lists Bible readings [1852-1866] and contains copies of
poems. Later newspaper clippings are pasted on some pages [perhaps by Martha J.
CUNDIFF whose name appears on inside cover].
JAMES OVERTON CARR (1793-1863)
James Overton CARR, son of Garland CARR and Mary WINSTON, was born 6
October 1793 in Albemarle County, Virginia. [John B. Minor, The Minor Family of Virginia
(Lynchburg, VA: J. P. Bell, 1923), p. 36.] He married 22 November 1817 Mary A. ALLEN,
daughter of Richard H. ALLEN. [John Vogt, T. William Kethley, Jr., Albemarle County Marriages,
1780-1853, Vol. 1 (Athens, GA: Iberian Publishing, 1991), p. 59. Bond dated 20 November 1817,
Marriage return dated 22 November 1817.]

James Overton CARR served as an Elder in the South Plains Presbyterian Church,
Albemarle County, Virginia, in 1824. When the Charlottesville First Presbyterian
Church separated from the South Plains united congregation in 1839, he also served as
Elder for the Charlottesville congregation. [Howard McKnight Wilson, The Lexington
Presbyterian Heritage (Verona, VA: McClure Press, 1971), pp. 183, 186.]

A farmer of Albemarle County, James Overton CARR lived at "The Meadows." He
later removed to Amherst County, Virginia, were he died 11 September 1863. [Edgar
Woods, Albemarle County in Virginia (Bridgewater, VA: Green Bookman, 1932), p. 161. Date of death
given as 1864; Census 1850, Albemarle Co., VA, National Archives and Records Service, M-432, Roll
932, p. 210, Household 784, Family 784; Land tax records, Albemarle County, VA, 1850-1851,
Microfilmed records, Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, VA. Owned 281 3/4 acres on Meadow Creek,
2 miles west of Courthouse; "A Voice from my Angel Father...," Poem, James Overton Carr Diary,
MS1253, Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, VA. Age at death given as 69 years 11 months 5 days,
which corresponds with birth date of 6 October 1793.]

[DOCUMENTATION]
"...June 27th [1851]...went to Bentivar...brought daughter Elizabeth home..." The name,
"Bentivar," is found in several entries. Bentivar was built ca. 1795 by Garland CARR,
father of James Overton CARR. The property passed to Daniel Ferrel CARR ca. 1838 at
the death of Garland CARR. Daniel Ferrel CARR died ca. 1847 and left the estate to his
son Dr. W. G. CARR. [Woods, Albemarle County, loc.cit.; Mary Rawlings, Ante–Bellum Albemarle
(Charlottesville, VA: People's National Bank, 1935), p. 66.]

(Continued)
MS1253

JAMES OVERTON CARR (1793-1863) DIARY (Continued)
"...[27 June 1851]...brought daughter Elizabeth home..."
"...[16 July 1851]...took Mary and the girls on a visit to Red Hills to spend some days in
my dear old neighborhood..."
"...[24 July 1851]...in the afternoon came as far as Bentivar on our way home, Mary,
Ann, Jane Margaret and myself..."
"...[13 November 1851]...sent hands to help Henry pull off his corn at Pen Park..."
"...[27 November 1851]...killed 28 [hogs] of my own and 5 for wife...mine weighed 3540,
Mary 625 lbs..."
In 1850, the household of James O. CARR, of Albemarle County, Virginia, included:
(Household 784, Family 784)
James O. CARR 56 Farmer Real est. $8000
Mary CARR
50
Virginia CARR 30
Ann CARR 22
Hetty CARR
28
Jane CARR 17
Elizabeth CARR 25 George CARR 2
[1850 Census, Albemarle County, VA, loc.cit.]

G. C. BROADHEAD, in his article on the CARR family, states that the six children of
James O. CARR are: Richard Henry CARR, born ca. 1823; Hetty CARR, born ca. 1825;
Jane Margaret CARR, born ca. 1832; Virginia CARR, born ca. 1819; Elizabeth CARR;
Ann CARR. [Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 3 (1896), p. 212.]
"...[7 September 1851]...heard Mr. WAILES preach..." There are numerous entries
concerning "Mr. WAILES." Benjamin M. WAILES was minister of the Charlottesville
[Va.] First Presbyterian Church 1847-1853. [Wilson, Lexington Presbytery Heritage, p. 186.]
James O. CARR was a trustee of the Charlottesville church when it was constructed in
1827. [Woods, Albemarle County, p. 132.]
On the basis of the evidence presented, it would appear that James Overton CARR
(1793-1863) wrote the diary.

MS1253