Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Birthabout 1774, France
Memo(age on tombstone)
Memo(tombstone)
BurialSparks Graveyard, Monkton, MD
FatherJames Carlin (~1760-1827)
MotherElizabeth Clendennan
Spouses
Birthabout 1774
Memo(tombstone)
Death25 April 1860
Memo(tombstone)
BurialSparks Graveyard, Monkton, MD
Father4G/5G GF Josiah Sparks Jr. (1752-1846)
Mother4G/5G GM Rachel Collett (1748-1818)
Marriage19 March 1802, BAL Co, MD1199
Parent-Proof notes for 4G GF William Sentee Carlin
Family research says he was adopted, that he was French and that his birth name was Guilliame Santee. There is no doubt he was adopted.
Census History notes for 4G GF William Sentee Carlin
1820. William Carlins lives in District 4 Harford County age 45+ as is his wife and son Wiliam is no doubt one of the three males under 10. Neighbors include John Wright, James Carlon and Ezekial Slade Jr.
1830. William Carlin lives in ED4, Harford County. He is 50-60. There is a male present 15-20 who is no doubt William but the oldest female is 20-30 so where is Rachel? A neighbor is Robert Cretin
1840. William Carlin lives in District 4, Harford County. He is 60-70 as is his wife.
1830. William Carlin lives in ED4, Harford County. He is 50-60. There is a male present 15-20 who is no doubt William but the oldest female is 20-30 so where is Rachel? A neighbor is Robert Cretin
1840. William Carlin lives in District 4, Harford County. He is 60-70 as is his wife.
Research notes for 4G GF William Sentee Carlin
A 7 Jul 1843 deed shows William Carlin and wife Elizabeth and William Carlin and wife Sarah and Rachel Carlin and Josiah Carlin and wife Elizabeth and James Carlin and wife Rachel of the one part selling to Rachel Pearce of the other part 55 1/4 acres for $662.50. A separate deed has Thomas Carlin also ceding his claim on this land to Rachel. This land belonged to Aaron Carlin, deceased. I believe that Aaron was a son of William and Elizabeth.
17 Jul 1849. Joseph (Joseph?) Carlin filed the first and final administrative account of William Carlin late of Harford County. LDS Images. Harford Admin Accounts 1841-51, Vol 7, page 391 (image 211).
17 Jul 1849. Joseph (Joseph?) Carlin filed the first and final administrative account of William Carlin late of Harford County. LDS Images. Harford Admin Accounts 1841-51, Vol 7, page 391 (image 211).
My Comments notes for 4G GF William Sentee Carlin
There is quite a family tradition associated with the life of our ancestor William Carlin. I’ve seen reference to it in several places, but it was summarized for me by Warren Wolfe, another descendant of William’s. He wrote that Guilliame (French for William) Santee, probably a French Huguenot, was adopted into the James Carlin family. William was born about 1774 in France and died 3 Oct 1847 in Monkton, MD. He reportedly came to the US at age 9, he and a friend may have been stowaways.
One thing that proves the adoption part of this story is the Rev Cross biography given elsewhere. But an even stronger proof of the adoption was found by Becky Curry in the form of an actual law (perhaps today we’d call it a resolution) passed by the House of Delegates of the State of Maryland in 1806. In 1805, William Sentee petitioned to have his name changed to Carlen because he had been adopted by James Carlen and expected to inherit considerable property as a result. He requested that the name change apply not only to him but also any children and the request was granted.
What is really quite curious about this is that William was already married by the time of his petition and the record of his marriage gave his name, then, as William Carlin. So I guess he was already using the Carlin name for most purposes before 1805 but for some reason felt that for purposes of property ownership, things needed to be formalized. Perhaps that explains somehow why changing his wife’s name wasn’t mentioned in his petition. And the falling out with his adopted father must have occurred later because William sure thought he was in good standing in 1805.
So, as to the family tradition, there is no doubt that William had been adopted by James Carlin but I still can’t find any way to verify the French birth part of the story, let alone the stowaway, at nine years old, details.
• Census, which starting in 1850 asked about a person’s birthplace, by 1870 asked if a person’s father was foreign-born and by 1880 about his parents’ birthplaces too, should be more helpful than it has proven to be. William had died by 1850, but several of his children were alive by 1870 -- but the question as to their father’s foreign birth didn’t ever seem to be asked of them. And only William’s son William was still alive in 1880 -- and he denied any foreign birth.
• I have tried to see if any of the alternate spellings -- Santee, Sentee and Senter -- may have French origins. I didn’t research this thoroughly but it seems possible Senter may have been but the more interesting finding of this line of inquiry was that a lot of French Huguenots settled in South Carolina in the 1700’s near the Santee River and the area came to be designated French Santee. I’m not suggesting that William had anything at all to do with the settlement, only that perhaps someone trying to determine his possible origins seized on that little factoid and spun a whole tale to go with it.
The will of William Carlin of Harford County was dated 19 Mar 1846 and proved 2 Nov 1847. He left his farm to his wife Elizabeth and after her decease to be divided among his sons: Josiah, James and William. His sons then to pay cash to his son Thomas and his daughter Rachel. He also mentioned Rachel, wife of his son James, and their daughter Elizabeth. He was very specific about how his farm was to be divided and described the sub-divided property lines in great detail.
A letter from William Gumprecht was published by the Sparks Family Association (a now-defunct genealogy group focused on the Sparks family). It cited tombstones in the Sparks-Carlin Cemetery in Monkton, Baltimore County and added some biographical information. ”William Carlin departed 3 Oct 1847 in his 73rd year. Elizabeth, wife of William, departed 25 Apr 1860 in her 86th year. Elizabeth Sparks, daughter of Josiah and Rachel (Collett) Sparks married William Carlin 19 Mar 1802 in Baltimore County. He had been born about 1774 in France and was the adopted son of James Carlin and Elizabeth Clendennan, early settlers of Delaware but later went to Harford County. William, born Guilliame Santee, came to the colonies as a small boy, probably a stowaway, along with a friend or relative who wanted to escape religious persecution.”
One thing that proves the adoption part of this story is the Rev Cross biography given elsewhere. But an even stronger proof of the adoption was found by Becky Curry in the form of an actual law (perhaps today we’d call it a resolution) passed by the House of Delegates of the State of Maryland in 1806. In 1805, William Sentee petitioned to have his name changed to Carlen because he had been adopted by James Carlen and expected to inherit considerable property as a result. He requested that the name change apply not only to him but also any children and the request was granted.
What is really quite curious about this is that William was already married by the time of his petition and the record of his marriage gave his name, then, as William Carlin. So I guess he was already using the Carlin name for most purposes before 1805 but for some reason felt that for purposes of property ownership, things needed to be formalized. Perhaps that explains somehow why changing his wife’s name wasn’t mentioned in his petition. And the falling out with his adopted father must have occurred later because William sure thought he was in good standing in 1805.
So, as to the family tradition, there is no doubt that William had been adopted by James Carlin but I still can’t find any way to verify the French birth part of the story, let alone the stowaway, at nine years old, details.
• Census, which starting in 1850 asked about a person’s birthplace, by 1870 asked if a person’s father was foreign-born and by 1880 about his parents’ birthplaces too, should be more helpful than it has proven to be. William had died by 1850, but several of his children were alive by 1870 -- but the question as to their father’s foreign birth didn’t ever seem to be asked of them. And only William’s son William was still alive in 1880 -- and he denied any foreign birth.
• I have tried to see if any of the alternate spellings -- Santee, Sentee and Senter -- may have French origins. I didn’t research this thoroughly but it seems possible Senter may have been but the more interesting finding of this line of inquiry was that a lot of French Huguenots settled in South Carolina in the 1700’s near the Santee River and the area came to be designated French Santee. I’m not suggesting that William had anything at all to do with the settlement, only that perhaps someone trying to determine his possible origins seized on that little factoid and spun a whole tale to go with it.
The will of William Carlin of Harford County was dated 19 Mar 1846 and proved 2 Nov 1847. He left his farm to his wife Elizabeth and after her decease to be divided among his sons: Josiah, James and William. His sons then to pay cash to his son Thomas and his daughter Rachel. He also mentioned Rachel, wife of his son James, and their daughter Elizabeth. He was very specific about how his farm was to be divided and described the sub-divided property lines in great detail.
A letter from William Gumprecht was published by the Sparks Family Association (a now-defunct genealogy group focused on the Sparks family). It cited tombstones in the Sparks-Carlin Cemetery in Monkton, Baltimore County and added some biographical information. ”William Carlin departed 3 Oct 1847 in his 73rd year. Elizabeth, wife of William, departed 25 Apr 1860 in her 86th year. Elizabeth Sparks, daughter of Josiah and Rachel (Collett) Sparks married William Carlin 19 Mar 1802 in Baltimore County. He had been born about 1774 in France and was the adopted son of James Carlin and Elizabeth Clendennan, early settlers of Delaware but later went to Harford County. William, born Guilliame Santee, came to the colonies as a small boy, probably a stowaway, along with a friend or relative who wanted to escape religious persecution.”
Parent-Proof notes for Elizabeth (Spouse 1)
She was named in her father’s will as Elizabeth Carlin.
Census History notes for Elizabeth (Spouse 1)
She can be accounted for with her father in 1790 and is no doubt with him in 1800 (the census that was lost). She can be accounted for with her husband in 1820, 1830 and 1840, and I am still looking for them in 1810. In 1850, I find her living with a married son, and she died apparently just prior to the 1860 Census.
My Comments notes for Elizabeth (Spouse 1)
Her date of death comes from her tombstone, which I have not seen, but which has been transcribed in the Sparks Family Association newsletter. It says she died at age 86 and thus her birth year is computed. That she was the daughter of Josiah and married William Carlin is the subject of much discussion in the Sparks Family Association newsletter. That she and William were the parents of William is proven.