John N. Carson1 
b. 5 April 1788, d. before 1850
John N. Carson|b. 5 Apr 1788\nd. b 1850|p1622.htm|Charles Carson|b. 22 Oct 1761\nd. 5 Oct 1816|p158.htm|Rachel Clark|b. 10 Dec 1766\nd. 17 Nov 1842|p159.htm|||||||William Clark|d. a 15 Jul 1786|p1628.htm||||
Great-granduncle of Louise Underwood.
3rd great-granduncle of Laura Jane Munson.
- Family Background:
- Underwood and Allied Families
John N. Carson was born on 5 April 1788 in New Castle County, Delaware.1 He was the son of Charles Carson and Rachel Clark.1 He married Hannah Casselberry, daughter of Paul Casselberry and Elizabeth Evans, on 25 February 1812 in Knox County, Indiana.2,3 He died before 1850.4
John, the oldest child of Charles and Rachel, was about 18 years old when he moved with his parents to Indiana Territory. He owned a saloon on Water Street in Mt. Vernon, and was a witness in many court cases. The following story, which mentions John's saloon, is found online at the Posey Co. GenWeb site and might explain why he was called as a witness so often:
John, the oldest child of Charles and Rachel, was about 18 years old when he moved with his parents to Indiana Territory. He owned a saloon on Water Street in Mt. Vernon, and was a witness in many court cases. The following story, which mentions John's saloon, is found online at the Posey Co. GenWeb site and might explain why he was called as a witness so often:
The river traffic increased more and more as flatboats piled high with produce and grain plied the waters of Ohio on the way to the New Orleans market. A stopover at the local wharf brought welcome rest and a chance of refreshment for the crew at one of the two taverns. Thus came about the tale of HOOP-POLE TOWNSHIP.
The professional boatmen were a colorful, hard drinking, rough and tumble lot. Strong of muscle and courageous, they loved to fight and would do so just for fun. About 1832 ten or twelve flatboats were tied up at the local wharf while the boatmen did a bit of merry-making at John Carson's saloon on Water Street. They were joined by men from an adjacent cooper shop; soon a general fight ensued in which the local coopers were badly beaten. When some of the rougher element of the town heard of the defeat, they armed themselves with hoop-poles (wooden staffs made of saplings cut in Lynn Township woods and used in the making of barrels) from the nearby cooper shop and converged upon the rivermen. The fight was renewed with such intensity that the boatmen were glad to flee back to their boats, their bodies bruised and their faces bleeding. All the way down the river their unsightly appearance was noticed and news of the hoop-pole fight spread quickly. From then on Mount Vernon was considered a rough river town and often referred to as "Hoop-pole Township."
Additional Data
John Carson appeared on the 1820 U.S. Census in Marrs township, Posey County, Indiana. In his household were one male under 10; one male 25-45; one female under 10; one female 16-26.5 
John Carson appeared on the 1830 U.S. Census in Mt. Vernon, Posey County, Indiana. In his household were one male 5-10;one male 15-20; one male 40-50; one female 5-10; one female 10-15; one female 30-40.6
John Carson appeared on the 1840 U.S. Census in Mt. Vernon, Posey County, Indiana. In his household were one male 10-15; one male 15-20; one male 50-60; one female 10-15; one female 40-50.7
John Carson appeared on the 1830 U.S. Census in Mt. Vernon, Posey County, Indiana. In his household were one male 5-10;one male 15-20; one male 40-50; one female 5-10; one female 10-15; one female 30-40.6
John Carson appeared on the 1840 U.S. Census in Mt. Vernon, Posey County, Indiana. In his household were one male 10-15; one male 15-20; one male 50-60; one female 10-15; one female 40-50.7
Citations
- [S249] Delores Dixon Wilson, "Carson Family," e-mail message from <e-mail address> (Swartz Creek, Michigan) to Laura M. Cooper, 14 July 1998.
- [S250] Tom Lindagen, "Carson Family," e-mail message from <e-mail address> (Evansville, Indiana) to Laura M. Cooper, 14 May 1998.
- [S233] Indiana State Library Genealogy Division Database of Indiana Marriages Through 1850, online <http://208.119.135.17/db/in_marriages_1850/…>.
- [S253] Churchyard/Orr Family Museum, online <http://www.crossmyt.com/hc/gen/genealgy.html>.
- [S257] John Carson household, 1820 U.S. Census, Marrs township, Posey County, Indiana, page 315; National Archives micropublication M33, roll 13.
- [S256] John Carson household, 1830 U.S. Census, Posey County, Indiana, page 171; National Archives micropublication M19, roll 29.
- [S258] John Carson household, 1840 U.S. Census, Posey County, Indiana, page 274; National Archives micropublication M704, roll 90.
