I have been in search of my ggrandfather and his family for about 20 years. I FINALLY found it. I broke through. With help , of course.

My Pinkney Carter b 9 Oct 1842 m Mary Christenberry ( William and Nancy Richardson Christenberry). They had three children: Nancy Lennie b 1868 m Nathan Demosey Bowden, William Levi Carter b 1870 died before 1897, Pinkney Carlie Carter b 1873-1948.

While I knew for years that Pinkney and Mary were married in Henry county, TN in April 1866 and Pinkney served from 1862-1865 in the 6th TN Cavalry Co I, I had no info before that. No siblings, no parents, nothing. One document said he was born in Georgia, one said he was born at sea, his own military pension papers said Henry county, Tn. However, even after having fellow researchers actually helping me search, never could find anything before 1862. Still haven't been able to find him in the 1850 and 1860 census anywhere. Finally I took a second look, or maybe 4th or 5th look at the regiment he served with and there stood a Parham Carter, and then it hit me. Maybe they are related! Duh! So I search for parham, finally finding him in Williamson co, IL. Well I dismissed it for awhile because IL had never been mentioned in my papers and is not near Henry county, TN. Then it dawned on me! I had seen the name Parham before, but where? So I dig through my MESS of 25 plus years of Carter info and Lo and behold, There it is! The Holy Grail, ( ok to me) a will someone had sent me over 13 years ago. The Will of Levi Carter of Henry county, TN. So I look past the dark ink, and the highlighting of the name Laban Carter and there is not only the name Parham Carter, but my dear long lost but recently found gggrandfather Pinkney Carter, along with his siblings and his parents. So moral to story, always go back through your years of research from time to time and the answer may be ready to slap you upon the head. Ok now on to the Will. Ps I transcribed this as best I could. I left out who bought what ( ie John smith bought an auger) but all the important info is there.

To the worshipful county of Henry county In obedience to the statement in such cause made and provided , I make to your worship the following reports of all the property which has come into my hands by virtue of my appointment at the last action of this court as guardian f the minor heirs of Levi Carter decd..Parham, Mary Ann, Martha C. , Ala E., Rollen, Pinckney, America and Levi Carter. 1 st received from Laban Carter air of the estate of Levi Carter dec'd one hundred and thirteen dollars and fifty cents in cash. 2nd On two notes on C. M. Killgore and Asa Frizell One for $92.50 cents due Dec. 21st 1846 The other for $105.00 due June 11th 1847 3rd a judgement against William Palmer for $12.46 taken oct 31, 1846 4th also one against Charles Brooks $23.07 taken o t 30, 1847 All of which respectfully submitted this November 1 st 1847 William Carter, guardian Constantine Frazier administrator of Sarah C. Garner dec'd To amount of inventory of account of sales. $656.35 To cash received from Joseph Wiley for wild hogs. $3.00 Total. $659.35 By James B. Morrisses receipt for gathering crop. $16.50 Cash paid for coffin and shroud. $22.39 Allowance for the three minors by commission. $100.00 Peter Owen proven acct .45 Asa m. Gainer proven acct. $24.64 1/2 Joseph Wiley. Proven. $2.70 Francis w. Mayberry. Receipt for cost. $.75 Hugh Cunningham. $5.78 Joseph m. Morris. $.95 Johnathan d. Looney. $4.00 Daniel cope. $$.62 1/2 James e. Fowler. $5.37 1/2 William lamprey. $1.09 Administration account. $8.00 Fees for the settlement and recording. $2.50 Allowances to administrator. $32.95 $430.54. Remaining Excerpt from will of Levi Carter " state of Tennessee Henry county, TN We the undersigned free holders having been appointed by the worshipful county court of Henry county to lay off and sit apart to Emily Carter widow of Levi carter dec'd after being duty sworn to act impartially have sit apart the following articles to wit; Seven head of first choice hogs, 65 barrels of corn, 40 bushels of wheat, one cow and one calf, 225 pounds of salt, 100 pounds of sugar, and seventy five of coffee, 11 pounds of pepper, 1 of spice, 1 of ginger, 1 spinning wheel, pair of cotton cards, 60 pounds of ??? Cotton