An American Family History

Carriger Family

Godfrey Carriger was born March 7, 1732 in Germany.

He was a Revolutionary War soldier.

His wife was Margaret Anspach.

Nicholas Carriger (1761, married Catherine Millard),
Michael Carriger (1764),
Leonard Carriger (1766),
Godfrey Carriger, Jr. (1769, married Elizabeth Lovelace Crawley, widow of William Crawley).
Elizabeth Carriger (1771, married John Nave),
Henry Carriger (1774),
John Carriger (1777),
Christian Carriger (1779, married Lavicy Ward).

They moved to the Watauga Settlement in 1782 from Brunswick County, Pennsylvania and apparently brought six wagon loads of supplies which included fine furniture, an iron cook stove (the first in the territory), over $35,000 dollars in gold, and a number of enslaved people. They settled in the area that would become Carter County, Tennessee.

The 1792 and 1794 tax rolls in Washington County show that the Carriger family owned many acres.

Godfrey died on October 8, 1811.

In the Name of God, Amen:

I, Godfrey Carriger, Senior, of the County of Carter, in the State of Tennessee, being weak and frail of body, but of perfect and sound mind and memory, do make, publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say:

First: I give and bequeath to my son, Nicholas Carriger, the plantation whereon he now lives on Stoney Creek, for which I have heretofore executed to him a deed of conveyance; also give and bequeath to my said son, Nicholas, one negro wench named Sall and her child "Will" and the increase of the said Sall. I also give and bequeath to my said son, Nicholas, the sum of two thousand and thirty-three dollars and thirty-three cents to him and his forever.

Secondly: I give and bequeath unto Godfrey Carriger, Polly Carriger, Anny Carriger and Betsy Carriger, heirs and heiresses of Michael Carriger, deceased, the sum of two thousand five hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six cents.

Thirdly: I give and bequeath to my son, Godfrey Carriger, the plantation whereon he now lives for which I have heretofore executed him a deed of gift. I also give and bequeathto my said son, Godfrey, the sum of one thousand nine hundred and five dollars and thirty-three cents, to him and to his heirs forever.

Fourthly: I give and bequeath to my son-in-law, John Nave, the plantation whereon he used to live, for which I have heretofore made to him a deed of conveyance. I also give and bequeath to my said son-in-law, John Nave, one negro girl named Berry. I also give and bequeath to my said son-in-law, John Nave, the sum of one thousand nine hundred and eighty-three dollars and sixty-six cents to him and his heirs forever.

Fifthly: I give and bequeath to my son John Carriger one tract of land containing two hundred and fifty acres, known By the name of the Sugar Hollow tract; also one other tract of land containing six hundred and forty acres, known by the name of the Blue Spring tract; also one other tract of land lying and situated on the south side of Wataugau river below and adjoining Isaac Lincoln's which land I bought from William Cocks. I also give and bequeath unto my said son, John Carriger, the sum of one thousand and three hundred and twenty dollars to him and his heirs forever, for the two aforesaid tracts of land of eight hundred and ninety acres, I have heretofore executed a deed of gift to the said John Carriger.

Sixthly: I give and bequeath to my son, Christian Carriger the plantation whereon I now live including all the improvements thereon. I also give and bequeath unto my said son, Christian Carriger, one other tract of land known by the name of Linchas place to him and his heirs forever. I also give and bequeath to my said son, Christian, an entry of claim of land which I have to an iland in Wataugau including a fish Trap in a sluice of said river to him and his heirs forever.

My further will is that all the rest and residue of my estate, as well real as personal, of which I may be possessed at the time of my death (after paying and satisfying all and every of the foregoing legatees and bequeaths) be sold and the money arriving from such sales be divided among the legatees hereinbefore mentioned, share and share alike, except that the heirs of Michael Carriger have but one share, to be divided among them.

Lastly, I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my sons, Godfrey Carriger and Christian Carriger executors of this last will and testament whereof I, Godfrey Carriger, Senior, have hereunto set my seal the sixteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eight. _

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said Godfrey Carriger, senior, to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who, in the presence of the testator, and in the presence of each other, hereunto

signed our names as witnesses.
Geo Duffield, Jurat
William Campbell Seal
William Bridges, Jurat Godifried
Robert Crow Kercher

from Carter County, Tennessee and Its People

Godfrey Carriger (German spelling: Godfried Kercher) was born March 7, 1732 and died October 8, 1811. He was a Revolutionary War soldier who came to the Watauga Settlement in 1782 from Brunswick County, PA.

His wife was Margaret Hanspaugh.

Carriger was on one of the wealthiest men in the area. He brought from Pennsylvania six wagon loads of supplies which included fine furniture, an iron cook stove, the first in the territory, over $35,000 dollars in gold, and a number of slaves. The 1792 tax roll shows Carriger owning nearly 3,000 acres of land, which reached from the mouth of Stoney Creek to Winner Community

During the 1790s Carriger prepared the roll for his community and returned it to the office in Jonesborough. He was overseer of the wagon road from Sycamore Shoals, through his property to the foot of the Holston Mountain Godfrey and his sons appear to have been experienced iron workers, and they were instrumental in developing this industry on Stoney Creek which continued until 1891.

The Carrigers were also involved in county and state politics. A Tennessee historical marker in the Hunter Community is a reminder of this industrious German family. On the Carriger property where Stoney Creek empties into Watauga River, was a loading ramp known as Carriger's Landing During times of high water Gunnel boats were loaded with iron bars, grain, ginseng roots and cured pork packed in barrels for shipment to towns downstream.

Carriger's Landing
Here, where Stony Creek empties into Watauga River, corn, wheat, wrought iron etc., were loaded on flat boats for shipment in the late 1700's and early 1800's. Western emigrants also embarked here. The brick house nearby was built by Christian Carriger, son of the original settler; Godfrey Sr. (Historic Marker at Carriger's Landing, Hunter Community)

The Bible record of the Carriger family was entered in German. It was translated in 1845 and showed the following eight children:

1. Nicholas Carriger (b 28 Feb., 1761). Records show that he served jury duty, made bond for the sheriff in 1797 and owned 450 acres in 1796.
2. Michael Carriger (27 April, 1764-d. 1809). The tax roll of 1796 shows him on 750 acres in Watauga Valley. One of his daughters [Nancy Ann] was married to Caleb Cox.
3. Leonard Carriger (b. 3 Jan., 1766).
4. Godfrey Carriger, Jr. (b. 13 May, 1769- 1827). He was Register of Deeds (1796-1827); served as Constable; was a Major in the Revolutionary War. He donated land for the first school at Hunter in 1800 where he owned 320 acres including the Carriger homeplace. He married Elizabeth Lovelace Crawley, widow of William Crawley. Two sons were born to this union, Jackson D. Carriger and Allen T. Carriger, both of whom were Unionists during the Civil War.
5. Elizabeth Carriger (b. 14 Feb., 1771). 1797 she married John Nave...
6. Henry Carriger (b. 26 Feb., 1774).
7. John Carriger (b. 14 Feb., 1777).
8. Christian Carriger (b. 28 July 1779). Christian was a Colonel in the War of 1812, where he served under John Fremont. He built the first brick house in Carter County in the Hunter Community and server two terms in the Tennessee General Assembly. In 1846 he moved to Missouri for a while and then set out for California, but died enroute and was buried in the Rocky Mountains.