Who was David Carson?
Initially born in Antrim, Ireland, in 1800, David “Uncle Davy” Carson was one of nine siblings, seven of whom immigrated from Ireland to the United States. At some point, he arrived in North Carolina, where he stayed for a period, but eventually moved to Missouri. It is also probable that he visited or lived in Kentucky at some point, at which time he would have met Letitia.
In August of 1839, he was appointed as a patrolman by the county court for the Carroll Township.
1839 is the first property tax list to show David Carson in Missouri, where he moved after initially immigrating to North Carolina. An early landowner list shows that he purchased 160 acres of land in Platte County, Missouri, on June 5th, 1843. This land was east of East Leavenworth and North of Farley.
An 1840 naturalization document certifies David Carson’s naturalization, stating that he filed an oath of allegiance for US naturalization in March 1840 while living in Platte County. Other sources confirm that he officially became a US citizen in 1844, a year before traveling to Oregon Country.
A land deed from Platte County, Missouri, dated 1841, provides insight into David Carson's personal history prior to his journey to Oregon and subsequent land ownership in the Oregon Territory with Letitia Carson. Written on December 16, 1841, the land deed offers a glimpse into the location where Carson may have lived at the time he met Letitia.
From 1839 onward, several court cases offer small glimpses into David Carson’s life and relationships in Platte County, Missouri. While most of these court cases involve minor disagreements or monetary debts, one case raises questions about David Carson’s character before his time in Oregon.
David Carson in Missouri Trials
David Carson vs Susannah White
In 1844, a year before he moved to Oregon, David Carson was accused of mistreating an enslaved girl named Ann Eliza, who was only 16 at the time. Though we only have limited evidence and understanding of this case and its history, it shows us that David Carson had the potential for violence and debauchery - the accusations of this legal battle - and that this behavior could have continued into his relationship with Letitia Carson.
The beginning of this court case had begun a year earlier, in April 1843, when Susannah White hired her enslaved girl, Ann Eliza, to David Carson for twelve months. Carson agreed to “furnish said girl with good & sufficient clothing suited to the season but if she should be sick said S White is to pay all medical attention.” Additionally, he agreed to “treat said girl humainly and not expose her so as to endanger her health or produce illness.” He was to pay Susannah White $40 for the twelve months he had Ann Eliza in his possession. He signed a document certifying this in April 1843.
A year later, Susannah White and her son John A. White took back Ann Eliza, stating that she had suffered an injury under David’s care. David Carson then sued for $75 (?) in damages after the Whites reclaimed their "negro girl, aged about sixteen," Ann Eliza, while she was under contract to David Carson for $40 for one year's service. The defendants, the Whites, claimed David had maimed her, leaving a scar on her face “about two inches long, which said John A. White stated had been inflicted by said plaintiff, and which had the appearance of having been inflicted by a stone or club.” John A. “acted as the Agent of said Susannah White, his mother, in hiring and otherwise contracting her negroes, that said Susanna White lived with the said John A. White.” Since she belonged to the Whites, they claimed David's mistreatment justified them in breaking their contract. The Whites plead not guilty. A trial was held, and many witnesses were called to testify. It seems like the jury found in favor of the Whites, but there was some technicality that prevented them from being exonerated. Some of the sources here mention "no basis in law," but it's unclear what this refers to.
It is unclear whether David had other enslaved people at the time, although it is somewhat likely that he would have known Letitia by this point, as they moved together within the following year.
John A. and his mother, Susannah, testified that “she was treated with inhumanity and cruelty by said plaintiff and that said plaintiff had debauched said negro girl while thus in his service and that said plaintiff continued to treat said negro girl inhumanly, cruelly and with debauching till she left him and returned home.” This testimony was rejected by the court. Another document from October 1844 states that the jury found issue for the plaintiff (David Carson) and assessed his damages at one cent. It is unclear the purpose of such an insignificantly small fine against Carson, and it is not yet clear how the case ultimately ended.
While there is no evidence whether David ever owned Letitia, and the state of their relationship remains unclear, the details of the Ann Eliza case prove that David did own an enslaved woman, and mistreated her in both sexual and violent ways, suggesting that he could have possibly continued this behavior into his time with Letitia. Additionally, this abhorrent mistreatment of a young Black girl provides insight into how David may have considered Letitia and suggests that their partnership was not as equal as one may think.
Carson v White in Primary Documents
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Next Page: David Carson: Missouri Land
Previous Exhibit: B. Letitia's Story Next Exhibit: D. The Carsons' Soap Creek Valley Homestead
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