Elijah⁵ Carman (William⁴, John³, Caleb², John¹) has been a headache to a lot of researchers because by two wives he may have had as many as twenty-six children, and because of the age spread from the first born child to the last born child, it is hard to tell which generation they really fall into.  Add to it a lack of good details in some of the children's cases and you have a free-for-all trying to figure him out.  Even William Stillwell Carman had his moments with him - "Left Jamaica when he was young (or his children did) and settled in New Jersey" - WSC

A story told by his grandson, William W. Carman, makes him out as a colorful character - "Grandfather Elijah Carman with his father and ___ Smith, while up the Mohawk Valley during the French and Indian War, went on a forage. They were surprised by two Indians and taken prisoner, they having no gun with them. At the first opportunity they turned on the Indians and took their guns, killed them and made their way back to Albany. One of the guns was kept by Elijah Carman - it was given to his son William and by him to his son William Wright Carman and by him to his son Charles B. Carman" 

And by the number of his children alone, he belongs in some record books. By the accounts of his Grandchildren, he fathered 14 children by his first wife (one having died young), and then another nine children by his second wife - that makes 23 children! (all credit due to the mother's that bore them)

Elijah was born about 1705 in the area of Jamaica, Queens County, New York. He died in 1808 at New Utrecht, Kings County, New York and is buried in the Dutch Churchyard, Flatbush, Kings, New York. He married Elizabeth Bloodgood in 1727, she being born 1708 at Jamaica, Queens, New York and died sometime between 1770 and 1774. He married second, Mercy Allen, born 1753 at Middletown Point, Monmouth County, New Jersey and died 25 December 1831 in New York City.

Children of Elijah and Elizabeth (Bloodgood) Carman:

Children of Elijah and Mercy (Allen) Carman:

06/03/2006