There is very little to know about this man directly.  What we have mostly starts from William Stillwell Carman's journal no.12  But it also covers his book no. 18, though he didn't realize it. This family line survives and expands with several still living in the same general area of upstate New York today.  We only know of four sons from Stillwell, so we are most likely missing daughters and possibly more sons.  If Richard was his oldest son (unknown) this would place John as being born around 1729 (just a guess).

It has been suggested that this John could be one of the elusive son's of Elijah Carman, as family folklore states one son did move into the area of Livingston Manor.  Although possible age wise and one son was supposed name Elisha (not Elijah, and Elisha can sometimes be inter-changeable with John), but there is nothing to back it up unfortunately.  I wish there were.

"Probably a Dutchess County man, as son is in the Rumbout area earlier in his life. Joseph Carman b. 1757 says ______ Carman no. 3 name was John + had 13 children" - Book No. 12, titled "Richard Carman, Alexander Carman, Nathaniel Carman, Nicholas Carman, Sullivan Co, NY"

The above statement about the many children has led some to believe that this "John" Carman was actually a son of Elijah Carman, probably because he had 13 children by his first wife. And age-wise he would fit in. But there is no evidence to support the theory.  Stillwell in his book does a sneaky bit of work in that he doesn't say that the Joseph b. 1757 is a son of the mystery John, he just quotes him.  Many assume it is implied he is one of the sons.  Even so there was probably a bigger family, as were the tradition of the time, even without the quote.

Children of John Carman and ?:

07/18/2007