Old Philadelphia Families LXVII-CARSON
Philadelphia North American
Date: Sunday 13 SEP 1908
... Of the three who married, John CARSON, the eldest son was born November 12, 1752. He graduated from the College of Philadelphia - now the University of Pennsylvania - in 1771, and not long afterward went abroad to study medicine, at the then greatest of medical schools, the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated in 1776. Having married at Edinburgh, while at the university, he remained there some time, and then returned to his native city, Philadelphia, where he began the practice of his profession.
Because of his superior scientific education and his wide professional experience in Edinburgh, he speedily became a leader among the physicians of Philadelphia and prominent in allied movements. He was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society, January 22, 1785, was one of the founders of the Philadelphia Dispensary, a member of the committee appointed February 24, 1786 to draw up rules for the regulation of the institution, and attending physician thereat from the date last mentioned until May 2, 1787 was an original fellow January 1787 of the College of Physicians, and one of the incorporators, March 26, 1789, on May 11, 1786 was chosen Surgeon of the Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry and held the post until July 4, 1788 when he was transferred to the honorary roll, and was one of the first two physicians of the Hibernian Society, chosen April 5, 1790 and served for several years.
In the spring of 1791 he was elected to the board of trustees of the University of the State of Pennsylvania, and when that institution was merged under the Act of Assembly of September 30, 1791, with the College of Philadelphia, he became one of the twenty-four trustees of the new University of Pennsylvania. He was called January 7, 1794 to the chair of chemistry in the medical school of that institution, but died later in the same year -- October 24, 1794. He was also, at the time of his death, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of F. and A.M. of Pennsylvania.
As previously stated, he was married when in Edinburgh about 1775 or 1776 to Agnes HUNTER, daughter of John and Jacobina (nee YORSTON) HUNTER. Mrs. CARSON's father, John HUNTER who was a brewer in Edinburgh, was a son of John HUNTER, of Seaside, Perthshire, by his wife, Margaret HILL. Mrs. CARSON, nee HUNTER, who was born in 1755 returned to Scotland after her husband's death and died in 1826 at Redhouse, Blackburn, Bathgate, Linlithgoshire.
Ten children were born to them as follows: John, Jacobina, William, Mary, James, Christian Febiger, Peter, Sarah Febiger, Joseph and Elizabeth Febiger of whom the first, second, fourth, sixth and eighth are known to have been married. It is believed that the other five died single and without issue. Those who married will be referred presently. ...
