John Elder married Mary Carson. She was the daughter of Robert Carson of Iredell County, NC. Robert Carson left a will naming Mary Elder as an heir. Is this John Elder the son of Revolutionary soldier, William Elder of Lincoln County, NC. This William Elder was a Revolutionary War soldier believe to have served in Carter’s Company from May 1, 1781 until June 1, 1782. There seems to be some connections between the McClelland, Elder and Stephenson/Stevenson families that came from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania down into the Tryon, Lincoln, Rowan, Iredell and Lincoln Counties of North Carolina.
Also, is this John Elder (of Iredell County, NC) the brother to Jane Elder. She married Alexander Fuller and lived near John Elder in Iredell County, NC before she moved to Buncombe County, NC. Records state That Alexander Fuller lived in Lincoln County, NC before moving to Iredell County, NC. Does Alexander Fuller connect wthl the William Elder of Lincoln County, NC mentioned in the paragraph above?
John and Mary Elder of Iredell County, NC had at least 2 sons and a daughter. The sons were named William and Andrew. The daughter was named Margaret. William married Jane Stephenson the daughter of James Stepehenson (Revolutionary war patriot) of Iredell County, NC.
William Elder (m. Jane Stephenson) is found on the 1830 census on Sangamon County, Illinois under the name of William Elders. He is living next door to his son-in-law, Daniel Wilson. (Interesting note: He is also next door to the Donner family.) This area of Illinois was called German Prairie.
Most of the children of William and Jane moved to Wisconsin. Their son, John Elder, and their daughter, Sarah Elder Wilson, stayed in Illinois