Patrick Carmichael

Patrick, (Pat) Carmichael was born in County Down Ireland in 1751, while  others say 1754. His tombstone say's he died in 1802, age 48 years, and two months. This tombstone may have been bought by Mary Mars Carmichael, wife of William Carmichael with money left in William's will. The tombstone was erected after Elizabeth died which was 33 years after Pat's death. It is likely that a mistake was made by whoever had the tombstone made and that it should be 58 years instead of 48 years. Some say he was thrown from a mule and killed on December 11, 1802, while others give the date as November 24, 1802. Pat and Elizabeth are buried in Prosperity Cemetery in the edge of the town or Prosperity, S. C.

Elizabeth was born in Brand, Ireland in 1749, and died September 21, 1835 near Prosperity. 

We do not have the date of Pat and Elizabeth's marriage. Some give the date as 1768, while others say 1773. Their oldest child was born May 14, 1774.

They settled in Newberry Co., near Prosperity, SC at some time but no one seems to know when. Near Prosperity was a large pond with so many frogs in it until they named the place Frog Level, See p-674 of "Annals of Newberry, S. C.," by O'Neal and Chapman, 1892. This book was written ninety years after Pat died. 

Elizabeth Thompson Carmichael's people came over to America with her. She had a sister Mary Thompson, who was b-Feb. 15, 1753, in Ireland and married there on Sept. 7, 1773. She married James Young, (1750-1802). He was said to have been the 1st person to be buried at Prosperity Cemetery. James enlisted in 6th S.C. Regt. on Mar. 16, 1776, and fought until June 1, 1777 in the Rev. War. James and Mary had twelve children.

Elizabeth's sister Hannah married Robert Moore, (1759-1834), who  fought in the Revolutionary War. Another sister, Ann Thompson, married John Enlow.  Elizabeth's brother, Robert married Jane Boyd.

Patrick and Elizabeth were Presbyterians, belonging to the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church. At first they worshiped in the log barn of Pat's until a Church could be built in 1802. The Carolina Presbytery was organized Feb. 24, 1790, after Pat's war service in Va. in 1779-90. Pat did not get to enjoy their Church building as he died the year it was built, however it was in their new Church that their pledges to God were renewed and their lives promised to His service and with God's help they would have America a free country; a country that loved and worshiped God. , and Maryland, and the brother of William who was sent back to Ireland to be educated and was the first U.S. Ambassador to Spain, but we have no proof as to who Pat's parents were. Tradition has it there was a younger brother who came later to South Carolina after Pat's death. Other tradition has it that there were seven brothers who came to America.

Pat's barn was near Boyd's Crossing, between Newberry and Prosperity, S.C. The emigrants came at different times, some coming in 1763, others in 1767, 1770, and 1772, etc. The Annals of Newberry County, by O'Neal, mentions the Carmichaels on Pages 674, 675, 678, and 679. Prosperity is about seven miles from Newberry and with a small population in 1962. The Prosperity A. R. P. Church was organized by Thomas Clark in 1802. The land was deeded to the Church by James Young on May 3, 1802. Rev. James Rogers was the first Pastor. Samuel McQueen, Robert  Drennan, and James Young were the first ruling Elders. Robert Carmichael was an Elder about 1889.