Elizabeth Stanhope was born in 1809 in Kentucky to parents William Francis and Fanny Hurst Stanhope. She was the oldest child and only girl in the family. She and her brothers grew up on the Stanhope property, located on Military Road outside of Lexington. On April 23, 1830 she married Edward Carter and together they would have nine children, including Fanny Carter Headley and Alfred S. Carter. During their marriage, the couple made their home at Chaumiere du Prairie in Jessamine County. After Edward's death, Elizabeth returned to Military Road, and lived on the property her father had left to her. This land was later passed on to her daughter Fanny Carter Headley. Elizabeth died in 1888 at the age of 79, and is buried in the Lexington Cemetery in Lexington, Kentucky.

Documents

Elizabeth Stanhope Documents
Elizabeth Stanhope Carter Land Grant
Elizabeth Stanhope Carter Land Grant

On April 14, 1858 Elizabeth Stanhope Carter recieved a land grant for 120 acres for her late husband's military service. It was common in the 18th and early 19th centuries for land to be given as a reward to serving the country in times of conflict, and Edward Carter received a tract of land for his service in the Kentucky Militia as a part of the Sabine Expedition, which set out to fortify the border between the Louisiana Territory and Texas, then in the hands of the Spanish. This border was created by the Sabine River, hence the name of the expedition. Since Edward Carter had passed away before the act granting this land, Elizabeth was able to recieve it in his place.

This document also gives Edward Carter's rank in the Kentucky Militia, which was that of Captain.