House: McCready House (I'm for Sale!!)
Street: 169 Gallows Hill Road
Date: 1770
EXCEPTIONAL SCENIC PROPERTY W/BARN, 3.84 ACRES."SOLD ""AS IS"" HOUSE HAS HISTORICAL PRESERVE EASEMENT

The McCready (Carter) House and its Tenents, Gallows Hill
Harold IIes

This is a portion of the article by Jeff, related by Admiral Lauren S. McCready.

...In 1960 I taped conversations with Eva Judd, one of three granddaughters of Irad Carter who bought this farm in 1847...Timothy Parsons built this house in 1770...Abraham Parsons became the owner of the house after Timothy died...Before he died Timothy and some Revolutionary soldiers built an addition to the house.

The second family to own this place was the Carters, Abigail and Irad. They bought this place on March 6th, 1847 for $1,600. It consisted of 90 acres. Now, to quote the chronology of the Irad Carter homestead:

'After he came to Redding and began living on Gallows Hill, Irad Carter contracted with the town of Redding to care for the poor and for a time used the house on Gallows Hill, then vacant, for this purpose. Sometime later a house was constructed adjacent to the Carter homestead from which it was separated by a path. Then it was moved over and attached to the main house. This provided the present kitchen and pantry with two small upstairs rooms. This house may have been erected by the town as there is no record that Irad Carter paid for it.'

"Although the town paid for it, Irad Carter seemed to have intentions of buying this land to put the poor house on it. On April 11, 1849, Irad bought 2 acres of land from Abraham Parsons. Irad was to acquire 33 more acres over the years. The Carters added additions to the house.

"Irad Carter died an unusual death. In 1886 he had a lumber wagon which was described as having a high seat. He was driving in the woods near Nashville Extension Road in Bethel. The wagon hit something and he was thrown off, and died as a result of the fall."

"Abigail lived here awhile longer after Irad's death, but she finally sold the place."

In all it is believed three generations of Carters lived in the house before it was purchased by Admiral McCready's mother between 1928 -1931. Only 60 of the available 120 acres of the Carter property was offered for sale and the McCready family later sold 20 of the 60 acres.

Three descendants of the Carters were still living in Bethel in 1968 and interviewed by Admiral McCready. He stated, one said 'I haven't been here since 1906, another said 'I was born here'. He felt they knew the house but hadn't lived there. Minnie Carter was the only name given.

More Redding Remembered Articles will be added soon.

Back to TOP | Back to Redding Section | Back to Georgetown Section