Information Carnes family from a letter to Mrs. Sara S. Carnes of Atlanta Georgia from Rev. Clayton Torrence, Secretary of the VA Historical Society, Richmond Virginia dated June 17, 1841
So we were not able to follow the distribution of estates of Thomas Carnes, who appeared in Perth Amboy in 1687, and Alexander Carnes who was dealing in land in Perth Amboy from 1724-1762, Richard was at one time in Perth Amboy and then later in Windsor Township, Middlesex Co. NJ. I suspect Richard Carnes was a son of Alexander Carnes but cannot prove it. we have not yet discovered when Richard Carnes died; but he must have died in Middlesex Co. some time after 1776-1780. This Richard married Ann the daughter of Peter Groom (Groome) and had the children named on the chart which I enclose.
We find deeds in the secretary of states office in Trentin which proved that Peter Carnes (1749-1794) went from Middlesex Co. NJ to Blandenbury Maryland. The wills of Mrs. Anna Carnes Newman of Sussex County NJ and Peter Carnes (1737-1794) who died in Augusta, GA taken together in the certain letters of David Carnes Neal and Robert Watkins Carnes (your great grandfather) written to thier aunt, Mrs. Ann Carnes Linn of Sussex Co. NJ (copies of which letter I have) prove all the test of the connection as given on the chart enclosed. The Maryland records in the Maryland Historical society, Baltimore: The Hall of Records, in Annapolis and in Charles Co. at LaPlata (all of which I have personally examined) give the record of the family in Prince George's and St. Mary's county in MD. Unfortunately the records of St Mary's co. for that period in which we are interested have been destroyed. I was able to trace defiantly the movement of the Carnes family from Prince George Co. and St. Mary's co. MD first to Edgefield Co. SC and then to Richmond, Jefferson, and Franklin co. in Georgia. I tried through correspondence to get certain information from the records of Edgefield C. SC but failed utterly to do so. However a few deeds from these make me believe that much more of importance to us may be found by careful search of these records.
Peter Carnes went from Prince George to Edgefield Co SC about 1733-4. His nephew Thomas Petters Carnes and Peter Johnson Carnes soon followed his as did their sisters mary, Ophra, and another. Then the whole family moved to Georgia.
Your line of descent is perfectly clear. I hope that you will enjoy reading the chart I have worked out for you. The record is one that you may indeed be well proud of passing on to your son. One of the most valuable items in your Carnes notes is that about the mourning ring which was a memorial to Peter Carnes, and from which the date of his death and age at that time is noted. Have you any idea who may have the ring, or who saw it and made note of the inscription that appears in your notes?
Faithfully yours,
Clayton Torrence, June 17, 1841

Letter copied as I have it from Dr. Carnes notes. But a few notes of my own regarding this family.
Captain John Carnes, British royal Navy
This John was born in Scotland in 1614 and the surname was spelled Cairnes in some documents. This John was in the Colonies of Boston Mass. in 1649 and he had two sons born in Mass.
1) John
2) Thomas, who moved to New Haven CT after graduating harvard College of Divinity. Harvard was established as a school of Divinity and much later expanded into a University. Confusion enters at this point because there was another Thomas Carnes that also graduated with a degree in Divinity. (A John Carnes of New Haven CT is found in the early families of New Haven.) Married Mary Brown in 1661 and they had a son whom they named Thomas. He was born in 1662.
A Thomas married Anna. He owned the Long Island Ferry Tavern. (A John owned the New Haven Ferry and we think that he and Capt John were related) If this was the case then the Capt. John may be of the Nash Manor line.) there were a large number of Officers and Government Officials from this family. Carne of Nash Manor, located near Liantwit Major, Wales was a very prominent family with a Royal Pedigree. But it is possible that he was also of the Cairnes of Scottland. The name of John was repeated over and over again in the Nash Manor ancestry as well as the names of Richard, Thomas.
In a text of Colonial records of NJ. a Richard is recorded as a goaler in Perth Amboy on August 24, 1767. And again on March 12, 1766 and several other dealings with the courts during that time. But this has to be Richard Jr. and not the Richard born in 1704, son of Alexander, grandson of Thomas, and Great grandson of John. Richard Carnes born in 1704 in the index of wills of Middlesex Co. NJ gives the date of 1764 for the filing of his will.
Thomas and Ann had son Alexander born December 19, 1685 and Baptised August 30, 1687. He was an early day constable of Perth Amboy NJ. He was a tailor by trade and a real estate dealer as well. His holdings were extensive. In his will he left several deeds but no wife is listed. This will was read in 1765 at Stanton Island, Richmond Co. NY and in it he mentions no wife and left his entire estate to his children. Richard named above was the son of this Alexander. I have seen three children listed for this Alexander. 1)Richard 2)Ann and 3)Peter. the only one that I am sure of is Richard. Now whether the Richard Jr. found in Perth Amboy after the death of this Richard is his son or that of another I am not sure. More searching needs to be done on that. Which I hope to find more information on. Dawn Carnes