The Carraway name appears to have been derived from the same source as Garraway, which means a spear, a warrior or a fighter. It is English and probably came from a locational origin signifying one who came from or lived near Garaway.

The earliest Carraway cited in Ancestry.com is John Carraway, Sr., born in 1614 in Lacock or North Yorkshire, England. He is the ancestor who immigrated to America from England during the 1630s and eventually settled in the State of Virginia. He was married first to Joan Towenzende, and then second in 1648 in Lower Norfolk County, Virginia, to a widow, Ann (Foster) Williamson, the former wife of Roger Williamson, by whom she had five children. John and Ann then had three children of their own.

Among John Sr.’s children was a son, John Carraway, Jr. (1653-1728) who was born and died in Lower Norfolk, Virginia. He was married to Ann Kempe. They had a son, John Carraway III (1679-1719), who was married first to Martha Cartwright with whom he had four children. John III was married second to Sarah Godfrey, and they did not have any children. He was married third to Elizabeth Cannon (1685-1719) with whom he had six children.

Among the children of John III and Elizabeth was a son, Thomas Carraway (1704-1791) who was born in Princess Anne, Virginia, and died in Wayne, NC. The last name of his wife, Mary Ann or Amy (1705-1798), is not known. This couple had a son, Elijah Carraway, who was born in 1750 in Wayne and died in 1830 in Darlington, SC. His wife, Lydia ?, was born in 1743 and died in 1822. They had a son, Ezekiel Carraway (1774-1856), who was born and died in SC. He was married to Sarah Wilson (1775-1823).

Ezekiel and Sarah had a son, Ezekiel Archie “Zeke” Carraway, who was born in 1802 and died in 1856 in Darlington, SC. Zeke was married to Demarius “Mary” ? who was born in 1802 and died in 1848.

Ezekiel and Demarius Carraway reared at least the following seven children: Demaris Jane, b. 1832, d. 1880; Sina, b. 1832, d. 1880, m. James Madison Rolin (Rowland ?) (1815-1877); Ezekiel Archie Jr. “Arch,” b. 1834, d. 1901, m. (1) Lydia Caroline “Liddie” Whiddon (2) Sarah Ann Elizabeth Rudd; Elizar, b. 1836, d. 1837; Mahalia, b. 1838, d. 1977, m. Eli Wallace; John Zinamon, b. 1841, d. 1911, m. Mariah Ann Elizabeth Davis; and Marion, b. 1845, d. 1935. At least the first two children were born in Covington County, and the others were born in Dale County. That means the family moved to Dale County during the mid-1830s, but some returned to Covington before 1860.

Family legend contends that two of the brothers had a major disagreement while residing in Dale County. To differentiate themselves some of the family removed an “r” from the name and became Caraways. Ezekiel was one who was listed as Ezekiel Carraway in the 1840 and 1850 censuses of Dale County, but as Ezekiel Caraway in the 1860 census of Covington County where he was farming and residing in the William’s Mill precinct. (Of course, it was common for census takers to vary the spelling of names.)

The second daughter, Sina Caraway, and her husband, James Madison Rowland, reared the following children: Tek; Liza Ann, b. 1952; Sina Jane, b. 1852; George W., b. 1854; Ezekiel Anderson, b. 1856, m. Civil Ann Carraway; Demerius Elizabeth, b. 1860, d. 1950; Beda Caroline, b. 1863; James Madison Jr., b. 1866, d. 1957; Adeline Martha, b. 1869; Sarah Melvina, b. 1874, d. 1962; and Clara, b. 1879, d. 1950.

The oldest son, Ezekiel Archie “Arch” Jr., and wife, Lydia Caroline (Whiddon), had four children: Ely, b. 1856, d. 1904; Jesse Bennet, b. 1860, d. 1924, m. Nannie Fowler; Joshua Simpson, b. 1865, d. 1927, m. Lucy Susiana Munson; and Archie Ezekiel, b. 1877, d. as child. Arch and his second wife, Sarah Ann Elizabeth (Rudd), reared the following children: John Franklin “Buck,” b. 1871, d. 1964, m. Cassinda Caroline Cude; Civil Ann, b. 1873, m. Ezekiel Anderson Rowland; John Thomas Andrew, b. 1879, d. 1944, m. Lucy Angeline Cude; Sina Caroline, b. 1882, d. 1960, m. William Henry Cude; Demaris Ann, b. 1884, d. 1890; Marin Van Buren, b. 1886; and George Henry, b. 1890, d. 1893.

Next to the youngest son, John Zinamon Caraway, was married to Mariah Ann Elizabeth Davis (1837-1891). They were the parents of the following eight children: Elizabeth, b. 1866; Wiley E., b. 1867, d. 1930; John Zinamon Jr., b. 1869, d. 1948; Eliza J., b. 1871, d. 1932, m. George Thompson; James Monroe, b. 1873, d. 1881; Francis Marion, b. 1874, d. 1929, m. Mary Ann Elizabeth “Mollie” Thompson; Archie A. b. 1877, d. 1882, twin; Cade Hazekiah, b. 1877, d. 1955, twin. John Zinamon supported his family through his farming. At their deaths, John and Mariah were buried in the historic Fairmount Cemetery in Red Level.

John Zinamon’s son, Francis Marion “Frank” Caraway, was married to Mary Ann “Mollie” Elizabeth Thompson, daughter of Charlie E. (1849-1930) and Sarah Ann (Jackson) Thompson (1851-1932). Just as his father, Frank farmed, but he also worked at a sawmill and with a logging crew. When he did this he was often gone from home from early Monday morning until late Friday evening. Relatives recall that he would always bring home staple groceries, which usually included a 25-pound sack of flour and a side of “smoked” bacon. They also remember that he and Mollie would have so much company during the weekend that most of the flour and bacon would be depleted. Frank was obviously known for his generosity, but also for his kindness to others. Frank

and Mollie reared the following six children: Edward, b. 1896, d. 1998; Sarah Mariah “Sadie,” b. 1899, d. 1959, m. Winford Farrington Adams; Wiley Freeman, b. 1904, d. 1990, m. Winnie Kervin; Lena, b. 1908, d. 1986, m. William Dewrell; Frank Hazekiah, b. 1910, d. 1987, m. Annie Lee Odom; George L.C., b. 1915, d. 1988, m. (1) McNeil South (2) Susie Odom. Frank and Mollie also reared their oldest grandson, George Elbert Caraway, b. 1918, d. 1987, m. (1) Gladys South Brogden (2) Jeanette Brackin Edson.

Frank’s oldest daughter, Sarah Mariah “Sadie” Caraway, was married to Winford F. Adams, son of John Samuel and Emily Sufronia (Robbins) Adams. Frank grew up in the Kinston and Opp communities where his father farmed. After his father died and left his mother a widow, Winford worked at odd jobs to help support the family. He and Sadie were married in 1920 and reared the following children: John Samuel, b. 1921, d. 2003, m. Margaret Stonestreet (1922-1998); Mildred Helen, b. 1923, d. 1987, m. (1) Earnest McKee (2) Fredrick Small; Gladys Ruth, b. 1925, d. 2005, m. (1) John Owens (2) Merritt Jones; Doris Annette, b. 1932, m. Russell Darrell Johns; Rebecca Jeanette, b. 1936, m. Bobby Ray Turner; and Betty Lois, b. 1945, m. (1) ? Reeves (20 Allen Friday.

The sources for this genealogy were Ancestry.com and a family story written by Doris Annette (Adams) Johns for The Heritage History of Covington County, Alabama.

Anyone who might have a correction to the above or additional information on the Caraway family is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-222-6467; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.