Abigail Royal Garrett

Abigail Royal Garrett was born January 2, 1823 in Ludham, Norfolk County England to Royal 
Garrett and Hannah Ann Vincent.  She married John Francis Larter on September 20, 1842 in St. 
Catherines Church in Ludham.  John Larter was Born 1819 in Halvergate, Norfolk County, England 
to John Larter.  Abigail’s family apparently did not approve of the Union and in 1851 John and 
Abigail left England for America.  They arrived in New York City and according to family legend 
John left to go get transportation and never came back.  What brought Abigail to Kanawha County 
we may never know but on June 8, 1856 Abigail married John Clifton in Kanawha County (West) 
Virginia.  According to the marriage register Abigail was a widow (which I guess sounds better than 
desertion).  John Clifton and Abigail settled in Lincoln County, (West) Virginia where many of her 
children were married.  The children of the first marriage were: Royal J. Larter  b. December 15, 
1845 and Mirriam S. Larter b. July 1848, James Larter b. 1843.  It has been said that there were 
other children from this marriage, one that died on the ship and another who went west.  The child of 
the second marriage was Hannah Clifton b. May 1856.  There is concern of whether this child 
actually belongs to the second husband.  The family relocated after 1880 to Oakridge Drive, 
Charleston, Kanawha County, WV where Royal Larter bought land on what is now Mill Creek Road 
and began operating a Grist Mill.  Abigail died February 24, 1890 in Kanawha County.  Royal 
married Victoria Frances Huffman abt. 1879 in Lincoln County, WV and died July 29, 1917 in 
Kanawha County, WV.  Part of the family is buried on Oakridge Drive and the other part is on Mill 
Creek Rd.