William Barnes Carter, the son of John E. Carter and Elizabeth Barnes, was born on May 4, 1832 in Grayson County, Kentucky. His paternal grandparents were Charles Ewell Carter and Nancy Barnes. His maternal grandparents were Josiah Barnes and Nancy Trammels. He was married twice.

His first wife was Elizabeth Mattingly, the daughter of Henry Elsey Mattingly and Edsey Templeman. They were married on September 18, 1851 and were the parents of the following children born in Grayson County:
1. Josiah - 23 Jul 1852 / 10 Mar 1939
-- m. Harriet Lucretia Harrell 1 Oct 1874
2. Catherine Ann - 4 May 1854 / 22 Sep 1924
-- m. Moses Templeman 20 Mar 1872
3. John Henry - 29 Mar 1856 / 1 Jan 1866
4. Edsey Elizabeth - 18 Mar 1860 / 6 Feb 1897
-- m. John Simeon Leisher 3 Nov 1878
5. Mary Jane - 30 Apr 1862 / 11 Mar 1941
-- m. William Henderson Litsey
6. Sarah Lucinda - 16 Dec 1864 / 22 Jun 1939
-- m. Samuel T. Pryor
7. Frances Ellen - 11 Feb 1867 / 23 Dec 1941
-- m. Joseph Buchanan Poole
8. Lydia Emily - 26 Jul 1869 / 25 Jul 1962
-- m. William Albert Stover
9. Eliza Paradine - 2 Apr 1871 / 16 Feb 1946
-- m. Edwin Stanford Spurrier 17 Jan 1894

Elizabeth Carter died in Grayson County, Kentucky at the age of 74 years, 7 months and 25 days on January 12, 1904. She was buried in the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Duff, Grayson County, Kentucky.

William Barnes Carter married second wife Mary Thomas (Martin) Wilkins on October 2, 1904 in Grayson County. Mary, the daughter of Elizabeth Carter, was previously married to James Robert Wilkins, the son of James and Frances (?) Wilkins of Hart County, Kentucky. Mary and James Wilkins were the parents of 10 children. Mary Thomas (Martin) Wilkins - Carter died at the age of 70 years and 14 days on February 28, 1908. She was also buried in the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

William Barnes Carter joined them there after his death in Grayson County, Kentucky at the age of 88 years, 3 months and 4 days on August 8, 1920.