Dr Carson was born at the Billies Farm, Kelton Parish who emigrated to Newfoundland. See the article (link below) to the Canadian Biography site for more information.

Dr. William Carson of Billies, Kelton and Newfoundland

Wikipedia Website

Dr William Carson (baptised 4 June 1770 – 26 February 1843), often called "The Great Reformer", was an important doctor and businessman in Newfoundland. Carson's primary contribution to Newfoundland was the application of modern agricultural principles.

Upon immigrating to Newfoundland in 1806 from Scotland, Carson set to work clearing a large patch of land near St. John's. He also began calling for increased economic support from England, a more organized fishery in the area and better treatment of the local natives.

Between 1820 and 1832, he led the movement in Newfoundland's struggle for representative government along with people such as Patrick Doyle.This culminated in Carson's election to office in 1832. While in office, he was noted for helping quarantine an outbreak of cholera in the area.

From 1838 to 1841, Carson was Speaker of the Newfoundland House of Assembly.

The ferry M/V William Carson was named in his honour.

Newfoundland: as it was, and as it is in 1887.

About the year 1806, the late Dr. William Carson arrived in Newfoundland; he at once saw the great injustice that was done, both to the country and the resident inhabitants, by the semi-barbarous policy that prevailed which prohibited the cultivation of the soil. He raised his voice against it, wrote some excellent tracts on the subject, denounced it in the strongest terms, incurring no small risk of being transported for his temerity for arraigning the venerable system that had prevailed for centuries. He became the most strenuous advocate for the cultivation of the soil, which he represented as fully equal in quality to that of his native country, Scotland; he was opposed by the local authorities, by the merchants, and a great portion of the inhabitants; he was ridiculed as a visionary. Notwithstanding, in good report and in evil report, he persevered until he saw, for some time before his death, his views and doctrines almost unanimously approved of by all parties. Dr. Carson may be called the parent of agriculture of Newfoundland; he not only encouraged it by precept, but likewise by example. In the year 1818 or 1819, he obtained a large grant of waste land from the then Governor Sir Charles Hamilton, which he cleared and cultivated at considerable labour and expense. The land cleared and cultivated by Dr. Carson forms one of the most valuable farms in the vicinity of St. John's.

Though Dr. Carson, like most such proprietors, men who devote themselves to the public service, may not have gained by his agricultural speculations, however, his efforts for the improvement of the soil were eminently successful.

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