Robert King Carter's Correspondence and Diary

   A Collection Transcribed
        and Digitized
   by Edmund Berkeley, Jr.

List of Letters | About This Collection

Electronic Text Center , University of Virginia Library

Summary

LS
July 22, 1703
Letter from Robert Carter to Thomas, Lord Fairfax, 1703 July 22

     Robert Carter writes to Thomas, Lord Fairfax, concerning the Northern Neck Proprietary which Fairfax would inherit on the death of his mother in 1719. Carter reports that he has been prevented from sending rents rolls and accounts, but will send them soon. Carter states that he is sure that Micajah Perry has reported to Fairfax Carter's opinions about the business of the Proprietary which he believes can best be advanced by someone like himself with connections in the government of the colony.


Letter from Robert Carter to Thomas, Lord Fairfax,
July 22, 1703

-1 -

Rappaha[nnock, Lancaster County, Virginia]

July 22, 1703

Right Honorable

     As often as Opportunity has
presented, have given an Account to Mr. Perry of the
Progress I have made in your Affairs, I have
by this Fleet sent him Bills of Exchange for your
Account Amounting to £191:19:11 I Once hoped to
be Ready by this Time to have sent your Lordship
both the Rent Rolls & Stated Accounts of my
Receivings, but One of the Collectors has failed in
his Time of Accounting, by the next Oppertunity
Shall give you that Satisfaction,

     Mr. Perry
I Doubt not has Comunicated to your Lordship
my Thoughts of your Business, I shall be very
glad if I may be Able to bring things to a full
settlement, Which if your Lordship Concede to my
Proposals I Believe may in Time be
effected, Major. Fitz-Hugh now one of the greatest Sticklers
in the propriety [sic] ; and has Influenced a great many
more to your Prejudice, I Cannot Tell whether he
has any secret Incouragers; I find by Experience
it is Absolutely necessary for the Vigorous carrying

-2 -

on of Your Affairs to have the Countenance of
the Government, Which it is my Fortune at this
Time to have a very small share of, I shall
Return some more Bills of Exchange for your
Lordship Account, Perhaps between a hundred
& Two hundred pounds, I am with great Respect


Your Lordships most humble
Servant


ROBERT CARTER

NOTES



Source copy consulted: British Library, London. Additional Manuscripts 30316, ff. 1, found in the microfilms of the Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert H. Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. This a recipient's copy signed by Robert Carter, marked in the margin, "Copy."

Robert Carter generally used a return address of "Rappahannock" for the river on which he lived rather than "Corotoman," the name of his home, on his correspondence, especially to persons abroad. The county and colony have been added for clarity.

[1] William Fitzhugh (1679-1713) of "Eagles' Nest, Stafford County, son of William Fitzhugh (1755-1701). See the many references in the index of Davis, William Fitzhugh. . . .

[2] See the discussion of Robert Carter's admininstering of the Northern Neck Proprietary linked from the home page screen.


This text revised June 10, 2008.