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


April 2, 1707
Letter from Robert Carter to Thomas Corbin, April 2, 1707

     Robert Carter writes to London merchant Thomas Corbin, April 2, 1707, that the executors of Ralph Wormeley, of which he is one, have drawn a bill of exchange on Corbin to his cousin, Chicheley Corbin Thacker, which will not be sent before the next fleet. He gloomily writes further that Virginia has learned of the disasters that overtook the last fleet with many ships lost and some taken; he has suffered greatly. Because they have not heard bad news of the ships commanded by Burford and Graves, they hope the ships escaped. In a postscript, he notes that Wormeley's sons are expected by the next fleet but they do not expect that fleet before fall.


Letter from Robert Carter to Thomas Corbin, April 2, 1707

-1 -

Rappa[hannock, Lancaster County, Virginia]

Ap: 2d: 1707

[Mr. Thomas Cor]bin

     My last to you was of the 6th of Febry:, The Excrs. of Esqr Wormely
[hav] e since drawn on you for £19.6.7 payable to yor Cozen Chisley
[Tha]cker he will not Send the Bills till next fleet however think it
[not] amiss to give you this early advice of them.

     We have now by some Whitehaven Ships the dismal Story of the
Rueful condition of our last fleet, above 30 of them lost some foundred &
some taken Ellis being one of the former in whom I Suffered Greatly
they give us hopes of Graves & Burford I cannot hear anything
particularly of the rest of our Rappa. Ships I Suppose yor. Brother now
writes particularly to you I therefore conclude Sr

Yor affectionate Countryman
& humble Servant


We all expect the young Wormeleys
in the next fleet, wch we begin to
[think] will hardly be wth us till next fall.

NOTES



Source copy consulted: Christ Church Parish, Lancaster County, Processioners' Returns, 1711-1783, and Wormeley Estate Papers, 1701-1710, 1716, Acc. 30126, Archives Research Services, Library of Virginia, Richmond, p. 176.

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 merchants abroad. The county and colony have been added for clarity.

[1] Chicheley Corbin Thacker was a long-term clerk in the office of the Secretary of State of the colony, and also was clerk to the General Court.

[2] Probably Edward Ellis, captain of the Gloster .

[3] Carter often referred to in their youth as his "Cozns." Ralph Wormeley (ca. 1681-1714), Ralph Wormeley's (d.1701) oldest son; and John Wormeley (1689-1727) because their parents were his brother-and sister-in-law. He was one of the boys' trustees under their father's will.


This text revised August 5, 2008.