Letter from Robert Carter to John Holloway and JohnClayton, August 25, 1720

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   by Edmund Berkeley, Jr.

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Summary

Letter from Robert Carter to John Holloway and John Clayton,August 25, 1720

Robert Carter writes to alert attornies John Holloway and JohnClayton, August 25, 1720, that a lawsuit between Alexander Swan and his wife, Mary (Landon) Jones Swan (Carter's sister-in-law) is beingappealed to the General Court apparently from the Lancaster Countycourt, and that they are to defend the decision of the county court,even though "In my most Impartial thoughts It appears he hath muchthe better End of the Staff." He notes that "Mr. Randolph & Mr. Beverlywill be Yor. Antagonists & will be Spurr'd I Expect to drive onthis Cause wth. the utmost Vigour." He sends a list of the documentsin the case and offers to help them obtain copies of any they mayneed.

Letter from Robert Carter to John Holloway and John Clayton, August 25, 1720

-1 -
Corotoman, [Lancaster County,Virginia]

Augst. 25th. 1720

Major Jno. Holloway
& Jno. Clayton Esqr.

Gent -- --

I told You that the difference between Mrs.
Swan & her Son would come to the General Court atlast, accordingly
from the Judgemt. of This Court Mr. Swan hath [sic] appeald, he & his
Sanctify'd father have so much money & are so well mettled
forContention no Ground is to be gott of thembut by Inches, In
mymost Impartial thoughts It appears he hath much the better
Endof the Staff & believe It will be the opinion of all Indiffernt
Judges that Shall hear the Case, Mr.Randolph & Mr. Beverly
willbe Yor. Antagonists & will be Spurr'd I Expect to drive on
this Cause wth. the utmost Vigour, to oversett our Courts decree
If It bepossible, Therefore hope Youwill be as well fortifyd
at allpoints to Defend It, herewth. I Send You Copys of all
theproceedings that I believe will be necessary, & Mr. Dare's
Lettr. qt. [sic ] aCatalogue of the other paprs. If any of them You
Shall Judge proper I Shall help You to [obtain] Copys of them hereafter

I am
Gent
Yor. most humble Sv

NOTES

Source copy consulted: Robert CarterLetter Book, 1720 July-1721 July, BR 227, Huntington Library, ArtCollections, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California. Printed:Wright. Letters of Robert Carter. . .. p. 44.

[1] Robert Beverley (c. 1673-1722) held variousclerk's posts in the colonial government. He was a burgess fromJamestown in the period 1699-1706. In 1716, the Council namedBeverley, John Holloway, and John Clayton to "regulate the admissionof attornies to the bar." Beverley is best remembered for hisclassic History and Present State of Virginia published in London in 1705. (Kukla. Speakers and Clerks. . . . pp. 144-146. )

[2] The letters that Carter's clerk wrote are clear as"qt." What Carter dictated is not at all clear.

This text revised January 27,2009.