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by Edmund Berkeley, Jr.
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Summary
Letter from Robert Carter to John Carter, February 23,1721
Robert Carter writes to his son, John Carter, February 23, 1721,in London concerning his anger at merchant William Dawkins there whohas written Carter very arrogantly about his handling of John'syounger brothers, Charles, Robert, and Landon. The younger boys arealso in England for their education, and their father directs John torelieve Dawkins of their care, and to turn it over to merchant ThomasEvans.
Letter from Robert Carter to John Carter,
February 23, 1721
-1
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Rappahannock, [LancasterCounty, Virginia]
Febr. 23. 1720/21
Dear Son John
I have lately taken several ways of writing to You
Arthur Lee's
Ship arriv'd here two Days ago but Isee no Letter
from You neither by her nor any other way, I hearSome Lettrs. are come
to me from WillDawkins
writ in Such a loftyunhandsome Strain
that Icannot tell how to brook Such Treatment from such an upstart
that is but of Yesterdays growth, he values himself mightilyupon
the Great Obligation he hath laidme under by the care he hath
taken of my Children on the otherhand I took It to be afavour
to him to lett him have theCharge of them, to be Shortwth.
the Gent I lett him know that Youhave ordrs. to remove them and
to Ease him ofany further trouble abt. them, andaccordingly I
Direct You to take them into Yor. Care for thepresent. Old Mr. Perry
is too much a Senr. for such a business & the Young man
is unmarryd.
therefore I think the mostproper person to have them with will be
Mr. Thos. Evans
who I am very well Sattisfied will be glad of the
Opportunity to oblige me. he is a Marryed Man and of a very
Gentlemanly behaviour as every body Allows. I do not know
whether You may have any accquaintance with him but I have
had Dealings with him for many Years, You have here Inclosd
a Lettr. to him open, which You may make use of as You find
Occasion, The Master that Yor. Brors. are with I take to be a
Good manand Mr. Dawkins tells me they Improve very
well under him, Ihave Entered into a Correspondence with
him. I am not in theleast desirous they Should be removd from
that School, It may be aGreat damage to the Boys. Charles
only hath had the Small pox am in hopes Robin
& Landon
may escape It. pray Goddirect You in all things relating
to this Tender affair for thebest I am
NOTES
Source copyconsulted:
Robert Carter Letter Book, 1720 July-1721 July,BR 227, Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens,San Marino, California. Printed: Wright. Letters of Robert Carter. . . .
pp. 82-83.
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, especiallyto merchants abroad. The county and colony have been added forclarity.
[1] This Arthur Lee may be a son of Francis Lee (1648-1724), third son of Richard Lee the emigrant; Francis had returned toEngland to become a merchant in London.
[2] Charles Carter (1707-1764), Robert Carter's tenthchild with his second wife, Elizabeth (Landon) Willis Carter. Hewould live at "Cleve," King George County, and inherit a number ofproporties in that area from his father.
[3] Robert Carter (1704-1732) was Carter's seventh childby his second wife, Elizabeth Landon (Willis) Carter. Robert was sentto England to school in 1718; see Carter's letter to William Dawkins,
July 9, 1718. Robert marriedPriscillaChurchill and had two children, one of whom, Robert Carter III, wouldbe known as "Councillor" Carter of "Nomini Hall." Robert would die afew months before his father.
[4] Landon Carter (1710-1778) was Carter's seventhchild by his second wife, Elizabeth (Landon) Willis, and was thesecond child to bear the name Landon, the first having died shortlyafter his birth in 1708. Landon would live at "Sabine Hall," RichmondCounty, and marry three times, leaving many descendants, some of whomown "Sabine Hall" today.
This text revised March 20,2009.