Robert Carter writes to Captain Thomas Hooper in Stafford County, June 22, 1721, concerning the affairs of Nathaniel Hedgeman, his chief overseer who had recently been killed. He informs Hooper that he has appointed John Johnson to succeed Hedgeman, and asks Hooper to assist him, and also to assist in settling Hedgeman's accounts. He reminds Hooper that he must make progress in collecting quit rents, and get them to Carter as soon as possible or there will not be time to prize the tobacco, in which most rents are paid, prior to shipping it.

     You may believe the news of Natt Hedgeman's Death was
very surprizeing to me & the manner of It very Lamentable I wish the poor fellow
had met with a more natural End but God's will must be Submitted to I have
heard of late he has been a very great delinquent from my business, & lived a
loose rebelling Life, which has brot. him to his untimely catastrophey
As for Entertaining his Son, a wild Young Lad that has had no Experience
in the world I can by no means think proper, You did very well to Send him
to take an Account at the Several quarters I hope he has followed my directions in relation
to my Tobacco & dispatching away the Sloop,

     I have agreed with one John Johnson to Succeed him for the present
Year who has lived under me for several Years and I hope will prove a diligent
honest man with Your Assistance believe he may do well Enough although
he is unlettered . If You could be with him at the taking of an Account of things
at the falls & Poplar quarters where there is the most It would be very well,
John Hurst has promised me to Assist him all he can & particularly
now at first in taking an Account of my Stocks &c at the Several quarters I
Desire You to do what You can in Settling Natt Hedgeman's Accounts Relate=
=ing to my Affairs, I Expect to Allow him pro rato to the last time
he was at Poplar Quarter which ought to have been the place of his residence
further than that cannot be desired of me I have his bond for a large
Sum of money, which I would have You give his Son notice of, to whom
I write an Answer to his Lettr.

     I am Sorry You are so backward in Your collections I believe most of the
rents are paid in Tobacco & if I cannot have an Account where It lies in a
Short time, what must I do with It? our Ships are now all in & I'm
afraid I must get It home and prize It before It will be fit for
Shipping these Considerations which You are as Sensible of as I, will make
You dispatch as soon as possible You can, that I may get Your Tobacco time
Enough to be shipped off otherways it will be very detrimental to