Robert King Carter's Correspondence and Diary

   A Collection Transcribed
        and Digitized
   by Edmund Berkeley, Jr.


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Electronic Text Center , University of Virginia Library


Summary



Letter from Robert Carter to Robert Carter, Jr., July 5, 1723

     Robert Carter writes to his son, Robin (Robert Carter, Jr.), then in England at school, July 5, 1723, that he was sorry not have had a letter from him on the Carter, but understands he was away when she sailed. He reviews the arrangements for Robin's return to the colony if he has not already sailed because merchant William Dawkins has kept Robin longer in England than Carter intended. He concludes that Robin's brother Charles may return with him or stay as he chooses.



Letter from Robert Carter to Robert Carter, Jr., July 5, 1723


-1 -

[Rappahannock, Lancaster County, Virginia]
July the 5th. 1723

My Dear Son Robin -- --

     It seems you were out of the way way when the
Carter left Lond: so I had no Lettr. from you, I Expected you
in the last Fleet with Mr. Pratt, but Mr. Dawkins hath
kept you beyound my orders, his last Lettr. tells me he
would take the first good Oportunity to send you away


-2 -


so that I am in Expectations of you every day

     Mr. Dawwkins give[s] you a very good word and
flatters me I shall not repent the money you have sp[ent]
me at the School he sent you to after you came from
Mr. Lows

     I am apt to think you will be come away
before this reches you, but if not my possitive Orders
are to Mr. Dawkins that he send you into me in the
first good Ship bound out for our River if the Carter
be as forward in her coming away as any of the rest, I
had rather you should come with Capt. Graves then any
body Else, These orders I now send to you also ch[arg] ing
you upon your duty upon any pretence whatsoever not
to disobey them, pray God send you a good Voaige and
grant us a happy meeting

     Charles if he has an Inclination either to come
along with you
I have left it to his own choice or to be
sent away next Spring
either to come along with you
or to be sent away next Spring I am


NOTES



Source copy consulted: Robert Carter Letter Book, 1723 July 4-1724 June 11, Carter Family Papers, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond.

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. His usual return address, the county, and colony have been added for clarity to this unheaded draft.

[1] Solomon Low was the master of the lower-level school that Carter's sons attended. See Carter's letter to Low, 1723 July 5.

[2] Benjamin Graves was the son of Captain Thomas Graves (d. ante 1720), long a captain of vessels trading to Virginia, and a special friend of Carter. Benjamin also commanded vessels in the trade, especially the Carter . ( Adm. 68/194-196, ff. 33r, found in the microfilms of the Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. )



This text revised August 27, 2009.