A Collection Transcribed
and Digitized
by Edmund Berkeley, Jr.
List of Letters
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Summary
Letter from Robert Carter to Micajah Perry, July 6, 1723
Robert Carter writes to London merchant Micajah Perry, July 6, 1723, concerning the effort of John Bashford of Northumberland County to claim an estate in England. Carter sends Perry a power of attorney (not present) from Bashfort to assist in Perry's work on Bashford's behalf.
Letter from Robert Carter to Micajah Perry,
July 6, 1723
-1
-
Rappa[hannock, Lancaster County, Virginia]
July 6th: 1723
Micajah Perry
Sr
Poore John Bashford
Visitts me frequently & is now with me
finding you want a power of Attorney have drawn one &
herewith send it you, yr seeming to be much a stranger
in this aff
wch: is Executed by him in the presence of Captn:
Graves
& several of his men it comes herewith as also
the above
a copy of one of yr: Grandfathers
letters [illegible]
whereby you will
be acquainted wth: what steps yr: Grandfather had taken
in the Affair. it seems to have been so far concluded
that it will not be difficult for you to bring it to a full
settlement in doing whereof you will do a very Charitable
act the poor young man wants it dearly & I hope it will
not be long before by yr: Endeavours he will reap some
fruit from it, he is unwilling it should be sold, before you
go into any such designe it will be proper for you to
know his inclination about it, & to acquaint him how
much it may be disposed of for I am Sr:
Yr: most humble Servt:
NOTES
Source copy consulted:
Robert Carter letter book, 1723 June 16-1724 April 23, Robert Carter Papers (acc. no. 3807), Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia.
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] John Bashford (d. 1735), was the son of Symon and Grace Bashford,and married Elizabeth Heath. In 1726 he woould present affaidavits in Northumberland County court to prove his parentage and marriage because "he had fallen heir to an estate in England." He had appealed to Carter for help several years earlier, and Carter had enlisted London merchant Micajah Perry, grandfather of the addressee of this letter, to assist. (See also
Carter to Micajah and Richard Perry, July 13, 1720;
and "The Heaths of Northumberland County, Virginia," William and Mary Quarterly
24(1): 109-115]
).
[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 September 28, 2009.