Letter from Robert Carter to Micajah Perry, November 29, 1723

   A Collection Transcribed
        and Digitized
   by Edmund Berkeley, Jr.

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Summary

Letter from Robert Carter to Micajah Perry, November 29, 1723

Robert Carter writes to London merchant Micajah Perry, November 29, 1723, reporting the arrival of Captain Keiling's ship, and that he knows Keiling will get his business done quickly if the winter weather does not delay him. He complains about the rise in "freight extraordinary" rates and Perry's short letter that arrived by Keiling. He expects another lawsuit over lands belonging to the Lloyd estate, and has written to Captain Willis to see if he might be willing to deal over it.

Letter from Robert Carter to Micajah Perry, November 29, 1723

-1 -
[Rappahannock, Lancaster County, Virginia]

Novemr 29th. 1723

Mr Micajh Perry

Sir

The first Instant I writ to you from Will=
iamsburg, This acquaints you Keeling has been in this fort=
night, he was at my house some Days agoe, I think we
may promise our selves he will get his business done as soon
as any of them, no man can answer for the Winter weather,
our Crops in general are pretty nigh finish'd, I shall not carry
most of my Tobo: to his side, but I have seen Winters before now
there has been no doing any business by Water for
six weeks together, the ten Shillings freight extraordinary
makes us Grumble when we call to mind we gave you
eight pounds last Year when we had it in our power
to lower you ^to Six, The next Ships if they stay any thing
long must lower their Top Sails and I believe blow their
fingers too, You will find there is not so much Tobc: made
this Year by at least a Third as was the last

Yr Letter by Keeling was so very Short it affords
me no room for answer. You will find a time I hope to speak

-2 -

more at large and to observe upon the several subj[ects]
of mine that by this time are before you.

Here is a new law-suit coming upon me for anothe[r]
piece of the LL land, if they can carry all their points they w[ill]
bring it a small Modicum at last. I have writ to Capt:
Willis about this Estate to try if he will enter into any
proposals with me concerning it

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. There is a nineteenth-century transcript of this letter in the Minor-Blackford Papers, James Monroe Law Office and Museum, Fredericksburg, 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] Captain William Keiling commanded the Betty. ( Survey Report 6800, Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia )

[2] This may be John Willis, a London merchant. The Lloyd estate was that of John Lloyd, widower of Carter's niece Elizabeth. Lloyd had returned to England after her death in 1693 as he had inherited land there, and Carter managed the properties in Virginia.

This text revised November 23, 2010.