Robert King Carter's Correspondence and Diary

   A Collection Transcribed
        and Digitized
   by Edmund Berkeley, Jr.


List of Letters | About This Collection

Electronic Text Center , University of Virginia Library


Summary



Letter from Robert Carter to Micajah Perry, March 6, 1724

     Robert Carter writes to London merchant Micajah Perry, March 6, 1724, reporting that he is shipping 30 hogsheads of tobacco on board the Burwell and that he assumes that the merchant will accept a freight rate of £8 per ton. He understands that the Carter and also Captain Richardson are on their way to the colony, but fears they will find it impossible to get good cargoes. In closing, he notes that Captain Adam Graves will not be able to fully load before he must sail.



Letter from Robert Carter to Micajah Perry, March 6, 1724


-1 -

                             the other Book --
Mr. Micajh Perry                              Rappahannock, [Lancaster County, Virginia]
Mar 6. 1723/[4]



Sir --

     This is designed by the Burwell Captain Cant [if it]
reaches him Else I Suppose it will come by Wills who will be at his [ ... ] [ . . . ]
The Burwell has 30 hhds. of my Crop Tobacco in her consigned to You b[ ... ] [ut]
I have no Bill of Lading, I Expect You will be Contented with Eight po [unds]
per ton, You know how generous we were when it was our turn, & it may
be again if You squeeze us now, Your ships make a short Voyage & Must get money --

     I have a Letter from London of the 22d. of November tells me the
Carter & Richardson were coming to our river what they will do I profess
I dont know, Would the former take £6 per ton I'm affraid there is no Such
thing as a load to be found for him, February has been a terrible month
for Water Work, I doubt [not] it will be Impossible for Adam Graves to get his
Tobacco on board in time, he has a great deal to Spare if he could Stay but
go he must whether full or no, this is a Short hasty line I am,


Sir
Your most humble Servant

Mr. Burwells Tobacco on board the Burwell
comes to You also.

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] Constantine Cant was the captain of the Burwell. ( Survey Report 6800 for Adm. 68/195, ff. 76v, Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. )

[2] Captain Peter Wills commanded the Booth in 1723-1724, and the Amity in 1727. He is mentioned in Carter's diary for June 1723. ( Survey Report 6800, Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. )

[3] Captain [James?] Richardson commanded the Sarah and was based in Weymouth.


This text, originally posted in 2002, was revised March 1, 2011, to strengthen the modern language version text.