A Collection Transcribed
and Digitized
by Edmund Berkeley, Jr.
List of Letters
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, University of Virginia Library
Summary
Letter from Robert Carter to Robert Cary, July 24 and August 22, 1727
Robert Carter writes to London merchant Robert Cary, July 24, 1727, to cover a bill of lading (not present) for 12 hogsheads of tobacco and to inform him that he is sending the public papers for forwarding by him as he has received most recent public papers through him. In a post script on August 22, 1727, Carter deals with the problem of Thomas Evans's bankruptcy by informing Cary that he is sending his account with Evans (not present) and a "Short warrant" to empower Cary to act as his attorney in attempting to collect the money Evans owed Carter.
Letter from Robert Carter to Robert Cary,
July 24 and August 22, 1727
-1
-
Mr. Robt Cary Rappahannock, [Lancaster County, Virginia]
July the 27th 1727
to be Copyd --
Sir -- --
I have now 12 hhds: of my own crop Tobbo: in the
Marlborrough
Capt: Buckeridge Consignd to you a bill of Lading for
them comes herewith. I hope my Credit with you will answer for the
Clearing
of this Tobbo: If I fall Short now it will be the only time that I
reckon will happen while our dealings Continue, You must do in the
matter as you Please The Public Expresses I choose to give you the trouble
of having rec'd most of the publick packets under yor. Covr: I am Sir,
Yor: most humble Servt:
per Buckeridge
-2
-
Added to Carys July 24th: per the Marlborrough
Rappahannock, Augst: 22d: 1727
Sir, I have little more to Say to you at present only in
relation to Mr. Evans
Affair a Second Copy of my Accot: against
him herewith I Send you I have bin in Such a hurry with the Publick
Affairs that I have not bin able to prepare a power of Atturney in form
to have Signd in the presence of Capt: Dove
and his men to Qualify you
to act in this Affair as you ' would
do for your Self however herein
Send you a Short warrant Attested which I hope will do the
business as well I Shall have no opportunity hereafter by a Lond:
Ship therefore must let the Affair take it['s]
fate as it will
If I have Committed any Error in my Accot. Mr.
Evans books will make everything Clear I am
per the Carter
Sir,
Yor. very humble Servt.
-3
-
Whereas Mr. Thomas Evans Merchant of London hath lately
faild in his Credit and a Statute of Bankrupt is taken out against
him And the Said Thomas Evans Standing Justly in my Debt according
to the best Calculation I can make by an Accot. Stated and now Sent in
the Sum of Three hundred ninety three pounds Sixteen Shillings and
a penny to the End I may [illegible]
come in Proportion into the benifit of the
Statute I Robert Carter of Virginia Esqr. have Constituted & appoint
ed and do by these presents make ordain Constitute and Appoint Mr.
Robert Cary Mercht. of London to be my true and lawfull Atturney
for me and in my name and to my use to treat manage and
Transact the above Affair And to do and Prosecute at the Law or
Otherways for recovery of my Said Debt or any part thereof as fully
and Amplely to all Intents and Purposes as I my Self might or Could
do where I Personally Present Hereby satisfying allowing & Confin
ing all and whatsoever my Said Atturney Shall do or Cause to be
done in or about the premisses Witness my hand and Seal This
22d: day of Augst: 1727
NOTES
Source copies consulted:
Original letter is from Robert Carter Letter Book, 1727 April 13-1728 July 23, Carter Family Papers, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond. Carter has added in his hand the close to the post script as is indicated by the use of bold italics. The post script is from Robert Carter letter book, 1727 May-1728 July, 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 to the heading on the draft.
[1] Robert Cary (1685-1751) was a London merchant and member of a family of which many members were involved in colonial trade. Carter purchased lands from him in King George, Richmond, and Westmoreland counties; he is mentioned in Carter's will. ( Jacob M. Price. "Who Was John Norton? A Note on the Historical Character of Some Eighteenth-Century Virginia Firms." William and Mary Quarterly.
3rd. ser. 19[July 1962]:401.
)
[2] The Marlborough
was a vessel of 100 tons and 14 men, commanded by George Buckeridge (Buckbridge). ( Admiralty 68/195, abstracted in Survey Report 6801, Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia.
)
[3] Clearing of goods imported into Britain involved paying the impost, the duty imposed by Britain on imported tobacco, and obtaining the cocket (for which a fee was charged), a document bearing a cocket or seal issued by the "King's Customs House" that the impost had been paid. (See the definitions of each word in Oxford English Dictionary Online.
)
[4]A vessel named the Carter
traded to Virginia for many years; she is most often referred to as the Carter Frigatt
. The captain in 1706 was Thomas Graves who is mentioned in the Lancaster County Court Orders Book for judgements against him obtained by Carter. Later, the Carter
would be commanded by Baily Kent, 1718-1721, Thomas Dove, and by Benjamin Graves. She was owned by Carter and William Dawkins in 1720. ( Survey report 6800 for Adm. 68/194-5, Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert H. Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia
; and Lancaster County Court Orders Book 5, 1702-13, p. 187, as abstracted in Jones, Orders Book Entries . . . Referring to "Robert Carter. . . . "
)
This text, originally posted in 2003, was revised May 28, 2013, to strengthen the footnotes and modern language version text.