Robert Carter writes to Colonel George Mason of Stafford County, November 10, 1727, to inform him that he cannot issue grants for two pieces of land because warrants were not first obtained. He sets out problems with the land encroaching upon that for which Francis Awbrey already has warrants, and other problems with lands desired by Mason. He reminds Mason that he remains interested in land offered for sale by John Mercer provided Mason will sell him an adjoining piece.

     I am Sorry I was not at home when you were at
my house but you ought to thank your Self you might Justly reckon
my duty then obliged my Attendance on the general Court. As to the
two platts you have returnd without date and made without warrts.
I can do nothing upon them and I think it a Presumption in Savage
to Survey the Proprs. Land without the Leave of their Agent and I must
never Encourage Such a practice Awbrey had a warrt. Some time
ago for that peice of Land which Joyns upon him and hath returnd
a platt made by Mr. Thomas which he informs me was Surveyd
before Savage Surveyd for you and it Seems takes in a part of his Im
provements An Error which he was led into by Savage not runing
the last line, now it would be very unfair not to grand this land that he
is in a regular way of geting,

     As for the two warrants you had from me Some time
ago when you return the Platts according to the place's of your Entrys
I Shall be ready to Issue Deeds accordingly for but Thomas demonstrats
to me that the Second he hath Survyd for Awbrey is not within either
of your Entrys. Your upper Entry for 4000 Acres begins upon a peice
of Land Sold by Savage to Phillips and Lacewell but never no Deed
Isued for the Land, and upon their being runaway Awbrey both
Entred for it and Surveyd it upon his warrant and your lower En
try begins at the lower End of Savages Sale so that neither way your
Warrants can Enclude it Thus this matter Stands between you how
ever I Shall delay Some time before I give Awbrey a Deed to hear wt.
you have to Object against it.

      One of your other Entrys left with my man for a 1000 ^acres
Mr. Thomas Assures me is within a warrt. he hath Already in his
hands. The other Entry I have Sent you a warrant for directed to
Mr. Thomas. Savage hath playd me so many tricks and is so uni
versaly Complaind of that I do not care how little use I make of him
The other will be up in your parts Soon upon other business and then
he will be ready to Serve you,

     I Should have bin glad to have discoursd you about
Mr. Mercers Land which I am Still willing to be a purchaser of
at a reasonable price but I cannot think it to be worth so much as he
Askes Altho the Conveniency of it to me invites me to give more then
Ordinary for it Provided I can have a good title and you agree to let
me have that part of the Land Adjoyning to me I am