Robert Carter writes to his attorney and friend, [John] Holloway, June 2, 1729, concerning the granting of lands on the Little Fork in areas that he believes belong to the proprietary. He speculates on the reasons behind the opposition to the proprietor's grant being made by the receiver general, John Grymes, and the grants being taken there by Henry Willis.

     Since I wrote to you [illegible] Mr. Owsley of Stafford has
been at my house a noted ranger traveler in the backwoods for many years
he tells me of a march he made when he was a ranger by the Order of
Colonel Spotswood in Company with Augustine Smith the Surveyor & Others
it is so . . . ated great An illustration of the forks of our River that that I
have thought it Proper to take it Under his hand and herein do
transmit to you he Adds further that not Above a fortnight or three
weeks ago he was at the new Germans as they are called who are sea-
ted upon the upper branches of Germana River and then he passed
Over all the Northern branches and is very well Assured tht none that has
traveled those places will pretend to say there is any Comparison
between the Southern branch of the little Fork and the Northern
branches Which all to his certain knowledge head in a little way
. . . befor befor in some small Mountains a great way Short of the Blue ridge
All which Corresponds very well with Mr: Savages description

     Robin Beverley in a Patent of four thousand
Acres that he got of Colonel Spotswood cunningly Extends his bounds
without giving length of pole upon some Courses into this little Fork and there Mr. William Beverley his son has seat [ed]
some quarters I have heard Upon an Alarm that William Beverley had from
the Receiver General has lately made A Survey of this Artful Patent
of his fathers And finds there is above Nine thousand Acres in it
this I have been told but Cannot Affirm the truth of it Major Henry
Willis has gone further into this Fork and taken up large quan
tities of Land Upon which I believe all the slaves he has in those
Parts are seated so that there is no great wonder to be made there is
such a mighty Struggle for this little Fork And my Grants th [at]
I have made there I believe are Elder than Major Willis's Colonel Spots
wood no doubt was Altogether Surprised in to his grant and I mus [t]
--                                                             think that

     I almost think it will be but A Proper respect to the Governor
and what will be no way as Offensive upon a proper Opportunity if you would to
make him Acquainted with the description of these places from
the full testimony we have but this I must Submit to your Considera=
tion

     I have sometimes wonderd at the great heat of our Receiver
General against the Proprietors grant and especially in this business of the
little fork at first I imagined a huge desire he might have to get
the Northern neck Added to the Crown (a very pretty Perquisite to a
Receiver General ) that Occasioned his Zeal to Appear so hot but I am now
thoughtful of another great Spur he may be Under which I shall
communicate to you in Confidence

     Some years Ago Major Willis was in such perplexity
About Answering the Calls of his Son in Laws Estate that he
was put Under the necessity of borrowing money I lent him £200
and I fancy he had more of Others by the Assistance of Colonel Grymes
[illegible] I take it that my money was paid me and I have a notion that
this land and his Slaves are Under Mortgage to him for his security
Colonel Grymes is the Guardian of this boy by All his relations desire
now if this estate of Willis's be mortgaged whether it be for the
security of Colonel Grymes or the scarcity of the boys Estate I cannot
take him to stand as an indifferent Person or that his Zeal arises
Merely from the Duty of his place it is very likely you may
be more familiarly Acquainted with the terms that Major Willis &
Colonel Grymes are upon I am not At All desirous from of getting