Robert Carter writes toWilliamsburg resident Richard Hickman, September 17, 1729, to ask for Hickman's assistance in protecting his rights in his house there because his tenant, Dr. Lewis Contesse, has recently died owning Carter many years' rent.

     I have this day heard by Mr Stagg that Lewis Countess my Tenant
is lately dead, tht his Widow is removed hath left all his Goods & hath
locked up into the House, & as she sayes for me He owed me on the
ninth of August last for seven Years Rent at eight pounds per An. of --
which he hath paid me but eight pounds fifteen shillings so that there
remains due to me forty seven pounds five Shillings, this I can make --
appear by a Writing under his Hand to which Mr Atturney is Witness

     I cannot think of any person so proper to be of use to me in this
Matter as yourself. Rents are a Debt so sacred a Nature tht I think
the Law will allow them to be served before any others. The Widow is order'd to
have removed none of her Husbands Goods, leaving them for me to be
served out of them. I desire you would take Advice what Method is
proper for you to proceed in. To be sure the Goods ought to be valued,
My Request is, & I do hereby impower you to act for me in all Respects
as fully as if I were present

     It seem's there is a Woman & her Daughter that have pos=
sessed themselves of my Kitchen, & have been desired by Mr Countess
to take Care of my dwelling House. I must leave it to you either to continue
these people there or else if you can meet with a person whom you like
better to place there in the Room to remove them. The Furniture in
my dwelling House cost me above fifty pounds Sterl. The Care of them
& the Housing, I am mighty desirous should be put into the hands of
some honest Body. Your kindness in the Affair will very much oblige