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

AD
1724
Robert Carter Diary, 1724

     Robert Carter records the work being done on his plantations, the prevailing winds and a hurricane, visitors he received including members of his family, trips to Williamsburg and the sums he spent while there, arrival of ships with goods from Britain, movement of tobacco from outlying farms on his sloops and its placement on ships bound for Britain, and details of his bouts with gout.


Robert Carter Diary, 1724

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1724
[Kept at "Corotoman" on the Rappahannock River, Lancaster County, Virginia]

     

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[January 1, 1724]

New Years day W[ind] fresh at NW a clear
day gave a Crown to Amy Cosby 2/6 to Isbel
a mild Shilling a ps to Mary Lucy George
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Janr 2 1723/4 Jo Gregory arrivd last night from the falls
brot 37 hds my own Tobo 5 mr Burwells
2 Grasons 1 Coll Spotswoods , a hd beans
27 hogs
a fair day W[ind] at So.
5 Gregory went away for Woodwd
& the LL Tobo a NE W[ind] held 2 days
7 my daughter Burwell came
here
9 Coll Page came here & his Family
Hen Bell here
10 Thomas & Ashley here
11 did their Business
13 monday first day I got on my
Shoos writ to mr Harrison mr
Holloway
my Daughter Burwell had
a ps Canting Pins Laces for my
Girls
Keeling sloop here 6 l[b] w[hi] t[e] Sugr
to the house 3 days ago
A Guinea to my Daughter Page her
Nurs a Guinea for a N yeres Gift
A Guinea for do to my Daughter Burl:
13 Mayr Robinson came here
16 my Sloop came from Petomack
my Overseers came down with 14 hogs
2 Beeves brot ten Negros with them
17 Coll Page & my Daughters &c went
away Mary & Lucy staid behind
my boat brot me my Lettrs from Cole mr
Hyde
19 my Sloop from Captn Woodward was brot
into the Creek I would not receive her til
monday
20 I fetcht my Sydr ashoar
22 my Sloop went away with 46 hds Tobo on
board the Betty Captn Keiling
24 I lent Henry Lawson 41S & 5d
29 my Sloop came home
Febr 1 Jo Gregory came home brot 17 hds Frit
for Captn Woodwd, 11 my own from Peumds End
3 from Scrine 4 Coles Point 2 from Mattox
of LL 37 Stript 2 leaf in all 66 hds
my Sloop carried abd Captn Woodwd 20 hds came
the 2d Febry raind hard all Night

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M [odern] S [tyle] 1724 1723 /4
Febr 3d a rainy day W[ind] at [nort] h in the Night
4 It snowd all the morning in the Evening
W[ind] at NW froze hard mr Dove came here
spoke to me for my sloop
5 a cold clear morning W[ind] at NW Coachman
goes for Corn to Indian Town
Jo Gregory goes away with 30 hds for Captn
Keiling
6 a cloudy morning W[ind] at S.E. a fresh Gale
Yesterday Ben from mrs Burwell came
here wth a Lettr abt Nell -- --
12 Jo Gregory returnd from Peanketank [River]
Burwells Sloop came here for 30 hds of my
Tob 12 from my own house took in that day
went away that Night to Fleets bay for
the rest
13 I went to mr Wormeleys Xtning stood
Godfather Mat Walker with me Betty
Churchill mrs Kemp Godmothers Child
named John Gave to the Midwife & &xCuedr
to the Woman that Suckled the Child for the
Present 2 mild 1/2 Crowns
Recd my Daughters Packet
14 at Night got home
15 answerd my Daughters 1/2 Sheet lettere
Ben kept here till the 17th before I could
get him over the river.
17 Load abord my Sloop 14 hds to go abd
the Bailey
Adam Graves lay here last Night.
Carried my Lettrs with him to Machins
for Keiling Ben went wth him
18 Captn Woodward Sailed wth a N W [ind]
Jo Gregory Sailes aboard the Carter
N W [ind] hath blown hard 3 daies & Nights
19 W [ind] continues NW hard very cold
gave 6 lb Sugr to Isbel 2 lb t[o] Martha for Chocolate
my Sloops lyes before house W[ind] too hard to go of.
20 My Sloop got aboard Graves
21 Rob & his Sisters got home Captn White
came wth them Captn Escridge here
I sent mr Wormeley a Carboy Jam[aican] Rum
a pr Shoos for Ralph
Stag came here mr Meeks here
22 I set mrs Burwels Ben over the river
mr Thomas Coll Ball here
mr Harrison & my daughter came
Peter Smith had a bottle rum Garld here

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Febry . . . 1723/4
24th I sent for Trunk from Captn Carters
28 my Son & his wife & my Daughter Burwel
came here
Mar 2 d Mr Harrison & his wife went away
abundance of rain & wind the beginning of
this month
9 Geo Turbervile here brot me Evans Lettrs
12 or Court had a dispute wth [William] Sydnor abt the way
my Son mrs Burwell &c went away
13 Tho Edwds &c here pd me some Bills
I writ to Coll Mason &c
14 my Flatt went aboard [omission in text] with 5 hds 10 hds
went in 2 flatts before 14 in my Sloop.
first fair day a great while W[ind] NW a Thun
der Showr last Night.
my Sloop with Gregory came home
Gregory had a bottle rum
16 Harry Thomson brot home my boat I paid
him 4"10" -- Sterling had the Anchor & Cable
a fair day W[ind] SW my flat goes for Eli Edmd hd
18 Robt Bisco Dr Sterling

  to 96 Gall rum at 2/9 per Gall   12.14. --
  To 166 Sugr at 5d per lb   3. 9
     16. 3.2

18 My Son Georg & the two boys went
to mr Scot this day
20 Capt Hollad[a] y arrived came ashore wth my
Son Charles before the Ship gott up
[Charles] Stagg was here came here abt 3 Clock
Coll Pages man Sawney came here
23 the Captn Wattson came in
23 at Night my Sloop went in to Captn
Holladays Employ at 12£ Ster per month
had a new Suit of Sailes my best Cove
ring an Anchor & Cable out of tother Sloop
24 Adam Graves bro ground Anchord
a little above my house
25th Sent my Lettrs aboard Ship saild down
the river Anchord agst mr Churchils
weighd from thence W[ind] blew hard at SW
very Squawley I sent Graves a barl Tarr
Sent to Rd Meeks 40 lb Sugr & 10 lb before
I sent my Lettrs away to Coll Page mrs Bur[we] l[l]
27 Bisco had Linnen for 2 Shirts
a barrel Corn to Walter Heard
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March 27th 1724
I bottle a Cask Nomini Cydr 2
kild Tho Wests Steer
anothr Cask Nomini Cydr toda[y bottled?]
Apl 1 W[ind] at NW blew fresh all [day]
2d my Sons went for York 4 hor[ses . . .]
I gave Robt 10S Cash Charles had a Pistol w[eigh] t
1"1"8 & 20S Cash Sylver
Settled Accots with Joseph Gregory
Apl 4 I recd the Accot of Daughter Burwells
Marriage to Doctor [George] Nicholas Coll Pages
Lettr on good fryday Tells the perticulars
My Weymoth bear & Cydr came home
I gave Odar 5 qts rum
1st borrowing day blew hard at NW pretty
cold 2 borrowing day W[ind] the same blew
easie 3d good fryday a fine day
this day a fine day
13 To Peter Smith a pr worsted Stockins a pr Plain
to the brickmaker a qt rum he began mould
ing today
14 Captn Phil Smith 2 bottles Clarett
Peter Smith Ows me wth Capt. Carter neer £4" -- " --
I gave directions to Captn Carter to give 10S
for common Tobo light hds 12S for heavy
Arranoke wt 800 Nett 14S for heavy StStf [sic ]
Jo Gregory had 25 fathoms rope for
main halliards a new Cable & Anchor
a drap box 2 dead Eyes.
fryday 17 Apl I went to Coll Pages Saturday I went
to mr Burwells found no body at home mrs
Nicholas went [to] Captn Willis
Monday morn 20th went to Town saturday
returned to Coll Pages Monday 27 went to mr
Burwells mrs Nicolas did not appear
Thursday 30th Carter Burwell went to the
Colledg I gave mr Griffin a guinea for him
I gave [the] Govrs man Kitt a Guinea 20S for my Eschrs
Commission 6S to himself to the Governrs
Coachman 2/6 to the Lanthorn boys 2/6 a Pis
tol I left wth mr Hickman for the Govrs Servts
1/2 Pistol I gave Mrs Countes 5 Shillings to her
maid 4 Shill to the Servts at mrs Sullivants 15d
to Tom at Bocock 7/6 to mr Holloway Coachman

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May 1724
[While in To] wn pd barbar & man 7/6
[At my daughter W] ormleys I gave Joiles 5 Shill
[I lef] t wth my Daughter Page 30S for
Sarah . . . her Accot for my Girls
I was at Our Court took the Oaths
gave mr heal his Sheriffs Commission
he gave me a Pistol for It.
Brickmaker told me 12 May he had 56M brick
13 Gregory came home from the falls brot 48 hds Tobb
I gave mr George Heal his Sheriffs Commission he pd.
me a Pistol
18 I [was] washing my Sheep 135 olds 36 Lambs
Jo: Gregory goes for dividing Creek
I gave Captn Smith his Sherifs Commission
he promises 20S
I bought of mr Austin Moor 41 Negros to wit
6 men & 4 women mr Harrison had for Seating
the Land I bot of Tho Randolph 6 men 4 women a girl I gave
to his daughter Betty Harrison 6 Negrs
4 men 2 women I bot for mr Burwells Estate
6 Negros 4 men 2 women Coll Page had
for Seating the Land I bot of Major Hol
oway 1 Girl I gave to Carter Page -- --
10 men 7 women I sent home
I bot of mr Pratt 28 Negros Coll Page had
for the aforesd Settlemt Geo & his Family
Simon his Son Scipio his Son Robin &
his Family Montross his wife hannah his daughtr
Old Jack Beck his wife Jemmy his Son
Row his Child Nero a boy all Valued by
my [sic mr?] Prat at 148 Pound & Ebo Natt Collo
Page had on the aforesd Accot at 18M
all [£] 180:10S
May 23th mr Hooper went away mr Barber
went away my Son Robin went to Collo Page
Jo Gregory brot home 17 hds from Dividing
Creeks & fleets bay &c I gave Enoch Innis a
Pistol mrs Hooper 10 bitts for her ferriage --
25 Captn Hollady
came here had Noats for
my fork Tobbo. Rowland went wth Holladay
Jos Gregory went away for Stafford
I recd a Letter from mrs Young .

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May 28th 1724
my son Charles & Gumby Catcht 4 dru[m]
2 Bonetoes at the Locust
29 I was out till 10 Clock had never a B[ite?]
gave Jno Harvy 1 pr worsted 1 pr Yarn Stoc[kings]
1 pr plain 1 pr fall Shoos
memd I lent Cha Coachman at Town 5S
30 I gave a Noat to Peter Skelton for a barrel Corn
my Mill spindle was mended by Ja Keys
Cha Coachman fetcht Corn from the Hills 2 hds
mr Stagg here Coll Balls Family Alec Bell
Wm Kemp was here Yesterday
Carried aboard the Carolina Yesterday 12 hds
this day 18 hds in all 30 hds
June 1 monday I settled an Accot with Collo
Tarpley I lent him Seventy Pounds
I pd mr Bertram for Capt Fowler 11 hds Tobo
last Night very cool a hard N W[ind] little rain
2d I went to Court middlesex Aldin promist me my money
Austin Smith promist me to Ship me a
hd Tobo I had at his house I agreed wth mrs Young
she is to come on the 20th Instant is to Serve me as
a housekeeper for a 12 month I am to pay her 12£
Ster 6£ Currency at the End of the time
I recd from mr Boin the military Commissions
for the Northern Neck also 3 Sherifs Commns
I came home in the Night
-- --
3d I writ to Collss Mason Lee, Smith also C Lee
abt the military Commissions
my Son Robin brot me a Letter from Coll Page
4 Captn Cha Lee had the Northumbd Commission
Coll Ball had those for White Chapple Captn
Carter or Parish
mr Jno Turbervile had rum Sugr & Molasses
sonday 7th Captn Bowman arrivd brot me
Lettrs from Stark, an Accot of mrs Burwels
hd of wine sent per the Littlepage cost
11"14S" I recd per the Lucia Sam Bowman
13 1/2 doz bottles Claret 3 doz Burgundy 3 doz
bottle[s] Champaign I took 50 hds freight cer
tain on him 10 or 20 incertain
Sent by Bowman the Military Commissions
for King Geo [County] to Coll Smith for Stafford to Maj
Fitshugh writ to both of them they had the
sheriffs Commissions Sent to them

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[June] 1724
. . . I writ to Coll Lee with the military Comns
. . . for Westmd County
[sen] t to Captn Newton his Sherifs Commn
[e] n[c] lose to Major Woodbridge his Commn
15 Captn Russel had 4 hds at 5£ per Tunn
I send six bushels of Wheat to Mill
send for Indian [corn]
I was at Mill 13th June mett Purtel & Garl[an] d
16 Captn Russel carries away my Lettrs to Captn
Bowman Captn Fontleroy Coll Barber
-- --
18 Maj Escridg came here I came from Captn
Smith at Night
Eskridg had a pr of my Daughter Marys Shoos
2 Oz of Nuns thred 2 gro[ss] Corks carried away
on 20th 6 Lettrs the Rent Rolls brot me two
Plats for Coll Page & I [sic ] sevl other Platts
from Savage
     20th
Jos Gregory arrivd in the Creek this day
I gave out the Coachman a Curricomb &
brush mr Stagg now at Coll Balls my
Children there 5 of them
3 daies ago I sent mr Moore my Bills of Exc
to make up mr Bells money I lent him
seven Pounds five Shill & six Pence Ster
Jo Gregory bro 76 hds Tob All were got into
the house that Night in a tatterd Condition
21 my Sloop came home from the falls
wth Holladays men
22 they Landed 29 hhds Tobo here my
fork [Quarter] Crops except 3 belonging to the Secretary
his 3 hds makes two, myne will make
just 20 prizd hhds -- -- -- -- --
23 we have a Vestry this day to appt
Veiwers. [sic]
25 deliverd mrs Young the following things
2 fanns a ps Narrow Tape a ps brod Gar
lix a ps Kenting 2 brushes 1 lb Sweet Powdr
1/4 lb fine w[h] t[e] bro thred
Isbel had a pr my Shoos 2 pr Slipers sevl
pr thred stockins for Geo w[hi] t[e] & mixt Color.
Isbel had 2 pr Gloves came in for her --
Taylor had drugget for a frock ine [sic ] Check
for 2 pr Breeches a Jackt for Geo.
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June 26 1724
. . . Jo Gregory went for Peto [mac on Wed]
nesday the 24th Cha Coachman wen[t for Coroto]
man 25th
July 2 begun of my new Coffee Martha had . . .
29 hds of my Tob went aboard the Carolina
my Sloop hove down
48 hds went aboard the Forwd Capt Russel
5 Capt Holladay & Russel Turnd as low as Law
sons W[ind] at NE Captn Escridge kept here
by Rain & wind
gave Doctor Man 2 doz Madera 5 Gall
rum 3 gall Jamaca rum 20 lb bro Sugr a loaf
4 doz Cydr fre brandy 1 gall
-- --
9 Ja Web has 2 peck[s] Salt for the people
I gave Captn Halladay 6 Gamons 3 hogs 2 barrels Corn
1 doz Chickens [omission in text] Gees
10 I began to Still Doctr Edgar came here
Ben went away wth my Lettrs for Bagwell
-- --
the 8th my Sloop went away wth 37 hds Tobo for
Captn Bowman the Lucia
Yesterday Holladay & Russel went out
14 went over to Coll Wormeleys so to Mr Grymes by
Coach in the Execution of a Commission from the
Chancery staid there all Night finisht the
Business by 2 Clock came away went to Rose
gill in mr Grymes Chariot dined at mr Worm[ley's]
reacht home by Sun Sett Examind 4 Wit
nesses in the Cause mr Needler or Clerk
-- --
16 Cha Coachm carried 6 Bushels Wheat to Mill
17 Captn Russel came here Coll Ball his wife &
Family here sunday morn went away came
a munday morn
19 Sunday 3 Clock my Son Robin not well was
taken in the Night wth the Gripes held him
till Wedensday [sic ] noon then had a plentifull dis
charge by sevl Stools his feav pain left him Slept
the latter part of the Night very easie has
taken first a purg pil duobus then Manna
& Senna abundance of Glysters frequently
Lawdan in the Extremitie of his pain
23 yesterday last Night & too day very rainey
the 18 it raind plentifully, W[ind] at NE all today
Doctor Bell has bin with my Son 3 daies now
now he & Russel stopt by the rain

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July 1724
[ . . . ] [Gave] to Doctor Bell the following medicines
. . . duobus 2 oz Cawtharides, 2 Oz som Vitrio
. . . oz wt Vitriol Docto[r] Edgar came here Thurs
day in the rain stayd with my Son til sond [ay]
morning 26th
Coll Barbar & his Son came here 25th
Capt Bowman was here 24 my Sloop wth
his man came home 24th brot me 26 hds from Ric[h] land
27 my Gardiner mows the rest of my yd
fryday 24 began to Still brandy
mr Lee [Captain] Zuil & Turbervile came from Church
with me went away on monday
28 Collo Page & his wife my Sonn & his wife came here
30th Coll Page began to Complain next day seizd
with the Gout in one hand
Dick Lee came here Thursday staid till wedn[es] day
following Captn Pinkard came here Tuesday
4 July went away fryday the 7th my Sloop wth
Gregory 2d of July brot 68 hds Tobo 4 hds Corn
35 out of Stafford 15 out of Westmorld 18 out
of North[umberlan] d damagd the 6 prizd hds came from
Newtons greatly wee threw away 1/2 the Tobo
James Whaley came down wth Negro Jack
the 5th of July Complaind he wanted rain
had a qt rum & bottle 1 lb powder a hair Bagg
for Syd[no] r
7th raind all night long W[ind] NE blew hard
Stagg came here abt one Clock
8 raind & blewd hard the same W[ind]
I sent to my Mill this morning my Coachman
brot me an Accot there was a hole in the
floud Gate Price & his People W Waught &
his People gon to mend It
Charles brot home a bagg of Mill Wheat 9
busells [sic ] of Indian [corn] 6th
8 [sic ] I sent Billy to the home Quartrs wth Order to the
Overseers to Trench their Tobo Ground & draw
of all the Water they possibly Could.
I pumpt out of my Sellar this morning abu[n]
dence of Water
10 came my Letteres from Perry & Dawkins wth
my Accots Sales from Perry
11 W[ind] at NE at Night blew fresh raind W[ind] by fitts

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Augst 12 1724
W[ind] NE all last night very stormy & rainy
the morning continued a hard storm at NE
till past one then the W[ind] flew abt to W[est] W[ind] blew
hard & continued raining my houses all
full of Water my Sellar has neer 2 foot Water
my boats all swimming in the house.
my Cydr house blew down abt 9 Clock a pro
digious Tide my boat was fetchd cross the
pond Swam over the Marsh
twds 3 Clouds begin to thin W[ind] westardly blows
violent hard sevl trees blow down both Cherrys
& Apples at 4 Clock rain but little W[ind] at W[est] & hard
still Cloudy & small rain then the W[ind] shifte[d]
to SW blew very hard abot 9 at Night my
flood Gates blew up & my dam went
away
13 a calm hott day a very low Tide
Coll Smith came here this day Coll
Wormeley in the Night Curling came
here
14 Curling took in 12 hds of my Tob
15 Curling Saild down to Lawsons
Zuel went clear out of the river
Suttle came down to give me an Acc
ot of Dickesons Mill being gon
16 Sunday went to Church had rain
in the afternoon
17 Calm hot very rainey launchd my
Pinnace
18 W[ind] at East in the morning shifted
to SE blew violt hard a very high
Tide abundance of Rain in the Night
W[ind] came to NW
my Sloop with Captn
Lotheringtons men went out
of the Creek Sonday last the 16th
18 Tuesday made 3 Buts Sydr began to beat
19 beat 3 Butts Sydr
20 Coll Page my Son their wives went away gav[e]
them 2 potts Sweatmeats my Son has lent to him
2 Negros I bot of mr Pratt Cain & Jack I have his Rect
made three Butts Cydr all in the brick Cellar

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Augst 21 1724
made 3 butts Cydr 22th made 3 butts Cydr
Captn Bowman Saild out of the river
gave him a barrel of Corn & a hog & a barrel wheat
24 gave mrs Young some Needles
Wm Morris finisht my hand Mill on
Saturday wee ground 4 bushels Indian [corn]
25 I went to See the ruines of my Mill found
John Shaw drunk at Prices had not bin at
work that day
26 I went to the School to W Waughs
make three Butts of Sydr every day
mr W Jones is indebted to me for
106 Gall rum at 20 lb Tob per gall
224 lb Sugr at 4 lb Tobo per lb
I was at the Mill yesterday I sent to the Capentrs
Crofts a vomit 1 oz Bark a pt madera
29 this day we make 33 Butts Sydr Cha Jones
tells me Harrison Threatens to fetch away a Colt
of mine wch he can swear to hath a brand Iron
to Brand It & another at Wolf house I go to the
Mill came home in the night
Meeks came down the 25 went away 26th carried
two new spades 2 Shirts for the German On[e] for himslf
29 measured in my Mill 34 Barrels Corn
rainey moist giving weather ever since
the Gust & so Continues
31 W[ind] SW clear cool morning Gardiner mows
one of Platts
Att the Office 4 hds Sheld Corn abt 4 bushells over
pd to Captn Bellandine on Accot of Jo Gregory & by his
desire 20 S currt money
at the Indian Town this day 7 hds Sheld Corn
Septr 2 my Son Robert went to Coll Pages I lett him
have 2 Pistols 30S in Cash
Captn G Turbervile here went away Brickmaker
came here Sent two Cask[s] Sydr to the Mill
writ by Bellandine to the 4 upper [s] Collnl
mr G Turbervile agreed wth me to Saw me 6M
foot of Oak Plank 4M 1 3/4 prick [sic ] 2M 2 1/4 pr [ick]
at Dickeson Mill what is wanting there
at Nomini Mill the remaindr if I
want any more he undertakes to saw
I am to give him at the rate of 3£ per M
I am his people[s' ] diet he is to begin on
Monday next. I went to my Mill,
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Sepr 3 1724
mr H Lawson pays me 2 pistols & ballce[s] Accots
4 I was at Mill mr Stag hath mist twice
7 Margt Carter had 10 lb wool 5 lb Sugr she pd 5 bitts
my sloop was brot home this morning
Cha Jones has bin at my Mill a week they had 30
hands last week they have 40 hands this week
a cloudy day W[ind] NE threatens rain G & Frank
goes to Mill carry a Crow [bar] a great Claw hammer
sevl bolts & hook pins McClean carrys the
Mophradie and smoker Cooper brings my
Mare
9 Sent in my Sloop to mr Tho Berry the followg
Barbados Goods

rum 8 Cask alias Teirce, 4 Teirce Sugr 6 Teirce, Mole [sses]
No          
  9 -- 80 1/2   N1.552"30   N1 -- 86
  10 -- 69     5.536"31     2 -- 79 1/2
  11 -- 64     8.560.30     3 -- 63
  12 -- 64     9.532.30     4 -- 72 1/2
  13 -- 63     2 | 80| 121     5 -- 83
  14 -- 49 1/2     121         8 -- 89
  15 -- 66 1/2     2059     473
  16 -- 78           
      534          
          23 gall rum went to fill these Cask[s]

  10 pd the Glasier for my own work   3" -- " --   
     for the Church & Glebe   1"  7" --

a Snaffle bridle a lb pepper for the od money
12 I was at Mill removd the Barrows to the hither
End of the Damm
14 I agreed with Wm Nugent I go to Mill we have
48 hands there now [John] Shaw begun hewing a Saturday
fine weather all last week & Continues we begin
or fodder every where I finished Sydr making the 9th
We have made in all 61 Butts
18 pd Gregory Hinch blicklayer [sic ] 42 S for the Jobs
he did abt my house
My people at the Mill began to have mea[t]
Captn Pankard & mr Eustace people stole 2 Sheep
from Camel we began to Level the Wast[e]
mr Stag came here had mist 6 weeks
19 Coachman & the Gardiner sick this week
21 Coll Balls [sic ] had 1 doz best Madera 1 doz ditto w[hi] t[e] 1doz
ditto red 6 wine Glasse[s] 6 Sydr [sic] Glasses 1 Cruit 6 qts fre[nch]
brandy 2 dram Glasses 1 fine Search 1 pr Girls Shoo [s]
of Lycys [sic ]
my Tumbrells & Billy went to the Milly [sic ] carried
100 lb Bacon for this weeks Provision
mr Hen Lawson had 25 lb Sugr pd 12/6
22 prepare for my Journey to Nomini yesterday got
all my peices in place for my peerhead except 3 they
                                                                     got to the Mill Cen[ter]
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Sepr 29 1724
Was at LL Magorite Quarters all that Estate
wants Corn except Childs Quarter
30 took a view Nomini Plantation went
to Asburys Mill gave sevl Instructions
See a little book of memorandums of the
Expence of my time at Petomak
Octor first came from Nomini 1/2 an hour past 9
Clock got to my Mill befor[e] 4 Clock staid a [omission in text] g[o] t
home a little after daylight shut in
2 sent a ps Cotton to Maj Eskridg qt [omission in text] 86 1/2 yds
sent 6 heavie grubbing hoes to Nomini
Collo CLee [sic ] pd 4 Guineas & a half guiney for
the Quit rent 14 hundred Acres Land he hold[s]
in Stafford & 2800 in King Georg[e County]
for the Year 1724 & for 100 Acres more
in King George for 5 Years wch he saies
is more then his deed in KG contains my Rect
obliges me if it appears to be so to allow it
2 was at Mill 3 at Mill again a Cow kild at Indian Town
I sent to mr Wm Strother the following Bar[bados]
Goods

  Rum    Sugr   Molass[es]
    N2: 110 1/2 gall   3.1442 . 90 .   [cask mark] 6 .  61 gall
  RC3 .  104 gallo      [cask mark] 7. .  65 gall

Sent to Mill wth C[harles] C[oachman] 100 lb Bacon
-- -- --
5th stopt the water at my Mill met
Capt Carter & his Son came home in the Night
It rained all the way
6 a fair morning W[ind] at West staid at home to
send away my Sloop wth my Negros to the falls
7th W[ind] at Norwest my Sloop Sets out for the
falls carrys twelve New Negros with her
8 men 4 women & also the Girl Rose all
well Clothed & bedded all the things Gregory
carried for the Sevl Qrs are sett down in Bis
cos book
The 3 sloop men had each a gall rum
mr Savage here brot down the Bull runn
Survey & Jno Russells
mr Meeks came down for Nomini & LL Cloths
I was att [the] Mill there parted wth Savage. by
him writ again to Strother
I answerd Doctor Nicholas Lettr by Peter

-ff26r -



1724 Octor 10
parted wth Meeks at my Mill wee join
the 2 Dams this day rid over went to wid ning
the dam
Mdum 12. monday widened the Dam
all day 25 foot of the wast cutt mr Bucknr
and Micou went away Ch Jones sick
Jno Rhodes took his place Wm Waugh took
his place the Cart carried Sydr [sic] & Meat fresh
13 W[ind] at NW Cloudy & rainey morning Gibson
carried away the Cloths for Coles Point
14 I was taken wth a violent Loosness held me
for 24 hours then stopt
16 I went to Mill Cha Jones came that day
John Rodes was pretty drunk I turnd aw[ay]
Shaw he would alwaises be running from
his work, my loosness returnd held me
all night mr Robinson lay here
17 I pad mr Hen Lawson 48S for Peter Skelton
My Water at the Mill was up in the Pier
head & run in the Conduit
18 Sunday in the afternoon my Loosness
returnd had 4 or 5 Stools before I went
to bed slept well till 5 Clock without
disturbance mr Turbervile lay here -- --
Begun upon my new thred
Monday 19th Octor My Mill ground 1 1/2 bushels of Mea[l]
20 she ground 2 barrels Indian [corn] 1 of wheat
21 I sett out for Town carry with me 29"S spa Gold 2 ddn
6 moydrs 8 guineas 7 £ Spanish money 5 of English
Novr 9 I got home gave away at Collo Pages 12/6 Agreed
with Doctor Nicholas the 7th his wife signd the writing
I gave to Joiles 2 1/2 Crowns
11 I prepared for my Sloop going to the falls Biscos
Time was out my sloop went away on fryday the
13 a fair wind Saturday I dischargd my people
from the Mill 10th 11 begun woodcutting 14 agd
wth Demarrat writ to Meeks sent away Geo & Brown
14 a fair wind for my Sloop Sunday a fair wind
16 Coll C Grimes here gave him a Power to reiceive
Richmd [County] Rents he had mr Downmans Rent rolls
for 1722
Monday morning Robin went over the river
16.17th writ my Lettrs via Weymoth
18 rainey 19 wee had a Vestry at Night Sawney
came brot me Secretarys Paquet met Robin in the way
fryday 20th I writ to Coll Page sent to mr C Robinson
Secretarys Accots

-ff26v -



fryday 20 Novr 1724
writ to the Sherif of Spotsylvania [County] sent him
a Copy Ordrs for the Secretarys dues
sent the Secretarys Accot & Copy Ordrs for them
to Captn [Thomas] Newton Sherif of Westmd [County] by Rogr
Oxford to mr Meeks
Sent the same to Townson Dade by Saml
Wilson also Copy of the Marriage Lycens
Ordrs also sent to Fre Mason
late Sherif of Staffd
the Goverr Ordrs on him for the Marrag Lycen
the sd Wilson had 4 Warrts Awbrey had 2
Warrts for taking up Land Oxford agreed wth [me]
to be my Overseer at Richland , wth James
Connor to be my Overseer at the Office .
21 Saturday I was at the race had the News
there of mrs Bells death I was at my Mill
this day
22 Sunday mrs Young went to mr Bells mrs
Bell buried on Wednesday mr Yeats preacht
lay here that Night 26th Thursday mrs Young
came home
23 Captn Daracoat Captn Hull came in the lat tr
[omission in text] brot me some Goods from King
24 hard N W[ind] 25 blew fresh at Night got
my Goods on shoar
26 agreed with Jon Read to be Overseer at
Pantico sent by him the Secretarys Accots
to Coll Grimes writ to Coll Barbar also mrs Colston
Deeds [sic ]
27 Stagg came here in the afternoon 3 Clock
28 I was at the Race
29 Sunday morn Stag went away
30 Let the Coachman have 10S hath leave to
go abroad G Eves here had two Warrts
I agreed wth Ja Murphy to be Overseer at Met
calfs in the room of Rt Thomas
Decr I went to the Mills &c
2 writ to Strother by G Henry by him sent
away the Secretarys Accots to Spotsylva
& King Georg [counties] Sherifs &c.
3d Cold weather hard frosts these 3 last
daies W[ind] from N to NW
I set my kill [sic ] on fire Monday evening
[Tom] Gumby fetcht Meal the 2d Decembr 9 bushels
4 bushels malt for Ale 1 bushel out of the new hd
4 Gumby carrys to Mill 6 bus[he] l[s] old wheat
Robin kills 4 hogs at Old House 4 do at
Indian Town

-ff27r -



Decemr 4th 1724
3 daies ago my Son Charles drew of out of my pip[e]
of wine 30 doz bottles 5 doz more drew afterwds
To Hen Bell 8S for ferriage signd Conditions
5 put up the Ale put out my kill [sic ]
Captn Kennr here Gumby fetches flower
Collier a bottle rum 6 bushel Indian came
lost 5 bits to C Kenner recd 10S of him Escht
At Night came my Sloop we got out the
6 Beeves Tallow weighs here wth the Bagg
94 lb Strothers weight is 108 lb 343 old iron
5 hhds Corn 1 hd Wheat a Buck 2 Tubs Buttr
15 bushls Wheat at Strothers allowance & the Doctrs
-- -- --
6th W[ind] at north Cold the Buck weighs 101 lb
the Corn came from Peumds Inn 312 [pounds] old
iron from the falls by my Scales
I agreed wth Wm Campbel for NB Plantation
15 all this week very sharp Tho Berry was [here]
had 5 Deeds
I pd the Collier all to [omission in text] he had 13/8 Cash
I agreed wth H Kelly I pd D Haines and
Brooks I kild the old house Indian Town &
Changlins hogs in all now & what kild before
33 hoggs from hills Seven hoggs from Wolf
house 5 hoggs
The Two Tradesmen mr Perry by Captn Ho
laday Frost & Birch came home from
Coll Pages 9th Decembr
Coachman carried 6 bushels best Wheat
to Mill brot home 9 bushels Indian [corn]
16 goes for 9 busls Indian more
I pd the Weavr for all his Cloth
Ten hogs came from Tho Wests Coopr 4 hoggs
17 Charles goes for 9 bushels Indian carries 6 busl
newheat [sic ]
4 hogs from Old Plantation Nassaw brot my Sydr
from Waugh I agreed with Tho Glascock
18 a fine moderate day. Cha brings a hogshead Salt to
the Pantry, goes to Mill carrys from Sloop land
ing six bushells old Wheat
recd of Wm Camp two Noats of Ed Newgents pd
by him one of 18S the other of 21S
84 hogs in all brot down this day the 22 th Xr
moderate foggy weather
23 a fogg 24 at Night my Son Robin came home
2 pipes of Wine Came from Captn
Woodward begining
of this week

-ff27v -



Decemr 26 1724
Came home my Smith & Bricklayr
in the Burwell
she arrivd 21 th into York river
28th I agreed wth Jno
Smith to be miller at Nomini
29 I pd to Monsieur Harman Arigo in Cash 3S10
wonderfull fine Weather ever since Xmas day
Calm & warm these 2 last daies -- --

NOTES



Source copy consulted: Robert Carter Diary, 1722-1727, Robert Carter Papers, Acc. No. 3807, Albert H. Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. Charlottesville.


[1] Alexander Spotswood (1646-1740) had been the governor from 1710 to 1722.


[1.4] Thomas Woodward commanded the Providence, a ship owned by Captain John Hyde & Company, during a number of voyages to the colony, 1723-1729. ( Survey Report 6800 summarizing Adm. 68/194 and Survey Report 6801 summarizing Adm 68/195, Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia, and Carter's letter to the firm, September 17, 1723.)

[1.5] Henry Bell was the overseer at Pewmonds End plantation in the 1733 inventory of Carter's estate. (Carter Papers: An Inventory. . . ." )

[1.6] Jack Ashley is mentioned a number of times in Carter's diary; he lived in Spotsylvania County and apparently was an overseer for Carter at one time although he does not appear in the 1733 inventory of Carter's estate. (McIlwaine, H. R., ed. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . . 4 [1721-1739]:254 ).

[2] Captain William Keeling (Keiling) commanded the Betty ; see Carter's reference to him on January 22nd. ( Survey Report 6800, Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert H. Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia.)

[3] Carter had both an overseer and a "joyner" named Cole.

[4] Thomas Woodward commanded the Providence , a London vessel of about 90 tons owned by John Hyde and Company. ( There are a number of records concerning this vessel in Adm. 68/194 [ff. 27r, 77r, and 130r] and /195 [ff. 152v] which may be consulted in the records of the Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert H. Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. )

[4.5] The text in italics at this point was added by a later hand than Carter's.

[6] John Wormeley (1689-1727), one of Ralph Wormeley's (d. 1701) sons for whom Carter had been a trustee before he came of age.

[6.5] This probably was Mrs. Mathew Kemp, wife of the successful merchant in Middlesex County where he was also a justice, militia officer, and sheriff. (McIlwaine. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . , 4[1721-1739]: lv, 12, 107, 200, 205. See also numerous references in Rutman and Rutman, A Place in Time: Middlesex. . . . )

[6.6] The letters that Carter wrote are clear, but his meaning is not. Apparently he gave the midwife a sum for which his letters are an abbreviation, but none of the information about coinage in use in Virginia at the time in John J. McCusker. Money & Exchange in Europe & America 1600-1775 A Handbook. [Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press for the Institute of Early American History and Culture, 1978] has solved this minor mystery.

[7] The Bailey apparently belonged to William Dawkins and had various captains over the years including Adam Graves, John Graves, and Thomas Dove. ( The vessel is mentioned a number of times in Adm. 63/194, /195, and /196. See the survey reports and microfilms found in the microfilms of the Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert H. Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. )

[7.5] A ferry across the Rappahannock from Lancaster County was located at this Middlesex County property, probably owned by Thomas Machen who appears in the records of Christ Church Parish, Middlesex, in 1725. ( Churchill Gibson Chamberlayne, editor. The Vestry Book of Christ Church Parish Middlesex County, Virginia 1663-1767. [Richmond: Old Dominion Press, 1927] p. 202. )

[7.6] A carboy is "a large globular bottle, of green or blue glass, covered with basket-work for protection, used chiefly for holding acids and other corrosive liquids." ( Oxford English Dictionary )

[8] Carter did not complete this entry but he was referring to a dispute with William Sydnor over the route of roads leading to Christ Church. (Jones, Orders Book Entries . . . Referring to "Robert Carter. . . ." p. 118.)

[9] "Thos. Edwards, a little petty Fogging Lawyer the Clark of our County that hath as much Mettle and more cunning for Contention then his predecessor had" RC wrote to Landon Jones, July 23, 1723. Edwards was clerk from 1720-1746. ( Within the Court House at Lancaster. Lively, VA: Lively Printing Services, [1976], 15.)

[10] George Mason III (c. 1690-1735), justice, sheriff, burgess, and county lieutenant of Stafford County, father of the constitutional theorist. (Copeland and MacMaster, The Five George Masons. pp. 50-86; and George Harrison Sanford King, The Register of Overwharton Parish Stafford County Virginia 1723-1758 And Sundry Historical and Genealogical Notes . [Fredericksburg, VA: privately printed, 1961].)

[11] Carter did not complete this thought.

[11.4] Elias Edmunds was a sustantial landowner in the northwest section of Christ Church Parish, Lancasteer County. (Sorrells. Landholders & Landholdings. pp. 30, 43-46, 48. )


[11.5] Robert Biscoe (1699-1748) was born in London and educated at Chrst's Hospital school. He became one one of Carter's clerks about 1716, writing letters and keeping accounts for the busines. He completed his indenture in 1724, prospered modestly as a merchant and farmer, married Elizabeth Lawson, and in 1743, wrote a book, The Mechant's Magazine; or Factor's Guide. (See the lengthy sketch of Biscoe in Brown and Sorrells. People in Profile. pp. 45-56.

[11.6] Alexander Scott (1686-1738), had received an M. A. degree from the University of Glasgow before coming to Virginia. He was the minister of Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, 1711-1738, and a considerable land speculator. He was one of a number of ministers who ran schools in addition to their other duties, and it seems likely that it was to his school that George and the "two boys" were sent.. There are numerous references to him in Fairfax Harrison's Landmarks of Old Prince William. (Copeland and MacMaster. The Five George Masons. . . . p. 78; Harrison. Landmarks. . . . pp. 146, 158, 200, 257, 284-85, 337, 665; and ( John K. Nelson. A Blessed Company: Parishes, Parsons, and Parishoners in Anglican Virginia, 1690-1776. [Chapel Hill and London: University of North Carolina Press, 2001]. pp. 318 & 375, fn. 40 )

[12] William Holladay commanded a ship named the Princess Carolina. ( Survey Report 6800, found in the microfilms of the Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. )

[13] Carter omitted the name of the ship.

[14] Thomas West was the overseer at Blough Point Quarter in Northumberland County when Carter's inventory was prepared in 1733. (Carter papers: An Inventory. . . ." .)

[14.5] A pistole, often called a doblon, was a "Spanish gold double-escudo dating from the 1530s and surviving into the 19th cent.; (also) any of various coins derived from or resembling this from the 17th and 18th centuries." See the illustration on page 5 of John J. McCusker. Money & Exchange in Europe & America 1600-1775 A Handbook. [Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press for the Institute of Early American History and Culture, 1978.], and discussion in note 3 on page 6. ( Oxford English Dictionary Online ).

[15] Carter uses an old Scots expression for the last three days of March.

[15.5] Philip Smith was sheriff of Northumberland County in 1723-1724. (McIlwaine. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . , 4[1721-1739]: 34,67. )

[15.6] Oronocco tobacco was one of two major types grown in Carter's day. It was "bulkier and coarser than sweetscented . . . had a sharper leaf 'like a fox's ear,'" and was stronger in flavor "than sweetscented." ( Arthur Pierce Middleton. Tobacco Coast: A Maritime History of the Chesapeake Bay in the Colonial Era. Newport News, VA: Mariners' Museum, 1953. p. 97 )

[16] Carter's abbreviation "St Stf" may mean "Stripped Stuff."

[16.5] For Carter, "town" was Williamsburg.

[16.6] Carter Burwell (1716-1756) was Robert Carter's grandson by his daughter Elizabeth (Carter) Burwell and her first husband, Nathaniel Burwell (1680-1721). Carter Burwell would live at "Carter's Grove," and would marry Lucy Grymes in 1738. (Carleton. A Genealogy. . . of Robert Carter. . . . p. 128. )

[17] The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg.

[17.5] Richard Hickman (d. 1732) had been deputy clerk of Middlesex County in 1709. After Governor Hugh Drysdale's death, the Council appointed him to manage the Governor's house and its gardens. His name appears a number of times in the Council minutes as he was the doorkeeper, and as he took out land patents. From Carter's letter to William Robertson 1727 July 15, in which he complains that "Mr. Hickman is very dilatory with his probatted Administrations," it seems that Hickman must have done other work for the colonial government. (Edward W. James. "Libraries in Colonial Virginia." William and Mary Quarterly. 3[1,#4, Apr. 1895]:248-51 for Hickman's inventory recorded 1732 May 15 listing many books; "Notes from the Journal of the House of Burgesses, 1712-1726." William and Mary Quarterly. 21[1,#4, April 1913]:257 mentions his being Council doorkeeper; "Notes from the Journal of the House of Burgesses, 1727-1734, William and Mary Quarterly. 22[1, #1, July 1913]:54,56-58, mentions his being clerk of the Committee of Propositions and Grievances; and McIlwaine. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . , 4[1721-1739]:114. )

[18] Mrs. Sullivan ran the boarding house where Carter stayed while in Williamsburg.

[19] "The Honorable Robert Carter Esq In pursuance to the act for settling the militia took the oaths appointed by Act of Parliament. . . ." (Jones, Orders Book Entries . . . Referring to "Robert Carter. . . ." p. 118.)

[19.5] George Heale was sheriff of Lancaster County 1724-1725. (McIlwaine. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . , 4[1721-1739]:67,86. )

[19.6] Dividing Creek lies in Northumberland County north and east of the present-day town of Kilmarnock flowing into Chesapeake Bay "between Hewlett Point and Kent Point. . . . ." (Miller. Place-Names . . . . pp. 40-41. )

[19.7] Philip Smith was sheriff of Northumberland County in 1723-1724. (McIlwaine. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . , 4[1721-1739]: 34,67. )

[20] Augustine Moore (c. 1685-c.1734) of "Chelsea," King William County, a justice and prominent leader. ( J.H.P., "The Gorsuch and Lovelace Families," Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 25(1917): 431-444.)

[20.4] This may have been Thomas Randolph I1683-1729) "of Tuckahoe," Henrico County. Where the land referred to is not clear.

[20.5] Elizabeth (Harrison) Randolph (1724-1745) was called "Betty." She was Carter's granddaughter by his daughter Anne and her husband, Benjamin Harrison IV. Betty would marry Peyton Randolph, and their son, Benjamin Harrison V, would be a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and governor of Virginia. ( "Harrison of James River," Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 32(1924): 97; and Carleton. A Genealogy. . . of Robert Carter. . . . p. 259. )

[21] Carter Page, son of Mann and Judith (Carter) Page was born about 1724 and died unmarried. (Carleton. A Genealogy. . . of Robert Carter. . . . p. 252.)

[21.5] Charles Barber had been sheriff of Richmond County in 1704 and 1715, and its surveyor in 1721. (McIlwaine. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . , 3[1705-1721]: 271,398, and 540. )

[21.6] Fleet's Bay is at the east end of Northumberland County not far from Corotoman.

[22] Carter would buy from Innis a Richmond County property toward the end of 1728. Enoch Innis inherited it from his father, James, who died in 1709. ( Lucy Jane Brent Palmer, "Charles Brent of Stafford County and Some of His Descendants," Virginia Magazine of History and Biography , 34(1926): 280-85 and 378-84; and "Abstracts From Records of Richmond County, Virginia," William and Mary Quarterly , (1)17(1908-09): 176-177, which cites records of Richmond County concerning this will, probated 25 December 1709, as from Will Book 3.)

[22.5] "Applied in the Southern States of N. America, in the West Indies, etc., to small silver coins forming fractions of the Spanish dollar, or (when these are obsolete) to their value in current money. . . . In the eighteenth century the bit was generally the old Mexican real = of a dollar or about 6d. sterling; later values assigned are a half pistareen or of a dollar, of a dollar, and (in some colonies) the value of 1d. sterling." ( Oxford English Dictionary Online )

[23] Fork Quarter was a farm in Richmond County that would become a part of the "Sabine Hall" estate as it was bequeated to Landon Carter. In 1732, William Galloway, the overseer, supervised 16 slaves, 42 hogs, and 54 cattle. ("Carter Papers: An Inventory. . . .")

[23.5] Mrs. Elizabeth Young was applying to be Carter's housekeeper. He would agree with her on May 2 for one year's service but found her satisfactory and she remained for a longer term. She went to England in May 1728. (Diary June 2 1727, and Carter to William Dawkins, June 28, July 26, and August 22, 1727, for her first name. Carter to Pemberton May 8, 1728, for her sailing to England.)

[23.6] Drum is a "name of various American scaenoid fishes which have the power of making a drumming noise; among these are the 'salt-water drum' (Pogonias chromis) found on the Atlantic coast. . . ." ( Oxford English Dictionary )

[23.7] Carter had a clerk named John Harvey, and there are notes on some of his letters, "Harvey to copy." A John Harvey witnessed his will, and some of its codicils, which is logical if Harvey had written it out for Carter. However, on November 14, 1729, Carter wrote to Micajah Perry that Harvey, "whom you sent me from the Hospital," had completed his service, indicated that he did not trust Harvey, and intimated that Harvey may have stolen some accounts of the Burwell estate of which he requested copies from Perry.

[23.8] According to the on line "Glossary of Mill Terms," the spindle is "the shaft on which the runner millstone rotates." (http://www.angelfire.com/journal/pondlilymill/glossary.html#anchor273708, seen 4/19/2010)

[23.9] Dr. Bell has not been positively identified, but may have been Dr. Alexander Bell of Lancaster County who died in 1742. ( Virginia Magazine of History and Biography , 35(1927):217. )

[24] The Tarpley family was a prominent one in Richmond County; a John Tarpley was a justice of the county court for many years and served as sheriff several times. (Ryland. Richmond County Virginia. . . . pp. 500, 504.)

[25] Probably Charles Lee of Wicocomoco Parish, Northumberland County.

[25.5] St. Mary's White Chapel Parish comprised the northwestern poertion of Lancaster County. See the map opposite page one of Sorrells. Landholders & Landholdings.

[25.6] John Turbervile (d. 1728) was a justice, burgess, and sheriff of Lancaster County. ( "Tithables in Lancaster Co., 1716." William and Mary Quarterly 1st. ser., 21[July 1912]: 106-11; and "Turberville Family of VA," at http://members.tripod.com/~Bonestwo/index-6.html, reviewed and downloaded 10/31/2002 )

[26] Samuel Bowman commanded the Lucia.

[27] John Stark was a merchant, probably the one to whom Carter referred when he wrote to Micajah Perry on 4 July 1723 that he had drawn an order on "Mr. Stark of Glasgow." On that same day, he wrote to a John Stark, referring to Captain Bowman.

[28] Henry Fitzhugh (1706-1742) of "Eagle's Nest," Stafford County, married Lucy Carter (1715-1763), Robert Carter's fourteenth child, in 1730. They had four children; after Fitzhugh's death, she married Nathaniel Harrison (1713-1791). (Carleton. A Genealogy. . . of Robert Carter. . . . p. 451.)

[28.4] Thomas Newton was sheriff of Westmoreland County in 1724. (McIlwaine. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . , 4[1721-1739]67:. )


[28.5] Samuel Russell commanded the Princess Amelia, a ship owned by Edward Tucker. ( Survey reports 9711 and 9729, found in the Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. )

[29] While Carter owned several mills, this is probably the one he sometimes called the "Small Mill." It was located in Lancaster County "on the Eastern branch of [the] Corotoman" River." The property of 40 acres had been purchased by John Carter II in 1670 from Thomas and Elizabeth Haynes. ( Christine A. Jones. John Carter II of "Corotoman" Lancaster County, Virginia. [Irvington, VA: Foundation for Historic Christ Church, 1978.], p. 73.)

[29.5] Moore Fauntleroy (1679-1739), a prominent citizen of Richmond County where he was a justice in 1714; he married Margaret Micou. ( http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~marshall/esmd48.htm; and Beverley Fleet. Virginia Colonial Abstracts . . . Richmond County Records 1703-1724. (Privately published, [1943?]. p. 97. )

[29.6] Nun's thread was a very fine bleached linen thread originally made by nuns, and used for lace making. ( Louis Hammuth, Dictionay of Textiles . New York, 1915, p. 112. Digitized by Google. )

[29.7] Fork Quarter was a farm in Richmond County that would become a part of the "Sabine Hall" estate as it was bequeathed to Landon Carter. In the1733inventory, William Galloway, the overseer, supervised 16 slaves, 42 hogs, and 54 cattle. (Carter Papers: An Inventory. . . ." )

[29.8] "Vestries in the 1720s appointed people to serve as 'tobacco viewers,' a task that over-production of tobacco and the resulting low price of this staple made necessary. 'Tobacco viewers' inspected planters' crops to ensure that no one planted more tobacco than the law allowed." ( Edward L. Bond. Spreading the Gospel inCcolonial Virginia: Sermons and Devotional Writings. [Lanham, MD: Lexington Books in Association with the Colonial Williamsburg ..., 2004]. pp. 18-19. Available online through Google Books.)

[29.9] "This must be a reference to the linen textile originally from Goerlitz, Silesia, variously spelled "garlix, garlits, gulick, gulix, or garlick." The textile could be fully or partially bleached. The term is sometimes paired with 'Holland,' indicating linen cloth, originally bleached at Holland, from whence it got its name. Eventually, 'Holland' became generic for linen. The textile would be used for clothing, such as aprons or shirts, as well as household 'linens'." (Linda Baumgarten, curator of textiles and costumes at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, email to the editor, 5/4/2007.)

[30] "I believe the reference is to 'kenting,' a fine, closely woven linen made in Kent, Britain. It was used for table linens, aprons, etc." ( Email to the editor, 27 October 2001, from Linda Baumgarten, Curator of Textiles and Costumes, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, to whom I am most grateful for the useful advice.)

[30.5] Thread stockings must have been light weight or summer ones because thread means "a fine cord composed of the fibres or filaments of flax, cotton, wool, silk, etc. spun to a considerable length; spec. such a cord composed of two or more yarns, esp. of flax, twisted together. . . ." ( Oxford English Dictionary Online )

[31] Drugget was a "heavy cloth of wool, or of a mixture of wool and silk or wool and linen, used chiefly for clothing." ( Oxford English Dictionary Online )

Mary R. Miller states that "Lawson's Island" lay in Lancaster County "adjacent to Island Neck Creek (now Whitehorse Creek)" and that "it may have been the land lying between Whitehorse Creek and the Rappahannock River." No island shows on the 1969 "Lancaster County Primary and Seconday Highway Systems" map. As this ar ea lies across Corotoman Creek from Carter's home, he would have been able to see what the two ships were doing. (Miller. Place-Names . . . . p. 83. )

[31.6] In the 1733 inventory. a John Webb was the overseer at Morattico which was a large farm of some 1,800 acres in Richmond County where there were several of that name. Carter had bought it from Moore Fauntleroy; "it was located on the hill just south of the present Totuskey Bridge. The farm had eight slaves, thirty-six hogs, and a horse " (Miller, Place-Names of the Northern Neck. . . . , 19, 102-103, and "Carter Papers: An Inventory. . . ." )

[31.7] A peck is "a unit of capacity for dry goods equal to a quarter of a bushel." ( Oxford English Dictionary Online )

[32] A gammon was a ham of cured hog meat.

[33] Carter failed to add the number of geese.

[33] Carter probably is referring to Captain Thomas Bagwell of the Levett, a ship that apparently sailed for the Perrys from London. (McIlwaine. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . , 3[1705-1721]: 15.)

[35] At this time, a chariot was a light, four-wheeled open carriage.

[36] The gripes were an intestnal disorder marked by pain and cramps. William Byrd in his Secret Diary refers to an outbreak of them in February 1709, and comments that some had died from the disorder. ( Louis B. Wright and Marion Tinling. The Secret Diary of William Byrd of Westover 1709-1712. Richmond, VA: Dietz Press, 1941. pp. 9-10.)

[37] According to the OED, manna is "a sweet pale yellow or whitish concrete juice obtained from incisions in the bark of the Manna-ash, Fraxinus Ornus, chiefly in Calabria and Sicily; used in medicine as a gentle laxative."

[37.5] A duobus pill was one that was composed of "two principal ingredients." ( Ambrose Godfrey Hanckwitz. The Compleat Course in Chvmistry. Transcribed and Edited by Joseph D. Zabinskit From an unpublished series of manuscripts held by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Section 8 "Of Pills" includes a sub-section headed "Pilulae de Duobus. Pills of two principal ingredients." Published online in 2007. http://zabinskibooks.com/Samples/CCCSample.pdf. Examined 4/28/2010. )

[38] Senna is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as "the dried leaflets of various species of Cassia, used as a cathartic and emetic."

[39] Carter should have written "clysters" rathen than "glysters." They are, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, "a medicine injected into the rectum, to empty or cleanse the bowels, to afford nutrition, etc.; an injection, enema; sometimes, a suppository."

[40] Carter probably refers to laudanum which, the OED states, was "a name for various preparations in which opium was the main ingredient."

[41] Vitriol is "one or other of various native or artificial sulphates of metals . . . used in the arts or medicinally, esp. sulphate of iron," according to the Oxford English Dictionary .

[41.5] John Zuil was a merchant and was probably the ship's captain that Carter mentioned in his diary August 1, 1722, "Zuil Saild Gave me a Bottle Snuff." Carter recorded a diary note about him the following year as well: December 30, 1723, "mr Zuil & man came back" [from church]. In what British city Zuil lived is not clear, but it may have been Liverpool because city directories of 1767-1773 list a John Zuil as a merchant, first in Cable Street, and later, in King Street. This probably would have been a son of the man Carter knew, given the shorter lives at this period. ( "Yuil Family Newsletters," Issue #24 Fall. 1998http://www.http://yulefamily.com/newsletters/yule24.htm, 11/6/2009. )

[42] In 1732, James Whaley was the overseer at "Old Ordinary" and "Moon's Plantation."

[42.5] According to the Oxford English Dictionary Online, a hair bag was "A small silken pouch to contain the back-hair of a wig."

[42.6] This may have been Fortunus Sydnor who was named in the 1733 inventory of Carter's estate as the over seer at Frying Pan Quarter.

[42.7] "A gate or other contrivance by which the flow of water in a waterway is controlled; a flood-gate" ( Century Dictionary online at Wordnik at http://www.wordnik.com/words/sluice/definitions )

[42.8] Carter's Home Quarters included his holdings in Lancaster County, many of which had been obtained by his father, and most of which he had inherited from his older brother. "Corotoman lay at the southernmost point of these tracts on the north bank of Carter's Creek." (Sorrells. Landholders & Landholdings. p. 25. )

[42.9] A pinnace was "a small light vessel, generally two-masted, and schooner-rigged; often in attendance on a larger vessel as a tender, scout, etc." It could be rowed as well. ( Oxford English Dictionary )

[43] A butt was a "cask for wine or ale, of capacity varying from 108 to 140 gallons. . . . a measure of capacity = 2 hogsheads, i.e. usually in ale measure 108 gallons, in wine measure 126 gallons; but these standards were not always precisely adhered to." ( Oxford English Dictionary )

[43.5] William Jones (ca. 1650-1710) lived in Northumberland County. He and his wife, Margaret, sold a plantation to Carter in 1704, that lay probably in both Lancaster and Northumberland counties which Carter later referred to as "old plantation." This purchase is mentioned in Carter's will. (Carter Papers: An Inventory. . . ." .)

[43.6] A croft means "a small agricultural holding worked by a peasant tenant." Apparently Carter had allowed his carpenters to have some areas for gardens, etc. ( Oxford English Dictionary Online )

[43.7] The bark of various species of the Cinchona tree, from which quinine is procured, formerly ground into powder and taken as a febrifuge [fever reducing agent]. ( Oxford English Dictionary )

[43.8] Henry Lawon (1696-1751) was a member of a prominent family whose ancestor had moved into Lancaster County about the same time as Robert Carter's father. Henry was a vestryman and justice (1731), and his daughter Elizabeth would marry Robert Biscoe. (See "The L:awson Family" in Brown and Sorrells. People in Profile. pp. 48, 71-84; McIlwaine. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . , 4[1721-1739]:236 ; and Ida J. Lee. Abstracts Lancaster County,Virginia, Wills. 1653-1800. (Greenville, SC: Southern Historical Press, Inc., 2004. Reprint of the original 1959 edition.) p. 139.

[43.9] "Applied in the Southern States of N. America, in the West Indies, etc., to small silver coins forming fractions of the Spanish dollar, or (when these are obsolete) to their value in current money. . . . In the eighteenth century the bit was generally the old Mexican real = of a dollar or about 6d. sterling; later values assigned are a half pistareen or of a dollar, of a dollar, and (in some colonies) the value of 1d. sterling." ( Oxford English Dictionary Online )

[43.95] Charles Jones was a long-time overseer for Carter at Hills Quarter in Lancaster County. Carter mentioned him in several diary entries in 1723 and 1724, wrote to him there in 1727, and he appears in Carter's will as the overseer on that property.

[43.96] Thomas Berry (1683-1743) of Northumberland Cunty would be tobacco inspector at Wicomocco in 1731 and 1732. An abstract of his 1743 will is online through the USGenWeb Project at http://files.usgwarchives.org/va/northumberland/wills/berry01.txt. (McIlwaine. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . , 4[1721-1739]:238, 286. )

[43.97] The glebe in an colonial Anglican parish was the land owned by the parish on which its minister lived. In the case of Lancaster County's two parishes, Christ Church and St. Mary's White Chapel. it consisted of some 839 acres lying about two and a half miles (longer by roads) northeast of "Corotoman." John Bell, the minister during Carter's lifetime, lived there. (Sorrells. Landholders & Landholdings. p. 11. )

[43.98] John Shaw was one of Carter's carpenters. Carter wrote in his diary on January 25, 1723, that he had signed articles with Shaw.

[43.99] A camel can mean a type of wooden float used as a fender. Perhaps Carter's workmen had one that was being used in the water near the dam work.


[44] A tumbrel as Carter uses the term means a farm cart capable of dumping its load.

[45] From the context, Child's Quarter may be part of Mangorite in Richmond County, but it has not been identified. It is not included in Carter's inventory.

[46] Quit rent was the term used for the payment due from the holder of land to the "lord of the manor," in this case, to the proprietors of the Northern Neck. Carter as the proprietor's agent collected these payments. No services were required of the landholder as had been true in mediaeval times.

[47] Not used..

[48] John Savage was a surveyor later (1734) to be employed by Lord Fairfax while attempting to establish the boundaries of the proprietary. (Harrison. Landmarks. . . . p. 619.)

[49] Bull Run is a branch of the Occoquan River, and today forms the boundary between Fairfax and Prince William counties.

[50] Carter's widowed daughter, Elizabeth (Carter) Burwell had married Dr. George Nicholas around the first of April, a marriage of which Carter apparently did not approve as he did not attend the ceremony. Apparently Carter and Nicholas were agreeing on terms of a marriage settlement.

[51] A moidore was a gold coin from Portugal or Brazil in use at Carter's time.

[51.5] Charles Grymes (c. 1692-1743) was the son of John Grymes of Middlesex County, but lived at "Morratico," Richmond County where he was sheriff in 1724 and 1725, burgess, etc. He was a member of the Council ( "The Grymes Family." Virginia Magazine of History and Biography . 28[1920]: 90-96, 187-94, 283-85, 374-75; McIlwaine. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . , 4[1721-1739]:66, 85; and Ryland. Richmond County Virginia. . . . pp. 500, 504, 514.

[52] William Downman was a justice of Richmond County from 1718, sheriff in 1722 and 1723, and a tobacco inspector in 1731 and 1732. (Ryland. Richmond County Virginia. . . . p. 504. and McIlwaine. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . , 4(1721-1739): 12, 34, 238, 286 )

[53] Carter refers to his son John, then secretary of state of the colony.

[54] Pantico was a farm in Westmoreland County where there is a stream of this name. George Byrd was its overseer in Carter's inventory in 1732, managing 22 slaves, 31 cattle, 18 hogs, and 3 horses. ("Carter Papers: An Inventory. . . .")

[55] Metcalfs was another farm in Westmoreland County. In 1732, John Ordra was the overseer of 5 slaves, 3 horses, 10 sheep, 40 hogs, and 47 cattle. The property descended to Robert Carter III. ("Carter Papers: An Inventory. . . ." and Morton. Robert Robert Carter of Nomini Hall. p. 70.)

[56] Old House Quarter was located in Christ Church Parish, Lancaster County, and was inherited by Carter from his brother. It may refer to the original Carter settlement in the county. In Cater's 1733 inventory, George Conolly was the overseer there, managing 31 slaves, 116 sheep, 105 cattle, and "a horse calld Blackbird." ("Carter Papers: An Inventory. . . ." ; Jones, John Carter II. . . . p. 55. ; and Jones, Orders Book Entries . . . Referring to "Robert Carter. . . ." pp. 140-141.)

[57] Thomas West was the overseer at Blough Point Quarter in Northumberland County when RC's inventory was prepared in 1732. ("Carter Papers: An Inventory. . . .")

[58] In his will, Carter refers to the old plantation "bought of Mr. Robert Jones" in Northumberland County. In his inventory, Dennis Sullivant was the property's overseer of 8 slaves, 36 sheep, 75 hogs, 66 cattle, and "a Mare called Mopsy 10 yers old," etc. The property was bequeathed to Carter's son Landon. ("Carter Papers: An Inventory. . . ." ; and Greene. The Diary of Colonel Landon Carter. . . . p. 4.)

[59] Benjamin and Adam (d. 1726) Graves were the sons of Captain Thomas Graves, long a captain of vessels trading to Virginia, and a special friend of Carter's; they also commanded vessels in the trade.

[60] This probably was Henry Lawson (1675-1725) of Lancaster County although his son (1696-1752) of the same name lived in Lancaster as well. A Henry Lawson was listed with 7 titheables in St. Mary's White Chapel Parish in a Lancaster County census in 1716. ( http://home.rica.net/jharsh/Lawson1.htm ; and "Titheables in Lancaster Co., 1716." William and Mary Quarterly. 1st ser., 21 (July 1912): 106-112.)

[60.4] Thomas Newton was sheriff of Westmoreland County in 1723 and 1724. (McIlwaine. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . , 4[1721-1739]34, 67:. )

[60.5] Roger Oxford was the overseer at Norman's Ford.

[60.6] Townson Dade was sheriff of Stafford County in 1724 and 1725. (McIlwaine. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . , 4[1721-1739]:67, 85. )

[60.7] This probably was Francis (Frank) Awbrey (1690?-1741), an active land speculator in the area that became Loudoun County. He was one of the first justices when Prince William County was organized in 1731, and was sheriff of that county in 1739. (McIlwaine. Executive Journals of the Council. . . . , 4[1721-1739]:239, 439; and Harrison. Landmarks. . . . pp. 148, 150, 153-54 ff. )

[61] French Mason (1695-1748) was the son of George Mason II. (Copeland and MacMaster. The Five George Masons. . . . Genealogical Table 1 following p. 265.)

[61.5] Bartholomew Yates (1676-1734) was the minister, 1703-1734, of Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County. He was one of the visitors (trustees) of the College of William Mary where he also taught. ( William Meade, Bishop. Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia. (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1900.) 2 vols. 1:359-361; and ( John K. Nelson. A Blessed Company: Parishes, Parsons, and Parishoners in Anglican Virginia, 1690-1776. [Chapel Hill and London: University of North Carolina Press, 2001]. p. 322. )

[61.6] Carter mentions a Captain Darracott in letters of 1720 and 1721 to Bristol mechant John King, and a Captain John Darracott's wife, Cecilia, died in 1737 and was buried at the home of her father, William Massie (Massey), of New Kent County. A John Darracott's will was probated in Hanover County (whose records have chiefly been lost) also in 1737. ( "Personal Notices From the Virginia Gazette." William and Mary Quarterly , 1st. ser., 5(April 1897): 242; "John Darracott of Hanover Co., Va. & his wives." Darracott Family Genealogy Forum on Genealogy.com at http://genforum.genealogy.com/darracott/messages/38.html examined 5/12/2010; Online index of Wills/Administration of the online catalog, Library of Virginia at http://ajax.lva.lib.va.us examined 5/12/2010; and "Massie Family," ibid., William and Mary Quarterly ,1st. ser., 13(January 1905): 202-3. )

[61.7] Mary Colston, daughter of Francis and Mary [Bathhurst] Meriwether, was the widow of William Colston [d. 1701], the first clerk of Richmond County. (Ryland. Richmond County Virginia. . . . pp. 25-26. )

[62] This was a kiln used for the production of charcoal needed for blacksmith's and other work about Carter's farms. He mentions earlier that he had begun "woodcutting," and later (Dec. 15) that he paid the "collier," a tradesman who would have supervised the operation of the kiln.

[62.5] Tom Gumby was a trusted slave who oten ran errands for Carter.. Carter gives his complete name in his will, and mentions Tom's brother David. Philip D. Morgan believes he was a son of Old Gumby, another slave mentioned in the will. ( Philip D. Morgan. Slave Counterpoint: Black Culture in the Eighteenth Century Chesapeake and Low Country. [Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press for the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture, 1998].pp. 334-5 )

[63] The office of secretary of state of the colony, formerly a perquisite of the colony's governors, had been purchased for John Carter by his father's working through Micajah Perry to influence the government in England. With a payment of £1500, "a patent under the great seal from the king" appointing John Carter to the post for life, was obtained. "The Secretaries business is to keep the public Records of the Country, and to take care that they be regularly and fairly made up; namely all Judgments of the General Court, as likewise all Deeds, and other Writings there proved; and further, to issue all Writs. . . . To make out and record all patents for Land. . . ." The office of the Secretary appointed all the clerks of the county courts and received fees from these officials as well as from those conducting business with his office. ( Louis B. Wright, ed. The History and Present State of Virginia By Robert Beverley. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press for the Institute for Early American History and Culture, 1947. pp. 245-46. Morton. ed. The Present State of Virginia. . . by Hugh Jones. p. 187, fn. 75. Lettter from Robert Carter to Micajah Perry, 4 July 1723, Virginia Historical Society.)

[64] Henry Bell was the overseer at Pewmonds End plantation in the 1733 inventory of Carter's estate. (Carter Papers: An Inventory. . . ." )

[65] Carter would refer later to the farm which Kelly oversaw as "Kelly's."

[66] Richard Haynes was master of one of Carter's sloops. (See Carter to Richard Meeks, 1729 June 30.)

[67] William Camp (Kemp) was described by Carter as "the General Overseer of Mr Burwell's Affairs" and he wrote that Camp earned a salary "£50 . . . for the year 1731." Carter and his son-in-law, Mann Page, were the trustees of Nathaniel Burwell's children after Burwell's death in 1721. Camp was a resident of Gloucester County where most of the Burwell estates lay, and he must also have supervised "Rippon Hall" in nearby York County. (Carter to George Braxton, 1729 November 20, and Carter to William Dawkins,1732 July 11. Virginia Tax Records. [Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1983.] p. 539. )

[68] This vessel was commanded by Captain Constantine Cant and may have been owned by William Dawkins and Micajah Perry as Carter reported her December 1723 arrival to each of them. ( Survey Report 6800 summarizing Adm. 68/194 and Survey Report 6801 summarizing Adm 68/195,, found in the microfilms of the Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. )


This text, originally posted about 2002, was revised between April 1 and June 14, 2010, to add footnotes, and to strengthen the modern language version text.