Robert Carter I

Infobox_Governor
name = Robert Carter I


imagesize = 175px
order =
office = Colonial Governor of Virginia
term_start = 1726
term_end = 1727
lieutenant =
predecessor = Hugh Drysdale
successor = Sir William Gooch
birth_date = c. 1663
birth_place = Corotoman Plantation, Lancaster County, Virginia
death_date = August 4, 1732
death_place = Lancaster County, Virginia
buried =
spouse =
profession =
religion = |

Robert Carter also known as King Carter (1663 – August 4, 1732) of Lancaster County was a colonist in Virginia and became one of the wealthiest men in the colonies.

As President of the Governor's Council of the Virginia Colony, he was acting Governor of Virginia in 1726-1727 after the death in office of Governor Hugh Drysdale. [Brock, Robert Alonzo (1888). "Virginia and Virginians", Vol. I, p. 40. Richmond and Toledo: H.H. Hardesty.] He acquired the moniker "King" from his wealth and autocratic business methods.

Biography

Robert Carter was born at Corotoman Plantation in Lancaster County, Virginia, to John Carter (1620-1669) of London, England, and Sarah Ludlow (1635-1668) of Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire. In 1668, he married Judith Armistead of Hesse in Gloucester County, an area which was included in the formaton of Mathews County in 1691. [ http://www.christchurch1735.org/history/robert_carter.html ] After her death in 1699, he married Elizabeth Landon in 1701.

At the age of 28, Robert entered the General Assembly of Virginia as a Burgess from Lancaster County, serving five consecutive years. In 1726, as President of the Governor's Council, he served as acting Governor of Virginia after the death of Governor Hugh Drysdale.

As an agent of Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, better known in Virginia as Lord Fairfax, he served two terms as agent for the Fairfax proprietary of the Northern Neck of Virginia. During his first term, 1702-1711, he began to acquire large tracts of land for himself in the Rappahannock River region of Virginia. acquiring some 20,000 acres.

When he became representative of Fairfax’s interests again in 1722, and served from 1722-32, he succeeded in securing for his children and grandchildren some 110,000 acres in the Northern Neck, as well as additional acquisitions in Virginia west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Robert Carter died on August 4, 1732, in Lancaster County, Virginia and was buried in Christ Church, Lancaster County, Virginia. He left behind 300,000 acres (1,200 km²) of land, 1,000 slaves and 10,000,000 British pounds in cash. [ http://members.tripod.com/~Bonestwo/index-17.html ]

Descendants

*Anne Carter (1702-1745), who married Benjamin Harrison IV and died on August 12, 1745; (parents of Benjamin Harrison V and grandparents of President William Henry Harrison).
*Robert Carter II (1704-1734), who married Priscilla Churchill;
*Elizabeth Carter (1705-1706);
*Sarah Carter (1705-1705);
*Charles Carter (1707-1764), who married Anne Byrd, daughter of Col. William Byrd II;
*Ludlow Carter (b. 1709);
*Landon Carter (1710-1778), who married Maria Byrd, daughter of Col. William Byrd II;
*Mary Carter (1712-1736); who married George Braxton; {parents of Carter Braxton}.
*Lucy Carter (1715-1763); and
*George Carter (1718-1742).

ee also

*Robert Carter III
*Carter's Grove Plantation

References

External links

* [http://www.christchurch1735.org/history/robert_carter.html Robert "King" Carter lineage]
* [http://www.cssvirginia.org/tyson/jones/carj-ancestors.html Catesby ap Roger Jones included is lineage of Robert "King" Carter from King Ferdinand III of Castile]
* [http://www.shirleyplantation.com Robert "King" Carter's son John Carter to Elizabeth Hill of Plantation "Shirley" ]
* [http://www.leeboyhoodhome.com/ahcleebio.html Anne Hill Carter Lee her parents were Anne Butler Moore married to Charles Carter of Shirley Plantation.]