Robert Carter - from Wikipedia

Added by stgrundy on 11 May 2007

Robert Carter also known as King Carter (1663 – August 4, 1732) was a colonist
in Virginia and had become one of the wealthiest men in the colonies. As President of
the Governor's Council of the Virginia Colony, he was acting Governor in 1726-1727
after the death in office of Governor Drysdale.

He acquired the moniker "King" from his wealth and autocratic business methods.
Robert Carter was born in Corotoman, Lancaster County, Virginia to John Carter
(1620-1669) of London, England and Sarah Ludlow (1635-1668) of Maiden Bradley,
Wiltshire. He married Judith Armistead in 1688 in Hesse, Lancaster County, Virginia.
After her death in 1699, he married Elizabeth Landon in 1701

Children

The following children were born to Robert and Judith in Corotoman, Lancaster
County, Virginia:

• Elizabeth Carter (1688-1721) who married first Nathaniel Burwell (1680-1721) in 1709
{grandparents of Thomas Nelson, Jr.} and second George Nicholas;
• John Carter (1690-1743) who died on April 30, 1743; {his son Charles Carter, Esq., of
Shirley (1732-1806), married Ann Butler Moore (a granddaughter of Alexander
Spotswood and a descendant of Thomas More and King Robert II of Scotland through
the 2nd Earls of Crawford [1]) and was the father of Anne Hill Carter the second wife
of Henry Lee-parents of Robert Edward Lee}.
• Judith Carter I (ca. 1694) who died in infancy and is buried near her mother at Historic
Christ Church, Lancaster County, Virginia;
• Judith Carter II (1695-1750) who, in 1718, married Mann Page I (1691-1730) of
Rosewell Plantation, Gloucester County, Virginia and had six children;
• Sarah Carter (1694) who died as an infant.

Robert and Elizabeth had 10 children:

• 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).

Death
Robert Carter died on August 4, 1732 in Lancaster County, Virginia and was buried in
Christ Church, Lancaster County, Virginia. On his death in 1732, Carter had left
behind 300,000 acres of land, 1,000 slaves and 10,000 British pounds in cash.
History of Christ Church - Robert King Carter
Added by stgrundy on 16 May 2007

Robert "King" Carter of Corotoman (1663-1732)

Born: 1663 Corotoman Plantation, Rappahannock River
Died: August 4, 1732 Corotoman plantation
Buried: Christ Church Yard

Marriages:

1. Judith Armistead of Hesse, Gloucester County--Married 1688. Died 1699.

Mother of five children
2. Betty Landon (widow Willis)--Married 1701. Died 1719. Mother of ten
children

Children:

By his first wife, Judith Armistead Carter (1665-1699)

1. Sarah--ca. 1690. Died in infancy before her mother and buried near her at
Christ Church
2. Elizabeth--born ca. 1692-1734. Married 1) 1709 Nathaniel Burwell (1680-
1721) of Fairfield, Gloucester County 2) 1724 Dr. George Nicholas (1695-
1734) of Williamsburg
3. Judith--ca. 1694. Died in infancy before her mother and buried near her at
Christ Church
4. Judith--1695-1750. Married 1718 Mann Page I (1691-1730) of Rosewell,
Gloucester County
5. John--1696-1742. Secretary of Virginia Colony. Married 1723 Elizabeth Hill
(ca. 1708-1771) of Shirley, Charles City County

By his second wife, Betty Landon (Widow Willis) Carter (1683/84-1719)

1. Anne--1702-1743.
Married 1722 Benjamin Harrison IV (1695-1745) of Berkeley, Charles City
County
2. Robert--1704-1732.
Married 1725. Priscilla Churchill (1705-1757) of Bushy Park, Middlesex
County
3. Sarah--ca. 1704-05. Died before her mother and buried near her at Christ
Church
4. Betty--ca. 1705-06. Died before her mother and buried near her at Christ
Church
5. Charles--1707-1764.
Married:
1. 1728 Mary Walker (?-1742)
2. 1742 Anne Byrd (1725-1757) of Westover, Charles City County
3. 1762 Lucy Taliaferro
 6. Ludlow--ca. 1709. Died before his mother and buried near her at Christ
Church
7. Landon--1710-1778.
Married:
1. 1732 Elizabeth Wormeley (1713- 1740) of Rosegill, Middlesex County
2. 1742 Maria Byrd (1727-1744) of Westover, Charles City County
3. 1746 Elizabeth Beale
8. Mary--1712-1736.
Married 1732 George Braxton II (ca. 1705-1749) of Newington, King & Queen
County
9. Lucy--1715-1763.
Married:
1. 1730 Henry Fitzhugh (1706-07-1742) of Eagle's Nest, King George
County
2. 1748 Nathaniel Harrison II (1713-1791) of Brandon, Prince George
County
10. George--1718-1742. Died unmarried in England. Buried in the churchyard at
Middle Temple

History:

1663–1672/3Spends early years at Corotoman

1669Father John dies. Leaves Robert 1,000 acres on eastern branch of Corotoman
River

1672/3-1678/9Sent to London for schooling. Lives with merchant Arthur Bailey,

where he gains invaluable insights into the tobacco trade between the Virginia colony
and England. At the same time witnesses firsthand the extensive rebuilding projects
Christopher Wren led in the city following the devastating fire of 1666.

1684/5Witnesses documents in Lancaster Courthouse, now 21 years old and living

in Virginia

1688Marries Judith Armistead of Hesse, Gloucester County (now Mathews County)

1690By terms of his father John’s will, inherits the Corotoman estate (6,160 acres
and housing) on the death of his older half-brother, John II. Is building brick house
later called “the old house,” into which he will move back after the fire in 1729
destroys his mansion.

1690 – 1691Chosen Church Warden of Christ Church—an office he held until his
death; appointed Justice of the Peace for Lancaster County; represented Lancaster
County in the House of Burgesses in 1691-92 and 1695–1699; elected Speaker in
1696–1697 and 1699.

1699Appointed Treasurer of Virginia; appointed Colonel and Commander-in-Chief of

militia in Lancaster and Northumberland Counties; appointed Naval Officer of
Rappahannock River; wife Judith dies at age 34

1700Appointed Councillor and served for 32 years until his death

1701Marries Betty Landon (widow of Richard Willis)

1702Becomes agent for Lord Fairfax’s Northern Neck Proprietary which he served,
with an interval of nine years (1712 – 1721), until his death

1715-1720Begins the building of his mansion house, which was finished in 1725

1716On Board of Visitors at the College of William & Mary until his death

1719Wife Betty Landon dies at age 36

1726Becomes President of Council and Acting Governor for a year and a half until
the new governor, William Gooch, arrives in September 1727. First writes will. Leaves
£200 for new brick church
1729Mansion house burns
1730Proposes to vestry to build a new brick church at his own expense; vestry
accepts this proposal
1732Robert Carter dies
1735Robert Carter’s sons John, Charles, and Landon oversee completion of Christ
Church