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I come from a long line of Carters going all the way back to 800 BC. We Carters are related to the Irish King MacCarty Mor of Desmond, English King Alfred the Great, King Ramses II, and the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, and, as a sept of Clan MacArthur, King Arthur, if you'd like. The name Carter has several variations in Irish, Manx, Cornish, Bretonic, Scottish gaelic and in French. Variations include: MacCartuir , Makairter, McCartereagh, and Le Cartier. The spelling,Cartier, was first discovered in the Bayeux tapestry and the battle abbey roll which recount the battle of Hastings. William, Duke of Normandy crossed the English Channel in 1066 to fight for the crown of England. Naturally William brought his most loyal Norman knights with him, and among them were members of the Bretonic clan Cartier (Another ancester, Honfroi De Carteret, was there as well). According to the Tapestry, which recorded the Battle of Hastings, William found himself in danger of being surrounded and overwhelmed by English soldiers. The Cartiers rushed to defend their Duke, and saved his life. With out their action, William would surely have been killed, so when he won the battle and became King of England, the Conquer showed his gratitude by giving large estates and other privileges in England, Scotland, and Ireland to the Cartier Knights. Thus the Cartiers became part of the privileged class of England. One of my first ancestors here, Robert "King" Carter, had a drive to accumulate land, wealth, and power. At the time of his death he owned about 300,000 acres, 45 plantations, and was one of the wealthiest men in Virginia. His power was derived from his wealth, political and civil positions. He was the treasurer of the colony, Naval Officer of the Rappahannock, a Member of the House of Burgesses as well as the Speaker of the House, President of Governor�s Council, and interim Governor of Virginia. When Robert died he left 100,000 pounds sterling (close to a billion dollars today), 2266 head of cattle, sheep, hogs, and horses. Robert was born in 1663 and was the second son of Scots-Irish immigrant John "Moses" MacCarter (1613-1669), from county Armagh, Northern Ireland, and Sarah Ludlow, John�s fourth wife. John MacCarter died when Robert was six (1669/70), leaving to him 1,000 acres and under the guardianship of the oldest son John II. Believing that education was of the utmost importance, Robert was sent to board in England for six years. In 1690, John II died and having no male heir left his estate to his younger brother Robert. The majority of Robert "King" Carter�s wealth was derived through the cultivation of tobacco. Tobacco was shipped on consignment to agents in England who would sell the leaf. The money was placed into an English account, from that account Robert would write a note called a Bill of Exchanges (a check) to pay for goods. The notes were carried back and fourth between Robert and his agents in England. "King" Carter also acted as the middleman between other colonial planters and their English agents. To ensure the movement of his goods, "King" Carter had a fleet of boats, which he used or rented out to others. In 1688 Robert married Judith Armistead of Hesse (1665-1699) in Gloucester County. They had five children, of which three survived into adulthood. Their names were John, Elizabeth, and Judith. John Carter, became the Secretary for Virginia Affairs and married Elizabeth Hill of Shirley in 1723. John constructed the present mansion at Shirley around the 1730s. Elizabeth Carter married Nathaniel Burwell their son Carter Burwell constructed Carter�s Grove. Judith married Mann Page of Rosewell. Robert remarried in 1701 to Betty Landon Willis. Together they had ten children of which seven survived into adulthood. Their children also married into prominent colonial families, the most noted probably being Anne who married Benjamin Harrison of Berkeley. Robert "King" Carter�s descendants were quite respectable and held considerable power. His descendant�s include three signers of the Declaration of Independence: Carter Braxton, Thomas Nelson Jr., and Benjamin Harrison; two U.S. Presidents: William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison; General Robert E. Lee; a Supreme Court Justice, eight Governors of Virginia, and of course, myself. |
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