Carter, Robert, 1728-1804

Tobacco planter and iron manufacturer.

From the description of Robert Carter papers, 1685-1828 (bulk 1774-1804). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70979882

Resident of Nomini Hall, Westmoreland County, Virginia; Williamsburg, Virginia; and Baltimore, Maryland. Carter was made a member of the Governor's Council in 1764. He was married to Frances Anne Tasker, youngest daughter of Benjamin Tasker of Maryland.

From the guide to the Robert Carter Wastebook, 1762-1790., (John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)

From the guide to the Robert Carter Letterbooks, 1761-1769., (John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)

Of Nomini Hall, Westmoreland County, Va., planter, industrialist, government official, and grandson of Robert "King" Carter (1663-1732).

From the description of Papers, 1770. (Virginia Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 29631032

Robert Carter (1728-1804), grandson of Robert "King" Carter, was a wealthy landowner in Virginia. In 1775 his land holdings totaled over 70,000 acres and by 1790 he was operating sixteen different units in five Virginia counties. The most important of his plantations was Nomini Hall in Westmoreland County where he lived when not residing in his Williamsburg house. In addition to managing his estates, Carter had secured a one-fifth control of the Baltimore Iron Works through his marriage into the Tasker family of Maryland. He also owned several vessels with which he conducted a trading business. In 1793 Carter moved to Baltimore where he lived until his death.

From the description of Papers, 1772-1793. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 207123033

Resident of Nomini Hall, Westmoreland County, Virginia; Williamsburg, Virginia; and Baltimore, Maryland.

From the description of Letter books, 1761-1769. (Colonial Williamsburg Foundation). WorldCat record id: 24866022

Born 1728 at "Corotoman," Lancaster Co., Va. Educated at College of William and Mary. Studied at Inner Temple, London. Married Frances Tasker. Lived in Williamsburg and at "Nomini Hall," Westmoreland Co., Va. Freed slaves by gradual manumission. Member of Virginia Council. Member of vestry of Cople Parish. Broke with Anglican church and became a Baptist and then converted to Arminianism and finally became a Swedenborgian. Lived in Baltimore from 1793 until his death in 1804.

From the description of Papers, 1772-1793. (Colonial Williamsburg Foundation). WorldCat record id: 19927651

Son of Robert Carter, Jr. (1705-1732) and Priscilla (Churchill) Carter Lewis (1705-1763), of "Nomini Hall," Westmoreland County, Va. Was elected to the Governor's Council in 1758 and served until approximately 1772, when he moved his family from Williamsburg, Va., back to Westmoreland County. Carter had extensive landholdings and business interests; was an avid reader and collector of books; was greatly interested in religion (changing from Episcopalian to Baptist to Swedenborgian in his lifetime), and developed a plan to manumit a large number of his slaves. He married Frances Ann Tasker, youngest daughter of Hon. Benjamin Tasker of Maryland.

From the description of Papers, 1760-1815. (Virginia Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 55695753

Resident of Nomini Hall (Westmoreland County, Virginia); Williamsburg, Virginia; and Baltimore, Maryland.

From the description of Waste book, 1762-1790. (Colonial Williamsburg Foundation). WorldCat record id: 25236343

Biographical Note

• 1728, Feb.: Born at Corotoman, the Virginia estate of Robert "King” Carter
• 1749 - 1751 : Lived in England
• 1751: Returned to Virginia to manage Nomini Hall and other holdings
• 1754: Married Frances Tasker
• 1758 - 1771 (?) : Member, Governor's Council of Virginia
• 1761 - 1772 : Lived in Williamsburg, Md.
• 1769: Obtained part interest in the Baltimore Iron Works
• 1777: Established textile operations on his Virginia estates
• 1778: Left the Episcopal Church to become a Baptist
• 1790: Became a convert to the Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian)
• 1793 - 1804 : Lived in Baltimore, Md.
• 1804, Mar. 10: Died, Baltimore, Md.

From the guide to the Robert Carter Papers, 1685-1828, (bulk 1774-1804), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)