CARTER BRAXTON,
Seventh signer of the Declaration of Independence in behalf of the province
of Virginia, was born at Newington, King and Queen county, Virginia,
September 10, 1736. His father was George Braxton, a wealthy
planter, and a member of the House of Burgesses. His mother was
Mary, daughter of Robert Carter, who was a member of the King's council,
and in 1726, its president.
Carter Braxton received a liberal education at William and Mary College,
and upon leaving college entered at once upon the possession a large
property, having lost both his parents, his mother when he was seven days
old, and his father during his school days.
At the early age of nineteen he married Judith, daughter of Christopher
Robinson, of Middlesex county. She was possessed of uncommon beauty
as well as a large fortune, and they enjoyed two years of wedded happiness
when the lady died, in giving birth to a second daughter, December
30, 1757.
Soon after his wife's death Mr. Braxton visited England, returning in
1760. May 15, 1761, he married Elizabeth Corbin, eldest daughter of
Richard Corbin, of King and Queen county, receiver-general of customs
for the colony of Virginia. The offspring of this marriage were sixteen,
six of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Braxton survived her husband, dying
in 1814.
It is believed, but cannot be absolutely ascertained, that Carter Braxton
was a member of the House of Burgesses as early as 1761. It is certain
he took an active part in the eventful session of 1765, supporting
the celebrated resolutions of Patrick Henry. He was also a member of
the House in 1769, which was dissolved by Lord Botetourt.
But this dissolution of the House did not change the material of
which it was composed. The indignant people returned the same members,
without one change, and Mr. Braxton, among the rest, was present
at the opening of the session of November, 1769. He continued a member
of the House until the dissolution of the assembly of 1771. Accepting
then the office of high sheriff of his county (then King William), he
was ineligible to act as representative.
The first Virginia convention was assembled at Williamsburg, August 1,
1774, and to this convention Mr. Braxton was elected by King William
county. The convention met again March 20, 1775.
The last and most important meeting of the House of Burgesses was
convened by Lord Dunmore, June 1, 1775. Mr. Braxton was an active
member of this house, serving on three of the regular and on several of
the special committees. This assembly, however, was in session only fifteen
days. They had met on the 1st of June, and on the night between the
7th and 8th, the governor, Lord Dunmore, fled from his palace to the
"Fowey." No entreaties or assurances on the part of the House could
induce his return, and as they very properly refused to convene on board
his frigate, it was impossible to transact further business. On the 15th
the session was adjourned until October, but it was never re-assembled.
The Convention of Virginia, however, again assembled July 17, 1775,
and continued in session until August 26th. It met again in December,
1775, and on the 15th of that month appointed Carter Braxton to succeed
Peyton Randolph, lately deceased, in the national council. He repaired
to Philadelphia, and continued in his seat until the Declaration of Independence
had received his signature.
In 1776 Mr. Braxton was elected to the House of Delegates of Virginia,
and in that House he served during the sessions of 1877, '79, '80, '81, '83 and
'85. In the last year he was one of the supporters of the act for establishing
religious freedom in Virginia, an act penned and proposed by
Jefferson and advocated by Madison.
In January, 1786, Mr. Braxton was appointed a member of the council
of State, and continued to act with that body until March 30, 1791.
In 1793, he was again appointed to the executive council, and taking up
the duties of the office May 31, 1794, he continued to perform them until
his death, meeting for the last time with the council October 6, 1797, only
four days before his death.
The last years of his life were distressed by great pecuniary embarrassments.
Of the large fortunes in his possession when he was
twenty-one, nothing remained. His personal property had passed
into the hands of the sheriff; part of his vast estates had been sold
from time to time, the remainder, with his slaves and household
goods, was heavily mortgaged.
