ROBERT CARTER.
Robert Carter, born in 1667, was the son of John Carter, an emigrant
from England, who settled in upper Norfolk County, which he represented
in the House of Burgesses in 1642; later for a number of years
the representative of Lancaster County; Commander-in-chief of the
forces sent against the Rappahannock Indians, and who died in 1669.
Robert Carter was long the agent of Lord Fairfax, proprietor of the
Northern Neck grant, and by the extent of his landed possessions, thus
acquired, obtained the sobriquet of "King Carter."
He was speaker of the House of Burgesses for six years, treasurer of
the Colony, for many years a member of the Council, and, as President
of that body, he was at the head of the government of Virginia from
the death of Governor Drysdale, July 22, 1726, until the arrival of
Governor William Gooch, October 13, 1727. Robert Carter built a fine
church on the site of one formerly built by his father, near his seat, "Corotoman,"
on the Rappahannock River, in Lancaster County, and it is still
standing, in good preservation. Robert Carter, by his two wives, Judith
Armistead and a widow whose maiden name was Betty Landon, left
many children, who are now represented by a legion of names of the
most worthy people of Virginia. He died August 4, 1732, and lies
beneath a handsome tomb with a long and eulogistic Latin epitaph, near
the east end of Christ Church, before mentioned as having been built by
him.
