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Slaveholder Records - Carter Family Correspondence

Carter Family Correspondence
Charles Yates Letterbook

John Carter to Richard Gildart, August 1, 1738
Carter describes a shipment of Africans to the Upper James, but writes that "the sort of slaves did not please [the buyers], consisting chiefly of a large number of children and some men and women, all but Ten past their prime." Explaining that "it is impossible to describe the wretched condition these slaves were in," Carter resolves in frustration that "indeed I never Intend to be concerned in such another Sale."

John Carter to Foster Cunliffe & Samuel Powel, August 3, 1738
Cunliffe and Powel regularly shipped slaves to Virginia planters. Carter complains of the behavior of a slavers' captain and describes the types of shipments he and his fellow planters desired: "Men-boys, and Women-girls, as the cant name is, are most in demand, but it is best to have a Mix'd cargo to hit all humours."

John Carter to Landon Carter, July 11, 1739
John Carter writes that "I expect a Ship in a few days from the Gold Coast, and if you think proper to take any of the Slaves, the Choice must be made by yourself."

Landon Carter, Jr. to Landon Carter, Sr., January 1, 1763 [1764]
Landon Carter, Jr. sends a note to his father, Landon Carter, Sr., letting him know that he is sending him "your man Jammy," possibly a runaway, by his overseer.

Landon Carter, Sr. to John Boughton, n.d. [1769?]
Boughton was Carter's overseer of Carter's quarter at Ring's Neck on the Mattapony River in King and Queen County. In this lengthy letter, Carter writes to John Boughton, his overseer of Carter's quarter at Ring's Neck on the Mattapony River in King and Queen County. He explains that a planter is judged by the quality of his leaf and criticizes his son for being too lenient to his slaves. He also writes of a hurricane, which may have been a powerful storm that struck Tidewater Virginia in September 1769.

Charles Carter to Landon Carter, April 24, 1770
Charles laments, "Was ever man so plagued with Runaways as I am[?]" and asks Landon Carter to "have them outlawed for me & act as if they were your own Slaves."

Col. John Tayloe to Col. Landon Carter, March 31, 1771
Col John Tayloe complains to Col. Landon Carter about the inadequacy of a slave patrol that is Carter's responsibility: "your Patroll do not do their duty, my people are rambling about every night." Tayloe remarks that the nighttime sojourns he has detected among his slaves could not take place "if the Patrollers did the duty they are paid for."