Robert Carter (1728–1804)
In 1798 Bushrod Washington wrote a brief opinion concerning the disposition of Carter's estate. Eleven years earlier he had encouraged Carter to support ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
Robert Carter (also known as Robert Carter III and Councillor Carter) was born on 9 February 1728, probably at Corotoman, the family plantation in Lancaster County, Virginia. A grandson of Robert "King" Carter, he inherited more than 65,000 acres of land and several hundred slaves upon turning twenty-one. Carter then studied law in London before returning to Virginia and settling at Nomini, the Westmoreland County mansion that formed part of his bequest.
John R. Barden, "Robert Carter (1728–1804)," in Sara B. Bearss et al., eds., The Dictionary of Virginia Biography, Volume III, Caperton-Daniels (Richmond: The Library of Virginia, 2006), 86–88.
"[May 1769]," Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-02-02-0004-0013. [Original source: The Diaries of George Washington, vol. 2, 14 January 1766 – 31 December 1770, ed. Donald Jackson. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1976, pp. 146–154.]
"From George Washington to Robert Carter, 24 February 1787," Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/04-05-02-0046. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series, vol. 5, 1 February 1787 – 31 December 1787, ed. W. W. Abbot. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1997, pp. 50–51.]
"From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 9 November 1787," Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/04-05-02-0388. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series, vol. 5, 1 February 1787 – 31 December 1787, ed. W. W. Abbot. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1997, pp. 420–425.]
Andrew Levy, "The Anti-Jefferson: Why Robert Carter III Freed His Slaves (And Why We Couldn't Care Less)," The American Scholar, Volume 70, Number 2 (Spring 2001), 15–35.
Shomer S. Zwelling, "Robert Carter's Journey: From Colonial Patriarch to New Nation Mystic," American Quarterly, Volume 38, Number 4 (Autumn 1986), 613–36.
Robert Carter Letter Books and Day Books, 1771–1804 and Undated, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
"Freedom for Slaves of Robert Carter III" at HMdb.org:The Historical Marker Database.
Robert Carter at Find a Grave.
Robert Carter at FamilySearch.