John Carter, of Corotoman

John Carter (circa 1695 – July 31, 1742) was a Virginia planter, lawyer, merchant and politician who served for two decades as the secretary of state for the Colony of Virginia, as well as for the Governor's Advisory Council (essentially the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly), but whose political career was overshadowed by that of his father Robert Carter, often nicknamed "King Carter" for his wealth and social and political prominence in the Colony of Virginia, with whom he served on the Governor's Council for nine years. Early life and education Born in 1695 or 1696 to the former Judith Armistead, probably at Corotoman, the home plantation of his wealthy father, Robert Carter, he became a prominent member (and ancestor) of the First Families of Virginia. His grandfather John Carter, Sr. (who died in 1669 and for whom the boy was named) had established that plantation, and which was initially inherited by his uncle (John Carter Jr.), who raised his half-brother (this man's father) but died without male heirs. Before her death in 1698, when this John Carter was a young boy, his mother also gave birth to four daughters. Of these, Judith and Sarah died as infants, but Elizabeth (1692-1734) would marry twice, to burgesses Nathaniel Burwell of Gloucester County in 1709 (and received Carter's Grove plantation in Williamsburg from her father as their wedding present). Her second husband (whom she married in 1724) was Dr. George Nicholas of Williamsburg and the Royal Navy. His sister Judith (1695-1750) in 1718 married Mann Page, but their Rosewell plantation was still incomplete when he died, so this man (her brother) helped pay for and directed its completion. Meanwhile, his father King Carter remarried twice more. Two years after his mother's death, John received his first stepmother, Betty Landon Willis (1684-1719), who gave birth to several more daughters (two of whom died as infants), as well as sons Charles (1707-1764), Robert Carter III, Landon and George Carter (1718-1741). While Ludlow Carter (c.1708) died as an infant and their youngest son, George, never married and died in England, the first three Landon/Carter sons also became major planters, with Charles Carter of Cleve and Landon Carter of Sabine Hall serving in the House of Burgesses (representing King George County and Richmond County, respectively), and Robert Carter II's son Robert Carter III of Nomini Hall serving decades on the Governor's Council (the legislature's upper house).