From George Washington to Charles Carter, 3 December 1797
To Charles Carter
Mount Vernon 3d Decr 1797
My Dear Sir,
I was very glad to find by your favour of the 14th Ulto that you and Mrs Carter had returned in safety to your own fireside before the commencement of the freezing spell in which we are now inclosed.
I can assure you, my good Sir, that I felt myself much honoured and flattered by the friendly visit you made me, and regretted the shortness of it, and your not bringing Mrs Carter with you.1
You have many powerful inducements to bring you into the Northern Neck and when with your Sons & daughters there you know it is not more than a step further to see your friends on Potomac2 than whom none can receive you with more pleasure than Your Affectionate friend and Humble Servant
Go: Washington
Mrs Washington unites with me in best respects to Mrs Carter.
ALS (photocopy), DLC:GW. The receiver’s copy was sold at the Annual Manuscript Society Auction, 27 May 1995, Camden House Auctioneers.
1. Charles Carter of Shirley, in Charles City County, was at Mount Vernon from 30 Sept. to 2 Oct. (, 6:259). Carter married his second wife, Anne Butler Moore, daughter of GW’s old friend Bernard Moore (1720–1775) of Chelsea, King William County, in 1770.
2. Charles Carter had at least four grown children living in the area of the old Northern Neck, the land lying between the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers. Edward Carter (c.1767–1806) lived at Cloverlands and Bernard Moore Carter (b. 1780) lived at Woodstock, both in Fauquier County. His daughter Maria, married to Col. Robert Randolph, lived at Eastern View, also in Fauquier. Ann Hill Carter Lee (1773–1829) was married to Light-Horse Harry Lee in 1793 and was living at Stratford Hall in Westmoreland County.