Landon Carter (of Cleve)

Landon Carter was a Virginia planter who also served one term in the Virginia House of Delegates representing King George County, Virginia, one of three men of the same name who served in the Virginia General Assembly during the late 18th century.

Early and family life

The son of Charles Carter (of Cleve) and his second wife, Anne Byrd, this Landon Carter was born in 1751 to the First Families of Virginia. He had not yet reached legal age to inherit property when his father died in 1762, leaving him and his slightly older brother John Hill Carter orphaned. His surviving uncle, Landon Carter, who had represented Richmond County for decades in the House of Burgesses, was appointed their guardian. .

Career

His father, Charles Carter of Cleve had attempted to protect his namesake estate by disinheriting his surviving son by his first wife Charles Carter Jr. by his will prepared in 1762, because of the young man's financial extravagance and having already paid many debts incurred by that son. However, after their father's death Charles Jr. successfully challenged the will and inherited property that their father had planned to bequeath to his younger sons and their several sisters.
By 1787, Landon Carter of King George held what remained of his father's formerly extensive plantations in King George County. He paid taxes on 47 enslaved laborers and 42 enslaved children, as well as 27 horses and 159 other livestock.

Personal life

This Landon Carter married twice. In 1772 he married Mildred Washington Willis, daughter of Col. Lewis Willis and the former Mary Champe of King George County. Before she died in 1778, she had given birth to three daughters, of whom Mary Champe Carter died as an infant, Mildred Ann Byrd Carter would marry first Robert Mercer, then John Lewis, and bear sons by each marriage; and Lucy Landon Carter who married Gen. John Minor of Hazel Hill. His second wife and cousin, would bear sons Robert Charles Carter and St. Leger Landon Carter of Cleve and daughter Eliza Travers Carter who married William McFarlane.

Death and legacy

This Landon Carter died in 1811 and is buried at Cleve. Although the mansion which was gutted by fire in his lifetime was pulled down a century later after further deterioration, some of the family's papers are held by the University of Virginia library.