Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/185

 COLONIAL COUNCILLORS OF STATE

>cx county, the councillor and patriot, was born probably about the year 1668. In 1691, soon after his coming of age, he was appointed clerk of the house of burgesses and held that office until the year 1700, when he was elected a member of the house from Gloucester county. He evidently soon attained promi- nence, for from 1702 to 1714, he was speaker of the assembly, and in the former year, the house, as a token of their esteem and gratitude voted him an annuity of 10,000 pounds of tobacco. Lrum 17 10 to 1723, he was treas- urer of X'irginia, elected by the house of bur- gesses. On Alay 2^, 1716, Gov. Spotswood recommended for the position of auditor gen- eial. John Robinson or Peter Beverley, the latter of whom had been for several vears si)eaker. and was then the country's treasurer. Writing again on July 3, Spotswood said that lu- intended to appoint as auditor pro tem Col. Peter Beverley. On April 9, 17 19, the lords of trade recommended to the King that "Peter Beverley, a gentleman of good estate and abili- ties, of fair character and well affected to his majesty's person and government," should be appointed a member of the Virginia council. On June 20. 1720, the appointment was mafle. Col. Beverley remained a member until -lis dtath, his last appearance, as noted in the journal, being June 13, 1728, in which year he died. Besides the offices already mentioned as held by him, w^ere those of visitor of Wil- liam and Mary College and surveyor general of Virginia. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Maj. Robert Peyton, who was grandson of Sir Edward Peyton, of Isleham, county Kent, England, and left issue.

Robinson, John, ])resident of the council and acting governor ((|. v.).

Carter, John, was the eldest son of Robert Carter of "Corotoman," Lancaster countv. He

was a student at the Middle Temple and, in 1722, was a barrister at law at the Inns of Court. On June 23, 1722, Spotswood wrote tu the lords of trade recommending "Air. John Car- ter, eldest son of one of the council, and bar- rister at law m the Middle Temple, and a native of X'irginia" for the position of solici- tor of X'irginia affairs in England. This posi- tion was obtained by Air. Carter and held by him until the next year, when, being appointed to the office of secretary of state of Virginia, he returned there. On Xov. i, 1723, Gov. Drysdale recommends the then secretary to fill a vacancy in the council. His father was al- leady a councillor and if the affinity of father and son was too close to be allowc'!. he then recommended John Grymes, the King's re- ceiver general, though his own inclinations were for Mr. Carter. On Jan. 17, 1723-24, Lord Orkney, governor of Virginia, recom- mended to the lords of trade that John Carter K<(\. be appointed to the council to succeed \\"m. Bassett, deceased. On Jan. 23, the King made the appointment and on .April 25, 1724. Carter took his seat. Not long after this Car- tel obtained the position of secretary, for which, as was fre(|uently done, he is said to have paid a large price. The great power attaching to this office came under discussion during Carter's incumbency and Gov. Drys- dale laid before the lords of trade the fact that the secretary had the appointment of the several county clerks and, in virtue of their membership in the house of burgesses, the virtual appointment of one half of that body which would be thus largely devoted to his interests. He expressly stipulated that he was rot reflecting upon the actions of the present secretary, but merely desired to lay before then this great change from the ancient con- stitution. In a letter dated Jan. 22. 1726-27,