Well, it has been a while since last I posted on this blog. And I have been busy researching when I can. Recently I found occasion to visit Christ Church in Middlesex County and it’s parent church, Christ Church in Lancaster County, Va. The latter of which was commissioned and financed by none other than Robert “King” Carter, Land Agent for Lord Fairfax and said to be the wealthiest man in the colonies at the time of his death in 1732. Both of these churches are Colonial gems and well worth the trip to visit and learn, and see, some fascinating history. However, as great a time and adventure this was the most intriguing, and historically significant (to me) part of my travels was a long awaited visit to Urbanna, Middlesex County. This quaint little port town not only boasts the presence of Arthur Lee’s fabulous ca 1742 mansion on the main road of the town but has a beautiful wharf, a very old church, and a ca 1760 merchant house which contains a huge 1st edition, 3rd copy of the John Mitchell Map of 1755. This map is said to be one of the most important maps of North America ever produced. Featuring a width of 6.5 feet by 4.5 feet high it is extremely impressive and the details throughout can leave one transfixed, much like the start of this post, for quite some time. So, exactly what is it about this port town from the past that concerns one Wiliam Longmire and how or why he named his children as he did? For one, this may well be the first land in Virginia that our newly arrived convict, Wm Longmire, stepped foot on. And it just might harbor a link (pun intended) to the name Charles. Yep, that perplexing name which somehow was inserted into Longmire family history lore but with no clear reason as to why. But, yours truly has a theory …

The port town of Urbanna lies on the lower end of the Rappahannock River. And wouldn’t you know it but a slave trading ship by name of Rappahannock Merchant used to ply these waters with it’s human cargo, one of whom was our illustrious convict from London. Urbanna was also home to one Adam Cockburn Customs Collector. The fellow who signed William Longmire’s Landing Certificate. The very item which attested to authorities back in England that our William had not only arrived to the colonies but ultimately was not to be heard from again on the very land that he once called home. Once Transported one was never allowed to return to England. And so it stands to reason that William quite possibly arrived in this quaint little port town in April, 1726 as it was one of the first stops along the river. And though I have entertained the idea that William may have landed at what is now called Leedstown, or perhaps even a privately owned wharf, I also give as much, or more, credence to Urbanna as his initial landing spot. Urbanna was also home to one Charles Carter, son of Robert “King” Carter, who after early schooling in England arrived back in Virginia in 1724 to take up the life of plantation owner. This is the same Charles Carter that Wm Longmire would see off and on for a number of years while working for the court in King George County some 10 or more years after plopping ashore in 1726. And so I got to thinking a little more about Charles and the possibility that he was a benefactor and/or early patron of William. I have my reasons … And so I tossed out a couple of theories and inserted others.

I suppose the big break in my research, other than William’s work for Lord Fairfax, first discovered (and confirmed) by yours truly over 5 years ago, was the 1730 tithe list for King George County. This is where I found that William was paid to watch the prison and I had assumed by virtue of this fact that he was also a free man. I will add that William was also paid as evidence in a court case in 1737, again showing that a 14 year convict indenture was not in force. Either way a prominent person of some sort had arranged this as a convict would normally be excluded from such a task, much less becoming recording secretary for the court some 14 years later. For that matter a felon would not normally run across the paths of one Lord Fairfax or William Fairfax without some thorough vetting. Somebody had William’s back. And he had a set of skills highly sought after: He could read, write, and figure. Quite well it turns out. And only a certain class of people could afford these services. This narrows things down a bit. My inclination is that while William may have freelanced he was probably employed by a merchant and/or utilized by a select group of people where writing, even for the church, was needed yet people who could write were in very short supply. And my mind wandered back to Charles Carter, a fellow who lived in the area where William quite possibly landed and who later moved to “Stanstead” in King George County by 1734 though he often travelled up and down the river from Urbanna until he finally settled at “Cleve” by about 1736. Charles was also a tobacco merchant and ran several plantations which would necessitate the use of a person such as William. Meanwhile a fellow by name of William Fairfax began renting Stanstead from Charles Carter after relocating from Westmoreland County in 1737. Hmmm, was Charles Carter the person who landed the Northern Neck Proprietary gig for Wm Longmire? And by virtue of that work then was allowed to enter into court related work – a thing literally unheard of for a former convict? Perhaps in gratitude to Mr Carter our William named a son in his honor? What better way to stay in good graces under the circumstances and certainly a practice utilized by others. Just a theory, But, you are darned right that I will be looking into Charles Carter a bit more as there is a chance that some family papers or early business records might be out there waiting for me to find …

Meanwhile, as evidenced by some earlier posts here I have also wondered about the name John. Why did William’s 3 sons all name their first and/or second born son’s John? George Longmire bucked the trend and named his 2nd son John but William Jr and Charles both named their first-born sons John. Hmmm, I wonder if that would be for Susannah’s father? Afterall, when William died there was no orphan adjudication for the 3 boys, and a possible daughter, Elizabeth. Why might that be when the custom in the day was for the court to appoint a guardian or bind the children out? Unless of course a man of stature and or family presence was there to intervene and satisfy this custom. Good answer – I think I will stick to that one for now.