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The Early Political Career of Robert Carter Nicholas, 1728-1769

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The Early Political Career of Robert Carter Nicholas, 1728-1769 W&M ScholarWorks Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 1961 The Early Political Career of Robert Carter Nicholas, 1728-1769 William J. Lescure College of William & Mary - Arts & Sciences Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd Part of the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Lescure, William J., "The Early Political Career of Robert Carter Nicholas, 1728-1769" (1961). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1539624522. https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.21220/s2-df2m-r775 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. tug nmr mmmm mmm m eobot cahter kxgrous X728—1769 4 th e sis FresoBted to the Facility of the DepartmeBt of History fho Collage of William and Mary 2b firg in ia M Fartisl Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts by William las cure January 1961 " im o w > .ffeie'tllaei® i s siafrmitted in p a rtia l fu lfillm e n t o f ; ’Ik®, raq&ireiaenta fo r the degree o f ! . .• • i k t ■ :Haetearef Jlrts :" '' f' .. Agjgramd* $m m rp 19&ls * 1%; 0 . \J ijJlU u^ W ' i^ ln ^ W iM m W M o i, TS£"®7 & $ i r u n u A J %&mmm H* famer^ fh , B. ■ ^ X 4 X n ^ t i J f. z/cr> ~/(jU i^ ii '.fh« author I# greatly indebted to ©r* Lawrence .H* fovmsr for hie interest and help during the fears takes to ooftplet®, the work for the maetar^s degree, toBr. Milliam M* Abbot for hie sdrie© m d suggestions on organising and starting this thesis.,; and' to Br. M, Bugene Strmans for patiently criticising sad directing the work 'chapter bfchapter. iii M8L5 0F. CCMENTS , . , • -Page ' ACKBCWMMJSMEHta-, . !l i i l m S V M S t: .......... .... , ■■ * ■' '■ ■; ’ , V ■ " ' .. ■* ; ■' ' ‘ ' ■ V- ' : • GhapfcaJ* ; • ■ I . THE 700HG LAWIER, 1728A56 .... , .4... .. , . ' 2, I I . B0B<p3S, 1?56*-6|. 4:,, .. .'V $ 3 I I I . OOLOTIAL RESISTANCE, 1759-69. ...... 29 ‘ w, r r n m m m , 1766-69 ............. 4 ......».. as ' EPaQffi®-;. •» . .v -.... 68 "'BBtKxffiiiBT’. ' . 7 3 iv m sfm m This thesis, a. study of Hohert Garter Hieholas’s early life and political career in Virginia up'to the year 1769, attempts to show how Nicholas entered polities m& bmmm a leader of his ■day* ; As a Burgess Nicholas was important to Virginia1® role In the French and Indian war and in, protesting against British colonial, policy* A fter years of neglect and mismanageiaent, the Virginia treasury was taken over by Nicholas in 1766. in that post; he restored order to the colony’s fiscal policy* Because of Nicholas’s influence in the House of Burgesses and his- integrity,' 'he was a ".leading figure in pre-Bevolutionary Virginia* ■ His accomplishments and his invaluable- service to. the House were recognised by Ms- oonteniporarles, although later genera t, ions know 'little of him* TBS EARLY POLITIM. CARS® OP ROBERT CARTER NICHOLAS 1728—1769 i fm w m a 1 7 &M6 In ©ighteon th~century Virginia a small clique ■ controlled the colony* s econozoy and government. ' Its members'were wealthy landowners and gentlemen politicians , usually Burgesses or Councilors. 4 majority of the members of the: Governor*s Council .and the; .House of Burgesses were related to each other by blood or marriage • Tb© economic and so cial positio n of these men meant 'that they had the necessary education,.©3Eperien.eer and time.to be political leaders* Riches and family'prestige,, of course, did not assure the political aspirant a seat in the House of Burgesses | he first had to prow his ability -in county politics in order to win the freeholders- * votes. From- there he would move to higher office in- the colony. ' Robert Carter Hicholas1© early life followed the typical pattern ©f the Virginia gentry. 1 Robert Carter Nicholas was bom January 28, 1728, the third ©on of Hr. Georg© Nicholas of Hilliamsburg and Elizabeth Garter a 3 Burvell*'■ ffichblas^s father. was a 'leading 'physician in Virginia • and a ©saber of the House of Burgesses;'his mother was the daughter of ■■ Hobart C arter: a t ■ Corotoiaan • and the ■ widow of Nathaniel Burwell*' the - Carter family was not only ^ rich bat politically ..'•■ powoFfuX, & ■. John Carter, the great-grandfather ofBobert Carter Nicholas, came to V irginia In 1649* Ha managed to got property, a-: seat In the House ofBurgesees* and eventually'a place m the Cornell* Bis nm. Hobort Increased the family fortune to &mh m extent that he was nicknamed ‘•King** Robert Carter was never a Burgess, but the Governor appointed .him- to the Council where he. served a.® Frssldent* In addition to his own vast landholdings he had obtained grants of 90,000 acres, which he gave during hie lifetime to- sons and grandsons, At his death ..In 1732 he left m e s ta te ' of 330,000 acres plus mercantile interested Elisabeth, the eldest daughter of Robert Carter, first married Nathaniel Harwell and, 'la te r, Or* George ■ Nicholes, the. father of Robert Carter Nicholas* Or* Nicholas was a native of Lancaster County, .England, who bad arrived ■ In Virginia about 1721, Ho was a surgeon In the British Navy and' a prominent physician in the colony*^ Boon, after settling in Virginia, he obtained grants of 400. acres in Hanover County and 3,000 acres in Spotsylvania* He lived, in. Williamsburg where he was a member of the Bruton 4 Parish Vestry mtI where ha served as a Burgess from the College of William ana Mary in 1730.5 Before Robert Carter Nicholas ms five years old his personal estate was already larger . Xa 1730 Robert Carter gave a tract of 50,212 acres In. Shenandoah Oounty to So® of hit heirs* this land was divided into eight parts of' equal value and young Nicholas received one share.^ &t Robert- C arter1® death in 1732, he-provided that &5pQQQ be paid in trust to Br. Nicholas when ■ Robert Carter Nicholas was tern years old* The will stipulated that the doctor invest'-the capital and use the- Interest for the benefit and maintenance of hie son.*? family background acquainted young , Nicholas with politics and wealth gave him the advantages of a formal education -and legal training. After finishing college at William and Mary,$ Nicholas read law -and in 1750 began to practice as an attorney. In those days, a test,, similar to- a bar examination today, ms required of law students before they could practice in the courts. A board composed ■ of ju stices from- the General Court' examined the students and decided upon their eligibility. Before taking the test a student had to present a certificate fro®- a justice of a county court stating, that he was of good character and qualified to be an attorney. Probably Nicholas read law in Williamsburg, and a ju stic e of Janies City County vouched for his character and 5 training. After passing-.the examination, Nicholas received a license stating that hewas eligible to practice in any inferior or county court "in th® colony*^ Nicholas must fear®, taken. Ms --' examination in. 1750:/ because on May 21, 1750, he presented his license to-practice "in -fork Comity and took the- prescribed oath.*® "On. inn® 7, 1750, he a,gain followed the same routine and was 'admitted to the-bar of Warwick County, H In each county where Nicholas practiced' he. had -to present his license to-the court. .He probably tried oases In fork,/- * * iai^iek,;' iames City, SlisabethCity* and- Charles City counties, for this wa® the natural circuit h® -would have followed. = fher® were ho. definite/ county circuits in, Virginia, and while a lawyer could practice in any-county, he usually limited his business to his own and neighboring jurisdictions because of ' the ■ 'd iffic u ltie s in ■traveling.. -Court days m m m; arranged -by statute ■ th a t lawyers, would 'have, no trouble going from one county -to the- next in the natural circuit* Nicholas probably presented, himself In 1750 to a ll courts --on the circuit,, but because the records are lo s t or incomplete, it can only be proved, that Nicholas appeared, before th® courts of Warwick and' fork Counties. ■ ''The Warwick Court records "for 1750 show that in three suits for debt Nicholas was attom eyf or the plaintiffs. His name 'appears in 1751 as attorney for the' plaintiff in another debt € ease,-Vimd in 1753 he appeared for at* infant la a .ease. concerning ownership of a slave.1^ Jh addition to pleadlag cases, Nicholas served as agent for several wealthy planters, with authority to •collect their debts. In 1751 he advertised la, the firkin la Gaaette that lewis Burweli p President of the Council,. had empowered hi® to settle accounts. Nicholas 'notified, a ll .naval, officers, county clerks, and;.others- who were indebted to Burweli as President that he would-attend, the General Court in order to. receive Burnell1 0 .dues* . ? # . that same issu e, Mor&eeat Booth and Company announced th a t Nicholas would collect their debts and bringsmit against those who did n o t. settle accounts. o r. give bond . o r, security,. .and' Nicholas advertised th a t he would :h© a t - the General Court 'and a t .the. Gloucester and fork .County ■Courts, to' receive payment from the Company *s debtors #^4 Nicholas did not practice-before the General Court in.
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