Carlyle House March 2002 Docent Dispatch Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority

Mapping John Carlyle’s World

Maps have always been an integral part of By the mid-eighteenth century, relations between defining societies. They establish the boundaries of France and England had become increasingly strained. territories, create national identities, define trade In 1750, the Board of Trade requested that the routes, and make political statements. Maps were Governors produce maps of their respective colonies particularly important in colonial America and it is that establish their exact boundaries. Only one year not surprising that they are found on John Carlyle’s after the request was sent out, Joshua Fry and Peter inventory. According to Margaret Pritchard and Jefferson responded with the most comprehensive map Henry Taliaferro, “For America, maps tell the story of Virginia to date. Joshua Fry was a former professor of how European’s took possession of the land in the of mathematics at the College of William and Mary New World and fought to substantiate their claims.” and then surveyor of Albemarle County, VA. , father of and close Maps took on a very important role during the acquaintance of Fry’s, worked with him previously on . As settling a land dispute for Lord England and France vied for Fairfax in the Northern Neck of control of land in the colonies, Virginia. Their first map was mapmakers were an integral part published in 1752 and later of the debate. Conflict over the modifications were made for a Ohio Territory was reflected in a revised map in 1754. The Fry cartographic war between Jefferson map became the most England and France. In 1718 comprehensive and popular map of French mapmaker, Guillaume Virginia during this time and exerted Delisle published Carte de la Lousiane et du Cours a strong influence on any future maps made of the du Mississippi . The map which was widely area. An ad placed in the Virginia Gazette illustrates distributed in Europe and Virginia, reduced the the maps importance: western boundaries of the British colonies thereby Just PUBLISHED and to be sold at the Printing- claiming that land for France. Two years later, Office, in Williamsburg, a New and correct MAP of Herman Moll published the map A New Map of the the most inhabited Part of Virginia, containing North Parts of America claimed by France . This also the whole Province of , Part of map directly challenged the boundary lines that Pennsylvania, New-Jersey, and North-Carolina, Deslisle includes on his map. Moll includes on the (Continued on page 2) map’s legend, The French Divisions are inserted on purpose, that those Noblemen, Gentlemen, Carlyle House Merchants &c. who are interested in our Mary Ruth Coleman, Director Plantations in those Parts, may observe whether Heidi Miller, Curator they agree with their Proprieties, or do not Caroline Neely, Curator of Education justly deserve ye name of Incroachments Page 2 Carlyle House Mapping John Carlyle’s World (con’t) surveyed in the year 1751, by Maps were used for more than described a map of the world in Joshua Fry and Peter political reasons. Maps, charts, four sheets on linen and rollers as Jefferson, and now much atlases and globes became important “a fit ornament for a chimney corrected and enlarged from symbols of the enlightened piece.” Margaret Pritchard, several later Observations; gentleman. Maps were found in curator of Maps and Prints at taken on the Spot, with the approximately 27% of elite Colonial Williamsburg, thinks that Waggon Roads from households in Virginia and it is probable that many maps were Williamsburg to Will’s Creek, Maryland with an average of about 3 either rolled or folded and placed both thro’ Fredericksburg and maps per household. In 1754, the in drawers and therefore Alexandria, including the probate inventory of Daniel Dulany overlooked by inventory takers. greatest part of the Ohio, with lists 1 large Map of America and 4 the Rivers Monongahela, small Maps . The inventory for It is hard to imagine where in Yawyawgany, New-River, James Wardrope of Prince Georges the house Carlyle would have Green-Briar. &c. &c. County, Maryland lists 4 old maps hung all of his maps. It is also on Rolers in 1760. In 1751, Samuel difficult to guess the types of maps Years later when other maps Peachey’s probate inventory lists 11 that he owned. It is possible he were produced, they were not as Small maps wth rolers and 1 Mape owned a map of the world, a map popular because people did not of the world in a sheet . John of the Chesapeake region, and think they were as comprehensive Carlyle’s inventory lists 16 large & definitely the Fry Jefferson map. as the Fry Jefferson map. For Small Maps . We are not sure what It is also very possible that Carlyle example in 1769, John Henry, the types of maps they were, but it is kept many of his maps in a desk father of Patrick Henry and likely that he would have owned the drawer. One thing is very clear. surveyor of Hanover County, Fry Jefferson map, possibly a world By owning all of these maps, John produced a map of Virginia. map, and a variety of other maps Carlyle was placing himself Henry tried extensively to get the that would aid him in his merchant among a group of elite gentlemen to fund a new business. who relied on maps to place map but the popularity of the Fry themselves within their expanding Jefferson map prevented that. Where did John keep all of his colonial world. Eventually, Lord Botetourt paid maps? The practice of hanging ten pounds to subscribe to and maps in halls and over fireplaces Thanks again to docent, Henry publish John Henry’s map. When was fashionable in the colonies, as the map was published in 1770, it well as England. Maps could appear Desmarais, who donated the new was widely criticized and received either framed behind glass or on book Degrees of Latitude , by poor reviews in the Virginia rollers. The advertisement in 1737 Margaret Pritchard and Henry Gazette. Despite this, the in the Virginia Gazette placed for Taliaferro. The book was Governor chose to hang Henry’s Edward Mosly’s map of North tremendously helpful in map over the fireplace in his Carolina states, “a very large map, researching the article and will be dining room. Some historians (being 5 ft. long, and 4 ft. broad, on very useful to us as we try and have hypothesized that this was a two sheets of elephant paper) it’s not statement of support for John figure out which maps John only useful, but ornamental, for Carlyle might have owned! Henry’s son, Patrick Henry, who Gentlemen’s Halls, Parlours, or was very active in resolves against staircases.” Maps were also placed the Stamp Act. over mantels. In his 1679 catalog, London map-seller Jon Garrett had