Dabney Carr (Virginia assemblyman)
Encyclopedia
Dabney Carr was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses
and brother-in-law of Thomas Jefferson
.
Carr was born on October 26, 1743 to John and Barbara Carr (née Overton) at Bear Castle, a large farm in Louisa County, Virginia
. He studied law at The College of William & Mary at the same time as his friend, Thomas Jefferson. Carr married Jefferson's younger sister, Martha, in 1765.
In 1771, Carr was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses and again in 1772. In March 1773, he proposed the creation of a Committee of correspondence
to help coordinate communication between Virginia and other colonies. He died of ill health soon after, on May 16, 1773, a few weeks after the birth of his son, Dabney Carr
, and was buried on the grounds of Monticello
, by his best friend Jefferson.
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
and brother-in-law of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
.
Carr was born on October 26, 1743 to John and Barbara Carr (née Overton) at Bear Castle, a large farm in Louisa County, Virginia
Louisa County, Virginia
Louisa County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 33,153. The county seat is Louisa.- History :...
. He studied law at The College of William & Mary at the same time as his friend, Thomas Jefferson. Carr married Jefferson's younger sister, Martha, in 1765.
In 1771, Carr was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses and again in 1772. In March 1773, he proposed the creation of a Committee of correspondence
Committee of correspondence
The Committees of Correspondence were shadow governments organized by the Patriot leaders of the Thirteen Colonies on the eve of American Revolution. They coordinated responses to Britain and shared their plans; by 1773 they had emerged as shadow governments, superseding the colonial legislature...
to help coordinate communication between Virginia and other colonies. He died of ill health soon after, on May 16, 1773, a few weeks after the birth of his son, Dabney Carr
Dabney Carr
Dabney Carr was born at Spring Forest, a Goochland County, Virginia, plantation just three weeks before the death of his father, also named Dabney Carr, brother-in-law and close friend of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson took an active role in the support and education of his nephew after his father's...
, and was buried on the grounds of Monticello
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
, by his best friend Jefferson.
Sources
- Dabney Carr at the Jefferson Encyclopedia
- 'Dabney Carr (1743-1773)', Thomas JeffersonThomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
's MonticelloMonticelloMonticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
, monticello.org