09/09/2021
Dabney Carr (October 26, 1743 – May 16, 1773) (Dabney Carr is my 5th-great grandfather)
Dabney Carr was one of Thomas Jefferson's closest friends. He was born at Bear Castle, a thousand-acre farm in Louisa County, Virginia, though other details of his childhood are largely unknown. He and Jefferson met during their teen years, when both boys were enrolled at the school of Reverend James Maury in Albemarle County. Both Carr and Jefferson continued their studies at the College of William and Mary. On July 20, 1765, Carr married Martha Jefferson, Jefferson's sister.
After their marriage, the Carrs moved to Goochland County, and Dabney devoted his time to politics. He won a seat in the House of Burgesses in 1771 and again in 1772. By 1773, relations between colonists and royal authorities were becoming strained, and Virginia Governor Lord Dunmore held a special session of the House of Burgesses. Dabney Carr introduced a resolution to the House on March 12, 1773, to create inter-colony committees of correspondence. After its passage, Lord Dunmore dissolved the House, but a standing committee nevertheless formed the next day to maintain correspondence with other colonies and obtain intelligence on Parliament's actions regarding the colonies.
Carr's resolution, and the committees of correspondence it encouraged, helped to launch the Continental Congress in 1774. Carr, however, did not live to see the results of his efforts; his health failed and he died on May 16, 1773. Jefferson buried his friend in the Monticello graveyard. He was survived by his wife and six children, who spent much of their childhoods at Monticello.
(Source: https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/dabney-carr-1743-1773)
The attached article was copied from the Pennsylvania Gazette (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) · 7 Apr 1773, Wed · Page 2
I have transcribed it as follows:
EXTRACTS from the Journal of the Honourable House of Burgesses.
FRIDAY, March 13, 1773.
UPON a motion made, the House resolved itself into a committee of the whole House, upon the state of the colony.
Mr. Speaker left the chair.
Mr. Bland took the chair of the committee.
Mr. Speaker reformed the chair.
Mr. Bland reported from the committee, that they had directed him to make the following report to the House, viz.
Whereas the minds of his Majesty's faithful subjects in this colony have been much disturbed, by various rumours and reports of proceedings, tending to deprive them of their antient, legal, and constitutional rights :
And whereas the affairs of this colony are frequently connected with those of Great Britain, as well as of the neighbouring colonies, which renders a communication of sentiments necessary ; in order, therefore, to remove the uneasinesses, and to quiet the minds of the people, as well as for the other good purposes above mentioned :
Be it resolved, that a standing committee of correspondence and inquiry be appointed, to consist of eleven persons, to wit, the Honourable Peyton Randolph, Esquire; Robert Carter Nicholas, Richard Bland, Richard Henry Lee, Benjamin Harrison, Edmund Pendleton, Patrick Henry, Dudley Digges, Dabney Carr, Archibald Cary, and Thomas Jefferson, Esquires, any six of whom to be a committee, whose business it shall be to obtain the most early and authentic intelligence of all such acts and resolutions of the British Parliament, or proceedings of Administration, as may relate to or affect the British colonies in America, and to keep up and maintain a correspondence and communication with our sister colonies, respecting these important considerations ; and the result of such their proceedings, from time to time, to lay before this House.
Resolved, That it be an instruction to the said committee that they do, without delay, inform themselves particularly of the principles and authority, on which was constituted a Court of Enquiry, said to have been lately held in Rhode Island, with powers to transmit persons accused of offenses committed in America to places beyond the seas, to be tried.
The said resolutions, being severally read a second time, were, upon the question severally put thereupon, agreed to by the House, nemine contradicente.
Resolved, that the speaker of this House do transmit to the speakers of the different assemblies of the British colonies, on this continent, copies of the said resolutions, and desire that they will lay them before their respective assemblies, and request them to appoint some person or persons of their respective bodies, to communicate from time to time, with the said committee.
Monday last his Excellency the Governor [The Right Honourable The Earl of Dunmore], after giving his Assent to several public and private Bills, was pleased to make the following speech :
Gentlemen cf the Council, Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Burgesses. As you have now gone through the business for which you were assembled and having nothing further to propose to you at present, it becomes necessary to put an end to this session of Assembly ; and I recommend to you to use your endeavours, in your, several counties, to abolish that spirit of gaming, which, Iam afraid, but too generally prevails among the people, and to substitute in its place a love of agriculture, and attention to their private affairs, by which you will render a most essential service to them and your country. I do prorogue you to the third Thursday in June next, and you are accordingly prorogued to Thursday; the seventeenth of June next.
