Charles Carter (1732-1796)

He served in the House of Burgesses; the House of Delegates; the Senate of Virginia; and, the Council of State. He was sometimes referred to as Charles Carter of Ludlow/Ludlowe (his Stafford County plantation) to distinguish him from his relatives of the same name. He supported the colony's opposition to Parliamentary rule, and served in the first four of five Revolutionary Conventions that met between 1774 and 1776. He also supported adopting the Constitution, and influenced its ratification in 1788 when he released a private letter from George Washington endorsing the document. Despite his political career, he overspent, died in comparative poverty, and after his death his widow was forced to advertise for boarders.  In 1753, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Col. John Chiswell, and had five sons and two daughters.