Nancy Waddill 'Nanny' Carter

Notes:

Theodrick Carter, II and Anne Waddill were the parents of Nancy Waddill Carter. Anne Waddill was baptized January 24, 1713, according to the register of St. Peter's parish, which encompassed New Kent County. Her parents were William and Sarah Dennis Waddill. William was elected vestryman of St. Peter's, on June 1, 1704, and served in
this capacity for at least thirty-five years. The author James Branch Cabell,a descendant of John Waddill, discussed the Waddills in his book "The Majors and Their Marriages." Theodrick Carter and Anne Waddill lived for a time in New Kent County. According to the register of St. Peter's parish, their first child John was baptized on October 30, 1737. Theodrick appeared in the Amelia County tithables list of June 10, 1747 in John Nash's district (this area became part of Prince Edward County in 1754); he is absent from the list Nash compiled for the same district on June 10, 1745. He must therefore have migrated from New
Kent County to present-day Prince Edward County sometime between these two dates. Nancy was born June 15, 1749, probably at her father's estate "Hickory Hill" (also known as "Hickory Grove"). According to tradition, the house was built around 1750; however, it may have been built three years earlier, since we know that Theodrick was living in John Nash's tax district on June 10, 1747.
John Wood's 1820 map of Prince Edward County shows the location of Hickory Hill. Two miles west of Hampden-Sydney College is the notation "Capt. Carter's." Captain Carter was Samuel Carter, Nancy's brother. Samuel inherited Hickory Hill from his father in 1777. Destroyed by fire in 1933, Hickory Hill was described four years later in the Works Projects Administration survey of Prince Edward County homes: [Hickory Hill] was not a show place except for its splendid boxwood and cedar hedge and lovely gardens. It was a plain frame house, or rather two houses connected by a little square room. The first of these traditions says it was built in 1750, a story and a half with small rooms except for one large reception room, which was beautifully paneled, and with one side of carved oak. The other part of the house was built by William H. Venable, when he bought the plantation in 1853 from Edward Carter [Samuel's son]. Mr. Venable built a large, square, two-story frame building, with large rooms and ample halls. The many outbuildings around the mansion house made the place quite a little settlement. The large grove of hickories flanking it on the south gave the place its name.
Nancy's father was one of Prince Edward County's most prominent planters. He purchased 975 acres in old Amelia County on September 20, 1748, and bought and sold other parcels of land up to the time of his death. A member of the Anglican church, Theodrick offered 300 acres of land to St. Patrick's parish for its use as a glebe, or plot of land granted to the local clergyman as part of his benefice during his tenure of office.
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Theodrick made his will on December 7, 1777. The executors of his estate were Nathaniel Venable and Francis Watkins, two of Prince Edward County's most respected citizens. Venable was a member of the Virginia Assembly in 1766-1768; three of his sons were educated at Princeton, and one served in the United States Congress. Venable lived at Slate Hill, now in the National Register of Historic Places. Watkins was deputy clerk of the Prince Edward County court from 1767 to 1783; he was appointed clerk in 1783, retiring from that office in 1823. His home was called "Poplar Hill." Venable and Watkins were also charter trustees of Hampden-Sydney College, founded in Prince Edward County in 1776.
The following is Theodrick Carter's will:
In the name of God, Amen: I Theodrick Carter of the Parish of Saint Patrick and County of Prince Edward being of perfect and sound mind and memory do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner following.
First, I give unto my daughter Susannah Stubblefield and sons John, Theodrick and William Carter each one shilling sterling. I give and bequeath unto my son Richard Carter one negro man named Dick, and one feather bed and furniture to him and his heirs forever. I give and bequeath my daughter Nanny Waddill Thompson one negro girl named Tibb now in her possession, also two cows and calves to her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath unto my son Waddill Carter that part of my lands within the following bounds, to begin at the cross branch at the road, to run a straight line by the grave yard to his own line, all the land below this line on the North side of said road, also one negro man named Tom to him and his heirs forever. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Molley Carter one negro girl named Agg and one negro girl named Nanny, also the mare I purchased of Col. Robert Lawson, her own saddle and bridle, one feather bed and furniture, four head of sheep and two cows, to her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Salley Carter one negro boy named Will and
one negro boy named Abraham, the sorrel mare I purchased of Charles Williamson, one feather bed and furniture, her own saddle and bridle, four head of sheep and two cows, to
her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel Carter the remainder of the lands and plantation whereon I now live and the following negros, Moll and her child Neptune, also all and residue of my estate not hereinbefore particularly mentioned of what kind or nature
soever, except two-thirds of my pewter and the two negroes named Jack and Sarah, these two negroes Jack and Sarah I leave to my two daughters Molley and Salley for their support till they marry or die and then my son Samuel, and desire that my executors hereafter named may devide my pewter into three equal parts and allot to my son Samuel
and daughters Molley and Salley each and equal parts thereof, the estate herein willed to my son Samuel I give to him and his heirs forever, and it is my will that so long as my daughters Molley and Salley live single that they have the free use and liberty of their chamber in my dwelling house without the denial or interruption of my son Samuel. It is my further will that should my said son Samuel depart this life without leaving issue, in that case the lands herein willed to him and every part of my estate bequeathed.
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him, I give and bequeath unto my said two daughters Molley and Sally to be equally devided between them by my executors hereafter named unless my said two daughters
should agree on a division themselves, which estate I bequeath to them and their heirs forever, (should it so happen my son Samuel) It is my will that all the negroes I'm possessed of be continued on my plantation the next year to make a crop. Lastly I do constitute and appoint my son Waddill Carter and friends Nathaniel Venable and Francis Watkins Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and declaring void all other wills by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of December in the year of Christ one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven.
Theo'd Carter
.
Thomas and Nancy Thompson probably named their fourth child in honor of her brother, Samuel Carter. Samuel distinguished himself in the military, in politics, and as a businessman. A member of the 1st Virginia Regiment during the Revolutionary War, he and seven other officers were granted the honor of personally welcoming the Marquis de Lafayette during the great soldier and statesman's visit to Richmond in October, 1824 (Richmond Enquirer, October 29, 1824, page 3). Samuel at various times held the county offices of sheriff, magistrate, and coroner; in 1805-1806 he represented Prince Edward County in the Virginia Assembly. In the late 1790s he was a trustee of a company which improved navigation on the Appomattox River. Later, he became a charter trustee of the Junction Canal Company. In 1825 the company constructed a canal which linked the Appomattox and Little Roanoke rivers. John Wood's map of Prince Edward County shows Samuel's mill at the mid-point of this canal.

Nancy married Thomas Thompson c 1770. Thomas was born Abt 1749, Prince Edward Co., Virginia; died 1810, Logan Co., Kentucky. [Group Sheet]

Carter married Nancy Morton 7 Jan 1797, Prince Edward Co., Viriginia. Nancy was born Abt 1777, Prince Edward Co., Virginia. [Group Sheet]

James married Mary 'Polly' Terry. Mary (daughter of Patriot Nathaniel D. [Dickinson] Terry, Sr. and Sarah Anne Royall) was born 20 Sep 1767, Halifax County, Virginia; died 8 Aug 1848, Halifax County, Virginia. [Group Sheet]

Susannah married Royal Terry. Royal (son of Col. William Royall Terry and Susanna Thompson) was born 6 Sep 1788, Halifax County, Virginia; died 21 Oct 1873, Halifax County, Virginia. [Group Sheet]

James married Maria Agnes Bailey 3 May 1849, Brookneal, Virginia. Maria was born 1836, Campbell County, Virginia; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]