1771 VA Land Sale Mordecai Redd George Carter Estate, Fielding Lewis, Washington For Sale

Rare 1771 Colonial Virginia Land Agreement Signed by Revolutionary War Officer Mordecai Redd
Connected to the Carter Estate Administered by Trustees Fielding Lewis and George Washington

Offered here is a remarkable 1771 manuscript agreement signed by Mordecai Redd, documenting his commitment to purchase 827 acres of land belonging to the estate of George Carter, Esq.

The land referenced in this document formed part of the vast Carter estate lands in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, in what is today Clarke County near the historic crossroads of White Post and the village of Boyce.

Following the death of George Carter, the Virginia legislature authorized trustees to oversee the administration and sale of his extensive landholdings. Among the trustees appointed to manage the estate were Fielding Lewis, Robert Burwell, and George Washington, all prominent members of Virginia\'s colonial elite.

The document records Mordecai Redd’s agreement to pay £280 for a tract containing 827 acres, with payment to be made within twelve months with interest.

Land sales such as this were part of the broader opening of the Shenandoah Valley frontier, where large estates were subdivided and sold to settlers and investors in the decades leading up to the American Revolution.

To illustrate the historical location of the property, modern map overlays have been created using satellite imagery and Google Earth, placing the approximate location of the tract between White Post and Boyce in Clarke County, Virginia within the agricultural corridor bordering Opequon Creek and the Shenandoah River.

These visual overlays help connect the eighteenth century land description with the modern landscape and demonstrate where this historic property lies today.

\"I do hereby agree to give Two Hundred & Eighty Pounds to be paid to the Trustee for selling the land belonging to the Est. of George Carter Esq. dec\'d for a tract of land bought from Fielding Lewis belonging to the Est. of George Carter containing by the Plott Eight hundred & Twenty seven Acres be the same more or less. The said money to be paid as soon as convenient and not to exceed a Twelvemonth from the date hereof with interest from this Day given under my Hand this 28 Sept 1771.\"

Mordecai Redd

The land referenced in this agreement formed part of the large Shenandoah Valley holdings of George Carter, a member of one of colonial Virginia\'s most influential families.

After Carter\'s death, his estate contained thousands of acres across what are now Frederick and Clarke Counties in Virginia. Due to the size and complexity of the estate, trustees were appointed to manage and sell the property in order to settle the estate and distribute its proceeds.

Among the trustees responsible for the sale of these lands were George Washington, Fielding Lewis, and Robert Burwell.

Large parcels of the Carter estate were gradually sold throughout the 1770s to settlers and land investors moving into the Shenandoah Valley.

The 827 acre tract purchased by Mordecai Redd was part of this process. Shortly after acquiring the land, Redd subdivided portions of the property and sold them to other settlers including James Williams and John Shearman Woodcock, helping establish the early agricultural landscape of the region.

Today the area remains largely rural farmland in Clarke County, Virginia, preserving much of the historic Shenandoah Valley landscape that these early land transactions helped create.

Mordecai Redd was born around 1735 in King and Queen County, Virginia, the son of Thomas Redd Jr. and Elizabeth Barbee. He married Agatha Minor in 1762 and became involved in the acquisition and development of lands in the Shenandoah Valley.

In 1772 he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Frederick County militia, placing him among the colonial officers active during the Revolutionary War period.

Redd participated in several land transactions in western Virginia before later migrating to Woodford County, Kentucky, where he continued acquiring property. He died there in 1807, leaving descendants who became established in both Virginia and Kentucky.

George Carter was a member of the powerful Carter family of Virginia, descendants of the famed colonial land magnate Robert \"King\" Carter. The Carter family controlled enormous tracts of land across colonial Virginia and played a major role in the colony\'s economic and political life.

At the time of George Carter\'s death, his estate included extensive lands in the Shenandoah Valley that required formal administration and sale by appointed trustees.

Fielding Lewis was a prominent merchant and planter of Fredericksburg, Virginia. He married Betty Washington Lewis, the sister of George Washington, making him Washington’s brother in law.

During the American Revolution, Lewis operated a large arms manufactory in Fredericksburg, supplying muskets and equipment for the Continental Army. He was also involved in numerous business ventures and land transactions throughout colonial Virginia.

George Washington was one of the most prominent figures in early American history. Before becoming Commander in Chief of the Continental Army and the first President of the United States, he was a surveyor, land speculator, and planter in Virginia.

Washington was frequently appointed to administer estates and oversee land sales due to his reputation for integrity and his expertise in surveying and land management. His role as a trustee of the Carter estate placed him directly in charge of supervising the sale of lands such as the tract referenced in this document.

Robert Burwell was a member of the influential Burwell family of Virginia, a family that held prominent positions in colonial politics and landholding. Like Washington and Lewis, Burwell served as a trustee responsible for managing and selling portions of the Carter estate lands in the Shenandoah Valley.

Date
September 28, 1771

Signer
Mordecai Redd

Subject
Agreement to purchase 827 acres from the George Carter estate

Purchase Price
£280

Region
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Present day Clarke County near White Post and Boyce

The document remains well preserved for its age with clear handwriting and signature. Normal age toning and fold lines consistent with eighteenth century manuscripts.

This document represents an early land transaction tied to the opening of the Shenandoah Valley frontier and is directly associated with the administration of the Carter estate by trustees including Fielding Lewis and George Washington.

Such documents provide valuable insight into the land development, settlement, and economic expansion of colonial Virginia during the years immediately preceding the American Revolution.