Correspondence between Ralph A. Pugh and John R. Barden, 1991, page 1

P.O. Box 1234
New Bern, N.C. 28563
December 13, 1991

Mr. Ralph A. Pugh
Chicago Historical Society
Clark Street at North Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614

Dear Mr. Pugh:

Thanks for the three photocopies of additional Carter-
related documents from Chicago Historical Society collec-
tions, also the information on Mr. Gunther,
interesting gentlemen, to say the least.

In concur in your theory as to the origin of the
Metcalfe Family papers. The Metcalde tract, located on the
Nomony River, was purchased by Roberty "King" Carter in 1710.
"King" Carter worked the land as a plantation, but in 1760
his grandson Robert Carter III divided it into at least five
parcels and leased it to tenants. References to tenants and
improvements on these tracts appear frequently in Carter's
correspondence between 1760 and 1798, when he conveyed the
land to his son-in-law Spencer Ball as part of the division
of his Virginia estate.

I refer you to the following sources regarding the
early history of the Metcalfe Tract: Gertrude E. Gray, Virginia
Northern Neck Land Grants, 1694-1742 (Baltimore:
Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988), p.89 entry B-64; a
letter from Gilbert Metcalfe to Richard Metcalfe, dated
9/25/1685, Robert Carter Papers, Library of Congress; and a
promissory note from Robert Carter to Gilbert Metcalfe,
dated 2/10/1709|10, Robert Carter Papers, Swedenborg School
of Religion (Newton, Mass.).

Eventually, it may help my analysis of Carter's land-
holdings to get copies of the Metcalfe Family papers as
well, but I don't see an immediate need for them. Thanks
for the catalog printout, however.

Best regards during this holiday season.

Sincerely yours,
[Signature]
John R. Barden