George Carrington

George Carrington (March 15, 1711 – February 7, 1785), was a surveyor, merchant, planter and legislator in the Colony of Virginia, who supported independence. His 38-year service in the Virginia House of Burgesses and House of Delegates was only briefly interrupted. As one of Virginia’s most significant landholders, he became the patriarch of the influential Carrington family.^[1][2]

Carrington was born in Barbados to his parents, Dr. Paul Carrington and Henningham nee’ Codrington, in 1711. His father was a merchant and physician, who emigrated from Britain to St. Philip's Parish in Barbados about 1700. He is thought to have been lost at sea in 1716.^[1] Carrington’s mother died in 1744. Genealogists suggest her lineage with Simon Codrington, who in 1615 had been a shareholder of the Virginia Company. Also possible is her lineage with Robert Codrington, Simon's grandson, and as well John Codrington, Barbados' treasurer and colonel in the Life Guards.^[3]

Carrington likely had four or five of brothers who survived to adulthood, of whom John, Paul and Robert Carrington remained in Barbados with their mother. In 1723, he sailed with other kinsmen Joseph and William Mayo to the Virginia colony.^[2]

Carrington initially settled near future Richmond at the falls of the James River, and assisted shop owner Joseph Mayo. According to oral family tradition, he accompanied Joseph's brother William Mayo on the 1728 expedition to survey the boundary between the Virginia and North Carolina colonies. Joseph Mayo deeded land to Carrington in 1732 on the occasion of the latter’s wedding when he married William Mayo's daughter Margaret. Carrington journeyed west to patent that land in future Cumberland County – 5,600 acres that became his Boston Hill plantation on the James near present-day Cartersville. He later patented another 28,000 acres along that frontier in today’s Albemarle, Buckingham, and Goochland Counties.^[2] Carrington, William Mayo and William Cabell (1700-1774) soon became three of the largest landowners in southern Virginia, and developed plantations; they utilized enslaved labor, as in Barbados.

Carrington held offices in both Goochland and Cumberland counties, including justice of the peace, surveyor, sheriff and coroner.^[2] His statewide work in the House of Burgesses (part-time) began in 1746, when Goochland County voters elected him to replace William Randolph upon the latter’s death. After many re-elections, in the 1764 session, he resigned in order to accept the office of county sheriff, and Thomas Prosser replaced him. But fellow burgesses expelled Prosser, and Carrington again served until after his final term in 1766. ^[4] When Cumberland County was created, Carrrington served as president of the county's justices of the peace and as colonel in its militia.^[2]

From 1774 until 1776, Carrington helped organize and chaired the Cumberland County Committee of Safety. In 1775 he also became County Lieutenant, responsible for ordering out and supplying the militia.^[2] He represented the county in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1778 until 1781 and again in 1783, and served on committees for Courts of Justice, Claims, Propositions and Grievances, Privileges and Elections and Trade. He chaired the Committee for Religion.^[5] However, in the 1783 session, he declined an opportunity to substitute for the Speaker of the House.^[2][6]

Anne (Johanna) Mayo Carrington, the eldest daughter of William Mayo, bore eleven children during her marriage to Carrington, with few surviving to adulthood. Sons Paul, Edward and Mayo inherited much acreage and served many terms in the legislature. Paul Carrington became a justice on the new state's Supreme Court, and named a son after his father. George Carrington Jr. served in the Virginia General Assembly, and along with his father at the Virginia Ratifying Convention of 1788. The father voted in favor of the constitution, with the son opposing, for lack of a bill of rights.

Carrington died at Boston Hill on February 7, 1785, and his wife followed him eight days later.^[7] They were buried together in the family cemetery there. He died intestate, i.e. without completing his will, and son Paul, who otherwise would normally inherit everything as the eldest son, divided the property equitably among all the children. One estimate claimed the estate included about 32,000 acres and personal property worth more than 1,300 pounds sterling and 18 slaves.^[2] The sons served in the Virginia militia, and Edward had a distinguished career in the Continental Army before beginning his political career. He was a founding member of the Society of the Cincinnati. The Library of Virginia and The Virginia Historical Society hold family papers dating from 1756.^[8]