Carter Braxton
Among those who aided in forging this golden chain of Liberty was Carter Braxton, son of George Braxton, a wealthy planter who resided on the north bank of the Mattapony River, where he owned a large tract of valuable land situated in the county of King and Queen in Virginia. Carter Braxton was born on the 10th of September 1736.His father died when he was seven years of age. He attended the College of William and Mary. Braxton was married at nineteen to a wealthy lady, Judith Robinson. As a result, he entered into full possession of a large estate. Braxton spent three years in England, where his rank and fortune gave him access to the nobility. America. Although his relatives and friends were favorites of the King and everything around him was calculated to foster aristocracy and bind him to those in power, he became a bold opposer of British usurpations and a warm advocate of liberal principles and equal rights.
In 1760, he returned from Europe, was elected to the House of Burgesses, and became an active and prominent member. His knowledge of the intentions of the mother country to impose increasing burdens upon the Americans enabled him to understand every movement of the monarchical hirelings around him entirely. In 1765, he was in the House of Burgesses and was a warm supporter of the bold resolutions offered by Patrick Henry relative to the Stamp Act. He was in the House in 1769 when the proceedings of the members excited the ire of Gov. Bottetourt so highly that he dissolved them without ceremony. They immediately repaired to a private room in Williamsburg and solemnly agreed not to import any articles from the mother country until England restored their chartered rights. Being aware of the material he had to manage, the shrewd Governor lulled them into a quieter mood with the siren song of promises of redress. They had yet to learn that deceit is essential to political machinery. Still cherishing hopes that Parliament would restore their rights, they waited in respectful but watchful silence.
In 1771, Governor Bottetourt died and was succeeded by Lord Dunmore. Being fresh from the fountain of high notions and ministerial corruption, he dissolved the turbulent Assembly then in commission and issued his King's writ for a new election. Mr. Braxton was then the county sheriff and could not serve in the House.
On the 15th of December 1775, he was elected to the Continental Congress. He advocated, voted for, and signed the Declaration of Rights that formally dissolved the maternal ties that bound the pilgrim fathers in slavery. On his return from Congress the following year, Mr. Braxton took his seat in the first legislature of his state convened under the new form of government.
Carter Braxton died in Richmond, Virginia, on the 10th of October 1797.