Carter Braxton (1736-1797)
Signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence
He was born Newington, Virginia, on the Mattaponi River. After his extravagant elder brother died in 1761 he inherited the family estate that was by then encumbered with significant debt. After disposing of land to satisfy his creditors - including Elsing Green - he moved to Chericoke Plantation as the owner of 12,000-acres and 165-slaves and engaged in large-scale tobacco planting and the transatlantic tobacco trade. He served as a Burgess in Virginia's General Assembly, attended the Revolutionary Convention, and was a Signer of the Declaration of Independence. He loaned £10,000 to support the revolution and invested heavily in shipping and privateering, but lost much of his fortune when his ships were either sunk or captured by the British and he retired to Richmond. He had 2-children by his first wife and 16-children by his second wife.
