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Author: Peachroot
Surnames:
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.carr/6013/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
The following is an excerpt from a newly published book, Thomas Jefferson - Roots of
Religious Freedom. It shows Jefferson's personal involvement with the Carrs as they
formed a vital part of the Revolution and the Jefferson legacy.
To find out more about the book, click on the website below.
Although Dabney Carr served in that prestigious assembly for a short time, he proved
himself to be a powerful orator, only second to Patrick Henry. Tom said Dabney "was
one of the earliest and most distinguished leaders in the opposition to British
tyranny." The new Royal Governor of Virginia was egotistical, haughty Lord Dunmore.
As was the custom, he had been sent by King George III from England to rule the colony. In
a rebellious tone against the Governor, on March 12, 1773, Dabney Carr introduced a
resolution to the House of Burgesses to create a Committee of Correspondence. The first
purpose was to provide an avenue for the colonies to keep in touch with each other to
unify their cause against tyranny and taxation. The second purpose was to find out what
the Parliament and the Crown was up to in England so that all colonies would be alerted of
actions that might negatively affect them. As the result of the passage of Dabney's
resolution, Lord Dunmore angrily dissolved!
the House and locked the burgesses out of their chambers.
Not to be stifled, Tom and Dabney met the next day at the Raleigh tavern with three other
burgesses - Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and his brother, Francis Lightfoot Lee.
Those four formed a nucleus of patriots who would lead the colonies to rebellion and
revolution. They methodically planned how they would communicate with the other colonies
through their standing Committee of Correspondence. That meeting was the predecessor of
the Continental Congress of 1774.
Sorry to say, the one who tenaciously fought for that resolution never would live to see
its results.
Tom's world was turned upside down when on May 16, 1773, he said goodbye to his bosom
buddy, 29-year old Dabney Carr. Dr. George Gilmer,Jr., Tom's physician had been
called to the bedside of Dabney as he was having violent vomiting spells with a high rate
of fever. Tom's soul mate had left the House of Burgesses heading home, but before he
got there, he died suddenly in Charlottesville. Tom had remained in Williamsburg on
business, only hearing of his dear friends passing days later.
Dabney Carr's body was first laid to rest at Shadwell until Tom could prepare a proper
burial ground for him at Monticello. Tom hired his pastor, Rev. Charles Clay, rector at
Saint Anne's Parish in Albemarle County, to officiate at the funeral. When it came
time for Tom to fulfill his sacred vow to Dabney to bury him on Tom's Mountain beneath
the great oak tree, Tom remembered him with the following inscription on his tombstone.
http://www.jeffersonreligiousfreedom.com/
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