Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian: A Plantation Tutor of the Old Dominion, 1773-1774.

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Fithian Philip Vickers. Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian: A Plantation Tutor of the Old Dominion, 1773-1774.

Preface

CHAPTER ONE. Virginia During The Golden Age

CHAPTER TWO. Philip Fithian And The Carter Family

JOURNAL & LETTERS. OF. Philip Vickers Fithian

APPENDIX [Catalogue of Library of Robert Carter Compiled by Philip Fithian.]

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In the "Golden Age," or half-century immediately preceding the American Revolution, a remarkable civilization reached its zenith in the broad coastal plain of eastern Virginia. Gradually, during a century of colonization and expansion, the heavily wooded tidewater had been converted into a land of settled order and accumulated wealth. Vast estates had been carved out of the wilderness and large plantations were everywhere the rule.

Embraced by numerous arms of the Chesapeake and covered by a network of wide rivers and creeks, this sylvan Venice abounded in safe and convenient water routes. Pressing through the mouths of the deep estuaries, the ocean tides reached the "fall-line," beyond which the streams were inaccessible to shipping owing to the rapids. Ocean vessels could penetrate to the plantations in every part of the lowlands and carry cargoes thence straight to the wharves of London and the outports. Despite the distance and rigors of the voyage, the colonists of the Tidewater had maintained a constant intercourse with the mother country from the time of their earliest settlement.

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Saturday 6.

Catechised in School til twelve – the Children. And dismiss'd them. Afternoon rode with Ben Carter to the Bank of Potowmack[68]– 8 Miles – Returned in the evening – Expence Ferriage 1/.

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