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Peter Jacob Carter

Member From: 1871 - 1879

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  • Birth Date: May 29, 1845 Birth Place:Eastville, Northampton County, Virginia
  • Death Date: July 19, 1886
  • Gender: Male Race: African American
  • Spouse: Georgianna Mapp (m. 1873; d. 1882); Maggie Treherne (m. 1884)
  • Children: 4+
  • Religion:
  • Education: Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (Hampton University)
  • Military Service: Escaped from slavery during the American Civil War and enlisted on October 30, 1863, in Company B of the 10th Regiment United States Colored Infantry. He mustered out on May 17, 1866.
  • Occupation/Profession: Merchant and Justice of the Peace
  • Additional Info Links: Bio from Encyclopedia Virginia
    Bio from Virginia's Martin Luther King Jr. Commission
  • Bio: Goodman Brown represented Prince George and Surry counties in the House of Delegates. He came from a free, property-owning African American family. During the American Civil War (1861–1865), Brown served in the U.S. Navy as a cabin boy aboard the USS Maratanza. In the 1870s he became involved in politics and later was an ally of Readjuster leader William Mahone. As chairman of the Surry County Readjuster Committee, Brown used his relationship with Mahone to seek patronage positions for local men. When the Readjuster Party ceased to exist, Brown followed Mahone into the Republican Party. Winning the party’s nomination for the local House of Delegates seat in 1887, he soundly defeated his Democratic opponent in the general election. Although he did not seek reelection in 1889, Brown remained one of Surry County’s most important African American citizens.

  • Other Notable Service and/or Elected Offices: Doorkeeper of the Senate of Virginia - 1881 - 1882
    Rector -  Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute (Virginia State University)
Session District District Number Party Leadership Committees
1871-1873 Northampton Republican Agriculture and Mining
Claims Committee (Dates Unknown)
Militia and Police Committee (Dates Unknown)
Retrenchment and Economy
1874-1875 Northampton Republican Agriculture and Mining
Claims Committee (Dates Unknown)
Militia and Police Committee (Dates Unknown)
Retrenchment and Economy
1875-1877 Northampton Republican Agriculture and Mining
Claims Committee (Dates Unknown)
Militia and Police Committee (Dates Unknown)
Retrenchment and Economy Committee
1877-1879 Northampton Republican Agriculture and Mining Committee (Dates Unknown)
Claims
Militia and Police Committee
Retrenchment and Economy Committee (Dates Unknown)

*The information within this interactive and searchable application has been researched extensively by the House Clerk’s Office. As with any historical records of this age and breadth, there may be discrepancies and/or inconsistencies within records obtained from a variety of credible sources. Any feedback is encouraged at history@house.virginia.gov.

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