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Robert Carter luxuriated in Nomini Hall, a great colonial mansion in Westmoreland County. It was built between 1725 and 1732 of brick covered with strong mortar, which imparted a perfectly white exterior, and was seventy-six feet long and forty wide. The interior was one of unusual splendor for the time, such as only the very rich could afford.

At a ball given by Richard Lee, of Lee Hall, Westmoreland County, there were seventy guests, most of whom remained three days. Nomini Hall, the house of Robert Carter, is an excellent example of the residences of the wealthier planters during the middle of the 18th century.

Svmme praepotens Deus, immensae huius totius nostri mundi molis fabricator et Rector, qui solus perscrutaris intimos cordis nostri sensus, et ad fundum vsque nostrarum cogitationem explorando penetras, ac in eis, quid vere, et ex ammo cogitemus, et quae sint actionum nostrarum rationes, ac fundamenta, cognoscis: Tu, qui ea, quae in te est, ab omni aeternitate praescientia, vides, quod nec aliqua viciscendi malitiosa cupiditas, nec iniuriarum referendarum desiderium, nec sanguinis effundendi sitis, nec alicuius lucri, quaestusue auiditas ad istam classem praeparandam, et emittendam nos commouerit: sed potius, quod prouida quaedam cura, solersque vigilantia huc nos impulerit: ne vel inimicorum nostrorum neglectus, vel status nostri firmitaris nimium secura cogitatio, aut illis gloriam et honorem, aut nobis damnum et periculum pariat: Cum, inquam, haec sint nostri, quicquid attentatur, negotii fundamenta: cumque tu hunc nobis animum, mentemque inieceris, vt istud aggrederemur: curuatis genibus a te humillime petimus, vt velis hoc nostrum incoeptum secundissime fortunare, totum iter prosperrimis flatibus dirigere, celerem et expeditiam victoriam nobis concedere, reditumque talem nostris militibus elargiri, qualis et nomini tuo incrementum gloriae, et illis famae, laudisque triumphum, et Regno nostro firmam tranquillitatem possit apportare: idque cum minimo Anglorum sanguinis dispendio.

Fithian thus describes one of his classes held at Nomini Hall, "There were present of young misses about eleven, and seven young fellows, including myself. After breakfast, we all retired into the dancing room, and after the scholars had their lessons singly round Mr.

Then, recalling God's favor as shown to both Churches, the reply used those words which God's people have never forgotten to use in their joy and their prosperity and in reading them the voice of the venerable Bishop quivered with emotion "Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini Tuo da gloriam." The Rector of St.

All during the seventeenth century expansion tended to extend in a northerly direction within the Tidewater region, but in the eighteenth century the movement was to the west in search of virgin soil. Planters began moving beyond the Fall Line soon after the turn of the century. Robert Carter of Nomini Hall patented over 900 acres of land above the Falls in 1707.

The usual costume of both men and women at festivals or balls was handsome and stately. Joseph Lane, while visiting at Nomini Hall, was dressed in black superfine broadcloth, laced ruffles, black silk stockings and gold laced hat. Probably few even of the wealthiest aristocrats could approach in matters of dress Lord Fairfax.

Over this monument is the following epitaph: MICHAEL ANGELUS BONARROTIUS SCULPTOR PICTOR ARCHITECTUS MAXIMA ARTIFICUM FREQUENTIA IN HAC BASILICA SS. XII APOST. F.M.C. XI CAL. MART. A. MDLXIV ELATUS EST CLAM INDE FLORENTIAM TRANSLATUS ET IN TEMPLO S. CRUCIS EORUMD. F. V. ID. MART. EJUSD. A. CONDITUS TANTO NOMINI NULLUM PAR ELOGIUM

Carter, of Nomini Hall, had three waiting men for her coach; a driver, a coachman and a postillion. In the matter of dress there seems, from the earliest days, to have been a love of show and elegance. Inventories of the first half of the 17th century mention frequently wearing apparel that is surprisingly rich.

After quoting the witty saying of Malvezzi, "I vestimenti negli animali sono molto securi segni della loro natura, negli nomini del lor cervello," he goes on to say, "Be it excusable in the French to alter and impose the mode on others, 'tis no less a weakness and a shame in the rest of the world, who have no dependence on them, to admit them, at least to that degree of levity as to turn into all their shapes without discrimination; so as when the freak takes our Monsieurs to appear like so many farces or Jack Puddings on the stage, all the world should alter shape and play the pantomimes with them.