Henry Cary Jr.

Henry Cary, Jr. (Mid to late 1600s – 18th century) was an American businessman and building contractor, active during the early 1700s. He was the father of Col. Archibald Cary.

Henry Cary, Jr.
Born	Mid to late 1600s Colonial Virginia
Died	18th century
Nationality	American
Occupation(s)	Businessman and Building contractor
Years active	ca. 1710 – 1730s
Known for	Ampthill St. John's Episcopal Church
Spouse(s)	Sarah Sclater (1st), Ann Edwards (2nd), Elizabeth (3rd)
Children	7, including Archibald Cary
Parent(s)	Henry Cary Sr. Judith Lockey

Biography

Henry Cary Jr. was born in Colonial Virginia around the mid to late 1600s, the son of Henry Cary Sr., also a businessman and building contractor, and his wife, Judith Lockey. There are few surviving records of his early life but it is likely that he learned about contracting through his father. Cary married three times and had seven children, three with his first wife Sarah Sclater and four with his second wife, Ann Edwards.

Construction

Cary became visibly active in construction after his father's retirement in 1710 and in December 1720 he was authorized to work on the Governor's Palace, in Williamsburg, Virginia, a project that his father had begun but was unable to complete. This was one of several jobs that Cary performed at Williamsburg and in 1726 he was hired to construct new gates for the Capitol.

He went on to oversee the construction of several buildings at the College of William & Mary (also in Williamsburg): a chapel wing (1729) and the President's House (1732), and Cary was also likely in charge of constructing the Brafferton building (1723).

Around 1733, Cary moved to the bank of the James River, where he built Ampthill, in Chesterfield County, Virginia, which served as the Cary family home for many generations.