John Carter (1613–January 10, 1670) was an English merchant who emigrated to the Virginia colony, where he speculated in land, established plantations using indentured and enslaved labor, and served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly. He founded the more famous branch of the Carter family of Virginia. The immigrant ancestor of the other branch, Thomas Carter of Barford plantation (d. 1700) may have been related since both came from the same English village, and while Thomas Carter initially settled in Northumberland County, both men eventually settled in Lancaster County.
