The Carlyle Household

Over the years, the Carlyle household grew dramatically. Carlyle had eleven children, seven with Sarah and four with his second wife, Sybil West. From letters to his brother George, we know that Carlyle felt strongly about his family.

The lifestyle of a Virginia gentleman and the running of a successful merchant business required a large amount of labor. Slaves, indentured servants and hired employees worked in both domestic and business capacities for John Carlyle and his family. Without the labor of these people, Carlyle could not maintain his gentry lifestyle.