[1][2][3] Born into the First Families of Virginia, probably in Warwick county, his mother Sarah was the daughter of John Blair at the time president of the Governor's Council and also long associated with the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, the colony's capital.
[4] The next year he accepted the position of lieutenant colonel in the local militia, and in 1761 succeeded his father as naval officer for the lower district of the James River (a lucrative customs post).
[5] Cary resumed his legislative service during the American Revolutionary War, serving in the final revolutionary convention May 6-July 6, 1776 alongside Henry King, then King and Cary jointly represented Elizabeth City County in the first session of the Virginia House of Delegates that began on October 7, 1776.
[6] Then as Wythe became speaker of the House of Delegates, Cary began representing newly created Fluvanna County, and was re-elected along with Thomas Napier until 1778.
[7] After a year of no legislative service for Cary, Elizabeth City County voters elected him in 1780 as one of their delegates, but he was declared ineligible because of nonresidence.