Bryan Fairfax, 8th Lord Fairfax of Cameron

The Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Born 1736
Died 1802
Mount Eagle, Virginia
Nationality United States
Occupation Clergy
Known for Neighbor of George Washington

Bryan Fairfax, 8th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1736–1802) was a lifelong friend of George Washington and became the first American-born holder of a British peerage.

Biography

Bryan Fairfax was the son of Col. William Fairfax (1691–1757) of Belvoir and Deborah Clarke (1707–1747).

Bryan Fairfax lived at Belvoir, as a young man, with father Col. William Fairfax, business agent for his cousin, Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. William's son, George William and Sally Fairfax also lived there, and were close neighbors to George Washington's Mount Vernon. George Washington as a young man, with his brother Lawrence Washington, visited the Fairfax family at Belvoir often; Lord Fairfax employed Washington to join a surveying team of his western lands, in the valley of Virginia.[1]

In 1754, Bryan Fairfax clerked for his brother-in-law, John Carlyle, in Alexandria, Virginia, and was appointed as a deputy clerk for Fairfax County.[2]

Bryan Fairfax served as a lieutenant in George Washington's militia regiment, in George Mercer's company early in the French and Indian War, but he resigned his commission in 1756.[2]

After a whirlwind social scene in Westmoreland and Essex County, John Carlyle, caught up with him in the Annapolis gaol, and brought him back to Belvoir, in 1757.[3]

Bryan Fairfax married Elizabeth Cary, sister of Sally Cary Fairfax, in 1759.[2] They had three children: William, (died in infancy), Thomas (1762–1846), and Ferdinando (1766–1820).[4] George Washington and Martha Washington traveled to Towlston Grange to stand as godparents for Fedinando.[5]

Brian Fairfax lived at Greenhill (Accotink Creek and Back Road, now Telegraph Road) from 1760 - 1765. He then lived at Towlston Grange (Difficult Run and Leesburg Pike, now Route 7) from 1768 - 1790, and finally at Mount Eagle until his death.

Bryan Fairfax served as a justice for Fairfax County at the same time as Washington. He was an avid foxhunter, and he and Washington often rode together.

Land transactions

In 1740 he was deeded 3,400 acres (14 km2), and 1741 was deeded 232 acres (0.94 km2), at Little Run or Hunger Run.[6]

As a large landowner, Bryan Fairfax was active leasing out his property to smaller farmers such as Perrygreen Mackness.[7]

He was given Towlston Grange with 5,500 acres (22 km2), in his father's will.[8]

In 1772, he deeded a 600-acre (2.4 km2) farm, Chattins Run, on Goose Creek, in Fauquier County, Virginia to Washington to repay a debt.[9][10]

On May 16, 1773, Bryan Fairfax deeded Towlston Grange to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband, David Griffith.[11]

Revolutionary War

When the Fairfax Resolves were debated in 1774, Bryan Fairfax corresponded with George Washington, the chairman of the committee considering the Resolves.

Fairfax was torn over the question of American independence during the American Revolutionary War. On his own in 1777, he tried to travel to England. He was arrested in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for refusing to sign a loyalty oath. However, he wrote to his good friend, George Washington, who sent him a pass to travel between the lines. In New York, British officials also required a loyalty oath, to board ship, which he refused to take. With his attempt thwarted, on his return trip home, he visited Washington, at Valley Forge.[12]

After the war

Bryan Fairfax later married Jennie Dennison. With her, he had two daughters.[13]

He had long considered a religious life, and he was ordained priest in the Episcopal Church in 1789, serving as rector of Christ Church from 1790 to 1792.

He moved to Mount Eagle (plantation), (south of Hunting Creek, and Alexandria), where he lived from 1790 until his death.

In 1790, he built Ash Grove (plantation), on Leesburg Pike, (2 miles west of Tysons Corner), for his son, Thomas Fairfax. It was sold to James Sherman in 1850.

When the Seventh Lord Fairfax died in 1793, Bryan Fairfax initially ignored the title. However, while in England in 1798 on other business, he presented the necessary proofs to the House of Lords to claim the title.

George Washington’s last meal away from Mount Vernon, on December 7, 1799 was with Bryan Fairfax at Mount Eagle.;[2] Bryan Fairfax was among the last guests at Mount Vernon, on December 11, 1799, before Washington died.[14] He was one of the principal mourners at Washington’s funeral,[15] and Washington left him a bible in his will.[16][17]

In 1800, after he had returned to Virginia, the peerage was adjudged, and he became the Eighth Lord Fairfax. Bryan Fairfax died in 1802. His widow sued his executor, but the Supreme Court found for the executor in 1809.[18] His son Thomas became the 9th Lord Fairfax of Cameron.

Correspondence with Washington

When the Fairfax Resolves were debated in 1774, Bryan Fairfax sent letters to George Washington, the chairman of the committee considering the Resolves, giving reasons why they should not be adopted:

For I think myself bound to oppose violent measures now. The entering upon a Plan of having no Trade would be an arduous undertaking. I mean if persisted in, and if once entered upon it ought to be strictly kept. I therefore think it would be more proper to try first what Effect a petition might have toward obtaining a repeal of the Duty.[19]

However, Washington responded:

As to your political sentiments, I would heartily join you in them, so far as relates to a humble and dutiful petition to the throne, provided there was the most distant hope of success. But have we not tried this already? Have we not addressed the Lords, and remonstrated to the Commons? And to what end? Did they deign to look at our petitions? Does it not appear, as clear as the sun in its meridan brightness, that there is a regular, systematic plan formed to fix the right & practise of taxation upon us?[20][21]

But he added:

That I differ very widely from you, in respect to the mode of obtaining a repeal of the Acts so much, & so justly complaind of, I shall not hesitate to acknowledge; & that this difference in opinion may, probably, proceed from the different Construction's we put upon the Conduct, & Intention of the Ministry, may also be true; But as I see nothing on the one hand, to induce a belief that the Parliament would embrace a favourable opportunity of Repealing Acts which they go on with great rapidity to pass, in order to enforce their Tyrannical System; and on the other, observe, or think I observe, that Government is pursuing a regular Plan at the expence of Law & justice, to overthrow our Constitutional Rights & liberties, how can I expect any redress from a Measure which hath been ineffectually tryd already--For Sir what is it we are contending against? Is it against paying the duty of 3d. pr lb. on Tea because burthensome? No, it is the Right only, we have all along disputed, & to this end we have already Petitiond his Majesty in as humble, & dutiful a manner as Subjects could do;...
I cannot conclude without expressing some concern that I should differ so widely in Sentiments from you in a matter of such great Moment & general Import; & should much distrust my own judgement upon the occasion, if my Nature did not recoil at the thought of Submitting to Measures which I think Subversive of every thing that I ought to hold dear and valuable - and did I not find, at the same time, that the voice of Mankind is with me.[22][23]

Byran Fairfax respectfully disagreed:

There is a new opinion now lately advanced in Virginia that the Parliament have no right to make any or scarce any Laws binding on the Colonies. It has given me much Uneasiness. For altho' I wish as much as any one that we were legally exempted from it, yet I hold it clearly that we ought to abide by our Constitution. The common Consent and Acquiescence in the Colonies for such a Length of time is to me a clear Proof of their having a Right. And altho' it is said that it has only been exercised in Matters of Trade, it will be found to be a Mistake.[24]

Later during September, 1777, Bryan Fairfax was detained in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. However, he wrote to his good friend, George Washington, who sent him a pass to travel between the lines:

For the past two years I have had a strong Desire to enter into Holy Orders than ever I had before tho' frequently in my Life have had the same, yet generally suffered worldly considerations to interfere. This Desire and the not finding myself at Liberty to concur in the Public measures make me very anxious to get to England, and I have been in Hopes of obtaining a Pass from the Congress to go to N: York for that Purpose. There has appeared to me but one Objection, and that is, the giving of Intelligence, but I would not only enter into Engagements in that respect if required but it may [be] considered that what I might say would be of little Consequence, but if of any would raher be in Favour of America because I really think that it would be the Interest of Great Britain to let her enjoy her Independance, for if successful in this Struggle which is very doubtful it might all be to do over again at another Time.
I intended to have seen Your Excellency before I left the warm Springs the last of August where Colo. Lewis, Your Brother & Mr. W. Washington and to have brought my Son Tommy with me, when I came home I found they had put him on the Militia Roll and draught him tho' under the Age required and therefore I had him excused. He is now with me, and I intended to have taken him with me, choosing to superintend his education.
...And if Your Excellency can give me a Pass that I may come & see You, I shall be very glad to do it whether I succeed in the other matter or not for You are often in my Mind & I have often sympathised with Yr. Ex. in regard to the great & laborious Undertaking You are engaged in...[25]

Washington wrote him:

The difference in our political Sentiments never made any change in my friendship for you, and the favorable Sentiments I ever entertained of your hon'r, leaves me without a doubt that you would say any thing, or do any thing injurious to the cause we are engaged in after having pledged your word to the contrary. I therefore give my consent readily...[26]

See also

Lord Fairfax of Cameron

External links

References

  1. ↑ "The Fairfaxes And George Washington". pbs.org.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Grizzard, Frank E. (May 2005). "George! a Guide to All Things Washington". Mariner Companies, Inc: 460. ISBN 0-9768238-0-2.
  3. ↑ Frank E. Grizzard (2002). George Washington. ABC-CLIO. pp. 99–102. ISBN 978-1-57607-082-6.
  4. ↑ du Bellet, Louise Pecquet (1907). "Some Prominent Virginia Families". Bell company.
  5. ↑ Great Falls Historical Society (January 2009). "The Fascinating Story of Towlston Grange". Great Falls Historical Society. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
  6. ↑ http://www.directlinesoftware.com/Pool/nova.txt
  7. ↑ http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/circuit/bryan_fairfax.htm
  8. ↑ http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/COURTS/CIRCUIT/william_fairfax.htm
  9. ↑ The Diaries of George Washington. Vol. 3., p. 110, May 27 and 29, 1772, Donald Jackson, ed.; Dorothy Twohig, assoc. ed. The Papers of George Washington. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1978.
  10. ↑ Cartmell, Thomas Kemp (1909). Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants. Eddy Press Corp. p. 587.
  11. ↑ Fairfax County Deed Book-W, pp. 355-357
  12. ↑ Irving, Washington (1876). "Life of George Washington". Putnam: 790.
  13. ↑ Virginia Reports: Jefferson--33 Grattan, 1730-1880, Benjamin Watkins Leigh, p. 298, Michie Company, 1902
  14. ↑ "Mount Vernon – The Year 1799". oldandsold.com.
  15. ↑ http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/project/exhibit/mourning/lear.html
  16. ↑ http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/will/index.html
  17. ↑ http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/will/text.html
  18. ↑ "Fairfax's Executor v. Fairfax (9 U.S. 19 (1809))". Justia Law.
  19. ↑ p.129, Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, Volume 10, University of Virginia Press, 1995, Charlottesville, Virginia ISBN 978-0-8139-1550-0
  20. ↑ p.109, Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, Volume 10, University of Virginia Press, 1995, Charlottesville, Virginia ISBN 978-0-8139-1550-0
  21. ↑ George Washington letter to Bryan Fairfax, 4 July 1774, familytales
  22. ↑ p.131, Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, Volume 10, University of Virginia Press, 1995, Charlottesville, Virginia ISBN 978-0-8139-1550-0
  23. ↑ http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/revolution/letters/bfairfax2.html
  24. ↑ "Teacher Resources". loc.gov. Library of Congress.
  25. ↑ p.280-1, Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Volume 11, University of Virginia Press, 2001 Charlottesville, Virginia ISBN 0-8139-2026-4
  26. ↑ p.310, Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Volume 11, University of Virginia Press, 2001 Charlottesville, Virginia ISBN 0-8139-2026-4
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by
Robert Fairfax		 Lord Fairfax of Cameron
1793 - 1802 		Succeeded by
Thomas Fairfax
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