Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-06-08
AnilaiS OF decentralization Series.
By VIM. +. CARNE.
Chapter V--1ho Mon who Planned Alex
QDdrip

Chapter V-~1ho Mon who Planned Alex
andris.
Hugh West WAS interchangeable Ill urging tor
ward his scheme for "a town, anu be at hrst
awakened sn interest OH the part OF several
BcIhaven traders in the project. John Alex
auAcr was easily won to the plan and became
one Of its frat supporters. Philip Alexander
consent 10 the chcme was cot cordial. lie had
seen too many plans for towns on the Potomac
fail, to be slreuinc. The favor, and indeed,
the sc!isc interest of the leading gentry was
most important. The Fairfax Influence was
omnipotent and its support essential. But the
AIcXandcrS, CT whom West was one, had de-
tcrmined that the namo of the town should be
ALEXANDRIA, and to display such devotion to
the family that might in England, have been
termed the Lords Of Manor, as would attract
their Influence, Hugh West arranged the first
rough draft Of tho new town. 10 honor OF
ThomaI, Lord Fairfax, Baron Of Cameron, he
made CAMERON its central street on one line,
and FAIRFAX on another. 1t was this plan
which was first submitted to Col. VIM. Fair.
lax, the county chief, aud his warm support
was speedily enlisted; his son, Geo. VIM. Fair
| lax, and his sons In. law, Lawrence Washington
aud John Carlyle, joined in the scheme, and it
was agreed that the plan should be sent to the
General Assembly at Williamsburg, under the
patronage Of the Baron, Thomas, Lord Fair.
fax Col. VIM. Fairfax, Geo. W. Fairfax,
Lnwrcrc, Washington, John Carlyle, John
Alexander Gerard Alexander, Philip Alex
ander, Hugh West. VIM. Ramsay, Richard
Osborne and John Pagan, were selected to be
with him, the trustees Tor laying out and gov.
crning the new town.
ThomnS LoM Elitdr, was the fifth Baron
OF Cameron, with Scottish harony. but tami
ly estate at Denton Hail, in England lie was
educated at Oxford, and on coming from the
University, foutd the estates, which had come
into his family from the Cupeper family, much
incumbered To crafty the Dowager, Lady
Cupcpcr, he sold Denton Hall to procure the
means of relieving the estate from its cmbar
rassmcnts This sale, to which he was over:
persuaded, caused HIM fo long regret, and
was one Of the causes, the other Is said to have
| been disappoint ment 10 love, which led him
to make his home on his Virginia estates. lie
came first to Virginia in 1889, and visited his
cousin and agent, COL VIM. Fairfax, who then
lived in Westmoreland. 10 l74l he returned
to England TO be present at the wedding OF
his brother Robert, and On his arrival back 10
l74G Just as the plan for Alexandria was on
foot, found VIM. Fairfax, at his new home,
Bclvoir, on The Potomac, and made his home
there, and 10 Williamsburg. until be took up his
residence 10 Grcenway Court, beyond the noun
tains, some six years later. lie met Young
Virginia surveyor at Relvolr, aud gave him
his first lucrative engagement, promising hun
doubloon day to survey his estate beyond
the mountains. After he had been loog settled
beyond the mountains, the news came that
Lord Cornwalis had capituated to the young
surveyor. lie called out to his black valet
Come Joe carry mo to bed it is high time
for me to die.
Then up rose Joe, all at word,
And took bis masters arm,
And to his bed he softly led,
The Lord of Grccnway farm
| COL VIM. Eurfrs, of Belvoir (Goo vicw,)
which was the social, as Bclhaven, Zinc port,)
was the commercial, capital Of the county, was
the admitted lcadog man Of the ncighborhood.
His life, up to the time when he became county
lieutenant of Fairfax, WAS sketcbed 10 the
preceding chapter. After he built BelVolr he
planted tobacco, hunted, received bis Malesty's
customs dues, and the quit rents OF Lord FAR
fax's estate, and enjoyed himself as became a
gentleman Of his day. Tho children bornto him
at Belvoir were Bryan Fairfax, afterwards
leading clergyman; William, who died young
at Quebec, and Hannah, who married Warner
| Washington, q cousin OF He0. Washington
COL Fairfax, died in 1857.
Gro. William FdWjdr. sou Of Col. VIM.
Fairfax, was born in the West Iodics, and came
to mans estate at Btlv0ir. He was an especial
friend of Washington 10 his carly lie, and rep.
resented Fairfax county in the House OF Bur
gcssca for many years. 1t was on his account
that during the election OF l154 when he was
opposed by Col. Ely, Washington engaged 10
the acrimonious controversy with MIR. Payne 10
! the market square Of Alexandria. which closed
with what newspapers nowadays would call per
sonal rcncountcr He favored the first protests
against the unconstitutional acts by which Parll.
ament sought to bind the colonies: but dlsc0u1tc
nanccd all measures looking to torciblc resistance
| Mr.. Fairfax lett Alexandria Tor England 10 re
! latiOn To his estate there in l7I3, and passed
on his arrival out the ships which brought the
tea to America. During the ten years which
followed his estates 10 Virginia, near Alexandria,
we're scouestcred by Hector Ross, the esohealor
for Fairfax county, and receiving nothing from
them hs circumstances became sraitencd.-
| This induced him TO remove out OF ! orkshlrc,
to lay down his CARRIAGES, nc, and retire to
Bath. lie cultailcd his expenses so much
within his income that ho was able to send
| large sums to the government agent tor the use
and benefit Of American prisoners. lie died at
Bath in 1851, and is buried at Wrothlestcr
Church. in Somerset. lie bequeathed his VIr.
GINA estate TO Ferdinando, son Of Rev. Bryan
| Fairfax.
laurence Washington, the eldest sen Of Au
gustinc Washington by his first wife, as George
was his eldest by his second, founded tho estate
at Mount Vernon in l743. He had been cap
tain 10 the regiment Of 400 Virglnians that had
been raised by the chivaric Spotswood for ser
vice against tho Spaniards, but which after
| Spotswoods untimely death at Annapolis had
fallen to the command OF Gov Gooch. lie was
in the hottest Of the unsuccessful fight at Car
thagena, but was not injured. Soon alter his
| return he married Anne Fairfax, Of BcIvoir,
and made his homo at Mount Vernon. lie
embarked 10 land speculation in tho wild lands
beyond the Allcghanies, and for some years DO.
fore his death was the principal American man
ager Of "Tho Ohio Company" of which MIR.
| Ilanbury was the manager 10 London. lie