Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-10

orS, George Washington and George
VIM. Fairfax, from the Potomac 10
the Shenandoah Valley made March
11i7
NO. IL.
One spring morning, early in the
month of March, 1747, two young men
might have been seen standing at the
gates of "Old Belvoir," the elegant
home OF the Hon. Wm. Fairfax, on the
Virginia shore of the Potomac riv n
two miles below Mount Vernon, which
was then the residence of Major Law
renee Washington, son of Aegustine'
and half brother of George Washing
ton, of ever honored memory, not yet
seventeen years of age, though already
of manly stature and possessing mus b
of manly bearing and dignity. Tue
other was Geoig, William Fairfax, son
of the Belvoir proprietor, aud older by
six years than his companion. The
former after having completed his
school education under the limited tu
ition of schoolmasters Hobby and Will
Iiams in the connty of Westmorelsnd, /,
Virginia, had come up from the low
lands short time before TO make his
b, m, temporarily with his brother
Lawrence, until he could fod some W.
cation suited to the DRIFT of hi, inchua
tions 1t was here that the two hsd
first met and commenced an acquainI-
ance which was very soon to ripen into
confidential friendship and ultimately
into brotherly attachment and at1ec
ton which no circumstances of their
after lives were sufficient TO change
The inclinations of both Of these your :,
men were much the same. lategrity
of purpose aud action was the basis OF
both their natures and characters. Both
were quick Of perception and eager 10
supplement the school rudiments wide
and varied experiences in the greater
and more thorough school of the world
Both were fond Of opportunities for aG-
venture, which, at that early time in
che history of the colonies, were
everywhere opening before them
They were both physically sturdy
and capable of great endurance aud
hardships. They had been receiving
more advanced instruction together in
the art and mystery of trigonometry or
land surveying, both Theoretical and
practical, from Lawrence Washington,
who had received thorough course of
Instruction in Old England; for
the most promising field OF en-
nIovment then opening for a young
man of energy and talent was
the laying of of plantations in the wi
derness territory of the colony. And
uow they were about to start together
on an expedition over the Blue Ridge
mountains to the valley of the Shenan-
doah river, then almost terra iDcog
nita and the home Of wild beasts and
prowlipg Indians. Their way was to
lead them through the primitive forests
and iungles-a way that was little BET
ter fJr travelling than the fores t bridal
paths. For guidance in their course
they had only their compass and the
blszipgs of the axe on the great tree
trunks made by the earliest pioneers
after the coming of Captain John
Smith in 1905. In all the region through
which they were to pass, pain wagon
roads or highways were then almost uh-
known, and only at long intervals was
there to be seen a human habitation.
or other sign OF civilized life.
This was the forbidding prospect be-
fore the young adventures, but their
determination and tact we're equal to
emergency. Their horses were sad
died and waiting at the gates-their
equipments packed aud strapped to
their saddles and they had only TO say
their adieus to the anxious reg -etiul
group of kinsfolk and friends OF the
ueighborhood who had gathere d to give
them cheer and parting bl -ssines.
Thomas Fairfax, Sixth Lord and
Baron of Cameron, born in England in
1851. had inherited his mothers extern
sive landed estate known as the
'.Northern Neck of Virginia." lying be-
tween the Rsppahannock and Potomac
rivers and their mountain branches,
and comprising a great por-
ton of the Shenandoah valley
His possessions in this valley had new
er been regularly settled nor surveyor.
Lswless int:uders, squstters as they
we're called, were planting themselves
along the finest streams and in the rich
est valleys and virtually taking posses
sion of the whole country. 1t was the
anxious desire of Lord Fairfax to have
these lands examined, surveyed ana
nortioned out into lots or parcels, pre-
parstory to ejecting the interlopers, or
bringing them 20 satisfactory terms:
He had come over to Virginia ln ii4o 40
and since had been passing most OF nis
time with his cousin, William Fa'riaH, 81
Belyoir, who had some time pIevlously, ,
onened a land Office for the sale OF MS
lands to the incoming settlers. here
he made the acquaintance OF the Two
Young men by whose abilities ana Guar
&C, eristics he was so favoraoly impress
ed that he employed them as surveyors, =
For George William he obtainsu
q minis ,ion as laod surveyor from tne
g,slature of Virginia, and washington
W 8 to accompany him and assist MIN