Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-07-16
AMERICAS FAIRFAXES.

Interest In the family OF Fairfax has
been renewed recently by reports a. to
the intentions of Albert Kirby Fairfax
in regard to the title OF Baron Fairfax
of Cameron 10 the peersge of Scotland,
D which he has succeeded. Mr.. Fair.
fax is bank clerk in New York and
has settled some OF the rumors on the
subject by announcing that he does
not propose to assume the title.
The Fairfax family came from Dan.
tor, near Otley, on the banks of the
Wharfe In Yorkshire, The founder
was Sir Thomas Fairfax of Denton,
who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth.
His eldest son, Thomas Fairfax of Den
con and Nunappleton, was knigbted
for distinguished services before Rouen
in 1894, and was created Baron Fair
fax OF Cameron IN 1927. His grandson, +,
Phomss, third Baron, better known as
Sir Thomas Fairfax, was the celebrated
Commander-in-Ch Chief of the Parliament
ary forces in the war against King
Charles /. 1t was of him that Milton
wrote:
Fairfax, whose nsme in arms through Europe
rings
Filling each mouth with envy or with PRISE
He was born at Denton, January II,
1912. He died at NunappletoD, No
yember II, 1871. His name was on the
list OF judges appointed to try King
Charles, but he was not present at the
trial. When his name was called Lady
Fairfax announced from the gallery:
HE ia not such fool BE to be here"
and the president. Bradshaw, threaten.
ed to have the musketeers fire on the
gallery.
William Fairfax, sixth Baron, came to
this country shortly after the accession
of King George l., and settled at Bel.
voir, on the Potomac river, few miles
below Mount Vernon. His eldest
daughter, Anne, WAS married In July,
1743, to Laurence, half brother OF
George Washington. She went to live
with her husband at his estate. Mount
Vernon, which subsequently, fell to his
brother George. Baron William FaiI-
fax was an old soldier. and had served
in an expedition under Admiral YER
non, for whom Mount Vernon has been
oamed. 1t was largely through his
stories of adventure, by land and sea,
narrated at Belvoir and Mount Vernon,
that George Washington formed his de
sire OF entering the British navy, which
his mother thwsried.
Baron William had three sons, WI
liam, the seventh Baron, George w.
and Bryan. The sixth Baron was a
large owner Of land west Of the Blue
Ridge, in what is now Frederick county
and in 174S, George Washington, in
company with George w. Fairfax, was
employed in surveying those lands, rt :
ceiying as biz pay, according to Wash
ington Irving, the large sum Of a
donbloom, or $16 a day. Possibly he
had to psy his assistants out of this, as
1t would be fabulous compensation
for boy of 16.
In 1749 Lord Fairfax removed to
these surveyed lands, and built his
celebrated home called Greenway Court,
which continued to be the second home
OF George Washington until his mar
riaee. Lord Fairfax died in 1871, In
his ninety-seoond year, of grief st the
surrender of Lord CORVALLIS. 1t is said
that when he heard the news he called
his body servant and said: "Joe, carry
me to bed, for 1t Is high time for me to
die" The following lines are from
Weem's Life of Washington"
Then mp rose joe all AZ the word,
And took his III sster's arm,
And thus to bed he softly led
The lord Of Greenwsy farm.
Then oft he called on Britsin's namo,
And Oft be wept full sore
Then sighed 30 Lord, thy will be done,
And word spake never more.
George w. Fairfax died at Bath
Eagland, April 3, 1887, aged 62. He
retained his early friendship for Gen
Washington, and gave large sums o.
money during the Revolutionary wal
for the relief Of American prisoners in
England.
BRYAN Fairfax and Washington were
on terms of intimacy all their lives
BRYAN is recorded as having visited
Washington In 177S at Valley Forg'
and obtained from him a pass to visi
New York. He died at Belvoir IL
| 1902, aged 70.
Albert Kirby Fairfax, twelfth Baron
was born 10 1870 and is the son
John Contee Fairfax, NJ. d.. eleventh
Baron, who was born iD Maryland
September 13, 1880, and succeeded hi