Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-22

Clerk OF county court at Fairfsxs -.
who lived IN the county between these
dates are received by Mr.. Richardson.
but he Is unable to give the desired data.
Other Wills on file at the courthouse
rod Washington. Edward Washington.
Lund Washington. John Augustine Wash
ington, William and Lord Bryan Fair
fax. the Lees. the Johnstons and tho
Many quaint orders and records OF the
old district court are shown in the old
minute books Under date Of May ~;
l7eo. the following report Of the grand
I'VE present George William Fairfax
George Washington, John Caryie. Daniei
French. Robert Bogges. Catespy COCK
Towsend Dade, Sybill West: Gerrar"
Alexander Jemima Minor. William Ram
say, Benjamin Grayson. George Mason
John Plummer, Daniel Mccarty ana
Abraham Barnes Tor not enterins tne,.
wheel carriages agreeabiy to law as II
appears to US by the list delivered to the
clerk of the county.
From this it would appear that these
men, including the Judge and clerk o,
the court, the first President OF the
United States, the author OF the virginia
bill Of rights and others of the countys
most noted men were what would be
known today as tax dodgers"
In those days the court fixed the rates
to be charged for public entertainment
including drinks of every kind. by the
innkeepers. In the court records is set
forth the fact that these rates had to be
posted on the door Of every inn In the
county. 10 a..
church is also told in the records. the
Church of England was then the state
church. Gen. Washington attended d.
vine worship regularly for several years
at Pohick Church. in Truro parish. ana
took a deep and active interest In lis az
fairs. a.
He became vestryman October %.
1852. In the record OF the court FEBRUARY
IL 1763. there is this note: George Wash.
fneton esq.,, took the oaths according 10
law. repeated and subscribed the test ana
subscribed to the doctrine and discipline
Of the Church OF England IN order 70
qualify him to act as vestryman OF truro
George Washington and George VII.
liam Fairfax were appointed church war
dens for the ensuing year OCTOBER .:
1763- Gen, Washington later Joined Christ
Church, alexandria. He was regular
attendant at vestry meetings.
In the clerks office at Fairfax are nine
deeds for pews sold In Ponick Cnufcn.
dated February "a. TIA. He had pews
Nos. % and % and paid twenty-nins
pounds ten shillings for them.
The courthouse itself is typical Of the
early colonial days in Virginia. Decorat-
ing the walls are portraits OF number
OF former justices and clerks OF the court
Among the pictures are those OF Thomas
Lord Fairfax, which hangs over the
Judges bench: George Washington. F. D
Richardson, Gen. Walter Jones. Henry
w. Thomas, D. NJ. Chichester. George
Mason. John w. Tyler and Bryan Lord
Fairfax. A gallery for spectators occu-
pies one end of the building.
Fighting occurred all around the struc-
ture during the early days Of the civil
war and Capt. MARI fell only few feet
away. In the same square is the county
Jail, and facing II are number OF build
ings containing offices Of lawyers. De-
spite the ancient character of the court
house square. however. Fairfax is mod
ern little town, containing an inn.
drug store, a newspaper and several gen
eral merchandise establishments
Among the documents missing from tho
court records at one time was a minute
book of the court, weighing thirty pounds
1t was taken by a Pennsylvania soldier
who later offered to sell it to the county
His offer was refused but after his
death the Judge in charge of his estate
ordered it returned to its rightful own
ers and 1t now rests in the clerks office
all other officials and residents want all
the old records Of the court restored.
They realize that the town is treasure
house of historic lore equaled by but few
places in the United States. They know
that the fame of the town is destined to
grow and grow as time passes and the
Importance Of its records become recoS-
Nized.