The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-04-19
THE FAIRFAX STONE
Some History Concerning the
Famous Marker.

the southwestern corner of Garrett
county:
In my school boy days, about seventy
years ago, was taught that the Fair
fax Stone was the corner of Maryland |
hence, a corner of four counties, as all
biographies and maps taught. | meyer
knew any better until about nine years
ago, when visited the Stone and eX-
plored its surroundings. then found
that all maps and histories were wrong.
sat down on a log on the side of the
hill, a short distance south of the Stone,
and by eye drew a diagram of the
streams and lines. | located the corner
of Maryland one half mile north Of the
Stone, and also found a strong spring
about three fourths Of mile near due
west of the Stone that-had l been To-
eating the source of the Potomac,
surely would have marked. Here the
MARYLAND authorities had set up a
stone, which they called The Mary
land Stone"
This occurred whilst the suit be-
twixt West Virginia and MARYLAND
over their common boundary was pend
ing in the Supreme Court of the United
States. l at once commenced to gather
from old records what history of the
Fairfax Estate | could get.
In 1851, King Charles II made deed
of grant Of what was known as the
Northern Neck of Virginia, to Lord
John Culpepper, Lord Hopton, Lord
Germayne, Lord Berkeley, Sir William
Morton, Sir Dudley Wyatt and Thomas
Culpepper. This vast tract of land was
bounded on the southeast by the Rap
pahannock, on the north by the Poto-
mac, and on the west by line drawn
straight from the source of the Poto-
mac to the western-most fountain of
the Rappahannock, and contains nearly
six millions Of acres.
After Thomas Culpepper had come
into possession Of the estate and title of
his father-Lord John Culpepper, who
at once commenced negotiations with
the balance of the company for the
purchase of the whole estate, and they
receiving from him what they thought
liberal offer, sold out to him. This
deed of transfer was ratified by King
James II in the fourth year Of his
reign.
Lord Thomas Culpepper had a daugh-
ob;I1 ,r-bo cd
Fairfax, Earl of Cameron in Scotland,
whose eldest-and perhaps only son.
inherited the title and estates of his
grandfather, Lord Thomas Culpepper.
When Lord Fairfax came into pos
session of his grandfather estate, he
Immediately sent over an agent, Robert
Carter, Esq, to attend to his business
put the Virginians, who thought they
owned their farms, under a perpetual
rental; and they could have no redress,
for all the Judges and other court Of
ficials held their offices by appointment
of the crown and like any good, obedi-
ent dogs, were ready to do their
masters bidding. There were about
TWO thousand persons who had homes
in the Northern neck at this time.
In 1929 and 1870, dispute arose be-
tween Lord Fairfax and the governor
of Virginia about some titles. Up to
this time, it was not known Just how
far Fairfax $ estate extended, and the
governor had issued letter patent to
several persons in the Shenandoah
Valley; also, the King had made deeds
of grant for several tracts in the same
valley. These latter deeds were made
to Isaac and John Van Meter, Joyst
Hite, and Robert Mckay, and contain
ed one hundred and forty thousand
acres in all. Lord Fairfax through his
agent, Robert Carter, claimed this land.
and the governor refused to grant any
more titles west of the Ridge" until
it was known where Lord Fairfax's
boundaries were.
In 1873, Lord Fairfax petitioned the
King to have commission appointed to
explore and mark out his grant IN
America. In Nov. 1875, King James
II issued an order to Lieutenant Cover
nor Cooch Cook of Virginia. These
commissioners were to act in conjunc-
ton with a like number of men ap-
pointed by Lord Fairfax. Governor
Cooch appointed William Byrd, John
Robinson and John Grymes to act on
behalf of the crown. and Lord Fairfax
appointed William Beverley, William
Fairfax and Charles Carter. These
commissioners were authorized to ap-
point surveyors. chain carries, aXemen,
cook, carries, ect. They appointed
John Savage. William Mayo and Ben
jamin Winslow, surveyors.
This commission met at Fredericks-
burg, Virginia. September 9th, 1886.
From there, they went to Alexandra,
Virginia, where they completed their
preparations, and on the twelfth day of
October, they commenced their journey