Evening star., 1925-10-08
BONES OF LORD FAIRFAX
WILL REPOSE In CRYPT
Remains Found by Excavators in Winchester, Va.
Episcopal Church to Be Properly Preserved
in Mahogany Coffin.

room was tastefully decorated with
the many trophies Of the chase:
slaves and servants stood ready to
supply the slightest want Of every
guest. Many and fascinating were
the tales told by the host Of his life
at the English court. Such was life
at Greenway Court when George
Washington. then boy in his teens.
was introduced into the society Of the
old fox-hunting baron of the North
ern Neck.
Lord Fairfax had commissioned
George Fairfax, son of William Fair
fax, to survey on his estate. George
Fairfax employed to help him George
Washington, a younger brther OF his
neighbor at Mount Vernon. When
George Fairfax sent in his report to
Lord Fairfax he was greatly i'm
pressed by the neatness and accuracy
of Washington field notes. He des-
patched a note to his cousin asking
him to report to ''his lordship's quar-
ters over the mountains" Thus 1t
happened that in the plastic years Of
his youth George Washington made
his first trip "over the mountains" to
Greenway Court.
What would have happened to
George Washington If he had not re.
ceived this employment and had not
become Intimately associated with
Lord Fairfax? How would his career
have differed from what 1t did? II he
had not worked as surveyor for Lord
Fairfax and become amiliar with the
hardships of the frontier, he would not
have been selected to make the jour
ney to the Ohio to warn the French
from making further encroachments
on English territory. In all proba bill
ity he would not have been present at
Braddock's defeat, he would not have
been commander-in-chief Of the Revo-
lutionary Army, and consequentI
United States.
Takes Fancy to Washington.
Lord Fairfax Immediately took a
fancy to Washington. After the first
meeting the young surveyor always
was a welcome guest at Greenway
Court. He took the youth with him
on his hunting trips. sought his COM
panionship during his hours Of leis.
ure. and frequently engaged in long
and serious conversation with him
upon political, religious and social
questions. 1t was as good as course
in college for young Washington. But
Lord Fairfax was stanch loyalist
and regretted keenly the trouble be-
tween the colonies and the mother
country. He had no respect for colo
nial rights.
There came a time when the old
man and the young man must part.
Deep was his sorrow when he learned
that Washington had espoused the pop
ular cause and had consented to lead
the revolving army. During the long
war which followed the lord of Green.
way Court was never molested. He
was permitted to live in peace and
quiet. Although always interested In
politics, Lord Fairfax never took an
active part in public affairs. He never
did more than to wish and pray sin
cerely that the British government
might be successful in crushing the
rebellion.
Then at last came the news of York
town. His young friend, whose char
acter he had shaped in youth had cap
tured Lord Cornwallis and an entire
British army.
Come, take me to my bed" said
the old lord. 1T is now time for me
to die"
He died i'm Greenway Court De.
cember 12. 1882. in his 91st year.
Greenway Court was disposed of
III lIlc lOllO"IlS PioSAoAoii VI AOA "a
Fairfaxs will:
II also give and bequeath to him,
the said Thomas Bryan Martin, all
the stock Of cattle. sheep. hogs. imple.
ments of husbandry, household goods
and furniture, now. or which shall be
at the time of my decease on the farm
or plantation, whereon l now live,
called 0reenway Court"
Thomas Martin, who later took the
name Fairfax. was his nephew. The
proprietary rights in the Northern
Neck were practically wiped out in
1885 by act of the Virginia Legisla.
ture. All records, books and docu-
ments pertaining to the Fairfax estate
were ordered to the land Office at Rich
mond.