Bryan Fairfax, 8th Lord Fairfax of Cameron

Rev. Bryan Fairfax, 8th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1736—1802) was an Anglican clergyman and Scottish peer (the title was created in 1627 before the Union of 1707). He was a lifelong friend of George Washington and became the first American-born Lord Fairfax; his predecessors were born in the UK. The Rev. The Lord Fairfax was the first cousin once removed of the seventh of the lived. He lived in Virginia. He was the grandson of Reverend the Hon. Henry Fairfax, second son of the fourth Lord. However, it wasn't until 1800 that he was confirmed in the title by the House of Lords.

The Lord Fairfax of Cameron
8th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Tenure1793–1802
Known forNeighbor of George Washington
Born1736
Belvoir, Virginia
Died1802
Mount Eagle, Virginia
NationalityAmerican
Spouse(s)Elizabeth Cary
Jennie Dennison
OccupationClergyman

Early life and family

Bryan Fairfax was the son of Col. William Fairfax (1691–1757) of Belvoir and Deborah Clarke (1708–1746). As a young man, Fairfax lived at Belvoir with his father who was the business agent for his cousin, Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. His brother, George William (1729–1787) and his wife, Sally Cary Fairfax (1730–1811), also lived there and were close neighbors to George Washington's Mount Vernon. As a young man, George Washington and his brother, Lawrence Washington (1718–1752), visited the Fairfax family at Belvoir often and Lord Fairfax employed Washington to join a surveying team of his western lands, in the valley of Virginia.[1]

Peerage

In 1793, when his cousin, Robert Fairfax, 7th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, died in 1793, he initially ignored the title. However, while in England in 1798 on other business, he presented the necessary proofs to the House of Lords to claim the title. In 1800, after he had returned to Virginia, the peerage was adjudged, and he became the Eighth Lord Fairfax. After his death in 1802, his widow sued his executor, but the Supreme Court found for the executor in 1809.[2] His son Thomas Fairfax became the 9th Lord Fairfax of Cameron.

Career and land holdings

In 1740, he was deeded 3,400 acres (14 km2), and 1741 was deeded 232 acres (0.94 km2), at Little Run or Hunger Run.[3]

In 1754, Bryan Fairfax clerked for his brother-in-law, John Carlyle (1720–1780), in Alexandria, Virginia, and was appointed as a deputy clerk for Fairfax County.[4] Bryan Fairfax served as a lieutenant in George Washington's militia regiment, in George Mercer's company early in the French and Indian War, but he resigned his commission in 1756.[4] He later served as a justice for Fairfax County at the same time as Washington. Fairfax was an avid foxhunter, and he and Washington often rode together.

In 1757, he was given Towlston Grange with 5,500 acres (22 km2), in his father's will.[5] As a large landowner, Fairfax was active leasing out his property to smaller farmers, such as Perrygreen Mackness [6]

In 1772, he deeded a 600-acre (2.4 km2) farm, Chattins Run, on Goose Creek, in Fauquier County, Virginia to Washington to repay a debt.[7][8]

In 1773, Fairfax deeded Towlston Grange to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband, David Griffith.[9]

Revolutionary War

When the Fairfax Resolves were debated in 1774, Fairfax corresponded with George Washington, the chairman of the committee considering the Resolves.

Fairfax was torn over the question of American independence during the American Revolutionary War. On his own in 1777, he tried to travel to England. He was arrested in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for refusing to sign a loyalty oath. However, he wrote to his good friend, George Washington, who sent him a pass to travel between the lines. In New York, British officials also required a loyalty oath, to board ship, which he refused to take. With his attempt thwarted, on his return trip home, he visited Washington, at Valley Forge.[10]

Correspondence with Washington

When the Fairfax Resolves were debated in 1774, Fairfax sent letters to George Washington, the chairman of the committee considering the Resolves, giving reasons why they should not be adopted:

For I think myself bound to oppose violent measures now. The entering upon a Plan of having no Trade would be an arduous undertaking. I mean if persisted in, and if once entered upon it ought to be strictly kept. I therefore think it would be more proper to try first what Effect a petition might have toward obtaining a repeal of the Duty.[11]

However, Washington responded:

As to your political sentiments, I would heartily join you in them, so far as relates to a humble and dutiful petition to the throne, provided there was the most distant hope of success. But have we not tried this already? Have we not addressed the Lords, and remonstrated to the Commons? And to what end? Did they deign to look at our petitions? Does it not appear, as clear as the sun in its meridan brightness, that there is a regular, systematic plan formed to fix the right & practise of taxation upon us?[12][13]

But he added:

That I differ very widely from you, in respect to the mode of obtaining a repeal of the Acts so much, & so justly complaind of, I shall not hesitate to acknowledge; & that this difference in opinion may, probably, proceed from the different Construction's we put upon the Conduct, & Intention of the Ministry, may also be true; But as I see nothing on the one hand, to induce a belief that the Parliament would embrace a favourable opportunity of Repealing Acts which they go on with great rapidity to pass, in order to enforce their Tyrannical System; and on the other, observe, or think I observe, that Government is pursuing a regular Plan at the expence of Law & justice, to overthrow our Constitutional Rights & liberties, how can I expect any redress from a Measure which hath been ineffectually tryd already—For Sir what is it we are contending against? Is it against paying the duty of 3d. pr lb. on Tea because burthensome? No, it is the Right only, we have all along disputed, & to this end we have already Petitiond his Majesty in as humble, & dutiful a manner as Subjects could do; ... I cannot conclude without expressing some concern that I should differ so widely in Sentiments from you in a matter of such great Moment & general Import; & should much distrust my own judgement upon the occasion, if my Nature did not recoil at the thought of Submitting to Measures which I think Subversive of every thing that I ought to hold dear and valuable – and did I not find, at the same time, that the voice of Mankind is with me.[14][15]

Bryan Fairfax respectfully disagreed:

There is a new opinion now lately advanced in Virginia that the Parliament have no right to make any or scarce any Laws binding on the Colonies. It has given me much Uneasiness. For altho' I wish as much as any one that we were legally exempted from it, yet I hold it clearly that we ought to abide by our Constitution. The common Consent and Acquiescence in the Colonies for such a Length of time is to me a clear Proof of their having a Right. And altho' it is said that it has only been exercised in Matters of Trade, it will be found to be a Mistake.[16]

Later during September, 1777, Fairfax was detained in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. However, he wrote to his Washington, who sent him a pass to travel between the lines:

For the past two years I have had a strong Desire to enter into Holy Orders than ever I had before tho' frequently in my Life have had the same, yet generally suffered worldly considerations to interfere. This Desire and the not finding myself at Liberty to concur in the Public measures make me very anxious to get to England, and I have been in Hopes of obtaining a Pass from the Congress to go to N: York for that Purpose. There has appeared to me but one Objection, and that is, the giving of Intelligence, but I would not only enter into Engagements in that respect if required but it may [be] considered that what I might say would be of little Consequence, but if of any would raher be in Favour of America because I really think that it would be the Interest of Great Britain to let her enjoy her Independence, for if successful in this Struggle which is very doubtful it might all be to do over again at another Time.

I intended to have seen Your Excellency before I left the warm Springs the last of August where Colo. Lewis, Your Brother & Mr. W. Washington and to have brought my Son Tommy with me, when I came home I found they had put him on the Militia Roll and draught him tho' under the Age required and therefore I had him excused. He is now with me, and I intended to have taken him with me, choosing to superintend his education.

... And if Your Excellency can give me a Pass that I may come & see You, I shall be very glad to do it whether I succeed in the other matter or not for You are often in my Mind & I have often sympathised with Yr. Ex. in regard to the great & laborious Undertaking You are engaged in ...[17]

Washington wrote him back:

The difference in our political Sentiments never made any change in my friendship for you, and the favorable Sentiments I ever entertained of your hon'r, leaves me without a doubt that you would say any thing, or do any thing injurious to the cause we are engaged in after having pledged your word to the contrary. I therefore give my consent readily ...[18]

After the war

In 1789, he became an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church, serving as rector of Christ Church from 1790 to 1792. In 1790, he built Ash Grove, on Leesburg Pike, (2 miles west of Tysons Corner), for his son, Thomas Fairfax. It was sold to James Sherman in 1850.

George Washington's last meal away from Mount Vernon, on 7 December 1799 was with Fairfax at Mount Eagle.[4] He was among the last guests at Mount Vernon, on 11 December 1799, before Washington died.[19] He was one of the principal mourners at Washington's funeral,[20] and Washington left him a bible in his will.[21][22]

Marriage

In 1757, after a whirlwind social scene in Westmoreland and Essex County, his brother-in-law John Carlyle caught up with him in the Annapolis gaol and brought him back to Belvoir.[23]

In 1759, he married Elizabeth Cary (1738–1778), daughter of Colonel Wilson Cary and Sarah Pate. Elizabeth was the sister of his brother's wife, Sally Cary Fairfax.[4] Together, Bryan and Elizabeth had three children:[24]

After his wife's death, Fairfax married Jennie Dennison (d. 1805). With her, he had another daughter:[26]

  • Anne Fairfax (born c. 1783), who married Charles Jefferson Catlett, Esq., a merchant from Norfolk, Virginia.

From 1760 until 1765, Fairfax lived at Greenhill (Accotink Creek and Back Road, now Telegraph Road). He later moved to Towlston Grange (Difficult Run and Leesburg Pike, now Route 7), where he lived from 1768 until 1790. In 1790, he moved to Mount Eagle, (south of Hunting Creek, and Alexandria), where he lived until his death.

On rap musician Logic's 2017 album Everybody in the song "Waiting Room," Bryan Fairfax is described as the next reincarnation of the character Atom.[27]

See also

References
  1. "The Fairfaxes And George Washington". pbs.org.
  2. "Fairfax's Executor v. Fairfax (9 U.S. 19 (1809))". Justia Law.
  3. http://www.directlinesoftware.com/Pool/nova.txt
  4. Grizzard, Frank E. (May 2005). George! a Guide to All Things Washington. Mariner Companies, Inc. p. 460. ISBN 0-9768238-0-2.
  5. "Courts and Legal | Topics".
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. The Diaries of George Washington. Vol. 3., p. 110, 27 and 29 May 1772, Donald Jackson, ed.; Dorothy Twohig, assoc. ed. The Papers of George Washington. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1978.
  8. Cartmell, Thomas Kemp (1909). Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants. Eddy Press Corp. pp. 587. bryan fairfax.
  9. Fairfax County Deed Book-W, pp. 355–357
  10. Irving, Washington (1876). "Life of George Washington". Putnam: 790. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. p.129, Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, Volume 10, University of Virginia Press, 1995, Charlottesville, Virginia ISBN 978-0-8139-1550-0
  12. p.109, Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, Volume 10, University of Virginia Press, 1995, Charlottesville, Virginia ISBN 978-0-8139-1550-0
  13. George Washington letter to Bryan Fairfax, 4 July 1774, familytales
  14. p.131, Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, Volume 10, University of Virginia Press, 1995, Charlottesville, Virginia ISBN 978-0-8139-1550-0
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "Teacher Resources". loc.gov. Library of Congress.
  17. p.280-1, Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Volume 11, University of Virginia Press, 2001 Charlottesville, Virginia ISBN 0-8139-2026-4
  18. p.310, Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Volume 11, University of Virginia Press, 2001 Charlottesville, Virginia ISBN 0-8139-2026-4
  19. "Mount Vernon – The Year 1799". oldandsold.com.
  20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 July 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 September 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. Frank E. Grizzard (2002). George Washington. ABC-CLIO. pp. 99–102. ISBN 978-1-57607-082-6.
  24. du Bellet, Louise Pecquet (1907). "Some Prominent Virginia Families". Bell company: 176. bryan fairfax. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  25. Great Falls Historical Society (January 2009). "The Fascinating Story of Towlston Grange". Great Falls Historical Society. Archived from the original on 7 April 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  26. Virginia Reports: Jefferson—33 Grattan, 1730–1880, Benjamin Watkins Leigh, p. 298, Michie Company, 1902
  27. "Logic – Waiting Room Lyrics". Genius Lyrics. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by
Robert Fairfax		 Lord Fairfax of Cameron
1793–1802		 Succeeded by
Thomas Fairfax
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