Part 6
[Footnote 62: Honorable William Fairfax, of "Belvoir," Fairfax county, Va., was born 1691 in Yorkshire, England, where his father that year became high sheriff of the county. His father was the son of Henry Fairfax, 2d son of 4th Lord Fairfax and Anna (Harrison) Fairfax, whose sister, Eleanora Harrison, of South Cave, married in 1689, Henry Washington; their son, Richard Washington, who resided in London, was, therefore, an English cousin of Wm. Fairfax, and a correspondent both of his and of Col. George Washington's (see Washington's correspondence, in _Sparks_). Wm. Fairfax lost his father when quite young and was educated at his uncle's, Sir John Lowther's College. Through the influence of Capt. Fairfax, of the Royal Navy, he entered that service in 1710 and served for two years. He then joined the British army in Spain under Col. Martin Bladen, who had married a Fairfax, and was stationed at St. Helena in 1716-17, and subsequently at the Bahamas, and returned to England in October, 1717. Having married in the Bahamas, Sarah, daughter of Maj. Walker, of Nassau, she accompanied him to England. In 1718 Wm. Fairfax was sent out with Captain or Governor Woodes Rogers as chief justice to suppress the pirates infesting the West Indies. His residence was at Nassau, New Providence. The business for which he accepted office having been completed and the climate not being congenial, he in 1725 removed to New England. Here he received an appointment to the custom house at Salem, which he held until 1734. While a resident of Salem, his first wife died and was buried there. His son George William was born in Nassau, three of his children were born in Salem. Thomas, of the Royal Navy, was killed in battle; Anne married Lawrence Washington, and was the first mistress of Mount Vernon; and Sarah married John Carlyle, of Alexandria, Va., who was a major and commissary in the French and Indian war. Mr. Fairfax married, January 18, 1731, Deborah Clarke, of Salem, Mass. Her first child was Bryan, 8th Lord Fairfax, born at Salem 1732, but better known as the Rev. Bryan Fairfax, who died in 1802. In 1734 Wm. Fairfax accepted an offer, he had before declined, to remove to Virginia and act as agent for his cousin, Lord Thomas Fairfax, in the management of the vast Fairfax land estate. He at first took up his residence in Westmoreland county and remained there for several years, but afterward improved the plantation, built "Belvoir" mansion, six miles below "Mount Vernon," and removed to it. He was residing there in 1739, when Lord Fairfax first visited Virginia and made it his home for a year. Wm. Fairfax, from his high character and acquaintance with business, soon came to the front among the leading men in Virginia. Besides being agent for his cousin, he served in the assembly of Virginia, and after the death of John Blair was president of the Provincial council and collector of his majesty's customs for the South Potomac. His second wife bore him two children, besides Bryan already mentioned, William Henry, killed at the storming of Quebec in 1759; and Hannah, who married Warner Washington, cousin to George Washington. William Fairfax was a man of great executive ability and much beloved by the community. He died September 3, 1757. His wife survived him but a few years. "Belvoir" was left to George W. Fairfax and was his residence until he went to England in 1773.]
Memorandam of what Cloths I Carry into Fairfax
Razor[63] 7 Shirts 2 D^o Carr^d by M^r Thornton[64] 6 Linnen Waistcoats 1 Cloth D^o---- 6 Bands[65] 4 Neck Cloths[66] 7 Caps[67]----
[Footnote 63: The razor in colonial days was an essential part of a gentleman's toilet outfit. Washington had a strong beard and was early called upon to use his razor. Long, full beards were not then in fashion in America. It is a notable fact that there is not a portrait extant of an American-born patriot or statesman of the Revolutionary period, painted with a full beard. This memorandum, although not dated, is believed to have been written in 1748. The clean shaven face was constrained by the fashion of the continent; and prevailed as the custom in England and France for a period of quite 75 years.]
[Footnote 64: The Thorntons intermarried with the Washingtons.]
[Footnote 65: A kind of shirt collar.]
[Footnote 66: Neck Cloths.--These were usually made of fine white cambric, folded wide, were wrapped twice around the neck and worn without collars.]
[Footnote 67: Caps.--The number here will attract attention considering the list of other articles; but it must be remembered that it was the custom at that period for both men and women to wear caps at night in bed. At the time when this journal was written, bed rooms were not heated, hence the custom of warming beds before retiring in winter, and the necessity for wearing night caps is more apparent, and, further, the head was frequently shaven and wigs were worn during the day by many. It is the tradition that Patrick Henry wore at home, in the day, even, when not in full dress, a "tarred cotton cap," whilst in public he wore a wig. In speaking, when he was earnestly moved, a striking emphasis of his is said to have been a rapid whirling of his wig around his head.]
M: the regulater of my watch now is 4 M: and over the fifth from the Slow end
'Twas Perfect Love before } s: Young M: A: his W But Now I do adore }
What's the Noblest Passion of the Mind? 6: 2:
M: Delivered M^{rs} Humphras this 30^{th} Day of October 2 Shirts the one marked G W the other not marked 1 p^r of Hoes & one Band to be Washed against November Court in Frederick[68]
[Footnote 68: At this point in the journal several blank pages occur.]
Oh Ye Gods why should my Poor Resistless Heart Stand to oppose thy might and Power At Last surrender to cupids feather'd Dart And now lays Bleeding every Hour For her that's Pityless of my grief and Woes And will not on me Pity take He sleep amongst my most inveterate Foes And with gladness never wish to wake In deluding sleepings let my Eyelids close That in an enraptured Dream I may In a soft lulling sleep and gentle repose Possess those joys denied by Day
From your bright sparkling Eyes, I was undone; Rays, you have; more transparent than the Sun, Amidst its glory in the rising Day, None can you equal in your bright array; Constant in your calm and unspotted Mind; } Equal to all, but will to none Prove kind, } So knowing, seldom one so Young, you'l Find. } Ah! woe's me, that I should Love and conceal } Long have I wish'd, but never dare reveal, } Even though severely Loves Pains I feel: } Xerxes that great, was't free from Cupids Dart, And all the greatest Heroes, felt the smart.[69]
[Footnote 69: The poetical effusions of George Washington are neither numerous nor notable. The specimens here given are found on the spare pages of his memoranda mixed in with his notes of surveys. Some leaves are missing at this point and the concluding lines of one poem, at least, are lost.]
A List of the Peoples Names that I have Warrants for[70]
Acres
Richard Arnold Frederick C 400 before the 25^{th} Day of April
Barnaby M^{c}Kannary D^o 400 on the Lost River[71]
Silvenus Smith D^o 400
John Wilton D^o 300
James M^{c}Koy D^o 400
James Kinson D^o 400
Ann Dunbarr 400
And^w Vincy of Augusta 400
Robert Denton D^o 400
John Stackhouse of Fred^k 400
Sam^l Kinsman D^o 400
Tho^s Wiggans D^o 400
George Horner D^o 200
Darby M^{c}Keaver D^o 400
Jos^h Howt: fr^m New En^g D^o 400
Jn^o Ellwick Sen^r of Augusta 400
James Hamilton J^r 400
[Footnote 70: Land warrants were granted by the Crown, by the Legislature or its authorized agent, and by the governors of the provinces. A warrant had the character of a commission and guaranteed title. Land warrants issued in accordance with law were negotiable, and when laid and the survey plotted by a licensed surveyor and recorded in the land office, were maintained by the courts as against all other claimants.
The following is an exact copy of an order from G. W. Fairfax, agent of Lord Fairfax, for the sale of unseated lands in the "Northern Neck of Virginia" to George Washington a licensed surveyor in Virginia as his warrant to survey a particular parcel of land. The original document was in the possession of J. A. Russell, Esq., of New York city, in 1869, and is published in the _Historical Magazine_ for March of that year, p. 197:--
"TO MR. G. WASHINGTON
"WHEREAS, _Barthalamore Anderson_, of Frederick County hath Informed that there are about _Four_ hundred 50 Acres of Waste and Ungranted Land in the said County, _formerly granted to Thomas Morgan by Jost Hite as p. Bond for the same & by Assignment to the s^d Anderson, on Arnold's Run a branch of Shenandoah_.
"And Desiring a Warrant to survey the same in order to obtain a Deed, being ready to Pay the Composition and Office Charges.
"_These_ are therefore to Empower You the s^d G. Washington to survey the s^d Waste Land.
"_Provided_ this be the first Warrant that hath Issued for the same and you are to make a just, true and Acurate survey thereof, Describing the courses and distances p. Pole, also the Buttings and Boundings of the several Persons Lands adjoining, and where you cannot Join on any known Lines, you are to make Breadth of the tract to bear at least the proportion of one-third part of the length as the Law of Virginia Directs, you are also to Insert the Names of the Pilot and Chain Carriers made use of and Employed, a Plat of which s^d Survey with this Warrant you are to give into this Office any time before the _twenty-fifth_ Day of _March_ next ensuing. _Given_ under my Hand and Seal of the Proprietors Office this _thirteenth_ day of _Oct_. 1750 in the Twenty-Fourth year of His Majesty King George the Second's Reign.
"G. W. FAIRFAX."
[ENDORSED.]
"Barthalamore Anderson's Warr for 450 Acres "M^r Washington's Retur'd the 8^{th} Feb^y 1750-1. "To be paid p L^d Fx "61"]
[Footnote 71: Lost River.--This stream gets its name from the fact that for three miles it passes out of sight under a mountain which lies across its course. It rises in Hardy county, W. Va., and flows in a north-easterly direction to the Cacapehon river. The following diagram is made from a pen drawing by Washington in his field note book, but not definitely related to this particular survey.]
MY LORD
I went Last Tuesday not knowing your Lordship had that very Day set out for Neavils to see whether you had any further Commands or directions to give concerning the Surveying of Cacapehon and as your Lordship was not at Home I was inform by Col^o G. Fairfax that you had not any Directions in Particular more than were given to the other Surveyors as your Lordship had mentioned I therefore have made bold to Proceed on General Directions from him as Missing this Opportunity of Good Weather may be of considerable Hindrance I shall Wait on your Lordship at Frederick Court in November to obey your further Pleasure and am my Lord &[72]
[Footnote 72: Here terminates the entries in the little note book, containing "My Journey Over the Mountains." It is proper to state that the journal was kept in a small, vellum-bound, blank book, 6 by 3¾ inches in size, closely written on both sides of the leaf. Either from a desire to classify his memoranda, or for want of a second book, or from some motive of economy, he turned the book around and began from the other end to keep a record more particularly relating to his surveys and miscellaneous affairs. His field notes of surveys were kept in a book of the same size as the one described, from which the most of the following surveys are taken. The other surveys are found on loose sheets which have been bound and denominated miscellaneous papers; a few of them having dates, enables the editor to place them in chronological order.]
Then Survey'd for M^r John Monroe y^e following Tract of land bounded as follows
Poles
A Beginning at a marked white oak } N 20,,0 E 130,,68 B N 20--00 E to a Chesnut } C Thence to a Red oak N 71,,00 E 116,,44 D Thence to a Spanish oak near a Swamp S 73,,00 E 188,,24 E Thence to Hiccory S 44,,00 E 158,,72 F Thence to a red oak Stump S 14,,00 E 186,,24 G Thence to a Black Gum S 88,,00 W 244,,00 From thence to the Beginning
Then survey'd for M^r John Watts y^e Following Tract of Land bounded as followeth
Courses
A Beginning at a Marked red Oak } S 15° 30′ W 400.56 B S 15° 30 W to a Sweet Gum } C Thence to a Chesnut S 59,,00 W 200.40 D Thence to a Walnut N 45,,00 W 240.24 E Thence to a White Oak N 10,,00 E 200.00 F Thence to a Maple N 35,,00 E 300.00 From thence to the Beginning
Then Survey'd for M^r Francis Jett the following Tract of Land bounded as follows
A Beginning at a Marked Hiccory S 20, W } S 20,,00 W 120 B to a White Oak } C Thence to a Walnut Stump S 63,,00 W 160 D Thence to a Red Oak on the top of a Hill S 85,,00 W 80 E Thence to a Black Gum near a Valley N 66,,00 W 116 F Thence to a Dogwood near a Swamp N 35,,00 W 63 G Thence to a Mulberry standing in Corn-field N 35,,00 E 97 H Thence to a Sasafras N 45,,00 E 157 From thence to the Beginning
Then Survey'd for Cap^t Henry Washington y^e following Tract of Land bounded as follows
Poles A Beginning at a red Oak S 25--00 W } 25--00 W 74 B near the road running to a red Oak Saplin } C Thence to white Oak S 23--00 E 24 D Thence to Spanish Oak S 55--00 W 34 E Thence to a Black Gum N 76--00 W 30 F Thence to a Black Oak N 25--00 W 62 G Thence to Caleb Butlers old Field N 00--00 W 104 H Thence to a White Oak S 76--00 E 70 I Thence to a Red Oak N 78--00 E 56
August 18^{th} 1747 Then survey'd the following Piece of Land at one Station in the School House old field bounded as p^r field Book. Viz^t Beginning near a Persimon within y^e field Extending thence to a Fence Stake S 15--00 E 165°,,00′--28 Pole thence S 19--00 W 199°--00′--27.5 Pole thence S 47 W 227°--00′--18.9 thence S 76--00 W 256°--00′--21.4 thence N 42 W 318°--00′--46.3 thence N 29--00 E 29°--00′--34 Pole.
October 1^{st} 1747 Then Survey'd the following Piece of Land for M^r Richard Roe Bounded as follows Beginning at a Chesnut extending thence S^o 20--00 W 38 Pole thence N 75--00 W 39.7 P thence N^o 46--00 W 41.1 P thence S^o 68--00 W 21.3 thence N^o 29--00 W 25.3 thence S^o 77--00 E 4 Pole thence N^o 60--00 E 25.1 Pole thence S^o 42--00 E 14 Pole thence S^o 79--00 E 14 Pole--thence East from thence to the beginning S 60--45
E
Then Survey'd for M^r Francis Jett the following Tract of Land Bounded as p^r Field Book[73]
A N 56.15 B N 51--00 E 39.19 C S 65--00 E 34.14 D S 49--00 E 50.15 E S 20--00 E 29.00 F S 70--00 W 62.13 G N 58--30 W 20.24 H S 83--30 W 30.00
Remarks y^e distance from A to B being Inaccessable I took an Angle within y^e field from A to a house bearing N 73°--00 E 46 Pole thence to B bearing N 48--00 W
Survey'd for M^{rs} Elizabeth Washington y^e Following Tract of Land whose thirds is required to be laid off 20 Pole from H towards K & the Division line to run towards B C[74]
Courses Dist: Poles
A S 54,,00 W 67,,00 B N 45,,00 W 36,,00 C N 76,,00 W 45,,-- D N 31,,00 E 60,,-- E N 56,,00 E 35,,-- F N 21,,00 E 30,,24 G S 51,,00 E 40,,20 H S 34,,00 E 41,,60 I S 04,,00 W 34,,20
Acres Roods Perch:
Area 52 ,, 1 ,, 39
Scale 50 Parts to an Inch.
[Footnote 73: (this footnote refers to the illustration below)
[Footnote 74: (this footnote refers to the illustration below)
SURVEY'D For Richard Barnes Gent^n of Richmond County[75] a certain Tract of Waste and ungranted Land Situate Lying and being in the county of Culpeper[76] and Bounded as followeth Beginning at three white Oaks in Normans Line and Corner Trees to (Aaron Pinson's now) M^r Barnes's Land & Extending thence N^o 42° 30′ W^t Ninety five Poles to a branch of Flat Run Two hund^d and Eighteen Poles to a Large white Oak Corner to Norman thence along another of his Lines N^o 39° E^t Thirty four Poles to three white Oaks & a Hickory Cor: to the said Norman and John Roberts thence along Robert's Line S^o 78° W^t One hund^d and Eighty three Poles to the Road that Leads over Norman's Foard Two hund^d and Sixteen Poles to two white Oaks in a Glade Cor^r to the said Roberts and M^r Francis Slaughter thence with the said Slaughters Line S^o 5° W^t One hund^d and Sixty four Poles to three white Oaks in the said Slaughter Line thence leaving his Line S^o 66° E^t Two hund^d and thirty Six Poles to three white Oaks amongst a Parcel of Rock Stones Barnes's Corner thence with his Line N^o 53° E^t One hund^d and Eighty Six Poles to the Beginning Containing Four Hundred Acres this Twenty Second Day of July 1749.
JOHN LONEM } _Cha Men_ EDWARD CORDER } EDWARD HOGAN _Marker_ by WASHINGTON S C C[77]
[Footnote 75: For this survey Washington received the sum of £2 3s 0d on the 25th of July, 1749, as shown by entry in his cash book; a copy of which is in the Toner Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.]
[Footnote 76: Culpeper county, Virginia, was formed by act of assembly in 1748, and named in honor of Lord Thomas Culpeper, governor of Virginia from 1682 to 1686. The old family name was spelled with two p's, but in using the name as a locality one p is dropped. Its original form, however, was Colepeper. The widow of Lord Culpeper spelled her name and wrote it, "Mar. Culpeper--Leeds Castle, Dec. 19, 1706." Lord Culpeper and Lord Arlington had obtained from Charles II in 1672 a grant of proprietary rights over the whole of Virginia, but within a short time, in consequence of resistance by the colonists, surrendered all except quit rents and escheats, and a duty of three half-pence per pound on tobacco. Two years after ceasing to be governor, Lord Culpeper, who had become by purchase sole owner of the grant, further abandoned all his rights except that of property in the lands of that part of the Northern Neck beyond the Blue Ridge, with an annual pension of £600 for twenty years in lieu of what he gave up. This estate of about 5,700,000 acres of land in the Shenandoah valley and the mountains beyond, went to his daughter and heiress, Catherine, who became the wife of Thomas, the 5th Lord Fairfax, and from her to their son Thomas the 6th, and the first American Lord Fairfax of Washington's time. Lord Culpeper had been one of the commissioners of plantations under Charles II, and was a man of ability for business and public affairs, although rapacious; and, as governor, wholly British, without that sympathy for Virginia interest, such as Berkeley, with all his faults, had shown. The county of Culpeper, however, was conspicuous for the patriotism of its inhabitants during the Revolution. Her "minute men," Randolph said on the floor of the United States Senate, "were raised in a minute, armed in a minute, marched in a minute, fought in a minute, and vanquished in a minute." The motto on their flag was, "The Culpeper Minute Men," along the top border; in the center a curled rattlesnake with head erect and rattling tail; on either side the words "Liberty--or Death;" and beneath, along the lower border, "Don't Tread on Me." In the clerk's office of Culpeper court house is recorded the following: "20 July, 1749 [O. S.] George Washington, Gent., produced a commission from the President and Master of William and Mary College, appointing him to be surveyor of this county, which was read, and thereupon he took the usual oaths," etc.]
[Footnote 77: Washington, S. C. C.--This is supposed to be an official check mark signature of George Washington as a licensed surveyor of Culpeper county. The plat of this survey is published by Sparks, vol. 1, p. 14, and is reproduced here, as the editor has failed, so far, in finding the original among any of the Washington papers extant. The plat bears date two days after he filed his certificate and took the necessary oath before the court in Culpeper county referred to in the preceding note.]
FAC SIMILE.
_Copied from a Manuscript in the handwriting of_
WASHINGTON.
_Æt. 17_
A
BOOK of SURVEY's
Began
JULY 22^d: 1749
SURVEY'D For Edward Hogan a certain Tract of Waste and Ungranted Land Situate Lying and being in the County of Augusta[78] and on the Lost River or Cacapehon about Six Miles within the Boundary Line of the Northern Neck and bounded as followeth Beginning at a white Oak and white Pine Saplins on the West Side of the River and Runs thence S^o 68° E^t Two hundred and Eighty Poles to three Chesnut Oaks on a Steep Mountain Side thence N^o 9° E^t Two hundred and three Poles to three Pines on the Mountain Side thence N^o 68° W^t Two hund^d and Eighty Poles to two white Oaks in a Drain that makes from the Mountains thence S^o 2° W^t One hundred and thirty two Poles to two white Oaks thence S^o 22° W^t Sixty Eight po. to the Beginning Containing Three hundred and Thirty five Acres this 1^{st} Day of November 1749[79]
JOHN LONEM } _Cha Men_ EDWARD CORDER } EDWARD HOGAN _Marker_ by WASHINGTON S C C
[Footnote 78: Augusta county, and also Frederick county, were formed in 1738, out of Orange county which, prior to that date, had embraced all of Virginia beyond the Blue Ridge. The bounds of Frederick were defined as follows: the Potomac on the north, the Blue Ridge on the east, and on the south and west a line drawn from the head spring of the Hedgman creek to the head spring of the Potomac; all beyond this line, comprising the immense western territory belonging to Virginia, constituted Augusta county. The earliest Frederick county court was held at Winchester, Nov. 11, 1743; and that of Augusta county was held at Beverley's Mill Place, now Staunton, Dec. 9, 1745.]
[Footnote 79: The notes of the survey of land, on the 22d July, 1749, for Richard Barnes, and that of November 12, 1749, for Edward Hogan, were recorded on sheets of foolscap paper, and are bound up with other early miscellaneous papers of George Washington, preserved in the Department of State. They are here given nearly in their chronological place.]