Thomas, Lord Fairfax, Collection

57 WFCHS/THL 

Inventory created by Archives Staff 07/1981. Last revised 08/2022.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: Collection is open to all researchers with restrictions on some materials because of their age and fragility. Copies are available in place of originals.

USE RESTRICTIONS: Restrictions may apply concerning the use, photoduplication, or publication of items in this collection. Consult a member of the archives staff for information concerning these restrictions. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright.

EXTENT: 1.17 linear feet.

DATE: 1731-2020

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The bulk of this collection is grants and indentures to land from Thomas, Lord Fairfax as proprietor of the Northern Neck of Virginia. Also included are transcripts of the suit Joist Hite et al. v. Fairfax, et al. began in 1749, appealed in 1782, and finally settled in Hite’s favor in 1802 after the principals were dead. Several early articles about Lord Fairfax are in the collection as well.

Note: Land grants give land to grantees, their heirs, and assigns in perpetuity so long as an annual fee is paid. Indentures are shorter-term contracts, good for a stated length of time, such as the lifetime of specified parties.

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL: Thomas, the Sixth Lord Fairfax, Baron of Cameron, was born on October 22, 1693 at Leeds Castle in Kent County, England. By 1719 he had inherited all the land of what became known as the Northern Neck Grant in Virginia. Lord Fairfax journeyed to Virginia to look after his lands in March 1735. Subsequently, he hired George Washington to survey his holdings (1749-1752), established residence at Greenway Court in Frederick County (now Clarke County). Fairfax died on December 9, 1781.

RELATED MATERIAL: MMF Fairfax Stone; Catherine Tisinger Collection, 1798 THL

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Quarles, Garland R. Some Worthy Lives. Winchester, VA: Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society, 1988; Joyner, Peggy Shomo, compiler. Abstracts of Virginia's Northern Neck Warrants and Surveys, 1697-1784, Volume IV, 1987; Gray, Gertrude Entz Gray. Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 4 volumes. Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Company, 1988.

CITE AS: Thomas, Lord Fairfax Collection, 57 WFCHS/THL, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA, USA.

ACQUISITION INFORMATION: Acquired as a gift.

 

ORGANIZATION:

N.B. Counties are listed as they appear in the record.

BOX 1

Lord Fairfax Land Grants—By Grantees 

Bruin, Bryan of Frederick County, 400 acres on Sleepy Creek near the Yellow Spring in Frederick County, August 14, 1767; 1 page, manuscript Transcript – Bryan Bruin Deed for 400 Acres in Frederick County, transcribed by Daniel Geyer, 2020, 6 pages, typescript

Campbell, Andrew of Fredrick County, 362 acres in Fredrick County, January 24, 1763; 1 leaf, manuscript

Cartmill, Nathanael of Frederick County, 133 acres next to Cartmill's other land in Frederick County, October 4, 1766; 1 page, manuscript

Chenowith, John of Frederick County, ¾ acres drain of Mill Creek at branch of Opequon in Frederick County (Oct. 5, 1765); one page, manuscript

Cocke, Catesby of Prince William County, 180 acres on Socalin's Branch in Prince William County, August 31, 1731; 1 page, manuscript

Conrad, Frederick of Frederick County assignee of Lews and James Lewis, 109 acres on Great Cacapehn in Hampshire County, Dec. 1, 1779, one page, manuscript

Fletcher, Peter of Berkeley County, (assignee of Thomazin Ellzeya), 407 acres and 2 roods on Sleepy Creek in Frederick County, May 7, 1778; 1 page, manuscript

Fowler, Jacob of Frederick County, half-acre (Lot 37) in Winchester, and 5 acres of Common contiguous to town (Tract 11) in Frederick County; May 15, 1753, 1 page, manuscript

Hog, William, Junior of Pensilvania [sic], 528 acres on Hog Creek in Frederick County, March 17, 1752; 1 page, manuscript

Lambert, Christopher of Frederick County, half-acre (Lot 210) in Winchester Addition, May 15, 1753; 1 page, manuscript

Longacre, Andrew of Frederick County, 140 acres on Lick Run and Blair's Spring Run, branches of Cedar Creek, in Frederick County, August 10, 1774; 1 leaf, manuscript (photocopy)

MacCann, Daniel of Frederick County, 395 acres drained by Shenandoah River in Frederick County, January 8, 1767; 1 leaf, manuscript (photocopy), (original on exhibit at Washington's Headquarters Museum)

McDonald, Major Angus of Frederick County, 31 acres near land of James Wood in Frederick County, March 12, 1774, 1 page, manuscript

Marney, Robert of Frederick County, 160 acres on Duck Run in Frederick County, June 20, 1754; 1 leaf, manuscript (photocopy)

Mauzy, John of Fauquier County, 457 acres on Hogs Creek and Babs Mountain in Frederick County, October 18, 1763; 1 leaf, manuscript (photocopy)

Morgan, William, 305 acres in Frederick County, January 8, 1752, 1 leaf, manuscript, 2 leaves, written transcript

Neavill, George of Fauquier County, 275 acres on Buck Marsh in Frederick County, July 21, 1760; 1 leaf, manuscript (photocopy)

Neile, Lewis (son of John, deceased) of Frederick County, 400 acres on Opequon Creek in Frederick County, November 15, 1757; 1 leaf, manuscript (photocopy)

Noble, Anthony of Berkeley County, 415 acres on draught of Cacapehon [sic] and south side Beargarden Ridge in Hampshire County, May 23, 1777; 1 page, manuscript

Piles, Zachariah of Frederick County, half-acre (Lot 99) in Winchester Addition, May 15, 1753; 2 copies, 1 leaf, manuscript (photocopy)

Reformed Calvenists [sic]  (Philip Bush, Daniel Bush, Henry Brinker, and Jacob Sowers of Frederick County, on behalf of Reformed Calvenists for a meeting house), Lots 82 and 83 in Winchester Addition, May 15, 1750; 1 leaf, manuscript (photocopy) (original in Centenary United Church of Christ Collection, 719 WFCHS) Transcript – Reformed Calvinist Church Deed for Lots 82 and 83 in Winchester City, transcribed by Daniel Geyer, 2020, 3 pages, typescript

Rogers, Evan of Frederick County, 50 acres on Back Creek in Frederick County, December 19, 1777; 1 page, manuscript

Rutherford, Robert of Frederick County, 945 acres in Frederick County and 320 acres in the Northern Neck, November 7, 1767, 2 pages, manuscript

Sarron, Lewis Bernard of Frederick County, 270 acres on Babb's Creek in Frederick County, December 8, 1774; 1 leaf, manuscript (photocopy)

Smith, William of Frederick County, 400 acres at head of Sleepy Creek in Frederick County, June 18, 1760; 1 page, manuscript

Vanmeter, Jacob of Frederick County, November 7, 1769, 23 “surplus” acres running east from Black Oak Corner, 1 page, manuscript, 1 page, photocopy, 1 page, transcription Google Earth overlay of land grant, 1 leaf, printed

Wells, Tunis of Frederick County, 318 acres on the Patowmack [sic] in Frederick County, June 15, 1770; 2 leaves, manuscript (photocopy) – Plat of Wells' land by John Mauzy, December 19, 1751; 1 leaf, manuscript (photocopy)

Wright, George, Junior of Frederick County, half-acre (Lot 113) in Winchester Addition, May 15, 1753; 1 page, manuscript (damaged)

Lord Fairfax Land Grants—By Date (filed alphabetically in Box 1) 

August 31, 1731—Cocke, Catesby of Prince William County, 180 acres on Socalin's Branch in Prince William County

May 15, 1750—Reformed Calvenists [sic], (Philip Bush, Daniel Bush, Henry Brinker, and Jacob Sowers of Frederick County on their behalf for a meeting house) Lots 82 and 83 in Winchester Addition

December 19, 1751—Wells, Tunis of Frederick County, plat of 318 acres by John Mauzy (see grant, June 15, 1770)

January 8, 1752 – Morgan, William of Frederick County, 305 acres in Frederick County

March 17, 1752—Hog, William, Junior of Pensilvania [sic], 528 acres on Hog Creek in Frederick County

May 15, 1753—Fowler, Jacob of Frederick County, half-acre (Lot 37) in Winchester and 5 acres of Common contiguous to town in Frederick County

May 15, 1753—Lambert, Christopher of Frederick County, half-acre (Lot 210) in Winchester Addition

May 15, 1753—Piles, Zachariah of Frederick County, half-acre (Lot 99) in Winchester Addition

May 15, 1753—Wright, George, Junior of Frederick County, half-acre (Lot 113) in Winchester Addition

June 20, 1754—Marney, Robert of Frederick County, 160 acres on Duck Run in Frederick County

November 15, 1757—Niele, Lewis of Frederick County (son of John, deceased), 400 acres on Opequon Creek in Frederick County

June 18, 1760—Smith, William of Frederick County, 400 acres at head of Sleepy Creek in Frederick County

July 21, 1760—Neavill, George of Fauquier County, 275 acres on Buck Marsh in Frederick County

January 24, 1763˗˗˗˗ Campbell, Andrew of Fredrick County, 362 acres in Fredrick County

October 18, 1763—Mauzy, John of Fauquier County, 457 acres on Hogs Creek and Babs Mountain in Frederick County

[October 5, 1765] -- Chenowith, John of Frederick County ¾ acre on drain of Mill Creek, Frederick County

October 4, 1766—Cartmill, Nathanael of Frederick County, 133 acres next to his other land in Frederick County

January 8, 1767—MacCann, Daniel of Frederick County, 395 acres drained by Shenandoah River in Frederick County

August 14, 1767—Bruin, Bryan of Frederick County, 400 acres on Sleepy Creek near the Yellow Spring in Frederick County

November 7, 1769—Vanmeter, Jacob of Frederick County, 23 “surplus” acres running east from Black Oak Corner, 1 page, manuscript, 1 page, photocopy, 1 page, transcription, Google Earth overlay of land grant, 1 leaf, printed

June 15, 1770—Wells, Tunis of Frederick County, 318 acres on the Patowmack [sic] in Frederick County

December 1, 1770 – Conrad, Frederick of Frederick County, 109 acres on Great Cacapehon in Hampshire County

March 12, 1774—McDonald, Major Angus of Frederick County, 31 acres near land of James Wood in Frederick County

August 10, 1774—Longacre, Andrew of Frederick County, 140 acres on Lick Run and Blair's Spring Run (branches of Cedar Creek) in Frederick County

December 8, 1774—Sarron, Lewis Bernard of Frederick County, 270 acres on Babb's Creek in Frederick County 415 acres on draught of Cacapehon [sic] and south side of Beargarden Ridge in Hampshire County

May 23, 1777—Noble, Anthony of Berkeley County, 415 acres on draught of Cacapehon [sic] and south side of Beargarden Ridge in Hampshire County

December 19, 1777—Rogers, Evan of Frederick County, 50 acres on Back Creek in Frederick County

May 7, 1778—Fletcher, Peter of Berkeley County (assignee of Thomazin Ellzeya), 407 acres and 2 roods on Sleepy Creek in Frederick County

BOX 2 

Lord Fairfax Land Indentures—By Grantees 

Note: Unless otherwise noted, these documents are leases granted by Thomas, Lord Fairfax. Thomas died on December 9, 1781. Later indentures are signed by his nephew, Reverend Denny Fairfax (formerly Denny Martin).

Allan, John—60 acres of Leeds Manor in Fauquier County, 1770; 1 page, manuscript

Bell, Lawson—100 acres (Lot 164) in Shenandoah County, October 8, 1793; 1 page, manuscript on printed form (signed by Denny Fairfax; assigned to Philip Spengler, 1806)

Berry, Benjamin of Frederick County—130 acres (Lot 460) of Leeds Manor in Frederick County, November 17, 1792; 1 page, manuscript on printed form (signed by Denny Fairfax)

Boneham, Elijah of Frederick County—100 acres in Frederick County, August 29, 1776; 1 page, manuscript

Botts, Moses of Loudoun County—100 acres in Loudoun County, January 1, 1769; 2 leaves, manuscript

Bucklew, Richard of Loudoun County—200 acres on Jeffres [sic] Branch in Loudoun County, March 8, 1763; 1 page, manuscript

Buck, Charles and McCoy, James (heirs of Thomas Chester)— 300 acres along south fork of Shenandoah River, in Frederick County, June 6, 1763; 1 page, manuscript (leased to Fairfax from their 5000-acre inheritance)

Compton, Samuel of Loudoun County—116 acres of Leeds Manor in Loudoun County, March 8, 1763; 1 page, manuscript

Conner, Daniel of Frederick County—100 acres in Frederick County, July 7, 1777; 1 page, manuscript

Davis, Samuel, Junior of Loudoun County—100 acres of Leeds Manor in Loudoun County, October 23, 1764; 1 page, manuscript

Davis, Samuel, Senior of Loudoun County—100 acres of Leeds Manor in Loudoun County, October 23, 1764; 1 page, manuscript

Ellzey, Lewis, and Mary his wife, of Fairfax County—244 acres on Difficult Run near Great Falls in Loudoun County, April 2, 1763; 1 page, manuscript on printed form (leased to Fairfax; had sold rest of land to Thomas Simmonds)

Forbes, Robert, and Mary his wife of Rohan County, NC—418 acres along the Potomac in Frederick County, June 19, 1762; 1 leaf, manuscript (fragment) (leased to Fairfax)

Freeman, Richard of Loudoun County—100 acres of Leeds Manor in Loudoun County, 1760; 2 copies, 1 page, manuscript

Graves, John of Frederick County—147 acres (Lot 116) of Leeds Manor in Frederick County, September 19, 17--; 1 page, manuscript on printed form (signed by Denny Fairfax)

Hitt, Charles—100 acres of Leeds Manor in Loudoun County, no date; 1 page, manuscript

Hood, William of Frederick County—200 acres (Lot 7) of Leeds Manor in Frederick County, February 15, 1786; 1 page, manuscript (signed by Denny Fairfax; assigned to Moses McKay, 1791)

King, Joseph of Frederick County—217 acres (Lot 458) of Leeds Manor in Frederick County, November 17, 1792; 1 page, manuscript on printed form (signed by Denny Fairfax; assigned to W. P Massie and then to James Green, 1823)

Lee, Hancock of King George County—2800 acres on Horsepen Run in King George County, June 2, 1768; 2 pages, manuscript (one-year mortgage on Lee's land)

Martin, Joseph—110 acres of Leeds Manor in Fauquier County, 177-; 1 page, manuscript

Oldacre, Abraham of Loudoun County—100 acres in Loudoun County, February 15, 1779; 1 page, manuscript

Oldham, James of Loudoun County—100 acres in Loudoun County, August 29, 1776; 1 page, manuscript

Payne, Reuben—50 acres of Leeds Manor in Fauquier County, 177-; 1 page, manuscript

Robinson, William of Loudoun County—100 acres of Leeds Manor in Loudoun County, October 23, 1765; 1 page, manuscript

Shavour, Jacob—102 acres of Leeds Manor in Fauquier County, 177-; 1 page, manuscript

Smoote, John—200 acres of Leeds Manor in Fauquier County, 177-; 1 page, manuscript

Sybold, Casper of Loudoun County—109 acres of Leeds Manor in Fauquier County, March 8, 1763; 1 page, manuscript

Turner, George of Loudoun County—100 acres in Loudoun County, November 12, 1768; 1 page, manuscript

 

Lord Fairfax Land Indentures—By Date (filed alphabetically in Box 2)

No date—Hitt, Charles, 100 acres of Leeds Manor in Loudoun County

No date—[NO NAME - mentions Col. Martin, W. Murray, and Mr. Brownlee] survey, 7290½ acres and 1601½ acres

1760—Freeman, Richard of Loudoun County, 100 acres of Leeds Manor in Loudoun County

June 19, 1762—Forbes, Robert, and Mary his wife of Rohan County, North Carolina, 418 acres along the Potomac in Frederick County (leased to Fairfax)

March 8, 1763—Bucklew, Richard of Loudoun County, 200 acres on Jeffres [sic] Branch in Loudoun County

March 8, 1763—Compton, Samuel of Loudoun County, 116 acres of Leeds Manor in Loudoun County

March 8, 1763—Sybold, Casper of Loudoun County, 109 acres of Leeds Manor in Fauquier County

April 2, 1763—Ellzey, Lewis, and Mary his wife, of Fairfax County, 244 acres on Difficult Run near Great Falls in Loudoun County (leased to Fairfax)

June 6, 1763—Buck Charles and McCoy, James, (heirs of Thomas Chester), 300 acres along south fork of Shenandoah River in Frederick County (leased to Fairfax)

October 23, 1764—Davis, Samuel, Junior of Loudoun County, 100 acres of Leeds Manor in Loudoun County

October 23, 1764—Davis, Samuel, Senior of Loudoun County, 100 acres of Leeds Manor in Loudoun County

October 23, 1765—Robinson, William of Loudoun County, 1000 acres of Leeds Manor in Loudoun County

June 2, 1768—Lee, Hancock of King George County, 2800 acres on Horsepen Run in King George County (one-year mortgage)

November 12, 1768—Turner, George of Loudoun County, 100 acres of Loudoun County

January 1, 1769—Botts, Moses of Loudoun County, 100 acres in Loudoun County

1770—Allan, John, 60 acres of Leeds Manor in Fauquier County

177- —Martin, Joseph, 110 acres of Leeds Manor in Fauquier County

177- —Payne, Reuben, 50 acres of Leeds Manor in Fauquier County

177- —Shavour, Jacob, 102 acres of Leeds Manor in Fauquier County

177- —Smoote, John, 200 acres of Leeds Manor in Fauquier County

August 29, 1776—Boneham, Elijah of Frederick County, 100 acres in Frederick County

August 29, 1776—Oldham, James of Loudoun County, 100 acres in Loudoun County

July 7, 1777—Conner, Daniel of Frederick County, 100 acres in Frederick County

February 15, 1779—Oldacre, Abraham of Loudoun County, 100 acres of Loudoun County

September 19, 17 [after 1781]—Graves, John of Frederick County, 147 acres (Lot 116) of Leeds Manor in Frederick County (signed by Denny Fairfax)

February 15, 1786—Hood, William of Frederick County, 200 acres (Lot 7) of Leeds Manor in Frederick County (signed by Denny Fairfax; assigned to Moses McKay, 1791)

November 17, 1792—Berry, Benjamin of Frederick County, 130 acres (Lot 460) of Leeds Manor in Frederick County (signed by Denny Fairfax)

November 17, 1792—King, Joseph of Frederick County, 217 acres (Lot 458) of Leeds Manor in Frederick County (signed by Denny Fairfax; assigned to W. P. Massie and then James Green, 1823)

October 8, 1793—Bell, Lawson, 100 acres (Lot 164) in Shenandoah County (signed by Denny Fairfax; assigned to Philip Spengler, 1806

Land Surveys—unidentified

Survey of two parcels, 7290½ acres and 1601½ acres, no date, mentions Col. Martin, W. Murray, Mr. Brownlee, 1 page, manuscript (in 2 pieces)

Survey by John Moffett, 3 acres 32 perches on Mill Creek from John Buffington's land in Hampshire County, 1762, 1 page, manuscript

BOX 3 

Article—"Greenway Court," by John Esten Cooke, in Putnam's Monthly, Volume 9, No. 54, June 1857, pages 561-574, 1 item, 14 leaves, printed (photocopy)

Article—"Greenway Court," by Walker Y. Page, in Magazine of American History, Volume 30, No. 3, September 1893, pages 137-141, 1 item, printed

Article—"Historic Houses on the Shenandoah," by John Esten Cooke, in Appleton's Journal, Volume 10, No. 226, July 19, 1873, pages 65-70, 1 item, 6 leaves, printed (photocopy)

Article—"My Lord Fairfax, of Virginia," author unknown, in Scribner's Magazine, 1879, pages 715-728, 1 item, 7 pages, printed

Article—"An Old Landlord in New Virginia," by Grace R. Wright, in The American .,Collector, Volume 3, No. 2, November 1926, pages 73-78, 1 item, printed

Article—“of our especiall grace, certeyne knowledge, and mere motion by Ronald Bailey, published in Features, the Journal of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Spring 2002, pages 40-45, 7 leaves, printed (photocopy)

Article—"Thomas, Lord Fairfax," by [William C. Kennerly], in The Clarke Courier, Volume 34, No. 2, March 5, 1902, 2 leaves, printed (photocopy)

Bonds for collecting quit rent receipts, 2 items:
-James Newby, Richard Mitchell, and Thomas B. Griffin, for Northumberland and Lancaster Counties, 1774, 1 page, manuscript; 1 leaf, typescript (photocopy)
-John and Lawrence Snap, for Dunmore County, 1775, 2 leaves, manuscript (photocopy)

Correspondence—Charles Carter to [Lord Fairfax], January 20, 1736/7, 2 items, 2 leaves, manuscript (photocopy); 1 leaf, typed transcript

Correspondence – W. Fairfax + [Lord Fairfax], September 25, [1742], manuscript, 1 page 

Fairfax Crypt dedication—remarks made by Robert M. Ward, December 9, 1926, 1 item, 7 leaves, typescript

Fairfax, Denny – miscellaneous papers, unnumbered leaves, manuscript

Fairfax, Lord Thomas Estate – unnumbered leaves, manuscript

Greenway Court – Land surveys with manor, n. d., 2 leaves, manuscript

Martin, Robert B Estate – unnumbered leaves, manuscript

Miscellaneous Items – unnumbered leaves, manuscript

Miscellaneous, 2 items
-Extract from Virginia Land Grants, Old Dominion Press, 1925, re Hite v. Fairfax, 1 page, 1 leaf, manuscript
-List of names, no date, 1 leaf, manuscript

Receipts and bills, 10 items
-Churchman, William, to the Honorable Lord Fairfax, bill for mowing, 1770, 1 leaf, manuscript
-Cobbler (unknown), to Thomas Lord Fairfax, bill for shoe mending, no date, 1 leaf, manuscript
-Corley, Curtis, to Thomas Lord Fairfax, receipt for wages, 1779, 1 leaf, manuscript
-Edwards, P. E. T., to Robert MacKay, bill for making extracts in land suit (Hite v. Fairfax), October 20, 1932, 1 leaf, manuscript
-Foster, Archibald, to Thomas Lord Fairfax, bill for summons, 1767-1768, 1 page, manuscript
-Kerr, John, to the Right Honorable Lord Fairfax, receipt for mason's wages, September 8, 1770, 1 leaf, manuscript
-Neavill, John, to Captain Thomas Martin and Thomas Lord Fairfax, receipts for land taxes, June 15, 1763, 1 page, manuscript
-Smith, John and Edward, receipt for land taxes on account of Lord Fairfax's estate, 1789-1793, 1 page, manuscript

“Securing the Northern Neck” by Daniel Geyer, 2020, 22 pages, typescript

Transcript of the record—Hite v. Fairfax, commenced in 1749, appealed in 1782, 223 leaves, typescript [Restricted]

Transcript of the record, Hite v. Fairfax, commenced in 1749, appealed in 1782, 1 item

BOX 4 

Transcript of the Record in the suit of the representatives of Joist Hite and Robert Green, appellants, against the Right Honorable Thomas, Lord Fairfax, and Others, appellees, Commenced in the General Court of the Colony of Virginia in 1749 and filed in the Court of Appeals in 1782. 2 copies, bound. These are photostats found in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Frederick County, Virginia, in 1926.

Appeal to Virginia Court, 1782, manuscript, 153 leaves, manuscript [Restricted]

Brief of the Record before the Court of Appeals, no date, 16 pages, printed

Appeal—Commissioners' Assessment of Property, 1786, 12 pages, manuscript 

MICROFILM

The Lord Fairfax Land Grants are also on microfilm, under Northern Neck Land Grants.

OVERSIZE

MAP CASE 2, DRAWER 5

The Northern Neck in Colonial context researched, compiled and drawn by Wilbur S. Johnston, 2008 Winchester Frederick County Historical Society