George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from George William Fairfax, 15 April 1761

From George William Fairfax

London April 15th 1761

Dear Sir

I came to Town about some business of Colo. Cary’s1 and could by no means omitt so good an opportunity as by the Convoy to enquire after your & good Mrs Washingtons welfare, and to lett you know that it was with difficulty I gott here, and that poor Mrs Fairfax and I have alternately been confined to our Chambers since we have been in England, but I hope as the warm weather approaches we shall both gett better. It is impossible for me [to] fix the time of our return, but I am, and shall do every thing in my power to bring it within my time first limited, tho’ Chancery (which I am obliged to embark in) is very tedious, and troublesome to carry through here, however I shant stay to see it finished if they exceed that time, but endeavour to leave it in a good channel, and embrace a favourable season.2 The chief News and talk of the Metropolis is of immediate Peace and the Kings marriage with the young Princess of Brunswick not quite 15 years of age, but I believe neither certain,3 tho’ the stocks rise every day and its said the Expedition Fleet is arrived and landed Men at Belisle in the Bay, but Sr Edward Hawke who is just returnd from thence says he left nothing there but fishing Vessells, the French having broke up and bur[n]t all the ships that they could not gett out to sea and have removed all their valuables to the interiour parts and would by no means be worth the great expense they cost the Nation, and is inclined to think they are after a time to proceed further.4 The changes and other particulars I shall refer you to the Magazine herewith inclosed, and I wish I could say they were satisfactory for the People. I have lately had advice that our neighbour Colo. Mason has renewed his threats about suing for Belvoir an affair that I dont care to have always hanging over my head, and if you should have heard of it since my leaving you, I wish you would encourage it and bring the matter to a tryal while you are present, and the papers in Mr Carlyles hand, for the Deed was first made to you, not only as Escheat, but for non payment of Quit-Rents, and certainly must know every thing about it and it will oblige me and the family if its not brought to a tryal to draugh up the state of the Case as near as you can, which may hereafter serve as an Evidence.5 Mrs Fairfax and I have been alternately confined to the House ever since we have been in England, but thank God are now upon the recovery, and hope Buxton Wells6 strongly recommended to us both will sitt us quite right and enable us to return within the time I limited, but in the mean time should be glad your and Mrs Greens determinat⟨ion⟩ about leaving that part of the world, for I assure you it’s our greatest inducement, and will turn the Scale very much whether we come or not.7 Pray make my Compts to Mrs Green Miss Bolun8 and all our worthy Neighbours, and believe me to be with the greatest Esteem, Dear sir Your Affect. and very humble Servt

Go: Wm Fairfax

ADfS, Collection of Lord Fairfax of Cameron, Gays House, Holyport, Maidenhead, Berkshire, Great Britain. The letter is docketed, “Copy to Mr Washington & Green, April 16th 1761.”

George William Fairfax (1724–1787) had been GW’s friend since GW’s youth. He inherited from his father the place near Mount Vernon called Belvoir, where he lived with his wife Sarah Cary Fairfax (d. 1811) until they went to England in 1773.

1Wilson Cary (c.1703–1772) of Rich Neck, Warwick County, Va., was Sarah Cary Fairfax’s father.

2George William Fairfax left for London with his wife and his younger sister Hannah on 24 Aug. 1760. One purpose of the trip was to settle a part of the estate of his father, William Fairfax (1691–1757). The Fairfaxes returned to Belvoir in 1763.

4An expedition of ten ships of the line, eight frigates, with support vessels, carrying 9,000 troops, sailed for Belle-Île-en-Mer in the Bay of Biscay. The French forces on the island held out until 7 June.

5Fairfax may be referring to the 320 acres which Charles Green had sold William Fairfax in 1741 and which became part of the Belvoir estate. The land, originally part of a larger tract patented by William Green in 1669, was sold by William Green to Francis Ellis; George Mason (1660–1716), grandfather of George Mason of Gunston Hall, by virtue of a power of attorney sold the land to James Rankin from whom the land escheated and was regranted in 1741 to Charles Green who sold it a few months later to Fairfax (Mitchell, Beginning at a White Oak description begins Beth Mitchell. Beginning at a White Oak . . . Patents and Northern Neck Grants of Fairfax County Virginia. Fairfax, Va., 1977. description ends , 57; Northern Neck Grants, Book E [1736–42], 299). Since copies of this letter were evidently sent to both Charles Green and GW, Green may be the one Fairfax is addressing about this particular subject.

6Buxton Wells, now Buxton, in Northwest Derby, England, on the Wye River is famous for its elevation and mineral springs and baths.

7GW had expressed his hope earlier that he could go to England but at the same time feared he would not be able to make the trip. See GW to Richard Washington, 20 Sept. 1759 and 10 Aug. 1760.

8Mary Bolan, Mrs. Green’s sister, seems to have lived with the Greens.

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