To George Washington from Bryan Fairfax, 16 February 1773
From Bryan Fairfax
February the 16th [1773]
Dear Sir,
I have received the Deeds and inclose the Mortgage to be recorded; and will endeavor to get a Dedimus from Fauquier and have the Other deeds proved before that Court as soon as conveniently can be done. I find from the present date & Tenor of the Mortgage that it is necessary to acknowledge which I hereby do that there is one years Interest due at the Time of the date thereof, which shall be sent down shortly.1
I am at present at Mr Gunnell’s or Mrs Fairfax would gladly have joined me in Compliments to You & Mrs Washington.2 I am Dr sir Yr most obliged & obedt Servt
Bryan Fairfax
ALS, DLC:GW. Only the first three numbers, “177,” of GW’s endorsement can be read.
1. See Bryan Fairfax to GW, 1 Jan. 1773. The contents of this letter combined with the contents of Fairfax’s letter of 1 Jan. seem to indicate that GW was at the point of taking up on behalf of Fairfax John Muir’s protested bills of exchange. The fact that there is no record of this in GW’s account with Bryan Fairfax suggests that at the last minute Fairfax either was able to make the payment himself or made some other arrangements. See Bryan Fairfax to GW, 20 Jan. 1772, n.1.
2. Mr. Gunnell was either Henry Gunnell (d. 1792), justice and sheriff of Fairfax at this time and later a member of the Fairfax Committee, or his brother William Gunnell (died c.1796). Both men lived in Fairfax Parish in the northwestern part of the county.