Bryan Fairfax, 8th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1736– 1802) was an American planter and clergyman who also held a Scottish peerage. He was a lifelong friend of George Washington and became the first member of the British peerage to be born in North America after travelling to England and claiming the peerage there. Fairfax was the first cousin once removed of Robert Fairfax, 7th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. He lived in Virginia for his entire life, and was the grandson of Henry Fairfax, a son of Henry Fairfax, 4th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. However, it was not until 1800 that he was confirmed in the title by the House of Lords.
Fairfax did not pursue his peerage until 1798, while on a business trip to England. The previous Lord Fairfax, his cousin Robert, had died in 1793.[2] After his death in 1802, his widow sued his executor, but the Supreme Court found for the executor in 1809.[3] 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.[4]
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, Virginia.[5] 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.[5] 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.[6] As a large landowner, Fairfax was active leasing out his property to smaller farmers, such as Perrygreen Mackness [7]
In 1773, Fairfax deeded Towlston Grange to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband, David Griffith.[10]
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. In 1777, he tried to travel to England and was arrested in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for refusing to sign an oath of loyalty. He wrote to George Washington, who sent him a pass to permit him to travel between the lines. After arriving in New York, British officials also sough an oath of loyalty as a prerequisite for transit. Fairfax again refused, and returned home. While en route, he visited Washington at Valley Forge.[11]
Correspondence with Washington
When the Fairfax Resolves were debated in 1774, Fairfax sent the following letter 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.[12]
Washington responded, writing:
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?[13][14]
But Washington 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.[15][16]
Fairfax respectfully disagreed, writing:
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.[17]
During September 1777, Fairfax was detained in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. However, he wrote to 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 rather 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 ...[18]
Washington responded, writing::
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 ...[19]
Personal life
In 1757, after a whirlwind social scene in Westmoreland and Essex County, Fairfax's brother-in-law John Carlyle caught up with him in the Annapolis gaol and brought him back to Belvoir.[20]
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.[5] Together, Bryan and Elizabeth had three children:[21]
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.[25]
^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.
^p.280-1, Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Volume 11, University of Virginia Press, 2001 Charlottesville, Virginia ISBN0-8139-2026-4
^p.310, Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Volume 11, University of Virginia Press, 2001 Charlottesville, Virginia ISBN0-8139-2026-4
Walking with Washington, Robert L. Madison, Gateway Press, Baltimore, Md, 2003
A Fairfax Friendship: The Complete Correspondence between George Washington and Bryan Fairfax 1754 – 1799, Sweig and David, Fairfax County History Commission, Jan 1982, LOC 81-70298
The Fairfax Family in Fairfax County,Kenton Kilmer and Donald Sweig, May 1975, Fairfax County Office of Comprehensive Planning under the direction of the County Board of Supervisors, in cooperation with the County History Commission.
