fairfax family markham clements (1 Ergebnisse)

"4to., (9 x 7 6/8 inches). Manuscript title-page, 3-page "Preface", 12-page "Contents" and "Illustration", 373 numbered pages of original manuscript. Illustrated throughout with drawings, engraved portraits and maps. Contemporary brown morocco gilt (a bit worn, inner hinges strengthened). Provenance: Thomas Ferdinand Fairfax (1839-1884). A brief history of the Fairfax family, including anecdotes of all principal members from the earliest ancestors in Yorkshire where "they have been famous in the annals of their country, both in arts and arms. As knights errant, as generals and admirals, as lawyers and diplomats, as authors and poets, as scholars and antiquaries" (page 3-4). Written by celebrated Polar explorer and historian Clements Markham, just prior to his appointment as head of the India Office's geographical department in 1867. In 1870 he published a biography of "The Great Lord Fairfax", and in 1885 the "Life of Robert Fairfax of Steeton". With a fine manuscript map drawn in black, red and blue ink: "Map of the Fairfax Territory in America - (Formerly called the "Northern Neck" (6 4/8 x 7 2/8 to the neatline). Showing the courses of the Potomac, Shenandoah, Rappahannock, and other rivers that drain into the Chesapeake Bay; the Apalachian (sic) or Blue Ridge Mountains; the cities of Winchester, Baltimore, Fredericksburg, Washington, Alexandria, Annapolis and Richmond in the counties of Frederick, Culpepper, Fairfax, and Westmoreland in Virginia; with Fairfax residences "Greenway Court", seat of the 6th Lord Fairfax, "Vaucluse" seat of the 9th Lord Fairfax, "Belvoir" seat of Wm. Fairfax, father of the 8th Lord, and "Mount Vernon" "Home of Anne Fairfax married to L[awrence] Washington". Chapter XIV describes the life of Thomas 6th Lord Fairfax - "The Great Virginian Planter": "When he came to look into the state of his affairs, he found that the Virginian property, which he had inherited from his mother, and which had originally been granted to Lord Culpepper (*by Charles II, in 1675), had been deplorably neglected and mismanaged. It was called "the Northern Neck", and consisted of a vast tract of 5,700,000 acres in Virginia, between the rivers Potomac and Rappahannock". Once under the management of his cousin William who "opened an agency office for granting proprietary lands at a quit rent of two shillings for 100 acres. The vacant land readily let, and the Fairfax property began to prosper. In 1739 Lord Fairfax determined to pay a visit to his Virginia estates, and spent a year with his cousin William. He was so captivated with the climate, and the beauty of the scenery, that he resolved, after settling his affairs in England, to reside permanently in America. He gave up Leeds Castle to his brother Robert, and finally settled in Virginia in 1746. At first he lived at the house of his cousin William, called Belvoir, where he devoted much time to hunting. But foxes becoming less numerous, he removed to the Shenandoah valley, on the western side of the Blue Ridge or Apalchian (sic) mountains in Frederick County, about 80 miles from Belvoir. Here he built a house called Greenway Court, and laid out a fine arable and grazing farm. He kept open house, numerous servants, and a plentiful but plain table. His manners were modest and unaffected, and he was liberal almost to excess. After his household was supplied, he distributed the produce of his farms among poor settlers in the neighbourhood, to whom he also advanced money, to enable them to go with their improvements. He was a friend and father to all who lived near him, or held land under him" (page 225 forward). Thomas died without issue and the estate passed to the son of his cousin William, who had managed his Virginia estate for so many years. William's youngest daughter, Anne, married 'Lawrence Washington (elder brother of George Washington, the General), who lived at Mount Vernon, close to Belvoir. In 1748 young George Washington came to live with his brother at Mount.