Bryan Fairfax, 8th Lord Fairfax of Cameron


Rev. Bryan Fairfax, 8th Lord Fairfax of Cameron was an Anglican clergyman and Scottish peer. He was a lifelong friend of George Washington and became the first American-born Lord Fairfax; his predecessors were born in the UK. The Rev. The Lord Fairfax was the first cousin once removed of the seventh of the lived. He lived in Virginia. He was the grandson of Reverend the Hon. Henry Fairfax, second son of the fourth Lord. However, it wasn't until 1800 that he was confirmed in the title by the House of Lords.

Early life and family

Bryan Fairfax was the son of Col. William Fairfax of Belvoir and Deborah Clarke. As a young man, Fairfax lived at Belvoir with his father who was the business agent for his cousin, Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. His brother, George William and his wife, Sally Cary Fairfax, also lived there and were close neighbors to George Washington's Mount Vernon. As a young man, George Washington and his brother, Lawrence Washington, visited the Fairfax family at Belvoir often and Lord Fairfax employed Washington to join a surveying team of his western lands, in the valley of Virginia.

Peerage

In 1793, when his cousin, Robert Fairfax, 7th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, died in 1793, he initially ignored the title. However, while in England in 1798 on other business, he presented the necessary proofs to the House of Lords to claim the title. In 1800, after he had returned to Virginia, the peerage was adjudged, and he became the Eighth Lord Fairfax. After his death in 1802, his widow sued his executor, but the Supreme Court found for the executor in 1809. His son Thomas Fairfax became the 9th Lord Fairfax of Cameron.

Career and land holdings

In 1740, he was deeded, and 1741 was deeded, at Little Run or Hunger Run.
In 1754, Bryan Fairfax clerked for his brother-in-law, John Carlyle, in Alexandria, Virginia, and was appointed as a deputy clerk for Fairfax County. 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. 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, in his father's will. As a large landowner, Fairfax was active leasing out his property to smaller farmers, such as Perrygreen Mackness
In 1772, he deeded a farm, Chattins Run, on Goose Creek, in Fauquier County, Virginia to Washington to repay a debt.
In 1773, Fairfax deeded Towlston Grange to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband, David Griffith.

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. On his own in 1777, he tried to travel to England. He was arrested in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for refusing to sign a loyalty oath. However, he wrote to his good friend, George Washington, who sent him a pass to travel between the lines. In New York, British officials also required a loyalty oath, to board ship, which he refused to take. With his attempt thwarted, on his return trip home, he visited Washington, at Valley Forge.

Correspondence with Washington

When the Fairfax Resolves were debated in 1774, Fairfax sent letters 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.

However, Washington responded:
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?

But he added:
Bryan Fairfax respectfully disagreed:
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.

Later during September, 1777, Fairfax was detained in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. However, he wrote to his Washington, who sent him a pass to travel between the lines:
Washington wrote him back:
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...

After the war

In 1789, he became an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church, serving as rector of Christ Church from 1790 to 1792. In 1790, he built Ash Grove, on Leesburg Pike,, for his son, Thomas Fairfax. It was sold to James Sherman in 1850.
George Washington's last meal away from Mount Vernon, on 7 December 1799 was with Fairfax at Mount Eagle. He was among the last guests at Mount Vernon, on 11 December 1799, before Washington died. He was one of the principal mourners at Washington's funeral, and Washington left him a bible in his will.

Marriage

In 1757, after a whirlwind social scene in Westmoreland and Essex County, his brother-in-law John Carlyle caught up with him in the Annapolis gaol and brought him back to Belvoir.
In 1759, he married Elizabeth Cary, daughter of Colonel Wilson Cary and Sarah Pate. Elizabeth was the sister of his brother's wife, Sally Cary Fairfax. Together, Bryan and Elizabeth had three children:
After his wife's death, Fairfax married Jennie Dennison. With her, he had another daughter:
From 1760 until 1765, Fairfax lived at Greenhill. He later moved to Towlston Grange, where he lived from 1768 until 1790. In 1790, he moved to Mount Eagle,, where he lived until his death.

In popular culture

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.