Searching for Lord Fairfax (Updated, 2X)

Thomas, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron

As an amateur historian growing up in northern Virginia I was fascinated by Lord Fairfax and the family's claim to the huge Northern Neck Proprietary. This was a land grant of five million acres containing all of the counties of the Northern Neck lying between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers as well as all of what was to become the northern Virginia counties out to the source spring of the Potomac. Its southern boundary was a straight line cutting across the Blue Ridge range and Shenandoah Valley connecting the Potomac headspring to that of the Conway (origin of the Rappahannock River system) river. Originally, this vast area, much of it unmapped, was given to seven Englishmen by Charles II for their loyalty in helping him regain the throne after the execution of his father, Charles I, during the English Civil War. Just how all of that land ended up with the Culpepper family and eventually finding its way to Lord Fairfax is lengthy and will not be described here. But to get the full story, check out this post in Virginia Places.org. It is a fascinating read. There are several maps of that time showing the boundaries of the grant. My favorite is the Jefferson-Fry map of 1753. Peter Jefferson was the father of Thomas Jefferson.

Fairfax (1693-1789) was unique in that he was the only English noble to have lived in the American colonies. His seat of power was at Greenway Court near the village of White Post in Clarke Co. It's on private property and the only remaining structure is a small stone hut that served as his land office

He also died here and is buried in Winchester. But where? Back in 2014 I had some time to kill while in town so I decided to find out. As always, Find-a-Grave is the go to source for these things and directed me to the Christ Episcopal Church. But when I got there I was shocked to see only his above ground tomb sandwiched in between the city side walk and the church building. There was no churchyard cemetery and not all that much room for such an important burial. Almost like it was placed as an afterthought. 

After a little more research it became clear that he spent most of his worship time at the Old Chapel near Millwood just down the road from Greenway Court. 

View from the cemetery

Road marker

This is a neat little stone church with a large graveyard. But as the local population grew, need arose for a new larger church in Millwood, and parish boundary changes led to building the other church in  Winchester. It's unclear why Fairfax wound up in Winchester and not at the Old Chapel cemetery. There are some really old graves there and a big surprise for me was finding Edmund Randolph.. Randolph is a true patriot. He was one of the original Virginia delegates to the Constitutional Convention. He not only served as aide-de-camp to Washington during the Revolution, but also as governor of Virginia, US secretary of state and the first US attorney general. But how did a Tidewater boy living in Richmond most of his life wind up buried in a small churchyard in the Shenandoah Valley? It seems that in late life as a widower he spent time visiting Nathaniel Burwell at Carter Hall plantation in Millwood. The mansion is practically across the road from the new church in Millwood, and I had the chance to tour both the new church and Carter Hall as part of a Mosby Heritage Association lecture a few years back. An added bonus was a chance for getting inside the Old Chapel. The vicar at the new church opened it up for folks willing to venture down after the lecture. It's normally only open by special appointment and for their Easter service.

Pulpit

 

Pulpit view to entrance

So now we know a bit more about Fairfax and the land grant that contained our ancestral lands in northern Virginia.

UPDATE (March 2021):

Since publishing this post, I came across a copy of Fauquier During the Proprietorship: A Chronical of the Colonization and Organization of a Northern Neck County by H. C. Groome (Reginal Publishing Company, Baltimore, MD 1969), originally published in 1927. This book is a treasure trove of information on the formation of Fauquier County with fascinating details about the Northern Neck Proprietorship. It is an essential library item for anyone interested in the early history of Fauquier County in particular and the colonization of Virginia in general.

 Although Fairfax originally surveyed several sections of his vast claim for his own use, with the 119,927 acre "Leeds Manor" being planned for his eventual estate, he never built there. Preferring to open his land office at Greenway Court on the western side of the Blue Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley.

On page-71, Groome cites Burnaby's 1798 description of Fairfax's "way of living" at Greenway Court:

"He kept many servants , white and black; several hunters; a plentiful but plain table, entirely in English fashion; and his mansion was the mansion of hospitality. His dress corresponded with his mode of life, and, notwithstanding he had every year new suits of clothes, of the most fashionable and expensive kind, sent out to him from England, which he never put on, was plain in the extreme. His manners were humble, modest and unaffected; not tinctured in the smallest degree with arrogance, pride or self-conceit. He was free from selfish passions, and liberal almost to  excess. The produce of his farms, after the deduction of what was necessary for the consumption of his own family was distributed and given away to the poor planters and settlers in his neighborhood. To these he frequently advanced money, to enable them to go on with their improvements; to clear away woods, and cultivate the ground; and where the lands proved unfavorable, and not likely to answer the labor and expectation of the planter or husbandman, he usually indemnified him from the expense he had been at in the attempt, and gratuitously granted him fresh lands of a more favorable and promising nature. He was a friend and father to all who held and lived under him; and as the great object of his ambition was the peopling and cultivating of that fine and beautiful country, of which he was the proprietor, he sacrificed every other pursuit, and made every other consideration subordinate, to this great point. He presided at the county courts held in Winchester, where during the sessions he always kept open table; and acted as surveyor and overseer of the highways and public roads. His chief, if not sole amusement was hunting; and in pursuit of this exercise he frequently carried his hounds to distant parts of the country; and entertained every gentleman of good character and decent appearance' who attended him in the field, at the inn or ordinary, where he took up his residence for the hunting season."

In the final chapter Groome gives us clarity on Lord Fairfax's final hours. He died on 9 December 1781 not at Greenway Court but in Winchester after a ride to see his physician. He first was buried at the Frederick parish church in town that he erected in 1762. But later his remains were removed to Christ Church. And in 1925 a new bronze table was placed that we can see today:

"Under the spot repose the remains of Thomas, sixth Lord Fairfax of Cameron, son of Thomas fifth Lord Fairfax and Catherine Culpepper, his wife. Born at Leeds Castle, County Kent, England, October 22, 1693. Died at his proprietary of the Northern Neck in Virginia, December 9, 1781, in the eighty-ninth year of his age. He was buried in the original Frederick Parish Church at the corner of Loudoun (Main) and Boscawen (Water) streets, whence his remains were removed to this church in 1828; where they were reinterred in 1925, when this tablet was erected by the Vestry of Christ Church."

UPDATE (July 2021): 

It seems the historical snowflakes and "perpetually aggrieved" have come for even the good Lord Fairfax. The charge; simply living in his own time and place when men were men and chattel were chattel. The remedy; being judged by present-day standards and CANCELLED. And of course no surprise that the academy was involved. That one institution (and their historians in particular) who really should know better. Clearly the intellectual cesspool from which most current revisionist neo-Marxist doctrine emanates. For the record, Lord Fairfax was one of the most benevolent masters and country gentleman in all of Virginia for his time (note above). The revisionists have no real clue and only see the name.

But never fear; it's all rainbows and unicorns, or in this case; pretty flowers:

"Virginia’s State Board for Community Colleges today approved changing the name of two of the commonwealth’s 23 community colleges, including Lord Fairfax Community College, which will become Laurel Ridge Community College. The new name, selected by a task force of students, faculty, alumni, LFCC retirees, community members and college board members, is drawn from the native laurel flower that is characteristic of the region, and the proximity of the college’s four locations to the Blue Ridge Mountains." 

How nice. But speaking of Lords and Ladies, I'm reminded of a time, many years ago, when Saturday Nigh Live still was worth watching.

  

Baldwin Lunsford's Will, Estate Inventory and Sale

 

A farm lane near The Plains, VA (2014)

As our earliest known paternal ancestor, the search continues for Baldwin Lunsford's origins. Who were his parents? Did he descend from the colonial era Lunsford families of the Virginia Northern Neck? Is there a connection to Stafford and/or Prince William Counties before the formation of Fauquier County in 1759? We may never know as the public records from this period are sketchy at best and no extant family bibles or parish records seem to exist. But the search continues. 

However, we are fortunate to have a very detailed record of his property and affairs at the time of his death in October 1850. This comes to us through his will, estate inventory and sale ledger. Notice that the surname spelling varies between the "ce" and "s" versions; sometimes even within the same document. Baldwin was a farmer and could not write his name (he signed with his mark, X). We have no way of knowing whether he preferred the "ce" or "s" spelling when asked by an attorney, court clerk or census taker.

Baldwin registered his will with Fauquier County on June 2, 1847. What was the United States like at that time?  The Mexican-American War raged, Samuel Colt sold his first revolver, the American Medical Association was founded in Philadelphia PA, and James K. Polk (D-Tennessee) was president. California was only a territory and the US government issued its first postage stamps featuring George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. And according to Wikipedia, the hard candy "Necco Wafers" were invented near Boston MA. Known at the time as "hub wafers", they were said to be a favorite of Union troops in the upcoming Civil War. You can still buy this candy today and the manufacturer claims that it is true to the original version of that time.

In a previous post we described the end of British Primogeniture and how this led to a flurry of chancery causes from family members contesting will provisions or the actions of Executor(s) [person(s) named to settle the estate]. In this regard, we are fortunate that the Library of Virginia has taken the time to digitally scan chancery files from court houses across the Commonwealth as part of their Virginia Memory initiative. While you can visit a court house record room today and find the original copy of a registered will, and while there are genealogy books on the market that index will books or even attempt full transcriptions; chancery files contain not only a copy of the will, but accessory documentation that can help you understand the relationship between the testator [will owner] and his executors and legatees [persons to whom personal property is designated to be given]. If land, property, money or business interests were involved, most likely there will be an estate inventory/appraisal and sale records of how the property was liquidated.

For Baldwin's estate, we have a chancery file from 1854 (Fauquier Co 1854-010). Washington Garrison and Wife vs Executor of Baldwin Lunceford, etc. Washington Garrison married Baldwin's daughter, Margaret Lunceford on 15 February 1850. I don't have any other data on this couple, and this is a very complex file and much of the hand writing by the court clerk is illegible. But a full analysis of this case will be the subject of a future post on BRMM. 

For now, from this file we can extract copies of Baldwin's will, estate inventory and sale ledger. All from the comfort of our home computer without the pain and expense of visiting the court house record room.

Click on each of the following images for a larger view of the document. They are followed by my transcription as best as I could decipher them. Notations and spellings were not corrected to modern day usage as I tried to keep the text as near to the original as possible.

Baldwin's Will:

In the name of God, Amen! I, Baldwin Lunceford of Fauquier County, being in perfect health and of sound mind, do make this, and ordain it to be, my last will and testament, in form as follows,  In the first place, I leave to my wife Judy Lunceford, all my landed estate that I am now possessed of, with the Household and Kitchen furniture, during her natural life: also one negro boy name Henry, and one negro girl name Susan during her natural life also; also one horse, and one cow; all the above named property is at her disposal during her life; It's my will that there shall be no subtenant on the land, and only two fires burnt during the summer and winter months in her lifetime. It's my will and desire that all the residue of my property that is in my possession at my death shall be sold by my Executors on a credit of twelve months, the purchaser giving a Bond with good Security for the payment of the money; To my son Benjamin Lunceford one tenth part, To my daughter Mary Kemper and her bodily heirs one tenth part; To my daughter Elizabeth Creel and her bodily heirs, one tenth part; To my son Harrison Lunceford one tenth part; To my daughter Patsy Hawes, and her bodily heirs one tenth part; To my daughter Harriet Ball, and her bodily heirs, one tenth part; To my daughter Darky Creel, and her bodily heirs, one tenth part; To my son Wormly Lunceford, one tenth part; To my daughter Judy Walker, and her bodily heirs, one tenth part; To my daughter Margaret Lunceford, with her Bedstead, Bed, and furniture; one tenth part; of the money that will arise from the Sale of my property that will be in the hands of my Executors, to be paid to each one of my legatees as above named. And lastly, after the death of my wife, all the property that I have left her shall be sold by my Executors, the personal property on a credit of twelve months, the purchaser giving a Bond with good Security to make sure the payment thereof. It's my will and desire after the death of my wife, that all my landed estate shall be sold by my Executors; one third of the money in hand, the Ballance in two annual payments bearing interest from the day of Sale, the purchaser giving a deed of trust on this land to make good the payments thereof, and divided as above named. And, lastly, I appoint my son Benjamin Lunceford, and my son Harrison Lunceford, Executors of this my last will and testament. Given under my hand and seal this 2nd day of June 1847.

Baldwin "X" Lunceford

Teste.

Bailey Crain

Samuel Craig

Jas. Crain

Since the signing of this instrument of writing I have let my son Wormly Lunceford have a Negro woman called Jane, for two hundred and fifty dollars to come out of his tenth part of my estate and the woman and her increase agreeable to our Bargain is to go to his wife Mahala Lunceford and all her children. Given under my hand this 1st day of April 1850.

Baldwin "X" Lunceford

At a Circuit Court of Fauquier County, held on the 8th day of October 1850.

This last will and testament of Baldwin Lunceford deceased, was proved by the oaths of Bailey Crain, Samuel Craig, and James Crain, witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Benjamin Lunceford, an Executor therein named, who made oath thereto and together with George Creel, Evan Griffith, Joshua Owens, and Wormely Lunceford his Securities, entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of eight thousand dollars, conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form; liberty being reserved to the other Executor named in the said will to join in the probate when he shall think fit.

Teste. William F. Phillips, Clerk.

A copy – teste, William F. Phillips, Clk.

Baldwin's Estate Appraisal:

Appraisment of the Estate of Baldwin Lunceford as made this 31 “ day of October in the year 1850, asfollows:

Horses. 1 bay horse $58.00

1 Roan horse 40.00

1 Roan horse 5.00

Cattle. 1 white face cow 9.00

1 brindle cow 10.00

1 no hornes cow 12.00

1 sow and six pigs 6.00

1 white and 1 Red Heifer 12.00

2 Calves 2.00

4 Hogs 14.00

1 shoat 1.50

Corn. $1. 25/100 per BU (35 Bus) 43.75

Fodder – 8c per shock. (86 shks) 6.88

Stack Hay  No. 1 2.00

“         “       No. 2 2.50

Straw 1.00

Waggon         5.00

Shovel & McCormick ploughs 1.00

Saw 1.00

Single trees .50

2 Axes .75

Lot of old chains .50

Lot of Hoes .75

Scythe & Cradle & al Layite 1.00

2/3 of Gardin 2.00

6 Chairs 1.00

1 Walnut Table 2.00

1 Pine Table 1.00

1 Bureau         3.00

2 Beds. Bedsteau & furniture 25.00

1 Loam & apparatus 2.00

2 sheets                 1.00

1 Cup board & contents 5.00

_______________

$ 270.13

Amount brought over $270.13

Kitchen furniture 4.00

Jane & Child 300.00

Betty 570.00

Polly 550.00

Mildred 475.00

Dulcinea         375.00

Lucy Catharine 375.00

Jim         430.00

Amanda         320.00

Rose 290.00

Joshua 200.00

Charley 100.00

Henry 630.00

Susan 525.00

121 acres of land. More or les

At $10. Pr acre 1210.00

________________

        $6689.13

The above is a true list of the property – of Baldwin Lunceford, as shown so by his Executor Benj. Lunceford appraised by as _

Chars. M Simpson

Jos. N Nathanny

Alan. M. Smith

Public Ad for the Sale:

Here we have notice of sale from the  Alexandria Gazette, vol. 51, no. 258; 30 October 1850. I still need to determine if there was a similar ad placed in the Warrenton newspapers of the time.

The Sale Ledger:

A list of the Sales of the personal estate of Baldwin Lunceford dec.

John Squires         1 young Roan Mare        37.88

Benjamin Lunceford  1 old  Do.  Do. 4.00

William E Ball 1 white face cow 7.00

Tho. Birch         1 horned cow 9.00

Jas. W. Lunceford         1 white heifer 7.50

Do. Do.                 1 red     Do. 8.00

Geo. G. Creel         2 claves 2.25

Enoch H Foley. 2 hogs 1” choice 10.04

Do. Do.         2 Do. 2” choice 9.02

Wormley Lunceford. 1 shoat 1.00

Jas. M Rouce 10 lbs. long & short 20.00

Tho. Hawse 10 Do. Do.         19.00

Elijah Griffith 5  Do.  Do.         10.00

Tho. W Clarke 5  Do.  Do.                    8.78

Wm E Ball 4 2/3 Do  Do            8.68

Washington Garrison 86 shk. Fouder    9.46

Do. Do. 1 stack Hay                     1.00

Do Do 1 Sow & 6 pigs             6.05

Benjamin Lunceford 1 Straw Stack 12 1/2

Do Do Do hay                 50

Ja W Lunceford 1 old wagon 3.75

Benjamin Lunceford 2 old ploughs .57

Elijah Griffith lot old gear            50

John Griffith lot single trees            25

Dennis Cain 2 axes            60

Geo. G. Creel lot old chains &c            35

John Griffith lot old hoes            35

Geo. G. Creel Secythe & Cradle    40

Do Do. 2/3 [?} cabbage             1.00

Col. J. Owens – Betty $800.00

Robt. B. Brashear – Polly. 800.00

Jas. H. Simpson – Mildred. 685.00

Jas. H Simpson – Dulcena 710.00

_______________

3178.61

3178.61

Judith Walker – Lucy Catharine $576.00

Jas H Simpson.  James - 740.00

Robt. B. Brashear. Manda - 555.00

Robr M Carty.  Rose. 476.00

Wash. Garrison . Joshua 250.00

Kemp F Locks – Jane & Child. Mary 410.00

Harrison Lunceford.  Charley. 119.00

Joshua Owens

Clerk.

$6304:61

Re. November 4th 1850

Of Benjamin Lunceford the exector of Baldwin Lunceford dc. One negro man Henry and one negro girl Sousan. One horse & one cow the house hold & kitching furtunity also the track of land this given under my hand & seal this day and date above written

Judy [her mark] Lunceford

Tes

James W Lunceforde

______________________________________________

So there we have it, a complete account of Baldwin's estate, and a ledger of the sale of his personal property. The pre-sale appraisal was valued at $6689.13. While the sale looks to have grossed $6304.61 (minus the 120 acres of land). The vast majority of the value was human chattel, the twelve slaves that were sold outside the family (Henry and Susan being retained by Benjamin). It appears that Baldwin's wife, Judith Creel conveyed the bulk of the land and household to her step son, Benjamin, on the day of the sale.

But how can we appreciate the present day value of his estate? The CPI Inflation Calculator gives a rough approximation of what $6000 in 1850 is worth in today's dollars. It comes to approximately $200,000. So Baldwin's farming operation on approximately 120 acres of land is small compared to the larger estates at that time in Fauquier County. An representative comparison can be found in the Civil War diary of Ida Powell Dulany (2). In that she describes life behind the lines during the Civil War at Oakley plantation near Upperville, VA. During the time she struggled to maintain the estate while her husband was off at the war. She notes a slave population at Oakley of around 100 with many being "hirelings", those rented out to other families on a temporary basis. Of note, one of Dulany's female slaves, Letty, was told on December 29, 1861 that "she must go to live with Mrs. Lunceford" (page-45). A foot note cites Julia Lunceford, wife of Upperville farmer Harrison Lunceford as the employer. Harrison was Baldwin's son via his second wife Judith Creel.

Another topic of research will be to find the actual location of Baldwin's farmstead and to see what is there now. We know from the sale ad that it was located near the Long Branch Meeting House (in present-day Halfway, VA). But the chancery file didn't contain a formal plat for the "120 acres, give or take". It appears that the land was conveyed to Benjamin on November 4, 1850. Furthermore, there is mention of Benjamin's appx 150 acres of land in the chancery suit on the road from Long Branch to Hopewell. So I assume it is the same parcel or part of Benjamin's subsequent lot.

Looks like I'll be spending more time in the Fauquier Court House deed room to try and find records for this land.

References Cited:

1)  Fauquier Chancery case, Washington Garrison and Wife vs Executor of Baldwin Lunceford, etc, 1854-010: https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=061-1854-010

2)  In the Shadow of the Enemy; The Civil War Journal of Ida Powell DuLany. Mackall, Meserve and Sasscer, eds., The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, 2009.