Carlyle Connection the Ties That Bind: How Influential Family Connections and Initiative
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The Friends of Carlyle House Newsletter Spring 2009 “It’s a fine beginning” CarlyleCarlyle Connection The Ties That Bind: How Influential Family Connections and Initiative Gave Rise to William Fairfax’s Prominence in Virginia Jim Bartlinski William Fairfax was born in Yorkshire’s Newton Winchester in September 1753. Fairfax also introduced Kyme Parish, on October 15, 1691. William was the the bill that created Fairfax County as a separate third son of Anne Harrison and Henry Fairfax of political jurisdiction in 1742, and subsequently served Toulston (sometimes spelled Towlston), grandson of as presiding Justice of the County Court, as colonel of Henry Fairfax, 4 th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, and the militia, and as County Lieutenant, the county’s nephew to Thomas, 5 th Lord Fairfax. William arrived chief law-enforcement officer. At the same time that in Virginia in 1733, coming from Massachusetts where William was acting as his cousin’s agent and fulfilling he had served as Collector of Customs for the Crown. his other obligations, he managed his own substantial Upon moving to Virginia, landholdings throughout William again assumed the Virginia until his death on position of Collector of September 3, 1757 at his Customs, as well as land plantation Belvoir. It agent for his first cousin, would have been difficult Thomas, 6 th Lord Fairfax, for William to attain these Baron of Cameron. Lord posts or acquire his own Fairfax was the proprietor vast Virginia holdings of the immense Virginia without initiative and the domain, known as the Belvoir Manor , 1741-1783 aid of influential relatives “Northern Neck Grant ,” such as his cousin, Lord consisting of over five million acres. William and his Fairfax, and other well-placed kinsmen. family lived along the lower Potomac before taking up The value of an extended family and the value of residence at Belvoir Manor in 1741, the same year his family connections were more prevalent in 18 th - future son-in-law John Carlyle established himself in century society than today. “Family” tended to be a the colony. Belvoir was situated on the west bank of broad term that included parents, their children, and the upper Potomac River below Alexandria where Fort an assortment of blood relations that encompassed Belvoir is today. grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as In 1741, at 50 years of age, William was master of a godparents and those related by marriage into one considerable estate. His service to the Crown in cohesive extended family unit. These familial Virginia included that of President of the Governor’s connections, especially to kinsmen with influence, Council in Williamsburg and membership in the were essential to a young gentleman like William House of Burgesses. Along with his son-in-law John Fairfax, who aspired to lead a better life. Carlyle, William was a member of the Ohio Company Years before his appointment as agent for his and served as a representative for the colony at a cousin Lord Fairfax, William received the benefit of a conference with the Iroquois Indians held at quality education through the patronage of another The Carlyle House is a property of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Carlyle Connection relative, his uncle and godfather, Lord Lonsdale. another well connected relative and by 1716, at the William attended the Lowther Grammar School in age of twenty-five, he had found what he thought to Westmoreland County (adjacent to Cumberland be a more promising prospect in the service of County, the boyhood home of his son-in-law John George I, King of Great Britain and Ireland, in the Carlyle) which had been established in 1638 by Sir British Army. John Lowther and his uncle Richard Lowther to teach From 1716 to 1717, William was stationed at Saint the children of the parish. Through the benefaction of Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. As one of the another relation, William received an additional most isolated islands in the world, Saint Helena was opportunity to improve his prospects through service of vital strategic importance to British vessels sailing in the Royal Navy during to and from Asia and South Africa. The island was the War of Spanish also known to be a welcome port on the long journey Succession (1701-1713), home to England from the East Indies where fresh known in the American water and provisions could be purchased. It is colonies as “Queen Anne’s unclear in what capacity the former midshipman War.” served while at Saint Helena, though he may have Records indicate that in been a secretary for one of the high-ranking officers February 1705, at about the or officials of the island, a post suitable for a young age of fourteen, William gentleman looking to advance his career. Fairfax entered into His Nonetheless, it is almost certain that Fairfax’s new Majesty’s service as a position on Saint Helena was due to the influence of midshipman aboard the his second cousin and godfather, Rear-Admiral newly overhauled third- Fairfax, and even more so to his uncle and godfather, Rear-Admiral Robert Fairfax rate, 80-gun man-of-war, Lieutenant Colonel Martin Bladen. It was a common the H.M.S. Torbay . William’s appointment or warrant practice of the period to name two sets of godparents as a midshipman was the result of the influence of his for your child. The role of a godparent was taken relation and godfather, Rear-Admiral Robert Fairfax. very seriously and a godchild could, for the most A letter from the period penned by Admiral Fairfax to part, count on his/her godparents’ patronage his cousin (William’s mother) Ann Fairfax, states that throughout a lifetime. he would send for her son, William “ … that he may Lieutenant Colonel Bladen, a veteran of the lose no time for his advantage in the service of the Fleet I recent war with Spain, had retired from the Army in have been careful to obtain the letter, and I am glad to do 1710. After leaving the Army, Bladen served in him any service because he is a good boy ...” Admiral Parliament and later held the following positions: Fairfax had a distinguished naval career, served both Comptroller of the Royal Mint, Secretary to the Duke in Parliament and as Lord Mayor of York, and was a of Grafton, and Lord Justice of Ireland. Additionally, member of the Freemasons (1713). The Admiral died from 1717 until his death in February 1746, he served in 1725. Rear-Admiral Robert Fairfax no doubt had as one of the Lords Commissioners of Trade and both the military, political, and social connections to Plantations, also know as the “Board of Trade.” secure a warrant as a Royal Navy midshipman for his young godson. William’s familial connection to Established in 1696 to replace the Lords of Trade Admiral Fairfax likely benefited the young man in his (1675–96), the Board of Trade advised on and future endeavors as well. supervised the British Empire’s colonial In a letter dated December 12, 1712 from William affairs. The Board of to his mother Ann, he expressed his desire to leave Trade examined the Royal Navy. Midshipman Fairfax reasoned that colonial legislation to after the cessation of hostilities with Spain, Great ensure maximum Britain’s downsized peace time Navy provided benefit to British trade limited opportunity for professional growth. policies, nominated Martin Bladen, 1732 Through his own initiative William sought the aid of colonial governors, The Birr Castle Collection 2 Spring 2009 recommended laws affecting the colonies to service, William’s posting to the West Indies may also Parliament, and heard complaints from the colonies have been influenced by his second cousin and about its administrators. It lacked executive or godfather, Rear-Admiral Robert Fairfax, or even his legislative powers, but it became the primary first cousin, Lord Fairfax. colonial policy-making body of the Crown. It was As the Bahamas’ first royal governor, Rogers along abolished in 1782. with his young protégé William Fairfax, was charged Lieutenant Colonel Bladen’s position on the by the Board of Trade with the task of ridding the Board of Trade would figure greatly in the future Caribbean of pirates. During Rogers’ term as advancement of his nephew and godson, William governor, he emerged as one of the leading figures in Fairfax. In spite of his new appointment, the historic suppressing piracy against Great Britain’s merchant record indicates that William served for less than a fleet in the West Indies. In his October 1718 report to year on Saint Helena before he found himself at sea the Board of Trade, Rogers described his eventful again in the spring of 1718 aboard the Delicia , a 460 arrival at New Providence: ton converted East Indiaman, now mounting 32- “...Your Lordships, I arr'ved in this Port on the 26 July guns, and bound for the West Indies. However, this [1718] last in company with the Men of Warr ordered to time Fairfax was not a midshipman in His Majesty’s assist me. I met with little opposition in coming in, but Royal Navy, but an official of the Crown. found a French ship (that was taken by the Pirates of 22 Guns) burning in the Harbour -- which we were told was The 27 year-old William had been sent to the set on Fire to drive out His Majestys Ship the Rose who got Bahamas to help bring order to this rogue outpost of in too early the evening before me, and cut her cable and run Great Britain’s burgeoning empire. The West out in the Night for fear of being burnt by one Charles Vane Indies, particularly the port of Nassau on New who command'd the Pirates and at our [approach] and His Providence Island, had become a haven for pirates Majesty's Ship -- the Milfords near approach the next and a base from which they could prey upon the morning, they finding it impossible to escape us, he with Empire’s West Indian and American trade.