Note 2 — JOURNAL.
Reading edition
The party on this expedition set out from "Belvoir," the home and plantation of the Hon. William Fairfax, described by General Washington as "within full view of Mount Vernon, separated by water only, is one of the most beautiful seats on the river." (Letter to John Sinclair, 11 December, 1796.) It was founded by William Fairfax, cousin and agent to Lord Thomas Fairfax, and was his residence until his death in 1757. The estate then passed to his eldest son, George William Fairfax, also one of Lord Fairfax's agents, and was his residence until July, 1773, when, accompanied by his wife, he went to England to attend to some property he had inherited there. Washington, his friend and neighbor, consented to act as his agent during his absence, which, at the time, neither anticipated would be of long continuance.
"Law's delay" and business interests making it important for Mr. Fairfax to remain in England, he directed Washington to dispose of his stock, farm fixtures and household effects at public sale. After due advertisement, this was done August 15, 1774. A second sale at "Belvoir" took place December 5, 1774.
The following bill of household effects bought at this first sale at Belvoir by George Washington has been preserved among his private papers and was in the possession of one of his inheritors, Lawrence Washington, in January 1891. The bill in the auctioneer's handwriting was folded and endorsed in Washington's known hand:—"Articles bought by Go Washington at Colo Fairfax's Sale 15 August 1774."
"Inventory of House Furnishings bought by Colo George Washington at Colo Fairfax's Sale at Belvoir 15 August 1774.
£s.d.
Gilbert Simpson's 5 Bott. or Pickle Pots76
2 Potts from Lawson Parkerdodo2
6 Pickle Potts different sizes46
2 Doz. mountain wine14
4 Chariot Glasses frames126
Irons for a boat canopy with tiller126
12 Pewter Water Plates16
1 Mahogany Shaving Desk4
1 Settee-bed and furnature13
4 Mahog'y chairs4
1 Chamber Carpet11
1 Oval Glass with guilt frame in the Green room45
1 Mahog'y chest and drawers in Mrs Fx chamber1210
1 Mahog'y Side Board125
1 Mahog'y Cistern & stand4
1 Mahog'y voider a dish tray & a knife tray110
1 Japan Bread tray7
12 Chairs & 3 window curtains from ye dining room31
1 Looking glass & Guilt Frame135
2 Candlesticks & a bust of the Imortal Shakespere16
3 floor carpets in the gent's room35
1 Large carpet11
1 Mahog'y wash Desk bottle &c.126
1 Mahog'y Close Stool—part broke110
2 Matrasses410
1 Pair andirons, tongues, fender & shovel310
1 Pairdo""""3176
1 Pairdo""""1176
1 Pair Dogirons in Great Kitchen3
1 Pot Rache"""4
A Roasting Fork26
A Plate Basket3
1 Mahog'y Spider make tea table111
1 Old Skreen10
1 Carpet215
1 Pair Bellows & Brush11
2 Window Curtins2
1 Large Marble Morter11
1 Pot Rache in the cellar176
2 Mahog'y Card Tables4
A bed a pair of blankets & 19 quilts or coverlets Pillows Bolsters &c 1 Mahog'y card Table for Colo Lee11
————
£169.12.6
The following admirable description of the estate is taken from an advertisement in the Pennsylvania Gazette of Philadelphia, October 19, 1774:
"To be rented from year to year, or for a term of years,—Belvoir, the beautiful seat of the Honorable Geo. W. Fairfax, Esq., upon the Potomac river, in Fairfax county, about 14 miles below Alexandria.
"The mansion is of brick, two stories high, with four convenient rooms, and a large passage on the lower floor; five rooms and a large passage on the second; servants' hall and cellar below; convenient to it are offices, stables and coach-house; adjacent is a large and well furnished garden stored with a great variety of fruits, all in good order.
"Appertaining to the tract on which these houses stand and which contains near 2,000 acres (surrounded in a manner by navigable water), are several valuable fisheries and a good deal of clear land in different parts which may be let all together or separately as shall be found most convenient.
"The terms may be known of Colonel Washington who lives near the premises, or of me in Berkeley county.
"Francis Willis, Junior."
The estate was leased to the Rev. Andrew Morton for a term of seven years. Unfortunately the mansion was destroyed by fire only a few years later. The owner's long absence, and the fact that there was no house to invite a careful tenant, together with the excitement and derangement of business incident to the war for independence, caused the estate rapidly to depreciate in value. Early in 1775 Washington relinquished the agency of George W. Fairfax's business in America, as his time was fully taken up in directing the momentous affairs of the Revolution.