Near Winchester in Frederick County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Lord Fairfax
Thomas Fairfax (1693-1781), sixth Baron Fairfax of Cameron, was the proprietor of the Northern Neck Proprietary, a vast landholding that lay between the Rappahannock and the Potomac Rivers, and extended to the Blue Ridge. Born in England, he came to Virginia about 1735 and moved to the Shenandoah Valley about 1747. He eventually lived at Greenway Court in present-day Clarke County, while managing his land-holdings. In 1749, he was named a justice of the peace for Frederick County, and also served as one of the justices of the county court of chancery that met in Winchester, and a county lieutenant for a number of years. He is buried at Christ Episcopal Church in Winchester.
Erected 2003 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number Q 4d.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1735.
Location. 39° 12.357′ N, 78° 10.129′ W. Marker is near Winchester, Virginia, in Frederick County. Marker is at the intersection of Maple Street / North Frederick Pike (U.S. 522) and Autumn View Lane, on the right when traveling west on Maple Street / North Frederick Pike. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1189 North Frederick Pike, Winchester VA 22603, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Constructing Star Fort (approx. ¼ mile away); Third Battle of Winchester (approx. ¼ mile away); Second Battle of Winchester (approx. ¼ mile away); Civil War Earthworks (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Second Battle of Winchester (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort Collier (approx. 0.8 miles away); George Washington in Winchester (approx. 0.8 miles away); 3rd Battle of Winchester (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.
More about this marker. This marker replaced a marker with this same title and number erected in the late 1920s or early 1930s that read on the front, “By this road Thomas Lord Fairfax, proprietor of the Northern Neck of Virginia, was accustomed to pass from his home ‘Greenway Court,’ to preside over sessions of the justices’ court at Winchester, 1749-1769. His tomb is in the crypt of Christ Church, Winchester.” On the back was, “Winchester — At first called Fredericktown, it was founded in 1744, near a Shawnee Indian village, by Colonel James Wood, a native of the English city of Winchester. The town was situated in Lord Fairfax’s proprietary of the Northern Neck. It was chartered in 1752.” The new marker is now past the northern limits of Winchester, in Frederick County. Some old guidebooks placed the old marker on Route 522 at the southern limits of the the city.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Greenway Court, residence of Thomas, Sixth Lord Fairfax
Also see . . . Thomas, Sixth Lord Fairfax. Historic Hampshire website entry (Submitted on September 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,008 times since then and 31 times this year. Last updated on September 3, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on September 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on July 13, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.