1660 Northern Neck Proprietary

1660 Northern Neck Proprietary. . The Colonial American Story of land ownership is both complex and convoluted. The land that is now Seven Bends State Park is part of a history that includes an exiled King, and absentee gentry, law suits, a land agent “King,” and a woman who took matters into her own hands.

Across the ocean, the second English Civil War was at its climax. The “Northern Neck Proprietary” was created as a political payoff to allies of the exiled King Charles Il of England. In all it was over 5 million acres between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers.

Over time, the entire parcel ended up in the hands of two people: Sir Thomas Culpepper and his cousin Alexander Culpepper, neither of whom ever set foot there. When they died, Sir Thomas's Widow and daughter, Margaret and Catherine inherited the land.

The land came into Fairfax hands when Catherine married Thomas, 5th Lord Fairfax. Their son Thomas 6th inherited his grandmother's portion of the grant. When Thomas 5th died his son was only 12, and Catherine, unhappy with her husband's management and distrustful of her son's ability, controlled the estate for 20 years.

Lord Fairfax 5th hired Robert Carter as agent. Carter patented so much land to himself and his family that he became known as “King” Carter, the richest man in Virginia.

At Catherine's death, Thomas 6th became the sole owner. When Carter died Fairfax was stunned to learn the extent of the wealth generated for the Carter family off of Fairfax land. He hired his cousin William Fairfax around 1733 to survey the land. A decade later, after multiple surveys, a lawsuit or two, and much debate, the boundaries were decided. Lord Fairfax eventually settled not far from here and lived out his days in the simple manor home at Geenwav Court.