Lord Fairfax land survey

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

Public domain. There are no known restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Lord Fairfax land survey, C0353, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
0.01 Linear Feet 1 folder
Creator:
Fairfax family and Fairfax, Thomas Fairfax, Lord, 1693-1781
Abstract:
A land survey performed on behalf of Lord Fairfax and written on June 8, 1739 by King George's County surveyor John Warner.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Lord Fairfax land survey, C0353, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

A land survey performed on behalf of Lord Fairfax and written on June 8, 1739 by King George's County surveyor John Warner, likely as a part of the "battle of the maps," which was an effort made by Lord Fairfax and other local Virginia families to lay official claim to parts of the Northern Neck of Virginia. Fairfax succeeded in 1745, thanks to Warner's surveys conducted at the behest of London's Privy Council.

A transcription of this collection is available upon request.

Biographical / historical:

Colonial land surveying in America was an activity generally performed for the purpose of transfering land ownership from the British Crown to private ownership. Surveyorship was a legitimate and respected trade and could be learned through apprenticeship, with much of its activities originating from land surveying of the British Isles. Successful land surveyors were accurate, precise, and detailed with their surveys. Basic surveying methods used many different kinds of surveying tools, but most popular was a tool called Gunter's Chain, which was in use in the United States for three hundred years. Surveyors and chainmen swore oaths to be fair and accurate when it came to performing the high-stakes task of land surveying. The trade has never waned and continues into the modern day, albeit with up-to-date land surveying technology.

Acquisition information:
The donor is unknown.
Processing information:

Processing completed by Amanda Brent in June 2019. EAD markup completed by Amanda Brent in June 2019. This collection used to be a part of the Virginia historical documents collection, C0034.

Arrangement:

This is a one item collection.

Physical location:
R 72, C 3, S 4
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard