Travels Through North America 



justice of the Bahama Islands. By this lady he had a son, 

 born the 2d of January following, whom he named George 

 William. His health suffering extremely at this place, 

 from the intense heat of the climate, he applied to govern- 

 ment for an appointment in New England, and he had 

 removed to that country, and was there resident, when solic- 

 ited by Lord Fairfax, to take upon himself the agency of 

 the Northern Neck. During his abode in New England, 

 he had the misfortune to lose his lady, by whom he had two 

 sons and two daughters: George William, mentioned above, 

 who was born in the Island of Providence; and Thomas, 

 Anne and Sarah, born in New England. 



Mrs. Fairfax, upon her death-bed, requested her hus- 

 band, after her decease, to marry a Miss Deborah Clarke 

 of Salem, a lady of uncommon understanding, and her 

 most intimate friend; from a conviction, which appeared 

 to be well founded, that she would prove a kind step-mother, 

 and faithful guardian to her orphan children. Accord- 

 ingly Mr. Fairfax, in compliance with this request, some 

 little time before he removed to Virginia, espoused this lady, 

 and by her had three other children, viz. two sons and a 

 daughter, named Brian, William, and Hannah; so that he 

 had in the whole seven children, four sons and three 

 daughters, most of whom survived him. He departed this 

 life at Belvoir, the 3d day of September 1757, aged sixty- 

 six years. Mr. William Fairfax was a gentleman of very 

 fine accomplishments, and general good character. He 

 was a kind husband, an indulgent parent, a faithful friend, 

 a sincere Christian; and was eminently distinguished for 

 his private and public virtues. Through the interest of two 

 of his relations, Brian and Ferdinando Fairfax, who lived 



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