Hugh West and the West Family s Momentous Role in Founding and Developing Alexandria and Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, Virginia by Jim Bish

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1 Editor: Linda Greenberg Spring 2010 Hugh West and the West Family s Momentous Role in Founding and Developing Alexandria and Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, Virginia by Jim Bish There has been much written about the founding and development of the city of Alexandria and the Fairfax County region. Most writers give credit to the Fairfaxes, Washingtons, Masons, Alexanders, and Carlyles. However, I contend that, and, this paper explains why, the most critical family in establishing Alexandria and developing the region s commercial interests were members of the West family and the most important member of that family in establishing Alexandria was Hugh West. 1 EARLY YEARS: 1705 Hugh West was born March 18, 1705 in Stafford County, Virginia (now Fairfax County, Virginia) to John and Ann (Harris) West. 2 Hugh was born into a frontier society where land meant wealth and power, and those who assembled landholdings could build significant family fortunes. Hugh was fortunate in that his grandfather, Major John West, took the first step in acquiring land by purchasing over 2,000 acres of some of the best land in the region. West descendants also married into families with considerable landholdings, such as the Pearson, Harrison, Owsley, Harris, and Broadwater families 3 Hugh s father, John West, appears to have followed in his father s footsteps in Stafford County. 4 John West married Ann Harris about Hugh seems to have been the first of possibly four children born to the couple over the next few years. 5 1 Within a few years after Hugh s birth, his grandmother, Sarah (Pearson) West died. 6 By 1710 Hugh s grandfather, Major John West, married again, this time to Elizabeth (Semmes) Turley. 7 She was the widow of John Turley and had young children. When Hugh was about seven years of age, in 1712, his father John West died and his mother Ann (Harris) West married John Wheeler and possibly moved to land that Wheeler had received as a land grant farther north on Pohick Creek. 8 Probably by 1712, Major John West had no surviving sons because both John West and his brother Pearson West had died. Not long after that, Major West -- Hugh s grandfather -- and his new bride, Elizabeth, probably at least twenty years his junior, had a son also named John. Hugh now had a half-uncle about seven years his junior. Both Hugh and his uncle John became very influential in the region between 1730 and In 1715, Hugh s grandfather Major John West died and was probably buried on plantation lands, earlier granted to John Matthews and later acquired from John Waugh just south of Great Hunting Creek, that Major West probably called West Grove. The primary beneficiaries of the estate were his minor son John who received almost 2,000 acres and his minor grandson Hugh West who received 700 acres. Not long after her husband s death, Major John West s widow, Elizabeth (Semmes) [Turley] West, married again, this time to Charles

2 Broadwater. It appears that after their marriage, Charles and Elizabeth continued to live on the West land of West Grove at Great Hunting Creek. It was probably there that young John West, half uncle to Hugh West, grew to adulthood. 10 It is not known, but it seems probable that he lived with his mother on the John Wheeler homestead. 11 On December 29, 1725, Hugh married Sybil Harrison, daughter of William Harrison and Sarah (Halley) Harrison. 12 It is not known where they lived, but they probably started out on the 300 acres purchased by his grandfather, Major John West, from William Green on July 6, 1686 and which Hugh s grandfather had willed to him. He began married life as a gentleman planter. Another piece of land later obtained by Hugh was the 100-acre parcel on the Potomac River first obtained by his grandfather as a Northern Neck land grant on February 16, Although the land was willed by Major John West to John and Benjamin Blake and later sold to Hugh s cousin Simon Pearson, Hugh acquired it in the 1730s. It appears that once Hugh obtained this 100- acre tract near the Potomac he moved his young family there. Between the years , Hugh and Sybil had five known children: John Jr., Hugh Jr., George, Sybil, and William. Their property became an important piece of land as on it Hugh developed the first commercial business activities north of Hunting Creek including tobacco warehouses, a Potomac River ferry, and eventually an ordinary. This site, then known as West s Point, later became the city of Alexandria. 13 TOBACCO: 1730 It appears that Hugh developed a reputation for diligence and industry. He supplemented the income he earned as a gentleman planter by becoming an attorney. Then, by the mid-1730s, he became heavily involved in Virginia s most important economic enterprise tobacco and the industries that served the tobacco trade. The growing, warehousing, and marketing of tobacco eventually brought Hugh and his family significant influence. 14 In 1730, Virginia s House of Burgesses passed a Tobacco Inspection Act which regulated the developing tobacco trade. The act was intended to improve the quality of tobacco shipped from Virginia and to control fraud and smuggling. (The royal government had tried to pass such legislation for over 50 years.) The law called for the building of an inspection station on the Potomac River near the mouth of Great Hunting Creek on the land of Elizabeth [West] Broadwater, which was on the land of West Grove settled by Hugh West s grandfather south of Great Hunting Creek, but the shallowness of the water there, as reported to the House of Burgesses, made this site very inconvenient. As a result, a point of land extending out into the Potomac, located about one mile 2 north of Great Hunting Creek, was chosen for the inspection station because its deeper harbor allowed the largest ships to navigate and dock. This point of land was part of the 100-acre property owned by Simon Pearson, soon to be purchased by Hugh West. 15 This illustration shows how tobacco was processed after harvesting, Virginia Historical Society Passage of the 1730 Tobacco Inspection Law was truly a brilliant move by Virginia Governor William Gooch. At a time when tobacco prices had been plummeting, he was able to stabilize prices by assuring tobacco purchasers in England of the better quality of Virginia s tobacco. However, in Virginia, many of the smaller tobacco farmers, who raised tobacco on marginal land, feared that their crops would not meet the new inspection standards and that large plantation owners from rich river valleys would produce better crops. They also feared that the tobacco inspectors would use their new authority against them. Marginal land was primarily in counties settled in the early 1700s, such as Stafford and Prince William. This was also the area from which

3 the colonial government feared resistance to the new act. Those fears were justified. By 1732 some tobacco inspections warehouses were burned in Northumberland, King George, and Prince William Counties, the latter the very county where Hugh West lived. Prince William was one of only five Virginia counties that petitioned the House of Burgesses to repeal the inspection act. 16 develop his advantage. All tobacco had to be delivered to the West warehouses, then the northern most warehouses in the colony. The closest warehouses to the south were at Quantico Creek, almost 30 miles away. To use West s warehouses, existing roads had to be improved and new roads built. Tobacco was shipped in round wooden kegs called hogsheads; the name derived from their resemblance to the snout of a hog. These hogshead barrels were packed with tobacco leaves. The barrels round shape allowed them to be rolled down roads, called rolling roads, towards waterways for delivery to inspection warehouses. Hogsheads were commonly seen rolling along the crude roads of the day. It did not matter how the hogsheads of tobacco arrived, but that they did arrive, so that the tobacco could be inspected and approved for sale. That meant that a stream of people visited the inspection station yearly. 18 In colonial Virginia, tobacco was the basis of the economic system. Tobacco served as credit and currency. Because of the indeterminacy of ship arrivals, tobacco sometimes had to be stored for long periods of time. That necessitated the warehousing of tobacco after it was inspected. Each tobacco owner was given an unique, identifying brand known as a tobacco mark. Usually it was made up of the tobacco owner s initials. These marks were used during the inspection, storing, and shipping processes. 19 Virginia Historical Society Despite the troubled times, a tobacco warehouse was built on Simon Pearson s land by John Summers and his slaves. Shortly after its completion in 1732, John Awbrey and Lewis Elzey were appointed tobacco inspectors and soon after Hugh West purchased that land from Pearson. The first tobacco warehouse was a plain structure, probably about a 50-foot square, hewn, timberframed building. As simple as the building might seem, the establishment of this tobacco warehouse at West s Point not only set in course a secure fortune for Hugh West but provided the catalyst to establish the location of the future city of Alexandria, Virginia. 17 Hugh West certainly realized the importance of having the tobacco warehouse on his land and being its proprietor. Once the site was obtained, he worked to survey showing the house of Hugh West and his public tobacco warehouses. These were the primary structures on the land that became the new town of Alexandria in 1749, Alexander v. West in Fairfax Record Survey Book, Vol. 1.

4 Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson s 1755 map of Virginia included this cartouche indicating the importance of tobacco to the economy. In the foreground merchants and planters socialize while, in the background, an inspector and slaves work to load hogsheadsof tobacco on sailing ships, Virginia Historical Society. Over the next decade, Hugh's social, economic, and political influence grew as the tobacco economy in the region expanded. Hugh, as the proprietor of the warehouses, received rent for each hogshead of tobacco stored at a rate regulated by the colonial General Assembly. From 1730 through 1750 the rate ranged mostly between six and eight pence (about ½ Shilling or 1/40 (pound)) sterling for every month a hogshead of tobacco was stored. It appears also that at this time, especially in northern Virginia, tobacco warehouse owners contracted with English tobacco merchants and ship owners to deliver European finished goods and African slaves. The warehouse owners then arranged for their sale and for the ships to return with Virginia tobacco. As the population of Fairfax County increased, large companies, such as Scotland's John Glassford and Company, placed factors in Fairfax County to better organize the transport of tobacco from Virginia and finished goods from Europe. 20 In addition to his warehouse income, Hugh added in May 1740 to his assets by establishing a ferry service across the Potomac from West's Point to Frazier's Point in Prince George's County, Maryland. The House of Burgesses regulated the rates for West's ferry to one shilling for each man or horse for each trip across the river. 21 Because of its growing population and economic influence in the region, Fairfax County was formed from Prince William County at the Occoquan River in The Fairfax County courthouse was located at Spring Fields, a site in the vicinity of current day Tyson's Corner, near the center of the county. The county's separation from Prince William meant the loss of the major port of Dumfries, located south of the Occoquan River in Prince 4 William County. While commercial shipping on Fairfax County's north bank of the Occoquan was increasing, there was a significant need to serve the more northern areas of the county with a port and a chartered town. Chartering a town along the Potomac River for a regional port was desired by many but took many years to accomplish. Meanwhile, business activities associated with West's Point along the Potomac expanded in 1745 when Hugh West's ferry was permitted to provide service to the Addison family landing at its Oxen Hill plantation in Prince George's County, Maryland. 22 GAINING MOMENTUM: 1740 As Hugh's income and influence grew during the 1740s, so did his landholdings. When Hugh began his warehouse operations in the 1730s, he held just over 700 acres of land, primarily as an inheritance from his grandfather's estate; by 1745 Hugh owned over 1,500 acres, including three separate Northern Neck land grants acquired in Hugh's emergence into regional politics began in 1737 when he served as a bondsman in the building of a Mansion House for Truro Parish located north of the Occoquan River. His service to his home parish continued the rest of his life. In 1744, after the House of Burgesses learned that many of the vestry of Truro Parish were "not able to read or write," the vestry was dissolved by the assembly and the sheriff of the county was ordered to call a meeting of the freeholders and housekeepers to choose a new vestry of the "most able and discreet persons in the Parish." In compliance with that order Hugh West and his half-uncle John West were elected as the first vestrymen to serve Truro Parish. The following spring, the House of Burgesses confirmed the election of the new vestry and the "said Vestry was established as the legal Vestry of the Parish." That same year, Hugh West was given 110 pounds of tobacco for purchasing an account book for the vestry and another 50 pounds of tobacco for bringing it back from Williamsburg. Hugh was probably in Williamsburg at that time campaigning to have his ferry operation expanded to Oxen Hill in Maryland. 24 Three years later, in 1748, the House of Burgesses approved the division of Truro Parish into two parishes at a line "by Difficult Run and its meanders from the mouth to the head thereof, thence by a line to the head of Popes head run, and down the said run to the month thereof." All on the lower side of said runs and line to retain the name of Truro, and all on the upper side to be "one other distinct Parish and called by the name of Cameron." After the division new elections were held in Truro as some of the former vestry then lived in the newly created parish of Cameron. Hugh West received the most votes of any vestryman and retained his seat on the Truro

5 vestry, Other successful vestry members included Hugh's step-cousin Charles Broadwater and George Mason. 25 Hugh was not the only West family member who was enjoying influence in the Fairfax County region. Hugh's half-uncle, John West Sr., now grown and living just south of Great Hunting Creek on West Grove plantation, managed over 1,000 acres that he had inherited as the primary beneficiary of his father's estate. He remained very influential in Fairfax County affairs from the 1740s into the 1770s. William West, assumed to be a younger brother of Hugh West, enjoyed an appointment as an assistant surveyor in Fairfax County in About that same time he also operated an ordinary near the Fairfax County courthouse near Spring Fields. William enjoyed more influence in the western portion of the county by the 1750s and 1760s. Thomas West, thought to be another younger brother of Hugh West, obtained a Northern Neck land grant in 1743 located adjacent to the large 1706 Northern Neck grant of Major John West, Harrison, and Pearson. 26 A SEAPORT ON THE POTOMAC In 1747 a group of Virginia's most enterprising planters, moved to secure the western Virginia frontier to the Ohio River and west to the Mississippi River. Interested in land development and fur trade, they organized the Ohio Company in America. Ohio Company members included Fairfax County residents Lawrence Washington, George Fairfax, John Carlisle, Augustine Washington, and Nathaniel Chapman. The following year, after receiving encouraging support from London politicians and investors, the Virginia organizers moved to secure the western lands for Virginia. Developing the west also required developing a town site on the Potomac River that led toward the Ohio River. Since most of the Virginia members were from Fairfax County and its location on the Potomac River supported westward expansion, these men pushed for the establishment of the first town in Fairfax County. 27 By November 1748, the supporters of a town at West's Point became more organized and requested the House of Burgesses to charter a town at that site stating, "A Petition of the Inhabitants of Fairfax, in Behalf of themselves and others, praying, That a Town may be established at Hunting-Creek Warehouse, on Potomac River; Also a Petition of the Inhabitants of Frederick County, in Behalf of themselves and others, to the same Purpose." 28 It seems that the petition from inhabitants of Fairfax and Frederick Counties was primarily from the Fairfax County investors in the Ohio Company including Fairfax County burgess Lawrence Washington and Frederick County burgess George W. Fairfax. Both Washington and Fairfax were primary officers in the 5 Ohio Company. Hugh West was a strong supporter of the new town site as it was located on his land "at Hunting- Creek Warehouse, on the Potomac River." However, no surviving evidence links Hugh West as an investor in the Ohio Company property. At the time that the House of Burgesses met during the fall 1748, Hugh West served as a vestryman of Truro Parish as did Richard Osborne, who also served as the other burgess from Fairfax County with Lawrence Washington. It seems that Hugh West, having been born and raised in the area, knew Fairfax, Washington, and Ohio Company agent John Carlyle very well. West owned land next to George W. Fairfax, supported Lawrence Washington in various burgess elections, and knew John Carlyle from his business activities. Later Carlyle became Hugh West's son-in-law. 29 At the time that the proposal for the town site was introduced in the House of Burgesses, Philip Alexander, who owned the land to the south of Hugh West, petitioned the assembly to reject the proposal submitted by the Fairfax and Frederick County inhabitants. Both petitions were then referred to the Committee of Propositions and Grievances where the allegations of each petition were examined. It appears that Philip Alexander believed that a town site on or adjacent to his land would reduce the value of his property. After receiving the petitions, the committee did not act during the fall term. 30 During this time Philip Alexander appears to have obtained more support opposing the site at West's Point from John Minor and Colonel John Colville. Both men owned sizeable parcels of land southwest of West's Point about a mile from the mouth of Great Hunting Creek. It seems that both Minor and Colville had business activities in that area and that an ordinary had operated at that location, known as Cameron, since A town at Cameron would certainly improve their financial standing. It appears that they began to lobby members of the House of Burgesses for the adoption of Cameron as the town site on lands they owned. Some investors, not knowing where the town eventually would be built, acquired land near both locations so to shelter their investments. 31 It is difficult to know but there may have been deeper differences between Minor and Colville and Hugh West. John Colville lost his public positions, both as a vestryman of Truro Parish and as a burgess of Fairfax County in He was replaced as a burgess by Richard Osborne. Osborne served with Ohio Company backer Lawrence Washington in support of West's warehouse location. At the same time Hugh West also stood for reelection for the burgess seat but polled fifth. Hugh continued to serve as a vestryman at Truro Parish while George Mason, who became an investor in the Ohio Company, was newly elected as vestryman at Truro Parish. 32

6 The House of Burgesses did not take any action on either of the town site proposals in 1748, but during their next session, in the spring of 1749, a seemingly incongruous series of events occurred. On April 5th, the Committee of Propositions and Grievances seemed to reject both town site proposals, declaring "That the Propositions from the Counties of Fairfax and Frederick, and the Petition of Philip Alexander, of the County of Stafford, in Opposition to the Propositions for a Town at Hunting-Creek Warehouse; and for erecting a Town at the Head of Great Hunting Creek, on the Land of John Minor, in the County of Fairfax, be rejected." 33 Then, later that same day, the committee declared that the first resolution (the Fairfax and Frederick proposal) should be read for a second time while the Alexander petition was rejected. After the Fairfax and Frederick proposal was read for the second time, the assembly "Resolved, That the Propositions from the Counties of A surveyor s certificate was awarded to John West Jr. on April 3, 1749 in Williamsburg, Copy in a collection at the Earl Swem Library, The College of William of and Mary. Fairfax and Frederick, for the establishing a Town at Hunting Creek Warehouse, in the County of Fairfax and Frederick, for establishing a Town at Hunting Creek Warehouse, in the County of Fairfax, and laying off a sufficient Quantity of Land there, for that Purpose; are reasonable." 34 These series of events seem unorthodox, but perhaps less so when we consider that Lawrence Washington, who chaired the assembly's Committee of Propositions and Grievances that controlled the town site petitions, was also the principal officer of the Ohio Company, and the Ohio Company proposed the town site at Hunting Creek Warehouse. 35 There is no known evidence that places Hugh West in Williamsburg during the assembly's proceedings, but one can speculate that he was there. Hugh West had traveled to Williamsburg before to petition the House of 6 Burgesses for changes for his warehouses or ferry enterprises. It seems that he was in Williamsburg, probably discussing events with Fairfax burgesses Washington and Osborne. A piece of evidence that supports this supposition is the issuance of a surveyor's certificate to John West Jr., son of Hugh West, on April 3, 1749, just two days before the action was taken on the town site proposals. 36 John West Jr., the eldest son of Hugh West, is thought to have been born in the late 1720s, as Hugh and Sybil (Harrison) West were married in December John West Jr. was about twenty years old when he filed his application at William and Mary College to receive his surveyor's certificate. This certificate, overlooked by most historians, may provide insight into the West family's involvement in the formation of Alexandria and adds a new dimension to its founding while opening the door to examine the more substantial role played by 16-year old George Washington. 37 Two days after the surveyor's certificate was issued to John West Jr., the burgess members from Fairfax and Frederick Counties, Lawrence Washington, Richard Osborne, and George W. Fairfax, were ordered to prepare a Bill "pursuant to the resolution for establishing a town at Hunting Creek Warehouse, in the County of Fairfax, and laying off a sufficient quantity of land there, for that purpose." 38 There is no record that John West Jr. trained with anyone before obtaining his surveyor's certificate. He may have been working with Fairfax County Surveyor Dan Jennings or he may have worked with his uncle William West who served Fairfax County as surveyor in It does seem that John West Jr. did not have a lot of experience surveying, at least it appears so from information gleaned from his surveyor's certificate and Fairfax County records. The certificate provides crucial insight to understand some of the politics behind Alexandria's founding. The certificate declares: To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting. Know he, That We, the President, and Masters, of the College of William and Mary, in Virginia, by Virtue of a Royal Grant from their late Majesties King William and Queen Mary, of the Office of Surveyor-General of the Colony appoint John West jr. to be Assistant Surveyor of (of crossed out and to added in) to Daniel Jennings, Surveyor of Fairfax County, during Pleasure, in the place and stead of (in the place and stead of crossed out) provided he, the said John West neither takes Entries nor signs Certificates in his own or the said Dan Jennings Name In Witness whereof, we have hereunto let our Hands, and caused the Seal of the said College to be affixed, this third Day of April in the

7 twenty second Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, etc. And in the Year of our Lord God, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Nine. Wm. Dawson Pres. Thomas Robinson W. Heston Richard Graham 39 This certificate did not limit John West Jr. in making surveys, but it limited him in that he could not take "entries nor sign certificates in his own or said Dan Jennings name." This document suggests that John West Jr.'s surveying skills were not professional and needed the blessing of the official county surveyor Dan Jennings. According to the burgesses' actions on April 5, th Lawrence Washington and others were responsible for preparing a Bill for "laying off a sufficient quantity of land." 40 It appears that Lawrence Washington, George W. Fairfax, and probably Hugh West needed a survey map that conformed to the house request, that is "laying off a sufficient quantity of land." It also appears that they wanted to show that the site "for establishing a town at Hunting Creek Warehouse" appeared to be the best and most suitable location for the town site. They sought to convince members of the House of Burgesses and later the General Assembly by producing clear evidence that Hunting Creek Warehouse was the best choice. Their survey laid off the "sufficient quantity of land" as required and was, as well, a piece of "boosterism" showing the positive aspects and potential for this land as a prosperous town site. 41 It appears that Hugh West's son John West Jr., at least a surveyor in name, was selected to create a map or survey legitimizing the location of the town site. Did John West Jr. have the skills to perform this act without assistance? Local tradition suggests that Dan Jennings did not make any of the surveys nor produce any of the maps that have survived for the establishment of Alexandria. It is unknown why the official Fairfax County surveyor was not prominent in both surveying and laying out the county's first town. It could be that Jennings was not trusted by Washington, Fairfax, or West. If this was so, then, it seems reasonable that 16-year old George Washington assisted to overcome possible deficiencies in West's surveying skills. 42 WASHINGTON, THE SURVEYOR George Washington was born in 1732 and when he was eleven his father died. George's stepbrother 7 Lawrence Washington inherited Mount Vernon plantation in Fairfax County. It is thought that George probably learned some basic surveying skills from Lawrence and possibly from Prince William County Surveyor George Byrne. During one of Lord Thomas Fairfax's visits to Mount Vernon, George was introduced to the well-known lord and proprietor of the Northern Neck land grant that contained over 5,272,000 acres between the Potomac and the Rappahannock Rivers. Lawrence Washington was married to Ann Fairfax, sister of George William Fairfax and daughter of William Fairfax. William Fairfax was a nephew of Lord Fairfax and served as the agent for Lord Fairfax's possessions in America. 43 Lord Fairfax's Northern Neck backline had been surveyed in 1746 and Fairfax's South Branch and Greenway Court Manors across the Shenandoah River were surveyed in It was decided to subdivide the Manors into lots and lease them to tenants in George William Fairfax represented his grand-uncle during the surveying expedition and probably invited young George Washington's Survey of the future site of Alexandria shows Hugh West's tobacco warehouses and the road to them. The road from Cameron (south of Alexandria) is the dark line going to the warehouses (very small squares) at the right point of land. Note that the water in the cove is described as "Shoals or Flats" about 7 feet. Deep water begins at the channel shown by the line that connects the two points of land, Copy is in a collection at the Library of Congress. George Washington to join the expedition headed by James Genn, County Surveyor of Prince William County. George William Fairfax and George Washington headed out to Virginia's back country on March 11, 1748 where they met Genn at Neville's Ordinary on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Washington kept a journal documenting the expedition along the Shenandoah including his own surveying activities. A little over a month later, on April 17, th Fairfax and Washington returned from the Virginia frontier. Unquestionably,

8 Washington impressed Fairfax with his skills as a surveyor, his maturity, as well as his personality. Friendship with the Fairfax family became important for Washington's future and possibly Alexandria's future as well. 44 Many historians have been puzzled by the existence in the Library of Congress of a plat for the future site of Alexandria attributed to George Washington. After all, the plat fulfilled the needs of the Hunting Creek Warehouse town site supporters by showing others where the "laying of a sufficient quantity of land" would exist while describing the benefits of this location over others. 45 It seems that John West's appointment as Assistant Fairfax County Surveyor gave sanction and George Washington's surveying skills gave reliability to what might be viewed as a promotional survey map and also probably served to silence opposition to the town site. It states, "Note that on the bank fine cellars may be cut. From thence wharves may be extended on the flats without any difficulty and more houses built thereon as in Philadelphia. Good water may be got by sinking well to small depth." Washington also identifies the proposed town site boundary containing an "area of 51 acres, 3 rods, 31 perch" currently belonging to "Philip Alexander, Capt. John Alexander, and Mr. Hugh West." His survey map also shows the existing road which led to West's tobacco warehouses and ferry location. 46 Because of the nature of this survey map, it probably was produced between the time that the petition for the town site was introduced in the House of Burgesses in the fall of 1748 and the time that it was approved for a second reading. Washington, as we saw, had returned from Lord Fairfax's surveying trip in April One could speculate that Washington was an enthusiastic supporter of this survey because it would advance his surveying skills and provide additional credentials to his application for a surveying appointment. 47 This map also indicates the landowners from which the town of Alexandria evolved. Philip Alexander was on this list, although he earlier petitioned against the town location seemingly because it would deprive him of tenant income. Developing the town around his land was not feasible. The focus of the town site was West's business activities surrounding his warehouses and ferry enterprises. West probably preferred establishing a town on his land only, but his land was not large enough; it included only about 400 feet of shoreline. West owned 100 acres, but his property was narrow and deep with limited Potomac frontage. 48 To develop a robust seaport, extensive shoreline property was a necessity. With West's property as a focal point, the town could have developed to the south or to the north. It seems that the shore to the north was not as 8 favorable as the shore to the south and probably too there was more interest in going south toward Great Hunting Creek. First though Philip Alexander's opposition had to be overcome. It seems that town supporters pressured Alexander by offering him incentives. Some historians claim that a deal was made with Alexander to name the town in his honor if he gave the property for the town site. It also appears that steps were taken to relieve him of fears of losing capital from the sale of his town lots. After these concerns were worked out, Alexandria boosters proceeded with the town site bill. 49 On April 11 th, six days after the previous house action on the town site, a bill to establish a town at Hunting Creek Warehouse, in the County of Fairfax, was read for the first time and, after approval, was ordered to be read a second time. Three days later, the bill was read for a second time and it then was sent back to the committee of burgesses -- Washington and Osborne of Fairfax County, Ludwell of Jamestown, Walker of Spotsylvania County, Harrison of Prince William County, Woodbridge of Richmond, and Hedgeman of Stafford County -- to work on any amendments. 50 Five days later burgess Osborne, from the committee "For erecting a Town at Hunting Creek Warehouse, in the County of Fairfax was committed, reported the Amendments that the Committee had made to the Bill, and then delivered them in at the Table; where they were again read, and agreed to by the House." It was then "ordered that the Bill, with Amendments, be Engrossed." On April 22nd, the Bill passed the full body of the House of Burgesses and was then sent to the assembly where it was approved on May 2, 1749 and then sent to Governor William Gooch who signed the act into law on May 11, The law described "that within four months after the passing of this Act Sixty Acres of Land, parcel of the Lands of Philip Alexander, John Alexander, and Hugh West, situate, lying, and being on the South Side of Potomack River about the mouth of Great Hunting Creek and in the County of Fairfax, shall be surveyed and laid out by the Surveyor of the said County and laid out, shall be hereby vested in the Right honorable Thomas Lord Fairfax, The honorable William Fairfax, Esquire, George Fairfax, Richard Osborne, Lawrence Washington, William Ramsey, John Carlyle, John Pagan, Garrard Alexander, and Hugh West of the said County of Fairfax, Gentlemen, and Philip Alexander of the County of Stafford." These same eleven men were also named trustees for the new town. Not surprisingly, town site owners Hugh West, Philip Alexander, and Garrard Alexander were among the eleven. Other trustees included The Honorable Thomas Lord Fairfax and both of Fairfax County's burgesses Richard Osborne and Lawrence Washington. Lawrence Washington, along

9 with Ohio Company investors William Fairfax, George W. Fairfax, and John Carlyle also represented the Ohio Company's interest as trustees for the new town of Alexandria. 52 PLATS AND AUCTIONS While all of the city's eleven trustees had the potential to act on Alexandria's behalf, it seems that Hugh West took a pivotal role and by so doing secured prominence for himself and his family. Although the law stated that Alexandria "shall be surveyed and laid out by the Surveyor of the said County," it was Hugh West's son, John West Jr., serving as Deputy Fairfax County Surveyor, a position he held for just over a month, who is credited with producing the actual survey of Alexandria. 53 Modern historians have sought to diminish Washington's role in establishing Alexandria. Nevertheless, a frequently cited Alexandria map showing the initial lot purchasers was, according to some older historians, produced by Washington. Although there is little evidence to support the claim that the young Washington played a significant role in establishing Alexandria, his surveying skills were probably a valuable aid to Fairfax County Deputy Surveyor John West Jr., and at the same time benefited Alexandria trustee Hugh West, and the other trustees including Lawrence Washington George Washington s plat of Alexandria lists, on the right, the purchasers of lots in July 1749, copy is in collection of the Library of Congress. (See the larger map on page 11 for more detail.) and George W. Fairfax. 54 George Washington and John West Jr. probably had already established a friendship and good working relationship when they produced the original survey supporting the passage of the town site bill. A comparison 9 of West s survey and Washington s plat suggests that Washington s plat is a copy of West s on another background. Also, Washington seems to have copied some of the plat numbers as West wrote them. For example, in the Washington plat lots 9, 29, 39, 49, and 59 are clearly in a different handwriting, but lots 69 and 79 are copied exactly as in the West original. There is little doubt that young George had the support of his brother Lawrence and of George W. Fairfax, who Washington had worked with in his first real surveying expedition a year earlier. Helping West also benefited Washington by allowing him to hone his surveying skills, and the finished survey would supplement his qualifications to become a commissioned surveyor in his own right. On July 20, 1749, within a week of producing his copy of the survey of Alexandria, George Washington became the official surveyor of Culpepper County, Virginia. Considering his age, he had probably been promoted by William Fairfax who then was a member of the Governor's Council in Williamsburg. The surveys of John West Jr. and possibly the plat by George Washington were aided by chain carriers Thomas Graffort and Gerrard Bowling. 55 On July 13 and 14, 1749 John West Jr. was selected by the trustees as the clerk of proceedings and placed in charge of auctioning Alexandria lots to potential home and business owners. It seems that much of the control of the proceedings in establishing the new town was under the control of Hugh West acting through his eldest son John. The influence of the West family did not end here. West family members both dominated the purchase of original lots in the new town and controlled most of the unsold lots after the two-day sale. Alexandria s minutes record and the map produced by George Washington indicates that West family members acquired 10 of the 55 lots purchased on the 13 and 14th. Although the town site act clearly stated that "no Person shall have more that two lots," West family members clearly held on to much of the newly created town after the auction. 56 Hugh West only purchased one lot, number 33, from land owned by John Alexander. Five other lots: 68, 76, 82, 83, and 84 were purchased by sons of Hugh West. Interestingly, at least one son, William West, the purchaser of lot 82, was only 11 at the time of the auction. There is reason to believe that Hugh West Jr. also was underage at the time of the auction. Hugh West's half-uncle John West purchased two lots, 72 and 73, while John West's eldest daughter Anne West, probably also an underage purchaser, obtained lots 80 and 81 located next to her father's lots. Overall West family members purchased 10 lots from the Alexanders. This is more than double the number of lots purchased by any other family; the Fairfax, Washington, and Terrett families purchased four lots each. 57

10 Deputy Fairfax County Surveyor John West Jr. produced the only official survey plat of the new city of Alexandria, above, in July 1949, Fairfax County Survey Book. West s Point is the bottom, righthand lot. Thus, these 10 lots were on land owned previously by Alexander family members, running mostly along Duke Street, but none from land that Hugh West owned. Few other town lot buyers purchased West lots. Sixtyone lots were from land previously owned by either Philip or John Alexander and 53 of those lots were sold during the mid-july auctions. In addition, lots 43 and 44 were set aside for a market place. Thus only six lots (5, 6, 7, 34, 35, and 61) were not purchased from the Alexander holdings. 58 Meanwhile, 23 lots were derived from land previously owned by Hugh West with the north border running along the north side of Oronoco Street and the south border running along the north side of Queen Street. West's land extended two blocks north and south and four blocks east and west. Twenty-three lots were from the land owned by Hugh West, but only 5 of those lots were purchased during the auction. Purchasers of West's lots included Allan McCrae (1 lot); John Alexander (1 lot); William Munday (1 lot); and Roger Lindon (2 lots). The land in seven of the unsold lots (lots 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 25, and 30) was low and marshy and obviously undesirable. Other unsold and seemingly desirable lots remaining under the control of Hugh West included lots 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 28, 29 and river front lots 8 and 14. The latter river front lots included West's Point with West's ferry and lots 9 and 10 with the tobacco inspection warehouses. 59 EXPANDING INFLUENCE: 1749 Hugh West continued his primary role in developing Alexandria from which he benefitted economically and politically. Hugh continued to expand his landholdings between 1749 and 1754 in Alexandria and in Fairfax County, where he held over 2,000 acres, including significant holdings going west to the Blue Ridge Mountains. In October 1749 Hugh West and Jermiah Bronaugh were 10 appointed church wardens for Truro Parish. Less than four months later Jeremiah Bronaugh died leaving a vacancy. At this same time Hugh's uncle, John West Sr., was selected to join the 12-person Truro Vestry and George Mason was selected to join Hugh West as church warden. About that same time, in March 1750, Fairfax County burgess Richard Osborne also died leaving a vacancy in the colonial assembly. Hugh West was elected to fill the vacancy as burgess to Fairfax County with the other burgess Lawrence Washington. Both of these political positions were a barometer of the respect and influence of Hugh West. 60 As Hugh West became more politically active his influence became more noticable. By December the Fairfax County justices approved Hugh's request for an ordinary (tavern) license at his house near his ferry at Alexandria. This ordinary was probably managed by his son Hugh West Jr. at the West family home near the Potomac River, probably on unsold lot eight in Alexandria. Hugh s business activities in Alexandria then included his tobacco storage warehouses, the Potomac River ferry, and ordinary. It appears that Alexandria's most vibrant economic activities continued to center around West's Point as they had before the formation of Alexandria. 61 At the time that Alexandria was established in 1749 Fairfax County's courthouse was located at Spring Fields, near today's Tyson's Corner. Although Spring Fields had been the courthouse location since Fairfax County's founding in 1742, Hugh West led a movement to relocate the courthouse and its associated businesses to Alexandria. Although the county court was in session only a few weeks during the year, those weeks were filled with consequential social and economic activities. During the spring of 1752 Hugh West was the leading name on a petition to move the courthouse to Alexandria. Before the petition was approved Hugh topped all pledges from influential Alexandria and Fairfax County residents with 30 pounds sterling to cover the moving expenses. Hugh carried this message to the House of Burgesses along with junior burgess Garrard Alexander, who was elected to fill the vacancy left by the death of Lawrence Washington in During that spring Hugh helped lead the House of Burgesses to approve the petition (on March 10th) to move the courthouse to Alexandria. Four days later, responding to a request by some local Scottish townspeople to change the town's name from Alexandria to Belhaven, that same Virginia body rejected the request. 62 Once the courthouse's location was secured and Alexandria's future bright, it appears that Hugh West turned his attention to bringing a church to Alexandria. Hugh had served on the Truro Parish 12-man vestry since 1744 and rarely missed a session, even though his service

11 At the end of the auction period, West family members controlled 28 (in bold) of Alexandria s 84 lots including 10 that were newly purchased and 18 that were unpurchased. No other area family came close to having as much control and influence over the new town of Alexandria. 60 as burgess made additional demands on his time It seems that Hugh and his uncle John West Sr., who also served on the vestry, led the efforts in establishing a church in the eastern region of Truro Parish at or near Alexandria. In the early 1750s Truro Parish included all of the existing area of present day Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. CHURCHES OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA The primary church of Truro Parish was Pohick Church, over 15 miles from Alexandria, where both West families lived near Great Hunting Creek. By 1753 Hugh and John West Sr. were successful in getting a Chapel of Ease (branch church) established near Alexandria so that Truro parishioners in Alexandria and the eastern Fairfax County area could more easily attend church. It seems that Hugh donated a residence or structure on land he owned just a few hundred feet west of the western border of Alexandria for the Chapel of Ease. Local tradition related in Mary Powell's History of Alexandria and primary source evidence, mostly from legal depositions 11 from John Summers taken in both Prince William and Fairfax County courts in the 1740s and again in the 1780s, indicate that the first church in Alexandria was located on Hugh West's land near what is now the intersection of Pitt and Princess Streets. 64 The first mention of any church in the vicinity of Alexandria is found in Truro Parish vestry records in 1753 which mention "On the petition of Capt. John West ordered that the Rev. Mr. Charles Green do preach every third Sunday at the Town of Alexandria." The next mention of this church near Alexandria is in the Truro records in 1754 which state "Capt. John West received payment of 100 pounds of tobacco for building a desk at the church in Alexandria." It seems that this first Alexandria church, the predecessor to Christ Church, maintained church services on Hugh West's land near Alexandria until Christ Church was built in the early 1770s. 65 By July 1754, five years after the establishment of Alexandria, Hugh West was likely satisfied with the thriving town growing around his tobacco warehouses and ferry. Through his efforts Alexandria was estab-

12 lished, the courthouse was in town, and a church was being established. He was rewarded for his efforts by continued service as a Fairfax County burgess. Hugh attended sessions at the House of Burgesses during February 1754 where growing tensions with the French probably were a subject of concern. Tensions increased that spring between Virginians and the French in the frontier west of the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Hugh's son John West Jr. was commissioned a fourth lieutenant in the Virginia Regiment on February 27th of that year. 66 In April 1754, Governor Dinwiddie sent a Virginia regiment, under the command of recently commissioned lieutenant colonel George Washington, to construct a road to the Monongahela River and assist in defending the recently built English fort at the forks of the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. Hugh's son John West Jr. was part of the regiment under George Washington's command. After learning that the British fort was now under the control of the French, Washington positioned himself near Redstone Creek where he and John West Jr. awaited Virginia's expedition commander Joshua Fry for orders. Fry died on May 31st and at that time George Washington assumed command of the entire expedition. On May 24th French soldiers were discovered and this news was reported to Washington. The next day Washington, John West Jr., and about 39 other men set out to find them. The French were discovered camping in a ravine near Great Meadows. The following morning, before the French had awakened, Washington ordered an attack on the 33 French forces. The early morning surprise attack resulted in a French surrender after ten French soldiers were killed including the commander, Joseph de Jumonville, and one was wounded and 21soldiers were taken prisoner. Washington lost one of his men and two were wounded. One French soldier escaped to carry the news of the attack to the French held Fort Duquesne. Washington fearing a counter attack began to fortify his position at Great Meadows by quickly building a circular fort called Fort Necessity. George Washington placed John West Jr. in charge of delivering the French prisoners to Governor Dinwiddie in Williamsburg. 67 After John West Jr. delivered the prisoners, he returned to Fort Necessity and helped defend the Virginians against the French. Meanwhile, his uncle, John West Sr., was busy recruiting soldiers from Alexandria and Fairfax County to help bolster Washington's army at Great Meadows. Hugh's younger brothers, Thomas West and William West, living in the western area of Fairfax County provided horses and other supplies to Virginia's Regiment. William West also probably provided a place to plan and rest in route to Fort Necessity as he then operated West's Ordinary on the eastern slope of Bull Run Mountain in the western area of 12 Fairfax County. 68 Meanwhile, John West Jr. remained with George Washington at Fort Necessity into July. On the morning of July 3rd a force of about 700 French and Native Americans moved toward the fort. Outnumbered almost three to one, the Virginia Regiment fought in the rain and, as the Virginians casualties mounted, Washington was ready to surrender. Surrender terms were drawn up and Washington's men, including John West Jr. were allowed to return to Virginia. Washington with John West Jr. fell back to Winchester, Virginia. About a month later, in early August 1754, John West Jr. returned to Alexandria after asking for and receiving a discharge. It seems that his father, Hugh must have been in failing health. 69 George Washington in the uniform of the Virginia Regiment worn in the French & Indian War. The painting by Charles Wilson Peale shows Washington in his late teens although it was painted in John West Jr. and George Washington probably often worked together during the onset of their surveying careers, and John West Jr. served under George Washington at Fort Necessity during the French and Indian War. Washington referred to John as "my good friend Jack West." Image Courtesy of the Library of Congress. Earlier that summer, Hugh had actively participated in the June 18 th Alexandria trustees meeting. In the five years between the creation of the town in July 1749 and July 1754, Hugh attended 17 of the 18 trustee meetings, missing only one in February No other trustee attended as many meetings. Moreover, of the town's 11 original trustees, only five were in attendance for more than half of the meetings during the first five years. In addition to Hugh West both John Carlyle and William Ramsey attended 17 meetings. Others who

13 attended more than half of the meetings included John Pagan (11) and Garrard Alexander (10). Two original trustees, Phillip Alexander and Thomas "Lord" Fairfax, never attended a trustee meeting. Three days after attending the Alexandria trustee meeting on June 18, 1754, Hugh attended the Truro Vestry meeting and in this capacity examined the building of the Vestry Glebe. 70 Two months later, at the end of August, Hugh West died. It is not known what caused his death, but it appears to have been a sudden event considering his activity that summer. His death was announced during the August session of the House of Burgesses. The November 22 nd Truro Vestry meeting minutes reveal, "To Hugh West's widow for Elemts. for the Church on amount 1000 lbs. tobacco and The Hon. William Fairfax was appointed Vestryman of this Parish in the room of Mr. Hugh West, deceased." Although Hugh was 50 at his death he not only had helped establish a thriving city, but also provided an excellent record of public service and a model of success for his family. 71 THE SONS OF HUGH WEST: 1754 At the time of his death many family members were positioned in seats of power. All of Hugh's sons owned lots in Alexandria while continuing to hold important public positions in the region. Hugh's eldest son, John West Jr., served Virginia in its actions against French forces under George Washington and continued to serve as Fairfax County surveyor into the 1760s. George Washington had a good relationship with John West Jr. probably going back to their youth. Washington conducted land transactions with John West Jr. and often visited and stayed at the West home. During the French and Indian War Washington refers to him as "my good friend Jack West." Between 1754 and 1776 John West Jr. continued to serve Alexandria and Fairfax County in a variety of positions such as Truro Parish clerk from , 69 Fairfax County sheriff between 1757 and 1759 and then as Fairfax County Justice of the Peace from In 1770 he signed the Fairfax County Non-importation Association Declaration and served Fairfax Parish as a vestry member from On March 20, 1773, 11 days after the death of his wife, Colonel George Mason, penned his own will. In the will, Mason appointed his eldest son George and "his good friend Martin Cockburn" executors of his will; and that no dispute or difficulty may arise to his executors or children about the division of his property among the residuary legatees, Colonel Mason appointed his "good friends the Rev. Mr. James Scott, the Rev. Mr. Lee Massey, Mr. John West Jun., Col. George Washington and Mr. Alexander Henderson" whenever it was necessary to make such division. And he adds: "I hope they will be 13 so charitable as not to refuse undertaking this trouble for the sake of a friend who when living would have done the many good office in his power." We learn who Colonel Mason's intimate friends were at this time by the trust here given, as well as by this bequest: "I desire my old and long-tried friends, the Rev. Mr. James Scott and Mr. John West Junior, each of them to accept of a mourning ring." Three years later, in 1776, John West Jr. and George Mason represented Fairfax County at the Virginia Constitutional Convention. The convention recognized George Mason in his mid-forties, circa Col. George Mason, , appointed his good friend John West Jr. executor in his will and also served with John West Jr. as a Fairfax Delegate to Virginia s Constitutional Convention which accepted Mason s Declaration of Rights. Virginia's independence from England and adopted the Virginia Declaration of Rights written by George Mason. The following year the Fairfax County Resolves were written by George Mason, George Washington, and others, including John West Jr., in response to the Intolerable Acts, at a meeting of Fairfax County freeholders. That same year, John West Jr. was one of ten persons to purchase a pew at the newly completed Christ Church in Alexandria. 74 Hugh's second son, Hugh West Jr., began working as an attorney in Alexandria in 1751 and that same year replaced John Hamilton as the King's Attorney for Fairfax County. Upon his father's death in 1754 he took over his father's seat in the House of Burgesses representing Fairfax County. In 1755 Hugh West Jr. gave up his seat in Fairfax County and won a House of Burgess election in Frederick County defeating Colonel George Washington. This defeat was Washington's only electoral

14 loss. Hugh West Jr. served as a Frederick County burgess until 1758 when he was defeated by Washington. In 1757, Hugh Jr. began serving as King's Attorney for Loudoun County, Virginia, and that same year married Elizabeth Minor, daughter of Nicholas Minor. Nicholas Minor was co-founder of Leesburg with William West, uncle of Hugh West Jr. Hugh West Jr. continued to serve as King's Attorney in both Fairfax and Loudoun Counties until his death in Hugh West's third son, George West, began operating his father's ordinary in Alexandria in At the time of his father's death in 1754 George West succeeded his older brother John West Jr. as Fairfax County surveyor. In that position he surveyed and platted the Fairfax County town of Colchester in In 1757 he surveyed the boundary between Fairfax and the newly-created Loudoun County. At that time, George West also became the Loudoun County surveyor. George West remained both Fairfax and Loudoun County surveyor from 1757 until his death in Between 1757 and 1771 he also served as Loudoun County Court Justice. Beginning in 1763 he served on the Cameron Parish Vestry until In 1765 George West surveyed an addition to Alexandria. George West lived in both Loudoun and Fairfax Counties as he maintained his plantation "Pea Ridge" on Goose Creek in Loudoun and a townhouse on lot 25 at the southwest corner of Royal and Princess Street in Alexandria until his death in Alexandria in William West Jr., Hugh's youngest son, was only seventeen years old at the time of his father's death. William West Jr. attended William and Mary College between 1755 and In 1761, William West traveled to London where he obtained his Orders from the Bishop of London qualifying him as an ordained clergyman in the colonies. Upon returning to the colonies he served with Reverend Theophilus Swift as a curate in Port Tobacco and Durham, Maryland. After Swift's death in 1762, William applied to fill the position and his good friend George Washington wrote a letter of recommendation to Maryland Governor Horatio Sharpe in 1762 stating "Revd Mr. West, of a good Family, and unexceptionable Morals - this with truth I can venture to certifie as he is a neighbor of mine, and one of those few of whom everybody speaks well." 76 Between 1762 and 1767 Reverend William West was incumbent of the Parish of Port Tobacco and Durham and from 1767 to 1772 he served as rector of St. Andrew's Parish in St. Mary's County, Maryland. Between 1772 and 1778 he served as Rector or St. George's Parish in Hartford County, Maryland. Reverend William West returned home to Alexandria where he served one year as Rector of Fairfax Parish serving Christ Church. In 1779, he returned to Maryland, to be closer to his wife's family, where he served as Rector of St. Paul's Parish in 14 Baltimore, Maryland. While serving at St. Paul's he presided over the Maryland Episcopal Convention in Reverend William West served St. Paul's Parish until his death in It has been claimed that had he lived past 1792, he would probably have been chosen as the first Bishop of Maryland. 77 SYBIL WEST: 1761 Hugh's only daughter, Sybil West was in her midtwenties when her father died in At that time she probably continued to live at home with her mother and younger brother. Seven years later, on October 22, 1761 The Reverend William West and his wife Susan (Walker) West. Rev. West served as Rector of Christ Church in Alexandria during the Revolutionary War. These portraits were made by their son George West, Images courtesy of Edith Estes Bradbury. Sybil married influential Alexandria merchant, John Carlyle. Carlyle had earlier been married to Sarah Fairfax, sister of George William Fairfax of Belvoir Plantation. The Fairfax marriage made Carlyle, not only a brother-in-law to Fairfax, but also to Lawrence Washington, older brother to George Washington. In 1749 young Carlyle worked closely with Sybil's father in establishing Alexandria. He then joined Sybil's father in becoming one of Alexandria's trustees while at the same time advancing his business interests by becoming the most influential entrepreneur in the area. Carlyle built the most substantial house in Alexandria which was completed during 1753 where he and his first wife, Sarah then lived. 78 Sarah died on January 22, 1761, just one day after giving birth to their second daughter Ann. John was left a widower with a four-year old daughter Sarah and the infant Ann. His marriage to Sybil West occurred exactly nine months later. It appears that John Carlyle was a barometer of where political power existed in the Fairfax area. After marrying into the Fairfax family, marrying into the West's family was a politically astute move. There was not a family at the time that held more politi-

15 A 19th century depiction of the 18th century Carlyle House where Sybil and John Carlyle lived after their marriage in 1761 until her death in Sybil raised two of Carlyle s daughters from his first marriage and bore four children as well, Image courtesy of John Carlyle House archives. cal influence in the area than did the Wests. Almost two years later, September 11, 1763 John and Sybil's first child John Carlyle Junior was born. On June 26, 1765 a second son, William, was born. He only lived four days. On February 25 of the following year, their first son John Jr. passed away. Only three months later on May 27, 1766 their third son George William Carlyle was born. George William's birth restored three children to the Carlyle household; the older two Carlyle girls: Sarah and Ann, nine and four, and the infant George William. Sybil became pregnant once more in late 1766 and there were obvious complications during the pregnancy. Sybil died on March 7, 1767 after the miscarriage of a daughter. John Carlyle wrote in the family Bible, "March 7, This day Sybil Carlyle, the second wife of John Carlyle departed this life after a painful trial of many months and miscarriage of a daughter. In every station of life that she lived on she filled them with Honour and is greatly lamented by those that knew her." 79 John did not remarry after Sybil's death. He appears to have worked very closely with his brother-inlaw John West Jr. during this time. Before Sybil's death, plans were made to build a church near Alexandria. Work began on the building of the church, and in 1768 John West Sr. was placed in charge of inspection work and in applying to John Alexander for deeds for one acre of land for the church. After many delays and problems by the church builders, John Carlyle agreed to complete Christ Church which he finished in At the time of completion, in order to pay for additional expenses accrued in the building of Christ Church, it was decided by the vestry, which then included both John West Jr. and his granduncle, John West Sr., that ten pews would be auctioned to support the church. John Carlyle purchased pew #19 and his brotherin-law, John West Jr. purchased pew #29. Only John 15 Sybil West s husband John Carlyle painted by John Hesselius when Carlyle was 45. Muir at 36.5 and George Washington at paid more for a pew than did John West Jr. at 33. Including John Carlyle, West family members gave the greatest support for the building of Christ Church. West family members were instrumental in building Christ Church from the decision to build, to obtaining the land, to completing its construction, and finally to giving additional financial support to pay for its completion. John Carlyle died during the Revolutionary War in JOHN WEST, SR. After Hugh's death, his uncle, John West Sr,. became the most influential of all West family members. John West Sr. lived on the home plantation inherited from his father, known as West's Grove. He often was referred Christ Church as it appeared after Both John West Jr. and his brother-in-law John Carlyle were instrumental in founding Christ Church in to as either Capt. John West or John West Sr. to differentiate him from his grandnephew John West Jr. who was also active in public affairs at the same time. John West Sr. served with his nephew Hugh on the vestry of Truro Parish as John served from 1744 to Between 1744 and 1746 he served the parish as a church warden. He

16 worked with his nephew Hugh in establishing a Church of Ease on his nephew's land near Alexandria in John West Sr. acquired the Fairfax County burgess seat that had been held by his grandnephew Hugh West Jr. in and by his nephew Hugh West from Between 1755 and 1774 Col. John West served as a burgess representing Fairfax County. For nine years, from 1765 to 1774 he served with George Washington as a burgess representing Fairfax County. While serving as burgess, John West Sr. also served as Fairfax County Sheriff from and served as a Fairfax County Justice of the Peace from As a burgess in 1765 he successfully lobbied the assembly to establish a new Fairfax Parish from Truro Parish. In the Fairfax vestry elections following its separation from Truro, Col. John West received the highest number of votes for vestryman. He served on the Fairfax Parish Vestry from and again in While a vestryman he served Fairfax Parish as a church warden in 1766 and from While serving on the Vestry in 1769 Col. John West was in charge of inspections made concerning the building of Christ Church in Alexandria and was also under his control to secure the deed from John Alexander for the one acre of land on which Christ Church was built. The following year John West Sr. signed the Fairfax County non-importation association declaration. This was an important endorsement being a sitting Burgess along with George Washington who also supported the move against England. 82 Probably the most important actions taken by Col. John West were on May 24, 1774 in the House of Burgesses when he, along with George Washington, voted to adopt a resolution naming June 1, the day the port of Boston was to be closed, and a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer in Virginia. In response, Virginia's royal governor Lord Dunmore dissolved the General Assembly. The Burgesses, or 89 of them, reconvened at the Raleigh Tavern and proposed an annual "general congress" of the colonies. They also formed a new non-importation association. Along with George Washington, John West signed by Thomas Jefferson as one of the 89 signers of this rebellious document which many historians believe was the first major step toward forming a "Continental Congress." Later that summer Col. John West, along with his grand-nephew, John West Jr. were among the Fairfax County freeholders who helped to draft the Fairfax County Resolves, who many credit George Mason and George Washington for writing in response to the Intolerable Acts. Later that summer, John West stepped down from his position as a burgess representing Fairfax County stating health concerns. John West Sr. continued to do work as a vestryman until 1776 when he died. John West Sr. 16 By the early 1760s West family members had sold all of the lots they originally purchased in Alexandria. However, they continued to control most of the land they owned leading to West s Point. See the ten lots above in bold. Moreover, they owned almost 4,000 acres in Fairfax County and 2,000 acres in Loudoun County, Virginia. This does not include John Carlyle s full or partial interest in six lots in Alexandria (#3, 28, 29, 41, 42 and 50) nor his 1,000 acres in Fairfax County. requested in his will that his good friend George Washington serve as guardian for his minor son Roger West. John West Sr. is probably buried at the family burial vault at West's Grove, just south of Great Hunting Creek. 83 THOMAS & WILLIAM WEST Hugh's brother Thomas West later moved to the western area of Fairfax County where he served Washington's Virginia Colonial Militia by furnishing supplies in Meanwhile, Hugh's other brother William acquired two different Northern Neck grants in 1740 in Prince William County. They became part of western Fairfax County in In 1742 William West became Fairfax County's Assistant Surveyor and was active in Fairfax and later Loudoun Counties into the 1760s. In 1742, he leased land from George W. Fairfax near what was then called Spring Fields (in the Tyson s Corner area) where he operated an ordinary situated along the Potomac Ridge Road on the grounds of the Fairfax County jail, then just north of the courthouse. During that same time he was voted one of the processionals of Truro vestry in the district 'between Little River and Walnut Cabin Branch.' 84 It appears that William freely traveled between his western lands in Fairfax County located between Bull Run and the north side of the Great Branch of Goose Creek called Beaverdam Fork and his leased lands near Spring Fields. By 1748 he made his home at his western property at the base of Bull Run Mountain. 85 In 1755 William West stood for and polled the largest number of votes for the Fairfax County burgess election after Hugh West's death. It is not known why he

17 did not serve as burgess as his uncle, John West Sr., began serving Fairfax as burgess from that time to William's plantation, known as Fruit Hill, was located at the eastern base of Bull Run Mountain which at that time was in Fairfax County. Young George Washington and George William Fairfax stopped there upon returning from their surveying expedition in April Washington wrote in his diary, "We did get over Wms. Gap that night and as low as Wm. West in Fairfax County, 18 miles from the top of the Ridge." 86 Fruit Hill then was located along the primary pathway of Mountain or Colchester Road to the west from Fairfax County, and his home became a favorite overnight stop for those heading to and from the western wilderness. The stream travelers probably prompted William to open an ordinary at Fruit Hill which he and later his sons operated into the 1780s. It was most likely at Fruit Hill that the initial discussions and proceedings which led to the formation of Loudoun County, from western Fairfax County, took place in After the formation of Loudoun County, William served as a court justice through He also served as captain of the Loudoun County Militia during the French and Indian War in In 1761 he resigned his seat as Court Justice to become Loudoun County Sheriff, a position he held through In 1758 Nicholas Minor, father-inlaw of George West, urged the establishment of Leesburg as the Loudoun County seat. The General Assembly approved, and William West becoming one of Leesburg s founding trustees. In 1763, William West retired from public service and moved into Leesburg where he helped his son-in-law, Craven Peyton, with his ordinary at the corner of Loudoun and King Streets in Leesburg. William's son Charles West took over West's Ordinary at Fruit Hill at that time. William West died in After Hugh West s death in 1754 to 1767, the West family was at the zenith of its political power in Alexandria and in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. At that time, West family members continued to control a great portion of the land in Alexandria and held other land throughout the region. 89 Historian John T. Phillips wrote in The Historian's Guide to Loudoun County, Virginia, that "William West's appointment in 1761 to the office of Loudoun County Sheriff established a high water mark in the ascendancy of the West Family in the Potomac piedmont. At that point in time, William West's brother [Uncle] John West was representing Fairfax County in the House of Burgesses, one nephew, George West, who married the niece of Leesburg founder, Nicholas Minor, was the County Surveyor for both Loudoun and Fairfax, while another nephew, Hugh West [Junr.], a former Virginia Burgess, was also serving as the Deputy King's 17 Attorney (prosecutor) for Loudoun and Fairfax." 90 Phillips was correct in that a significant amount of power was concentrated in the West family, but there is more to include if we explore the activities of Hugh West Sr.'s children. In 1761 John West Jr. had just finished his term as Fairfax County Sheriff, was clerk for Truro Parish, and was about to become a Fairfax County Court Justice. George West, in addition to his positions as surveyor for Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, served as a Loudoun County Court Justice and was about to serve on the vestry of Cameron Parish. In 1761 Reverend William West had completed his studies at William and Mary and was returning to the colonies after visiting London to receive his papers as an Ordained Minister. He returned to Virginia to become one of the most highly respected ministers in the colonies. Sybil West became the bride of John Carlyle on October 22nd of that year. As previously explained John Carlyle was a barometer of where political power existed and he must have felt pleased to become a member of this politically connected West family. Sybil's uncle, John West Sr., a sitting burgess, had just replaced her brother John West Jr. as Fairfax County's new sheriff, served on the vestry of Truro Parish, and was about to be elected as a Fairfax Court Justice. 91 Overall, the West family influence was truly remarkable. At least one West Family member represented Fairfax County in the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg during every year between 1752 and Only two burgesses were elected from each county. Their time there represents 22 years of political service during the critical years leading to the American Revolution. After the Revolution, Thomas and Roger West served Fairfax County as members of the House of Delegate for 13 of the years between 1784 and Also, West family members gave years of service as court justices for both the Fairfax and Loudoun County courts. 92 VESTRY SERVICE In the forty-nine years from 1744 through 1792, a West family member served the vestry of Truro and Fairfax Parishes. A West family member also served on the vestry of Cameron Parish for eight years during that time. In the years and two members, Hugh West and John West Sr., served Truro Vestry representing the area of Alexandria. After the split of Truro Parish in 1765, West Family members continued to serve the newly formed Fairfax Parish and Christ Church. At least one West family member served on the Fairfax Parish Vestry during the 17 years between 1765 and In addition, two West family members, John West Jr. and John West Sr., served on the vestry between 1772 and The years between 1782 and 1792, and did not have a West Family member on the

18 Fairfax Vestry. By 1790, however, the Fairfax Parish Vestry saw service from three new West family members, Roger and Thomas West, and Richard Conway. Overall, West family members were instrumental in the founding of Truro, Fairfax, and Cameron Parishes; Fairfax and Loudoun Counties; and the towns of Alexandria and Leesburg. 93 Early deaths of West family members led to a gradual decline in their political power by the late 1770s. Between 1767 and 1786 four of Hugh and Sybil (Harrison) West s children died. Hugh West Jr., the respected Fairfax and Loudoun County attorney and former burgess, died in 1767 at about 40 years of age. Sybil (West) Carlyle, wife of Alexandria merchant John Carlyle, died in Alexandria in 1769 after eight years of marriage. She was under 40. Their older brother, John West Jr., died in 1777 at about age 50, less than a year after he served Fairfax County at Virginia's Constitutional Convention during the Revolutionary War. He probably died on the land earlier granted to Simpson which he inherited from his father. This is the site of Hugh West s family cemetery and burial vault. Fairfax and Loudoun County Surveyor George West lived into his mid-50s. He died in 1786 and was buried at that family cemetery. All of Hugh and Sybil West's children had died by 1786 except Reverend William West, whom was living in Baltimore County, Maryland, serving St. Paul's and St. Thomas Parish in Baltimore County. 94 Hugh's brother William West of Loudoun died in 1769, and their uncle John West Sr. lived into his mid- 60s, passing away in 1776, the year America declared its independence from Great Britain. However, by that time, another generation of West family members emerged on the political stage. Thomas West, son of John West Jr., was elected to serve Fairfax County in the newly formed House of Delegates in Richmond's General Assembly between in 1784 and 1785 and Roger West, son of John West Sr., served Fairfax County as a House of Delegate member for 11 years between 1788 and Their influence in the northern piedmont region, however, did not seem to have the impact of their ancestors. Again, it was probably the early deaths which affected their political influence. 95 Hugh's wife, Sybil (Harrison) West, the family s matriarch, outlived four of her five children. On May 27, 1787 Sybil (Harrison) West died at 82 years of age. An announcement of her death appeared in the Alexandria Gazette on June 7, 1787 stating: "Died. Mrs. Sybil West, in the 83d year of her age. This Venerable lady was one of the first inhabitants of this Town, and through life supported the Character of a pious Christian. Her remains were interred in the Family Vault, near this town, on Thursday last, attended by a numerous Collection of Relations and Friends." During her life Sybil witnessed 18 the development of Fairfax County and the founding of Alexandria. She also witnessed the escalation of her family's political power, which her husband was instrumental in initiating. 96 We cannot but ask why a family of such political importance with close ties to both George Washington and George Mason has not been the subject of previous historical examination. Likewise it is difficult to understand why the West family has gone relatively unnoticed in the history of the development of Virginia's northern piedmont. Yet, we should consider the following: First, West family members are often difficult to identify in primary sources because of the duplication of names, especially, John, William and Hugh. For example, two men named John West lived near Alexandria and were very politically active between The names of William Sr. and William Jr. along with Hugh Sr. and Hugh Jr. lead many historians to stop their quest for information about the family before it has really begun. Second, although the Wests are of great political importance in the two decades leading up to the Revolutionary War, their power declined during and after that seminal event. As a result, West influence and importance were eclipsed by those who lived during and after the Revolutionary War. Heroes who supported independence and survived the war became the subject matter for later historians. Lastly, the West family might have been given more prominence if it were not for two local, but nationally important heroes, George Washington and George Mason, both contemporaries from Fairfax County and good friends of West family members. Washington and Mason have dominated the scholarship of the region. As a result, others and the Wests have been overlooked. Hopefully, this essay will open the door to more scholarship about the Wests and other influential local families and examine as well how Alexandria, Fairfax County, and Virginia developed and drifted toward war and independence in the 1770s. West Family Chronology of Service Hugh West Fairfax County Burgess (2) Fairfax County Justice (2) John West, Jr Assistant Fairfax County Surveyor (4) Fairfax County Surveyor (4) Fairfax County Justice (4) May 1776 Delegate to Virginia Convention (4)

19 George West Fairfax County Surveyor (6) Loudoun County Surveyor (6) Loudoun County Justice (6) Hugh West, Jr Fairfax County Attorney (5) Fairfax County Burgess (5) Frederick County Burgess (5) Loudoun County Attorney (5) Colonel John West Fairfax County Burgess (3) Fairfax County Justice (3) William West, Sr Assistant Fairfax County Surveyor (10) Loudoun County Justice (10) Sybil West Wife of John Carlyle Reverend William West Rector of Christ Church (7) George Carlyle (son of Sybil West & John Carlyle) 1781 Killed in the Battle of Eutaw Springs Thomas West (son of John West Jr.) Fairfax County Delegate JAMES BISH The author, James Bish, has been recognized for his extensive contributions in the areas of education, the history of Alexandria and genealogy. Bish, a descendent of Thomas West, early-on became interested in the West family and their role in the develoment of the city of Alexandria, its institutions and early economic success. The West accomplishments were impressive, Bish found, yet, they were largely unrecognized. Bish s subsequent research and writing has documented the West contributions to Alexandria s establishment as a city and has given the family a primary place in local history. This research provides a needed and better understanding of Alexandria s early history. James Bish has taught Social Studies for 23 years at Woodbridge Senior High School and has been chair of its Social Studies Department for five years, He received his M.A. in History from the University of Nebraska in Omaha where his thesis received the Elton S. Carter Award for Excellence. His thesis topic was the African American Settlement in Nebraska from 1860 to Among Bish s many achievements was nomination for the Mt. Vernon Educator of the Year Award for In addition, he has published numerous articles on genealogy. Bish and his family live in Manassas, Virginia. His son has completed his first year at Virginia Tech and his daughter begins studies at the University of Virginia in the fall. Endnotes The endnotes for the text are extensive. They reference deeds, wills, correspondence, books, as well as colonial city, county and other records and are available with the article either at the society s web site, under Publications, under The Alexandria Chronicle or from the author. 19

20 The mission of the Alexandria Historical Society is to promote an active interest in American history and particularly in the history of Alexandria and Virginia. For information about Society activities and for past issues of The Alexandria Chronicle, please visit the Society s web site: LAND, TOBACCO, WEALTH, and POWER, these were some of the factors that set the stage for the West family s dominant role in shaping the commercial and social life of northern Virginia, from 1730 to This cartouche -- a decorative frame used in the 18th century for map titles and related information -- shows graphically the wealth and work generated by tobacco. It is from the 1755 Fry-Jefferson map of Virginia, Virginia Historical Society. In this issue of the Chronicle James Bish explains how members of the West family exerted their influence in establishing the town of Alexandria, and creating the counties of Fairfax and Loudoun. The Chronicle is published through the support of the J. Patten Abshire Memorial Fund. The next issue of the Chronicle, features In the Footsteps of Alexandria s Lamplighters, by Diane Riker. Riker s article will explore the work and history of lighting Alexandria in the 19th century.