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
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 1775.9
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
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 families3
Hugh’s father, John West, appears to have followed
in his father’s footsteps in Stafford County.4 John West
married Ann Harris about 1703. Hugh seems to have
been the first of possibly four children born to the couple
over the next few years.5
1
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, 1703. 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 100acre tract near the Potomac he moved his young family
there. Between the years 1725-1740, 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
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
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 eventu-
This illustration shows how tobacco was processed
after harvesting, Virginia Historical Society
influence.14
ally brought Hugh and his family significant
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
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
2
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
1744 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.
3
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 1742.23
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
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 1742.
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
Ohio Company. Hugh West was a strong supporter of the
new town site as it was located on his land "at HuntingCreek 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 1745. 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 1748. 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
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 1742. 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
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 1725.
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
1742. 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:
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
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
6
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 1747. It was decided to subdivide the
Manors into lots and lease them to tenants in 1748.
George William Fairfax represented his grand-uncle during the surveying expedition and probably invited young
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
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
WASHINGTON, THE SURVEYOR
George Washington was born in 1732 and when he
was eleven his father died. George's stepbrother
returned from the Virginia frontier.
7
Unquestionably,
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 1748. 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
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 11th, 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,
1749.51
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
8
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
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
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
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 1752. 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
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
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.
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-
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
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
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
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 1772. 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 18th 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 1753. 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
12
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 22nd Truro Vestry meeting minutes reveal,
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
"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 175664,69 Fairfax County sheriff between 1757 and 1759 and
then as Fairfax County Justice of the Peace from 17641777. In 1770 he signed the Fairfax County Non-importation Association Declaration and served Fairfax Parish
as a vestry member from 1772-1776.72
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
George Mason in his mid-forties, circa 1770. Col. George
Mason, 1725-1792, 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
13
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 1767.74
Hugh West's third son, George West, began operating his father's ordinary in Alexandria in 1752. 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 1754. 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 1786. Between 1757 and 1771 he also
served as Loudoun County Court Justice. Beginning in
1763 he served on the Cameron Parish Vestry until 1771.
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 1786.75
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 1757. 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
Baltimore, Maryland. While serving at St. Paul's he
presided over the Maryland Episcopal Convention in
1790. Reverend William West served St. Paul's Parish
until his death in 1791. 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 1754. 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 politi14
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, 1767 - 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 sta-
Sybil West’s husband John Carlyle painted by John
Hesselius when Carlyle was 45.
Muir at 36.5£ and George Washington at 36.1£. 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 1780.80
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
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 1769. Sybil raised two of Carlyle’s
daughters from his first marriage and bore four children as
well, Image courtesy of John Carlyle House archives.
tion 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 1773. 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
Christ Church as it appeared after 1820.
Both John West Jr. and his brother-in-law
John Carlyle were instrumental in founding
Christ Church in 1773.
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 1765. Between 1744
and 1746 he served the parish as a church warden. He
15
worked with his nephew Hugh in establishing a Church
of Ease on his nephew's land near Alexandria in 1753.
John West Sr. acquired the Fairfax County burgess seat
that had been held by his grandnephew Hugh West Jr. in
1754-1755 and by his nephew Hugh West from 17491754.81
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 1759-1761 and served as a Fairfax County
Justice of the Peace from 1764-1776. 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
1765-73 and again in 1776. While a vestryman he served
Fairfax Parish as a church warden in 1766 and from
1770-1772. 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.
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 1756. 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 1742. 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
16
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 1774.
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 1799. Also, West family members gave years of service as court justices for
both the Fairfax and Loudoun County courts.92
did not serve as burgess as his uncle, John West Sr., began
serving Fairfax as burgess from that time to 1774.
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 1748.
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 1757.87 After the
formation of Loudoun County, William served as a court
justice through 1761. He also served as captain of the
Loudoun County Militia during the French and Indian
War in 1758. In 1761 he resigned his seat as Court
Justice to become Loudoun County Sheriff, a position he
held through 1762. 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
1769.88
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
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 1744-48 and 1750-54 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 1782.
In addition, two West family members, John West Jr. and
John West Sr., served on the vestry between 1772 and
1776. The years between 1782 and 1792, 1783-84 and
1788-89 did not have a West Family member on the
17
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 1750-1776. 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.
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 mid60s, 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 1799. 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
West Family Chronology of Service
Hugh West
1752-1754 Fairfax County Burgess (2)
1754-1754 Fairfax County Justice (2)
John West, Jr.
1748-1750 Assistant Fairfax County Surveyor (4)
1750-1754 Fairfax County Surveyor (4) .
1764-1777 Fairfax County Justice (4)
May 1776 Delegate to Virginia Convention (4)
18
George West
1754-1786 Fairfax County Surveyor (6)
1757-1786 Loudoun County Surveyor (6)
1757-1771 Loudoun County Justice (6)
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, 2002-2007.
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
1920.” Among Bish’s many achievements was nomination for the Mt. Vernon Educator of the Year Award for
2009. 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.
Hugh West, Jr.
1751-1767 Fairfax County Attorney (5)
1754-1755 Fairfax County Burgess (5)
1756-1758 Frederick County Burgess (5)
1757-1767 Loudoun County Attorney (5)
Colonel John West
1755-1774 Fairfax County Burgess (3)
1764-1776 Fairfax County Justice (3)
William West, Sr.
1742-1748 Assistant Fairfax County Surveyor (10)
1757-1763 Loudoun County Justice (10)
Sybil West
1761-1767 Wife of John Carlyle
Reverend William West
1778-1779 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.)
1784-1785 Fairfax County Delegate
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, www.alexandriahistorical.org., under Publications, under The
Alexandria Chronicle or from the author.
19
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: www.alexandriahistorical.org.
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 1780. 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.
615-617; also see Stafford County Deeds, 1699-1709. (hereafter cited as SCD 1699-1709), p. 202, 204-205. For information showing Sarah as the wife of John West see, SCD 16991709, p. 327, and for information showing Pearson West as a
son of John West see SCD 1699-1709, p. 248.
ENDNOTES
1 For example see Rev. Philip Slaughter, The History of Truro
Parish in Virginia. (Philadelphia, 1907), pp. 1-2 mentions the
important families in the area development including Fairfaxes,
Washingtons, Masons, McCartys, Fitzhughs, Brents,
Alexanders, Lewises, Mercers, Daniels, Carters, Dades,
Stuarts, Corbins, Tayloes, Steptoes, Newtons, Browns, Lees,
Thorntons, Balls, and Smiths but completely leaves out the
West Family even as the work documents their important roles
serving Truro Parish; and Mary Gregory Powell, History of Old
Alexandria, Virginia. (Richmond, Virginia, 1928), pp. 137
(hereafter cited as Old Alexandria) mentions that in preRevolutionary War Alexandria the prominent people of the
town and vicinity in addition to the Washingtons and Masons
included the Carlyles, Ramsays, Craiks, Blackburns, Simms,
Lees, and Fitzgeralds with again no mention of the West
Family; and Mollie Somerville, Washington Walked Here.
Alexandria on the Potomac. One of America's First "New"
Towns. (Washington, D.C., 1970) goes into great lengths about
the founding of Alexandria with virtually no mention of West
family members.
4 On April 7, 1690 Stafford County Court ordered that Abram
Beckington give John West jr., son of John West, one two-year
old heifer. Stafford County Order Abstract Book 1, page 86; on
December 9, 1691 Ensign John West, son of John West meeting of militia officers in county, Stafford County Order Abstract
Book 2, page 66; on February 12, 1692 Ensign John West, son
of John West given court orders, Stafford County Order
Abstract Book 2, page 3; and on May 13, 1692 Lieut. John
West, son of John West, listing of militia officers, Stafford
County Order Abstract Book 3, page 18.
5 Ann Harris was the daughter of William and Mary Harris.
She was first married to Major Thomas Owsley and after his
death in 1700, she married Lieutenant John West. Earlier there
had been long misunderstanding about her relationship into the
West family but that has convincingly been cleared up by
Thomas Spalding in "The West Family of Stafford County,
Virginia - The Final Chapter: Being an Account of the Three
Husbands of Anne Harris," Owsley Family Historical Society
Newsletter, (March 1996) (hereafter cited as Spalding, West
Family of Stafford); Those three other children of Lieutenant
John and Ann (Harris) [Owsley] West seem to be John West
(whom died about 1720 before reaching adulthood, see
October 13, 1786 General Court Ejectment Case of "Ashton v.
West" in Papers of John Marshall (Chapel Hill, NC), Volume
1, pages 174-180; and Fairfax County Deed book C-1, page
136; See Major John West will in Records of Long Standing,
page 208. Thomas West is mentioned in his grandfather's will,
although the relationship is not given. This will was transcribed
from Stafford County records for Fairfax County records, probably in the eighteenth century and the original no longer exist
and probably in the transcription Major John West relationship
to Thomas West was inadvertently left off, probably because
Thomas did not receive any real estate. In 1734, both Thomas
West and Hugh West received possessions from the estate of
William Harrison, Stafford County Will Book M, page 140-143;
Thomas West and his brother William voted in the 1741 Prince
William County Burgess Elections, Prince William Deed Book
E, 1740-1741, p. 524; Thomas West, along with his brother
Hugh, and uncle John West Sr. voted in the 1744 Fairfax
County Burgess elections, Fairfax County Deed Book A, Part
1, pp. 237-241. The three brothers obtained six Northern Neck
Land Grants between 1740 and 1743 accounting for almost
1,500 acres. William West secured over 500 acres in 1740, see
Northern Neck Grants E, 1736-1742, pp. 144, 147, and Hugh
West secured over 700 acres in 1742, see Northern Neck
Grants F, 1742-1754, pp. 14, 15, 44; and in 1743 Thomas West,
with his wife Sarah, secured a 183-acre grant next to his grandfather Major John West's 1706 Northern Neck Land Grant,
Northern Neck Grants F, 1742-1754, p. 151 and Fairfax Deed
Book A: pp. 204-208; Some previous historians have also
assumed a family relationship between William and Hugh
West. Check John T. Phillips, The Historians Guide to
2 Much of this information can be found in the West family
Bible of Hugh's son, Reverend William West 1737-1791,
owned by Miss Jean Rumsey and copied by Miss Victoria
Gittings in October 1931 and a copy placed in the Maryland
Historical Society Library in Baltimore (hereafter cited as
William West Bible); also see Julius H. Sorenson, Minor - West,
(hereafter cited as Minor-West) November 1991, page 185 for
a copy of the bible page. For information showing Lieutenant
John as a son of Major John West, see, Stafford County,
Virginia Court Order Book, 1689-1690 (hereafter cited as
SCCOB 1689-1690), p. 51; Stafford County, Virginia Court
Order Book, 1691-1692 (hereafter cited as SCCOB 16911692), p. 200, 231; Stafford County, Virginia Court Order
Book, 1692-1693 (hereafter cited as SCCOB 1692-1693), p.
276. Purchase of 300 acre tract in 1686 from William Green
grant by John West can be found in Prince William County,
Virginia Deed Book A, 1731-1732 (hereafter cited as PWCDBA), pp. 77-78.
3 Although each of these works documenting the West Family
have their errors, the most reliable is that of Minor-West,
although Mr. Sorenson continues to assume that Ann West was
a brother of Hugh West, whom married Thomas Owsley and
virtually all of the works on the West Family disregard a relationship between Hugh and that of William and Thomas West,
whom grew up as contemporaries in Prince William and
Fairfax County. Other works on this West Family include
Letta Brock Stone, The West Family Register: Important Lines
Traced 1326-1928, (Washington D. C., 1928), pp. 317-340
(hereafter cited as West Family Register); Melvin L. Steadman,
Falls Church by Fence and Fireside, (Falls Church, Virginia,
1964), pp. (hereafter cited as Falls Church); The will of Major
John West can be found in Fairfax County, Virginia Land
Records of Long Standing, 1742-1770 (hereafter cited as
FCLROLS 1742-1770), page 208; the will is also found in
"Extant Wills from Counties Whose Records Have Been
Destroyed," Genealogies of Virginia Families, Volume IV, page
21
Giles Brent who sold it to Fitzherbert whom sold it to John
Alexander in 1674. In 1686 Robert Alexander sold on October
17, 1686 to Ralph Platt 100 acres "part of greater 700 acres purchased by Captain John Alexander of Captain George Brent"
Witnesses to the transaction were Robert Brent and John West.
The deed was recorded on December 9, 1686 at Stafford Court.
In 1703, the 100 acres escheated and John West applied to the
Proprietors office, after the required six months waiting time
and after he paid the fees, the 100 acres tract was granted to
him as a Northern Neck Grant found in Northern Neck Land
Grant Book 3, page 15 dated February 16, 1703. John Summer
leased this during 1710-1720 and lived there. The will of
Major John West is dated November 16, 1716 in Records of
Long Standing, pp. 166-169 willed 50 acres of land "being the
plantation where John Symmers now lives" to Benjamin Blake
and 50 acres from the same tract to John Blake. At this time in
the 1720's, Gabriel Adams and Pricilla, his wife, also leased
this land and lived there. John Blake of Stafford County sold
on October 9, 1728 to Simon Pearson for £50 land "on Ralph's
Creek joyning to Broadwater's hole on Potomac River" the 100
acres "being the plantation where John Symmers formerly
dwelled and given the said John Blake by the last will and testament of John West Gent." Also see Records of Long Standing,
pp. 67-69 for information about this land and West Family.
During May 1732 in the House of Burgesses, 'And whereas, by
the said act, public warehouses were appointed to be built and
established at Quantico upon Robert Brent's land, and Great
Hunting Creek, upon Broadwater's land, in Prince William
County, under one inspection; and houses were built accordingly upon Robert Brent's land, which have been since burnt; but
Broadwater's land being found very inconvenient, no house
was built there, pursuant to the said act, but a warehouse in the
room of it, was built upon Simon Pearson's land, upon the
upper side of Great Hunting Creek." A few years later, in the
mid-1730s Hugh West obtained the 100 acres from Pearson
(1735-38 = Transfer of land from Pearson to West. The Prince
William County Deed Book C, 1735-1738 was lost during the
Civil War however the Deed Book C Index survived which
shows the transaction. Index to Prince William Deed Book C,
pages W 1735-1738. See also Prince William Deed A, pp. 7778 for William Green Grant to West.
Loudoun County, Virginia. Volume 1, "Colonial Laws of
Virginia and County Court Orders, 1757-1766 and Harrison,
Fairfax. Landmarks of old Prince William, 1924.
6 Stone, West Family, pp. 326; Steadman, Falls Church,
pp.453-454 ; Sorenson, Minor - West, pp. 172-173.
7 See will of Major John West, Records of Long Standing, page
208, also see Steadman, Falls Church, page. 454 and Sorenson,
Minor-West, pp. 172-173; for very important information about
the early inhabitants around Great Hunting Creek including the
West family lands see Prince William County, Virginia Land
Causes, 1789-1793, (hereafter cited as PWCLC), pp. 282-293,
and concerning the life of Elizabeth (Semmes) [West]
Broadwater and the familiarity she had with the Great Hunting
Creek area see FCLROLS 1742-1770, pp. 107-108 and for
excellent information from a deposition by Mr. Abraham Lay,
see 60-69, 79, 84, and 109-113 and see the deposition by
Charles Broadwater, son of Charles and Elizabeth found on pp.
109-110; also see Beth Mitchell, Beginning at a White Oak, pp.
310.
8 See Spalding, West Family of Stafford; also see John
Wheeler's February 21, 1729 197 acre land grant in Northern
Neck Land Grants, Vol. C, p. 32.
9 See will of Major John West of Stafford County, Virginia in
FCLROLS 1742-1770 and Ejectment Case of "Ashton v. West"
General Court Richmond, Virginia, October 13, 1786 in Papers
of John Marshall, Volume 1, pages 174-180 (hereafter cited as
Ashton v. West).
10 See will of Major John West in FCLROLS 1742-1770 and
Ashton v. West, pages 174-180. Again, for information about
Elizabeth and her third husband Charles Broadwater see the
estate of Charles Broadwater in Prince William County Will
Book C, 1734-1744 (hereafter cited as Prince William Will
Book C), pp. 8-11. 86-88, 189; also see in FCLROLS 17421770, pp. 107-110 concerning excellent information about
Elizabeth from a deposition from Mr. Abraham Lay and others;
also see in FCLROLS 1742-1770, pp. 67-69 with a deposition
by Charles Broadwater, son of Charles and Elizabeth found on
pp. 109-110; also see Beth Mitchell, Beginning at a White Oak,
pp. 310.
14 On November 17, 1731 Hugh West of Prince William Co.
grant by John West can be found in Prince William Deed A, pp.
77-78; Hugh West had a tenant house on this land in the 1740's
and may have lived here with his family before that time. See
French Mason v. Daniel McCarty survey, March 1748, Fairfax
County Record of Surveys, No. 1, page 26.
appointed by George Mason (father of George Mason of
Virginia Declaration of Rights fame) lawful attorney, Prince
William Deed A, pp. 158-161; On August 27, 1734 George
Gorden of Prince George, Maryland, merchant appoint my
trusty & welbeloved friend Hugh West of Pr. Wm. my lawful
attorney for me & in my name to ask demand levy sue recover
& recive to my use & behalf all such sums of money, tobacco,
goods due to me within Virginia, Prince William Deed D, p.
213; Also see William West Bible.
12 William West Bible.
15 William Waller Hening, comp., The Statutes at Large: being
11 Purchase of 300 acre tract in 1686 from William Green
a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia…(hereafter cited as
Statutes) (13 vols.; Richmond, New York, and Philadelphia,
1809-1823), 4:268,331,336; Also see Stacy L. Lorenz, "To do
Justice to His Majesty, The Merchant and the Planter: Governor
William Gooch and the Virginia Tobacco Inspection Act of
13 Below is a chronological history of the 100-acre site which
became Hugh West warehouse location. It was initially patented by Margaret Brent on November 20, 1662 (700 acres),
Patent Book number 5, page 240; In 1674 this tract passed to
22
1730." Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Volume
108 (2000), Number 4, pp. 345 (hereafter cited as Lorenz,
Tobacco Inspection Act).
The Ohio Company (1959) pp.15-56; and James D. Munson,
"A New Look at the Founding of Alexandria," Alexandria
History 7 (1987), pp.7-14.
16 Lorenz, Tobacco Inspection Act, pp. 345.
28 HJB-1748-1749, p. 265.
17 Records of Long Standing, pp. 67-69; "Discovery Decades:
29
Hugh West and Capt. Richard Osborn took oaths as
Vestrymen at the Parish of Truro on February 18, 1744 and continued to serve in 1748 located in The History of Truro Parish
in Virginia, by Rev. Philip Slaughter, D.D. also in Minutes of
the Vestry: Truro Parish, Virginia, 1732-1785, Lorton, Virginia
1974, page 43-45. 1744 Burgesses Election in Fairfax County
shows Hugh West voted for Col. John Colville and Capt.
Lawrence Washington located in the Historical Society of
Fairfax County, Virginia, Inc. Volume 15, 1978-1979, pages
80-83; James Munson Ph.D., Col. John Carlyle Gent.--A True
and Just Account of the Man and His House, (Northern Virginia
Park Authority, 1986), pp. 30.
1740s Alexandria is Born," Alexandria Archeology Volunteer
News, Volume 16 (May 1998), Number 5, pp. 5-7.
18 Petition of Hugh West for the compensation for placing the
warehouses on his lands found in H.R. McIlwaine, ed.,
Journals of the House of Burgesses: 1736-1740, (hereafter
cited as HJB-1736-1740) (Richmond, 1912) pp. 342, 360;
Melvin Herndon, Tobacco In Colonial Virginia, (Williamsburg,
Virginia, 1957), pp. 30-45.
19 Tobacco Marks in Fairfax County, including Thomas West,
Great-Grandson of Major John West, are found in Beth
Anderson Mitchell, "Colonial Virginia Business Records as a
Genealogical Resource," National Genealogical Society
Quarterly, Volume 62, pp. 255-263.
30 HJB-1748-1749, p. 265.
31 James Munson, Ph.D., "A New Look at the Founding of
Alexandria," Alexandria History 7 (1987), pp. 7-14; Wesley E.
Pippenger, Alexandria, Virginia town lots, 1749-1801: together
with Proceedings of the Board of Trustees, 1749-1780, (c1995),
pp. 2-5; HJB-1748-1749, p. 355-56.
20
Melvin Herndon, Tobacco in Colonial Virginia,
(Williamsburg, Virginia, 1957), pp. 35-37; and T.M. Devine,
The Tobacco Lords: A Study of the Tobacco Merchants of
Glasgow and their Trading Activities c. 1740-1790 (Edinburgh:
Donald, 1975), pp. 18-66.
22 Statutes, 5:364; 6:19
32 See K. P. Bailey, The Ohio Company of Virginia and the
Westward Movement, 1748-1792 (1939), 35-37; A. P. James,
The Ohio Company (1959), pp. 15-56; The 1748 Burgess elections are found in (check Washington newspaper and
Washington writings); Minutes of the Vestry: Truro Parish,
Virginia, 1732-1785, Lorton, Virginia 1974, pp. 17-70; Hugh
earlier had opposed an ordinary license to be located at
Cameron, see HJB-1748-1749, p. 159.
23 Northern Neck Grants Book F, 1742-1754, p. 14, 15, 44,
33 HJB-1748-1749, p. 355-56.
24
34 HJB-1748-1749, p. 355-56.
21 The establishment of West's Ferry and its regulation can be
found in Statutes, 5:104, 364; H.R. McIlwaine, ed., Journals of
the House of Burgesses: 1742-1747, (hereafter cited as HJB1742-1747) (Richmond, 1912) p. 159.
Rev. Philip Slaughter, The History of Truro Parish in
Virginia. (Philadelphia, 1907), pp.43-45, 69-71; Minutes of the
Vestry: Truro Parish Virginia 1732-1785 (Lorton, Virginia,
1986), pp. 14-18; Statutes, 5:364; 6:19; H.R. McIlwaine, ed.,
Journals of the House of Burgesses: 1748-1749, (hereafter
cited as HJB-1748-1749) (Richmond, 1912) pp. 11, 100.
35 See K. P. Bailey, The Ohio Company of Virginia and the
Westward Movement, 1748-1792 (1939) pp. 35-37; A. P. James,
The Ohio Company (1959); HJB-1748-1749, p. 15-56; John
West Jr. Surveyors Certificate located in archives of Earl Swen
Library at William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia.
25
Rev. Philip Slaughter, The History of Truro Parish in
Virginia. (George W. Jacobs & Company, Publishers:
Philadelphia, 1907), pp. 43-45, 69-71; Minutes of the Vestry:
Truro Parish Virginia 1732-1785 (Lorton, Virginia: Pohick
Church, 1986), pp. 55-60; HJB-1748-1749, p. 356, 374.
36
HJB-1748-1749, p. 355-56.; John West Jr. Surveyors
Certificate located in archives of Earl Swen Library at William
and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia.
37 William West Bible; See Mary Gregory Powell, History of
26 Thomas West grant is located in Northern Neck Grants
Old Alexandria, Virginia. (Richmond, Virginia, 1928), pp. 320; James Munson, Ph.D., "A New Look at the Founding of
Alexandria," Alexandria History 7 (1987), pp. 7-13.
Book F, p. 151 which was adjacent to the large 1706 Northern
Neck Grant of Major John West, Harrison, and Pearson of
Northern Neck Grants Book 3, p. 153.
38 HJB-1748-1749, pp. 359-363, 368, 375.
27 See K. P. Bailey, The Ohio Company of Virginia and the
Westward Movement, 1748-1792 (1939) pp.35-37; A. P. James,
23
39 John West Jr. Surveyors Certificate located in archives of
51 HJB-1748-1749, p. 368, 375, 385-386, 405; Statutes, 6:214.
Earl Swen Library at William and Mary College, Williamsburg,
Virginia.
52 Statutes, 6:214.
40 HJB-1748-1749, p. 355-56; John West Jr. Surveyors
53 Statutes, 6:214; Proceeding of the Board of Trustees Town
Certificate located in archives of Earl Swen Library at William
and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia.
41 HJB-1748-1749, p. 355-56; "Plat of future town site of
of Alexandria 1749-1780 (hereafter cited as Trustees), p. 1; and
the actual survey order and the legal survey for Alexandria can
be found in Fairfax County Record of Surveys, (hereafter cited
as FCROS), 1:56-57.
Alexandria" produced by George Washington, Geography and
Map Division, Library of Congress.
54 For local tradition claiming Washington's assistance to John
West Jr. see Old Alexandria, pp 33; George Washington and the
Virginia Backcountry, ed. Warren R. Hofstra, (Madison,
Wisconsin: Madison House Publishers, 1998), pp. 169-172
42 George Washington and the Virginia Backcountry, ed.
Warren R. Hofstra, (Madison, Wisconsin: Madison House
Publishers, 1998), pp. 167-168; The Diaries of George
Washington, ed. Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, 6 vols.
(Charlottesville, Virginia: University Press of Virginia, 19761979), Vol. 1:5-23.
55 George Washington and the Virginia Backcountry, pp. 170-
172; Trustees, page 55 or 152-152.
56 Trustees, pp. 2-5, 39-42, 120-126, 142-144.
43
George Washington and the Virginia Backcountry, ed.
Warren R. Hofstra, (Madison, Wisconsin: Madison House
Publishers, 1998), pp. 167-168; The Diaries of George
Washington, ed. Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, 6 vols.
(Charlottesville, Virginia: University Press of Virginia, 19761979), Vol. 1:5-23.
57 Trustees, pp. 2-5, 39-42; Alexandria Town Lots, pp. 121-
123, 142-144; William West Bible.
58 Trustees, pp. 2-5, 39-42, 120-156; Alexandria Town Lots,
pp. 121-123, 142-144.
44
George Washington and the Virginia Backcountry, ed.
Warren R. Hofstra, (Madison, Wisconsin: Madison House
Publishers, 1998), pp. 167-168; The Diaries of George
Washington, ed. Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, 6 vols.
(Charlottesville, Virginia: University Press of Virginia, 19761979), Vol. 1:5-23.
59 Trustees, pp. 2-5, 39-42, 120-156; Alexandria Town Lots,
pp. 121-123, 142-144.
60 Trustees, pp. 2-5, 39-42, 120-156; Alexandria Town Lots,
pp. 121-123, 142-144.
45 George Washington and the Virginia Backcountry, ed.
61 Minutes of the Vestry: Truro Parish, Virginia, 1732-1785,
Warren R. Hofstra, (Madison, Wisconsin: Madison House
Publishers, 1998), pp. 167-168; HJB-1748-1749, p. 355-56.
Lorton, Virginia 1974, pp. 55, 58-63; Journals of the House of
Burgesses of Virginia: 1750-1754, pp. 27, 34; NN Grant F, pp.
14, 15, 44.
46 "Plat of future town site of Alexandria" produced by George
Washington, Geography and Map Division, Library of
Congress.
62 Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia: 1750-1754,
pages 27, 34; Fairfax County Court Order Records Book,
1740-1752, pp. 50, 139.
47 "Plat of future town site of Alexandria" produced by George
63 Fairfax County Court Order Records Book -1749-1752, pp
Washington, Geography and Map Division, Library of
Congress; The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources, Letterpress Edition, Colonial Series,
Volume 1, Page 226, 228.
50, 139; In March 1752 Hugh West was the leading name on a
petition to move the courthouse to from Spring Fields to
Alexandria. Not only was he the leading name on the petition,
but he also pledged the most money of £30 with William
Fairfax and John Carlyle. A copy of the petition is in the
Ramsey Family papers. Division of Domestic Life,
Smithsonian Institution, Museum of American History,
Washington, D.C; Munson, James, Ph.D. Col. John Carlyle
Gent.--A True and Just Account of the Man and His House.
(Northern Virginia Park Authority, 1986), pp. 32-40; Journals
of the House of Burgesses of Virginia: 1750-1754, pages 27, 34.
48 "Plat of future town site of Alexandria" produced by George
Washington, Geography and Map Division, Library of
Congress;
49 "Plat of future town site of Alexandria" produced by George
Washington, Geography and Map Division, Library of
Congress; HJB-1748-1749, p. 355-56.
64 Minutes of the Vestry: Truro Parish, Virginia, 1732-1785,
Lorton, Virginia 1974, pages 59-65, 69; Records of Long
Standing, pp. 67-68; Prince William Land Causes, pp. 286-
50 HJB-1748-1749, p. 360, 363, 368.
24
293.; Old Alexandria, pp. 1-10; Moxham, Early Colonial
Churches, pp. 15-17.
The Papers of George Mason; 1725-1792, edited by Robert A.
Rutland, Volume 1, University of North Carolina Press, Chapel
Hill, page 120, 124, 158, 161.
65
Minutes of the Vestry, pp. 59-65, 69; History of Truro
Parish, pp. 17-70.
74 Ibid.
66 Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia: 1750-1754,
75 The writings of George Washington from the original man-
pp. 27, 34.; The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources, Letterpress Edition, Colonial Series,
Volume 1, pp. 116.
uscript sources, Letterpress Edition, Colonial Series, Volume 1,
Page 226,228; Barton, Robert T., "How George Washington
Beat Hugh West for the Legislature from Frederick County in
1758", Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society
Journal: Volume XI, 1999.
67 The writings of George Washington from the original man-
uscript sources, Letterpress Edition, Colonial Series, Volume 1,
pp. 112-125; George Washington and the Virginia Backcountry,
pp. 195-210.
76 Statutes, 7:604-605 and 8:49-51;
77 The writings of George Washington from the original man-
68 The writings of George Washington from the original man-
uscript sources, Letterpress Edition, Colonial Series, Volume 7,
pp. 122-123.
uscript sources, Letterpress Edition, Colonial Series, Volume 1,
pp. 112, 115, 118, 121, 142, 144, 191, Volume 2, Page 253,
275; Historic Homes of Northern Virginia by John W. Wayland,
pp. 446-453.
78 Kates, Frederick Ward, Bridge Across Four Centuries, The
Clergy of St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore, MD, 1692-1957,
Maryland Historical Society: 1957), pp. 3-10.
69 The writings of George Washington from the original man79 Munson, James, Ph.D. , John Carlyle Gent.--A True and
uscript sources, Letterpress Edition, Colonial Series, Volume 1,
Page 191; The History of Truro Parish in Virginia, by Rev.
Philip Slaughter, D.D. and Minutes of the Vestry: Truro Parish,
Virginia, 1732-1785, Lorton, Virginia 1974, pages 69. In 1773
John West later received a land patent of over 2000 acres from
the Colony of Virginia in Botefort County for his service with
Washington against the French in 1754, Virginia State Land
Office Patents, No. 42, p. 488.
Just Account of the Man and His House, (Northern Virginia
Park Authority, 1986), pp. 32-40.
80 Munson, James, Ph.D. , John Carlyle Gent.--A True and
Just Account of the Man and His House, (Northern Virginia
Park Authority, 1986), pp. 30, 107.
81 Munson, James, Ph.D. , John Carlyle Gent.--A True and
70 Trustees, pp. 2-5, 39-42, 120-156; Alexandria Town Lots,
Just Account of the Man and His House, (Northern Virginia
Park Authority, 1986). pp. 30, 107.
pp. 121-123, 142-144.
71 August 22, 1754 = Deceased by the House of Burgesses ses-
82 Minutes of the Vestry: Truro Parish, Virginia, 1732-1785,
sion of August 22, 1754 from Fairfax: Gerard Alexander, (in
place of Hugh West, deceased). Journals of the House of
Burgesses of Virginia: 1750-1754; August 25, 1754 = Death of
Hugh West. This is taken from Family Bible of Reverend
William West, son of Hugh and Sybil (Harrison) West. This
bible was owned by Miss Jean Rumsey in 1931 and the original handwritten copy is in the collections of the Maryland
Historical Society, W. 201 Monument Street, Baltimore,
Maryland; November 22, 1754 = Hugh West was deceased.
For this meeting of the Vestry, however his uncle John West
attended the meeting and in the notes, "To Capt. John West for
part of building the desk at Alexandria" and 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. The
History of Truro Parish in Virginia, by Rev. Philip Slaughter,
D.D. and Minutes of the Vestry: Truro Parish, Virginia, 17321785, Lorton, Virginia 1974, pages 70-71.
Lorton, Virginia 1974, pages 45-72;
83 See A list of Governors, Councillors and Other Higher
Officials, and also or Members of the House of Burgesses, and
the Revolutionary Conventions of the Colony of Virginia --Compiled by William Glover and Mary Newton Standard, published by Joel Munsell's Sons, Publishers, Albany, New York,
1902; also see Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia:
1756-1758. Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia:
1761-1765; Washington, George, 1732-1799. The writings of
George Washington from the original manuscript sources,
Letterpress Edition, Colonial Series, Volume 7, Pages 361-363.
84 An association, signed by 89 members of the late House of
Burgess [Dated] the 27th day of May, 1774, Library of
Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division; "A
New-Found Washington Letter of 1774 and the Fairfax
Resolves". Donald M. Sweig. The William and Mary
Quarterly, Third Series, Vol. 40, No. 2 (Apr., 1983), pp. 283291.
72 The writings of George Washington from the original man-
uscript sources, Letterpress Edition, Colonial Series, Volume 1,
pp. 112, 115, 116, 118, 121, 142, 144, 191, 292, and 293; see
25
85 In 1743 Thomas West, with his wife Sarah, secured a 183-
Ordinary and Lacey's Tavern can be found in Loudoun Order
Book A - p.106 William West on Fruit Hill - 1758, Order Book
A - p. 237 William West at his house on Fruit Hill - 1759, Order
Book A - p. 431 William West on Fruit Hill - 1761, Order Book
B - p. 60 William West at his house - 1762, Order Book B - p.
324 Charles West at his house - 1764, Order Book C - p. 6
Charles West at his house - 1765, Order Book C - p. 261
Charles West at Fruit Hill - 1767, 0rder Book F - p. 531 Joseph
Lacy at Mr. Charles West's house - 1774.
acre grant next to his grandfather Major John West's 1706
Northern Neck Land Grant, Northern Neck Grants F, 17421754, p. 151 and Fairfax Deed Book A: pp. 204-208;The estate
of Thomas West, brother of Hugh and William, can be found in
Fairfax County Will Book C, pp. 184-185; In 1755 Washington
wrote, "to Ensign Buckner at Alexandria, to take John Berry, a
Servant of Mr. West, who is willing to enlist; and give up Jacob
Funkhouser in his place."(1)
(1) William West operated an ordinary in Fairfax County, and
Mordecai Buckner was the quartermaster for the Virginia
Regiment. GW noted in a Memorandum of 11-14 Jan. that the
exchange of Funkhouser for Berry took place on 11 Jan. 1756.
Washington, George, 1732-1799. The writings of George
Washington from the original manuscript sources, Letterpress
Edition, Colonial Series, Volume 2, Page 253, also January 1114, 1756 = Memorandum from George Washington "Jacob
Funckhouser received his discharge at William West's, January
11th as Ensign Buckner had taken John Berry in his room."
Washington, George, 1732-1799. The writings of George
Washington from the original manuscript sources, Letterpress
Edition, Colonial Series, Volume 2, Page 275. John Walter
Wayland, Historic homes of northern Virginia and the eastern
panhandle of West Virginia, (Staunton, Va.: McClure Company,
1937), pp. 446, 452., and John T. Phillips, The Historians
Guide To Loudoun County, Virginia: Colonial Laws of Virginia
and County Court Orders, 1757-1766, (Leesburg: Goose Creek
Productions, 1996), pp. 93, 137-138, 238-239.
88 See William West will in Loudoun County Will Book A,
page 226-229, 73; Phillips, page 508. Phillips, The Historians
Guide To Loudoun, pp. 137.138;
89 Phillips, The Historians Guide to Loudoun, pp. 137-138,
238-239.
90 Phillips, The Historians Guide to Loudoun, pp. 137-138.
91 Phillips, The Historians Guide To Loudoun, pp. 137-138,
238-239,
92
See Journal of the House of Delegates, of the State of
Virginia, for the years 1788-1810 (Richmond: William F.
Ritchie, 1863).
93 Fairfax Parish Vestry Minutes, typed unpublished manuscript, located in the Archives of the Bishop Payne Library,
Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Virginia.
85 George Washington and the Virginia Backcountry, ed.
Warren R. Hofstra, (Madison, Wisconsin: Madison House
Publishers, 1998), pp. 167-168; The Diaries of George
Washington, ed. Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, 6 vols.
(Charlottesville, Virginia: University Press of Virginia, 19761979), Vol. 1:5-23; also see Phillips, The Historians Guide To
Loudoun, pp. 93; and On April 3, 1740 William received 495
acres of land in Prince William County adjoining land of Hall,
Cocke, and Carter east of Bull Run Mountain. This is the parcel of land of which West's Ordinary stood found in Northern
Neck Grants E, 1736-1742, pp. 144-146.
94 William West Bible.
95 William West Bible; Thomas West will can be found in
Fairfax County Will Book I, page 499; Roger West will found
in Fairfax County Will Book H, page 217.
96 See Sybil West obituary in Alexandria Gazette, June 7,
1787; Sybil West will found in Fairfax County Will Book E,
Page 235.
86 George Washington and the Virginia Backcountry, ed.
Warren R. Hofstra, (Madison, Wisconsin: Madison House
Publishers, 1998), pp. 167-168; The Diaries of George
Washington, ed. Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, 6 vols.
(Charlottesville, Virginia: University Press of Virginia, 19761979), Vol. 1:5-23; also see Phillips, The Historians Guide To
Loudoun, pp. 93; also see Fairfax Harrison, Landmarks of Old
Prince William, Vol. 1& 2, (Gateway Press, Inc, 1987), pp.
138-140, 494-496, 516-517; John Walter Wayland, Historic
homes of northern Virginia and the eastern panhandle of West
Virginia, (Staunton, Va.: McClure Company, 1937), pp. 446,
452., and John T. Phillips, The Historians Guide To Loudoun
County, Virginia: Colonial Laws of Virginia and County Court
Orders, 1757-1766, (Leesburg: Goose Creek Productions,
1996), pp. 93, 137-138, 238-239.
87 Phillips, The Historians Guide To Loudoun, pp. 93, 137-
138, 238, 239, 247, 295; For example License issued for West's
26