The Establishment of Towns Through the Fairfax Land Grant

 

Section 5, titled "Establishment of the Fairfaxes," examines the legal procedures involved in establishing towns, particularly those associated with the Fairfax land grant. The section outlines the processes for surveying, selling, and governing these new settlements.

The sources provide additional details regarding land grants and the establishment of towns in early West Virginia:

• The sources state that property rights in early Elk River were often determined through land grants and surveys.
• One source highlights the significance of the Fairfax Land Grant, a vast tract of land in early Virginia. This grant played a crucial role in the early settlement of West Virginia, encompassing a considerable portion of the state's eastern region.
• The sources also note that the Fairfax Stone, a landmark marking the westernmost boundary of the Fairfax Grant, played a significant role in determining property lines and county boundaries in early West Virginia.
• In 1746, Lord Fairfax, the proprietor of the Fairfax Grant, hired surveyors to determine the precise location of the grant's boundaries, leading to the placement of the Fairfax Stone.
• The establishment of towns was a key aspect of developing settled communities within the vast Fairfax Grant.
  • One source recounts that James Wood was the founder of Winchester, one of the early towns established within the Fairfax Grant.
• The sources describe the legal processes associated with establishing towns, which typically involved:
  • designating a specific area of land for the town.
  • surveying the land and dividing it into lots and streets.
  • appointing trustees to oversee the town's development and governance.
• The establishment of a court of justice marked a crucial step in establishing a town's legal framework and administrative structure.
• The sources also mention the role of the Virginia legislature in approving the establishment of new towns and granting them legal recognition.
• The sources provide examples of several towns established through these processes:
  • Winchester, established in 1752
  • Stephensburg (now Strasburg), established in 1754.
  • Mecklenburg (now Shepherdstown), established in 1762.
  • Bath (now Berkeley Springs), established in 1776.
  • Moorefield, established in 1777.
  • Lewisburg, established in 1782.

The establishment of towns through the Fairfax land grant represents a crucial phase in the development of early West Virginia. The sources emphasize the legal complexities involved in this process and the various stakeholders involved, including Lord Fairfax, surveyors, the Virginia legislature, and town trustees. These efforts laid the foundation for the growth of organized communities and the expansion of European settlement across the region.