Property Surveyed by George Washington

In 1748, Thomas, Lord Fairfax sent George Washington to Frederick County to survey lands for him, which surveys were made md a record kept thereof.

A most remarkable thing, for a boy only sixteen year old to be a competent surveyor, but more remarkable that he would go away out in a new country, infested with Indians, with few of the conveniences of civilization, where he was not known.

He made surveys in 1748 and 1750, and the following are those for whom he made such surveys, viz:

From Norris History of Lower Valley, while he does not admit they are the first settlers, yet the full names he is able to give, or does give, are as follows:

There were others that then in 1732 that came, but their names are not known.

In 1734 there are mentioned. Robt, Harper, Thos. Shepherd. Richard Morgan, Wm. Strope, Israel Fiend, Thos. and William Forrester. Thos. and Van Swearingen, Ed Lucas. James Foreman. Robt. Stockton, Robt. Buckles, John and Samuel Taylor, Jno. Wright.

In 1738 the Varices, Glasses, Hoges. Wilsons, Frys, Aliens. Johnstons and others, came and settled about the Opequon Presbyterian church, above Winchester. There was another settlement of Quakers in another vicinity, viz: the Perkinses, Luptons. Walkers, Beesons. Barretts, Neets, Dillons, Fawcetts and others.

This, perhaps, will be sufficient to show that after 1732, this part of the country settled up very rapidly, and the above brings us down to about 1750.

In 1754, Washington was sent with Col. Fry to the west of the Alleghenies with a small army. On July 3, 1754, he encountered the French and was willing to surrender, and get away alive, and leave the French in possession of Fort Necessity, which he had constructed.

Washington made a list of the names that were entitled to pay, for services in the campaign, viz:

It is not pretended that these are all the men that were with Washington, at Fort Necessity, in 1754 for we know of others that were there, who are not mentioned. Some that were recommended by Washington for promotion.

West Virginia AHGP

Source: The West Virginia Historical Magazine, Quarterly, January 1903, Vol. 3, No. 1 [Webmasters note: The 3 articles, Early Land Grants, Frederick County Voters, Property Surveyed by George Washington were all part of the same article.  All give reference to Virginia. The opening statement on the Early Land Grant page, is from the Historical Magazine.]