The peerage of Scotland: containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, ... collected from the public records, and ancient chartularies of this nation, ... Illustrated with copper-plates. By Robert Douglas, Esq;.

CAMERON Lord FAIRFAX of CAMERON.

CAMBDEN, and all English histori∣ans, agree, that the family of FAIR∣FAX is amongst the most ancient, and as well allied as any in England.

About the time of the Norman conquest, anno 1066,* 1.1 they were seated at Touchester or Torchester in Northumberland, whence they removed to Yorkshire.

I. RICHARD FAIRFAX, in the sixth year of king John, anno 1205, was possessed of the lands of Ascham, not far from the city of York.

He was son of John,* 1.2 who was son of Hen∣ry of Shapenbeck, as per the peerage of Ire∣land, and he was succeeded by his son,

II. WILLIAM FAIRFAX, who was liv∣ing at Ascham in 1223,* 1.3 and married Alice, daughter and heiress of Nicholas de Bugthorp, by whom he had a son,

III. WILLIAM FAIRFAX, Esq; who was bailiff of York in 1249.

He purchased the lands and manour of Wal∣ton from Peter de Bruce, which he after∣wards made the chief place of his residence.

He married Mary,* 1.4 widow of Walter Flower, whose father was Took Flower, mayor of York, in the reign of king Richard I.

He le••t a son,

IV. THOMAS FAIRFAX of Walton, Esq;: who succeeded him, and married Anne, daughter and heiress of Henry Sezevaux, may∣or of York,* 1.5 in the reign of king Henry III. by whom he had three sons.

1. John, his successor.

2. William.

3. Bego.

He died in the 12th year of Edward I. 1284, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

V. JOHN FAIRFAX of Walton, Esq; who lived in the reigns of king Edward I. and II. and married Claricia or Clare, daughter and heiress of William Scot, by his wife,* 1.6 daugh∣ter and heiress of sir Roger Bruce of Walton, by whom he had a son,

VI. THOMAS FAIRFAX of Walton, Esq; who succeeded him, and married Margaret, daughter of John Malvis, Esq; by whom he had issue,

William, his successor,—and two daugh∣ters.

1. Anne, married to—Marton.

2. Clare, married to sir William Malvis.

He died before 1327,* 1.7 and was succeeded by his son,

VII. WILLIAM FAIRFAX of Walton, Esq; who married a daughter of sir William Roucliffe of Cowthorp, knight, by whom he had two sons and three daughters.* 1.8

1. Thomas, his successor.

2. John Fairfax, L. L. D.

1st daughter Margaret.

2. Mary.

3. Alice.

VIII. THOMAS FAIRFAX of Walton, Esq; succeeded his father. He was living at Wal∣ton in 1350, and married Elizabeth or Mar∣garet, daughter of sir John de Etton, lord of Gilling; by which marriage the estate of Et∣ton came into this family,* 1.9 in the time of king Henry VII.

He left issue five sons.

1. William.

2. Thomas.

3. Guy.

4. John.

5. Richard Fairfax.

He was succeeded by his eldest son.

IX. WILLIAM FAIRFAX of Walton, Esq; who was patron of the churches of Hal∣naby and Scotton, and, per contract in 1395, (18th year of Richard II.) married Constance, daughter of Peter lord de Malo, or Mauloy, and co-heiress of her brother Peter,* 1.10 eighth lord, by whom he had three sons.

1. Thomas.

2. Richard Fairfax, Esq;

3. Bryan, rector of Longtost, and precen∣tor of the cathedral of York in 1410.

X. THOMAS FAIRFAX of Walton, Esq; succeeded his father,* 1.11 and married Margaret, daughter of John, and sister and heiress of Richard Friston of Marston, Esq; by whom he had issue six sons.

1. Richard.

2. Guy.

3. George.

4. Thomas.

5. John.

6. Nicholas.

He died in 1415.

XI. RICHARD FAIRFAX of Walton, eldest,

succeeded, and flourished in the reigns of Henry IV. V. and VI. He was chief justice of England, after the 1422, and married Anastatia or E••stace,* 1.12 daughter and co-heiress of John Calthorp of Calthorp, Esq; by whom he had six sons and three daughters.

William of Walton, his 1st son, was father of sir Thomas of Walton, who was father of another sir Thomas, who was father of sir Ni∣cholas, who was father of sir William Fair∣fax of Walton, who married Jane, daughter and heiress of Bryan Stapleton of Notting∣ham and Burton, Esq; by whom he had sir Thomas, who, by his majesty king Charles I. was created a peer of Ireland,* 1.13 by the title of lord viscount Fairfax of Emely, on 10th February 1628; and married Catharine, sister of Henry lord viscount Dumbar, and daugh∣ter of sir Henry Constable of Burton, by whom he had Thomas second viscount Fair∣fax, of whom the present viscount is lineally descended; and Henry Fairfax, Esq; who was father of Henry Fairfax of Hurst, Esq; whose daughter and sole heiress, Frances, was mar∣ried to David earl of Buchan, and was mother of Henry now earl of Buchan.

Richard of Walton's second son was,

2. Bryan Fairfax, L. L. D. who died with∣out issue.

3. Sir Guido or Guy, of whom afterwards.

4. Richard Fairfax a priest.

5. Sir Nicholas Fairfax, a knight of Rhodes.

6. Miles Fairfax, Esq;.

His three daughters were,

1. Margaret.

2. Anne.

3. Elein.

XII. Sir GUY FAIRFAX, third son of the above Richard, a man of great learning and knowledge in the laws, was chief justice of the king's bench, in the reigns of king Ed∣ward IV. and Richard III. and, notwithstand∣ing his great attachment to the house of York, he enjoyed the same office under king Henry VII. and was also attorney-general; and hav∣ing obtained from his father the lands and manour of Steeton, he built the castle there, which afterwards was the chief seat of his posterity.

He married Isabel,* 1.14 daughter of sir William Rither of Rither, by whom he had four sons and two daughters.

1. Sir William.

2. Thomas, serjeant at law.

3. Guy.

4. Nicholas.

1st daughter Eleanor, married to sir Miles Wilstrop of Wilstrop.

2. Agnes, married to sir John Waterton of Medly, master of horse to king Henry VI.

Sir Guy died in 1495, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

XIII. Sir WILLIAM FAIRFAX of Stee∣on, who, like his father, was eminent for his knowledge in the laws, and was made justice of the common pleas by king Henry VIII.

He married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of sir Robert Manners, ancestor of the duke of Rutland, (whose grandmother was sister of king Edward IV.) by whom he had

Sir William,* 1.15 his heir,—and four daughters.

1. Elizabeth, married to sir Robert Auch∣tred.

2. Eleanor, married to sir William Picker∣ing, knight, marshal of England.

3. Anne, married to sir Robert Norman∣ville of Kilnwick in Yorkshire.

4. Dorothy, married to—Constable of Hexby, Esq;.

He died in 1514, and was succeeded by,

XIV. Sir WILLIAM FAIRFAX of Stee∣ton, his only son. He was high-sheriff of York the 26th and 31st years of king Henry VIII. and has two letters from that great mo∣narch, very much for the honour of his fami∣ly, which are still preserved.

He married Isabella, daughter and heiress of John Thivaits of Thivaits and Denton in York∣shire, by whom he got the lands and manour of Denton, which afterwards became the chief seat of the family.

He left issue five sons and five daughters.* 1.16

1. Sir Thomas, who succeeded his father in the estate and manour of Denton.

2. Francis Fairfax, Esq;

3. Edward Fairfax, Esq;.

4. Henry, who married Dorothy, daugh∣ter of Robert Aske of Aughton, Esq; and had a numerous issue.

5. Gabriel, who got from his father the lands of Steeton, and of whom are descended the honourable families of Fairfax of Stee∣ton and Newton in Yorkshire, which still subsist.

1st daughter Anne, married to sir Henry Everingham of Laxton.

2. Mary, married to Robert Rockley of Rockley, Esq; and had issue.

3. Bridget, married to sir Cotton Gargrave of Hostell, and had issue.

4. Ursula, married to Ralph Valvasor of Hazlewood, Esq;.

5. Agnes, married to Edmund Eltoft of Farnell in Craven, and of Knotingly, Esq;.

Sir William died in 1557, and was suc∣ceeded

in his estate of Denton by his eldest son,

XV. Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX of Denton, who was sheriff of York in 1571, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1579, and performed many services to his country.

He married Dorothy, daughter of George Gale of Acham-grange Esq; treasurer of the mint at York,* 1.17 by whom he had five sons and two daughters.

1. Sir Thomas, his heir.

2. Edward of Newhall, an excellent poet, in the reign of king Charles I. author of seve∣ral learned and ingenious treatises. He had several children.

3. Henry, both died young.

4. Ferdinando, both died young.

5. Sir Charles Fairfax, colonel of 3000 soldiers at the siege of Ostend, where his bravery gained him immortal honour, accord∣ing to Cambden and others, though he had the misfortune to be killed three days before the surrender of the town.

1st daughter Ursula was married to sir Henry Bellasise, baronet, and was mother of Thomas viscount Falconberg.

2. Christian, married to John Aske of Aughton, Esq;.

Sir Thomas died in 1599, and was suc∣ceeded by his eldest son,

XVI. Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX of Denton, who was a person of great honour, virtue, and skill in the arts both of peace and war.

In 1591 he accompanied Robert earl of Essex to France, in aid of king Henry IV. against the Spaniards, and had the honour to be knighted in the camp before Roan, for his bravery and good behaviour.

He was employed in several negotiations of importance by queen Elizabeth, particular∣ly to king James VI. of Scotland, by whom he was highly esteemed.

He was also in great favour with his ma∣jesty king Charles I. who was pleased to cre∣ate him lord Fairfax of Cameron, in the king∣dom of Scotland, by letters patent, dated 4th May 1627.

He married Helen, daughter of Robert Aske of Aughton,* 1.18 Esq anno 1582, and died in May 1640,* 1.19 in the 80th year of his age, leaving issue seven sons and two daughters.

1. Ferdinando.

2. Henry Fairfax, Esq; whose son, Henry, became lord Fairfax, of whom afterwards.

3. Major William Fairfax, killed in 1621 in defence of the city of Frankendale in the Palatinate.

4. Colonel Charles Fairfax, ancestor of the family of Menston, &c.

5. John.

6. Peregrine, killed in defence of Rochelle in France.

7. Thomas, slain in Turky anno 1621.

1st daughter Dorothy, married to sir Willi∣am Constable, baronet.

2. Anne, married to sir George Went∣worth of Wolley, knight.

XVII. FERDINANDO, second lord Fair∣fax of Cameron, succeeded his father. He was knighted in 1589.

At the beginning of the civil war, he was made the parliament's general for the associ∣ated county of York. In 1642 he repulsed the earl of Newcastle at Tadcaster. In Ja∣nuary 1643 he routed the lord Byron, with his Irish forces at Nantwick in Cheshire. In April 1644 he defeated lord Bellasise at Sel∣by, and took him prisoner, with 1600 of his men. In July thereafter, he commanded the main battle at Marston-moor, with the earl of Leven, where the king's army, under prince Rupert, was defeated. He thereupon took possession of the city of York, of which he was made governor; with orders, that he and his sons should take in all the garrisons, which still held out, for the king in that country; and which, in a very short time, they effected.

He married, 1st, lady Mary Sheffield, daughter of Edward earl of Mulgrave,* 1.20 ance∣stor of the duke of Buckingham, by whom he had three sons and six daughters.

1. Sir Thomas, his successor.

2. Charles, colonel of horse, slain at Mar∣ston-moor, on 23d July 1644.

3. John, who died young.

1st daughter Ursula, died unmarried.

2. Elizabeth, married to sir William Cra∣ven of Linchwick in Worcester-shire.

3. Eleanor, married to sir William Selby of Twisdale in Northumberland.

4. Frances, married to sir Thomas Wid∣drington of Cheeseburn-grange in Northum∣berland.

5. Mary, married to Henry Arthlington of Arthlington, Esq;.

6. Dorothy, married to Edward Hutton of Popleton, Esq;.

They all had issue.

His lordship's second wife was Rhoda, daughter and heiress of Thomas Chapman of Shafford, by whom he had only one child, Ursula, who was married to William Cart∣wright of Aynho, Esq; whose daughter, Rhoda, was married to Henry, second son of William duke of Devonshire.

Lord Ferdinando died in 1646, and his estate, and all his posts, devolved upon his son,

XVIII. THOMAS, third lord Fairfax of Cameron, the famous general, so noted in English history during the civil wars; whose conduct, on the side of the parliament, to the year 1650, and his concurrence with gene∣ral Monk, for the king's restoration, in 1659, are transactions so fully set forth in all the histories of those distracted times, that it is needless to insert them here.

He married Anne, daughter and co-heiress of sir Horatio Vere, by whom he had two daughters.

1. Mary,* 1.21 married to George Villiers duke of Buckingham.

2. Elizabeth, died young.

He dying without male-issue in 1671, his estate and honours devolved upon his cousin,

XVIII. HENRY FAIRFAX of Oglethorp, eldest son and heir of Henry, second son of Henry, first lord Cameron.

He married Frances, daughter and heiress of sir Robert Barwick of Tolstone,* 1.22 by whom he had four sons and five daughters.

1. Thomas, his successor.

2. Henry, sheriff of York, who, in 1691, married Anne, daughter and co-heiress of Ri∣chard Harrison, Esq; and had issue.

3. Bryan Fairfax, Esq;.

4. Barwick.

1st daughter Dorothy, married, 1st, to Ro∣bert Stapleton of Wigell, Esq; 2dly, to Ben∣net Sherard, Esq;.

2. Frances, married to Mr. Rymer.

3. Anne, married to Ralph, son of sir Ralph Ker, in the county of Durham.

4. Ursula, both died unmarried.

5. Mary. both died unmarried.

And he dying in 1680, was succeeded by his son and heir,

XIX. THOMAS, fifth lord Fairfax of Ca∣meron, who concurred heartily in the revo∣lution in 1688; and, in December that year, was made lieutenant-colonel of the third re∣giment of horse-guards. In January 1693, he was promoted to the king's own regiment of horse; and, in 1701, he was made a bri∣gadier-general. He represented the county of York in several parliaments, and married Catharine, daughter and heiress of Thomas lord Culpeper,* 1.23 by whom he had three sons and four daughters.

1. Thomas, his heir.

2. Henry, who succeeded his brother.

3. Robert, a major of the guards, and member of parliament for Maidstone.

1st daughter Margaret, married to doctor David Wilkins, arch-deacon of Suffolk.

2. Catharine,

3. Frances,

4. Mary, all died unmarried.

This lord died in 1709, and was succeed∣ed by his eldest son,

XX. THOMAS, sixth lord Fairfax of Ca∣meron, who, dying without issue anno 1738, was succeeded by his brother,

XX. HENRY, seventh lord Fairfax of Ca∣meron, &c.

ARMS.

Or, three bars gemel, gules, surmounted of a lion rampant, sable; argent, a bend engrailed, gules.

Crest, on a wreath, a lion passant, guar∣dant, of the last.

Supporters, on the dexter side, a lion guar∣dant, sable; on the sinister, a bay horse.

MOTTO, Fare fac.

CHIEF SEAT.

At Leeds-castle in Kent.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lodge's peerage of Ireland, p, 397. vol. II.
• * 1.2

  Ibid. Craw∣furd's peer∣age, Scots compend.
• * 1.3

  Ibidem.
• * 1.4

  Peerage of Ireland, p. 398.
• * 1.5

  Ibidem.
• * 1.6

  Ibidem.
• * 1.7

  Ibidem.
• * 1.8

  Ibidem.
• * 1.9

  Ibid. p. 399
• * 1.10

  Ibidem.
• * 1.11

  Ibid. Craw furd's peer∣age, and S•• o compend.
• * 1.12

  Ibidem.
• * 1.13

  Peerage of Ireland,
• * 1.14

  Ibid. Craw∣furd, &c.
• * 1.15

  Ibidem.
• * 1.16

  Peerage of Ireland, p. 400.
• * 1.17

  Peerage of Ireland.
• * 1.18

  Ibid. p. 406.
• * 1.19

  Craw••▪ peer∣age, and Scots compend.
• * 1.20

  Ibidem.
• * 1.21

  Ibidem.
• * 1.22

  Ibidem.
• * 1.23

  Ibidem.