An American Family History

The Right Honourable Thomas Lord Fairfax, Baron of Cameron in that part of Great Britain called Scotland Proprietor of the northern Neck of Virginia

To all to whom this present writing shall come sends Greeting

Know Ye that for good causes for and in consideration of the Composition to me paid and for the Annual Rent hereinafter reserved I have given granted and confirmed and by these presents for me my Heirs and Assigns do give grant and confirm unto Absalom Fox of Hampshire County a Certain Tract of waste and ungranted Land including the Bear Wollow on the Waters of Buffalo Lick Run in the said County

bounded as by a Survey thereof made by Elias Poston

Beginning at a White Oak and Hiccory on the Branch Mountain Top

Thence along the Mountain N30Et four hundred Poles to 3 Pines on the North side of the Mountain

Thence So60Et one hundred and sixty Poles to 2 Pines on a lot in Mitchels Line

Thence along it N70Wt eighty two Poles to a large White Oak Mitchels Corner

Thence crossing a a [sic] Drain of the said Run S30Wt two hundred and thirty five Poles to a large Pine and

Thence N50Wt seventy seven Poles to the Begining Containing

Two hundred and seventy six Acres Together with all Rights Members and Appurtenances thereunto belonging Royal Mines Excepted and a full third part of all Lead Copper Tin Coals Iron Mine and Iron Ore that shall be found thereon

to have and to hold the said 276 Acres of Land Together with all Rights Profits and Benefits to the same belonging or in anywise Appertaining Except before Excepted to him the said Absalom Fox his Heirs and Assigns for Ever

He the said Absalom Fox his Heirs and Assigns therefore Yielding and Paying to me my Heirs or Assigns or to my Certain Attorney or Attorneys Agent or Agents or to the Certain Attorney or Attornies of my Heirs or Assigns Proprietors of the said Northern Neck yearly and every year on the Feast Day of St Michael the Archangel the Fee Rent of One Shilling Sterling Money for every Fifty Acres of Land hereby granted and so proportionably for a greater or lesser quantity Provided that

if the said Absalom Fox his Heirs and Assigns shall not pay the said reserved Annual Rent as aforesaid so that the same or any part thereof shall be behind and unpaid by the space of two whole years after the same shall become due if Legally Demanded that then it shall and may be lawfull for me my Heirs or Assigns Proprietors as aforesaid my or their Certain Attorney or Attornies Agent or Agents into the above granted Premises to Reenter and hold the same as if this Grant had never Passed
Given at my Office in Frederick County under my Hand and Seal Dated the 25th Day of March 1780 ~
Fairfax