Fairfax Family
Washington’s association with the Fairfax family was fortuitous. His half-brother, Lawrence, married Anne Fairfax, who was the daughter of Col. William Fairfax, cousin and agent of Thomas, Lord Fairfax. William’s son, George William, and George Washington became friends, and in 1748, a young Washington was allowed to accompany George William as part of a surveying party to the remote south branch of the Potomac. Washington had learned the rudiments of surveying in 1747, using instruments which had belonged to his father. Thus began a long association with the Fairfax family.