Documentary History of American Water-works

Winchester

Thomas Lord Fairfax Land Grant to James Wood

May 21, 1753

"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 hereafter received, I have given, granted, and confirmed, and by these presents for me, my heirs and assigns do give and confirm unto Colonel James Wood of Frederick County, a certain tract of waste and ungranted land in the said county whereon he lives, joyning Mr. Isaac Perkins on the Branches of Opeckon River and bounded by a survey thereof made by Mr. John Baylis as followeth: Beginning at a Locust stake by sundry markt sap1ins on the west side of the Great Waggon Road, thence Nor. 61 degrees 30' net three hundred and seventy four poles to a Hickory and two red Oaks at the foot of a Bill, thence -- to a Walnut, red Oaks and white Oak corner to Isaac Perkins, thence leaving Perkins' line and running ---- to a red Oak and Hickory on a Ledge of Rocks, thence ---- to Hickorys and red Oak on the side of a Hill, thence leaving Perkins' line and running ---- to two red Oaks, thence ---- to a Locust on a Level, thence ---- by the foot of a Hill, thence ---- to a stake on a Hill, a Corner to Winchester Town, Lot No. 36, then with the Town Lines ---- to a stake corner to Lot No. 1, thence ---- to a stake corner to Lot No. 12, thence with the said lot ---- to a stake at the corner of William Dobbin's Stone House by the Great Waggon Road, corner to the said Lot No. 12, thence leaving the Town ---- to the Beginning, containing one thousand two hundred and forty-one acres of Land, Together with all Rights, Members, and appurtenances thereon belonging, Royal Mines excepted, and a full Third of all Lead, Copper, Tinn, Coals, Iron Mines and Iron Ore that shall be found thereon: To have and to hold the said 1241 acres of land, Together with all Profit Rights, and Benefits to the same belonging or in anywise appertaining except before excepted to Him the said James Wood, his heirs and assigns forever. He the said James Wood, his heirs or assigns therefore yielding and Paying to me, my Heirs or Assigns, or the certain Attorney or Attorneys, Agent or Agents, or the certain Attorney or Attorneys of my Heirs and Assigns, Proprietor 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 less quantity. Provided, that if the said James Wood, his Heirs or Assigns shall not pay the said annual reserved Rent so that the same or any Part thereof shall be behind or unpaid by the space of Two whole years after the same shall become Due if lawfully demanded, provided also that if the said James Wood, his Heirs or Assigns shall alter or stop or suffer to be altered or stop the water course from his Spring to Pass through the Town of Winchester in the aforesaid county and shall not permit the Inhabitants of the said Town at any time to sink and lay Pipes to convey the Water from the said Spring to the Town for the future and mutual Benefit and advantage of its Inhabitants; That then it shall and may be lawful for me, my Heirs and Assigns, Proprietors as aforesaid Pryor, their certain Attorney or Attorneys, Agent or Agents into the above granted Premises to Re-enter and Hold the same so as if the Grant had never passed.

Given at my Office in the County of Fairfax within my said Proprietary dated this twenty-first day of May in the twenty-sixth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the second King of Great Britain, etc., A. D. 1753.

FAIRFAX.

Registered in the Proprietor's Office in Book II, Folio 307."

References
1926 Winchester, Virginia and Its Beginnings, 1743-1814, by Katherine Glass Greene, Page 36-37