Biography of Thomas Fairfax 3rd Lord Fairfax 1612-1671

Paternal Family Tree: Fairfax

Maternal Family Tree: Isabel Girlington 1495-1560

1643 Trial and Execution of the Hothams

1646 Battle of Torrington

1649 Pride's Purge

Before 17 Jan 1612 [his father] Ferdinando Fairfax 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron (age 27) and [his mother] Mary Sheffield (age 24) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Edmund Sheffield 1st Earl Mulgrave (age 46) and [his grandmother] Ursula Tyrwhitt (age 72). They were fourth cousins.

On 17 Jan 1612 Thomas Fairfax 3rd Lord Fairfax was born to Ferdinando Fairfax 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron (age 27) and Mary Sheffield (age 24) at Denton Hall.

On 02 Jun 1619 [his mother] Mary Sheffield (age 31) died.

After 02 Jun 1619 [his father] Ferdinando Fairfax 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron (age 35) and [his step-mother] Rhoda Chapman (age 3) were married. The difference in their ages was 31 years.

Around 1624 Thomas Fairfax 3rd Lord Fairfax (age 11) educated at St John's College, Cambridge University [Map].

In 1626 Thomas Fairfax 3rd Lord Fairfax (age 13) studied at Gray's Inn.

On 30 Jul 1638 [his daughter] Mary Fairfax Duchess Buckingham was born to Thomas Fairfax 3rd Lord Fairfax (age 26) and Anne Vere Lady Fairfax.

Trial and Execution of the Hothams

Around Feb 1643, John Hotham (age 33) was ready to switch to the Royalist side. He considered himself a better commander than Thomas Fairfax 3rd Lord Fairfax (age 31) and resented being under his command. In February or March 1643, Hotham started negotiating with the William Cavendish 1st Duke Newcastle upon Tyne (age 50), the Royalist commander in Yorkshire at Bridlington, supposedly about a prisoner exchange. In exchange for surrendering Hull and changing sides, Hotham demanded 20,000 pounds cash, the rank of viscount for his father and the rank of baron for himself.

Diary of Isabella Twysden 1645. the 11 of Sep 1645 prince rupert (age 25) delivered up bristoll on treaty to Sr Tho: farfax (age 33) for the parlement.

Battle of Torrington

On 16 Feb 1646 the Royalist Army commanded by Ralph Hopton 1st Baron Hopton (age 49) was defeated at Great Torrington, Devon bringing to an end Royalist resistance in the West Counntry. The battle was brought to an end when eighty barrels of gunpowder stored in St Michael and All Angels Church exploded killing the prisoners held there and nearly killing Thomas Fairfax 3rd Lord Fairfax (age 34).

On 12 Mar 1646 Ralph Hopton 1st Baron Hopton (age 49) surrendered his Royalist Army to Thomas Fairfax 3rd Lord Fairfax (age 34).

On 14 Mar 1648 [his father] Ferdinando Fairfax 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron (age 63) died. He was buried at Bolton Percy.

Pride's Purge

On 06 Jan 1649 Thomas Pride, on behalf of Thomas Fairfax 3rd Lord Fairfax (age 36) and Henry Ireton (age 38), supported by two regiments, and Nathaniel Rich's (age 24) Regiment of Horse, with Thomas Grey (age 26), prevented MPs opposed to the trial of King Charles I (age 48) from entering Parliament including ...

James Herbert (age 26).

Robert Pye (age 29).

Ambrose Browne 1st Baronet.

Denzil Holles 1st Baron Holles (age 49).

John Spelman (age 42).

On 15 Sep 1657 [his son-in-law] George Villiers 2nd Duke of Buckingham (age 29) and [his daughter] Mary Fairfax Duchess Buckingham (age 19) were married. She by marriage Duchess of Buckingham. He the son of George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham and Katherine Manners Duchess Buckingham.

Pepy's Diary. 02 Jan 1660. Thence I went to the Temple [Map] to speak with Mr. Calthropp (age 36) about the 60l. due to my Lord, but missed of him, he being abroad. Then I went to Mr. Crew's (age 62) and borrowed 10l. of Mr. Andrewes (NOTE. Possibly John Andrews Timber Merchant) for my own use, and so went to my office, where there was nothing to do. Then I walked a great while in Westminster Hall [Map], where I heard that Lambert (age 40) was coming up to London; that my Lord Fairfax (age 47) was in the head of the Irish brigade, but it was not certain what he would declare for. The House was to-day upon finishing the act for the Council of State, which they did; and for the indemnity to the soldiers; and were to sit again thereupon in the afternoon. Great talk that many places have declared for a free Parliament; and it is believed that they will be forced to fill up the House with the old members. From the Hall [Map] I called at home, and so went to Mr. Crew's (my wife (age 19) she was to go to her father's), thinking to have dined, but I came too late, so Mr. Moore and I and another gentleman went out and drank a cup of ale together in the new market, and there I eat some bread and cheese for my dinner. After that Mr. Moore and I went as far as Fleet-street [Map] together and parted, he going into the City, I to find Mr. Calthrop, but failed again of finding him, so returned to Mr. Crew's again, and from thence went along with Mrs. Jemimah home, and there she taught me how to play at cribbage. Then I went home, and finding my wife gone to see Mrs. Hunt, I went to Will's, and there sat with Mr. Ashwell talking and singing till nine o'clock, and so home, there, having not eaten anything but bread and cheese, my wife cut me a slice of brawn which I received from my Lady; which proves as good as ever I had any. So to bed, and my wife had a very bad night of it through wind and cold.

Pepy's Diary. 05 Jan 1660. Then I went home, and after writing a letter to my Lord and told him the news that the Parliament hath this night voted that the members that were discharged from sitting in the years 1648 and 49, were duly discharged; and that there should be writs issued presently for the calling of others in their places, and that Monk (age 51) and Fairfax (age 47) were commanded up to town, and that the Prince's (age 40) lodgings were to be provided for Monk at Whitehall [Map].

Pepy's Diary. 09 Feb 1660. Thursday. Soon as out of my bed I wrote letters into the country to go by carrier to-day. Before I was out of my bed, I heard the soldiers very busy in the morning, getting their horses ready where they lay at Hilton's, but I knew not then their meaning in so doing: After I had wrote my letters I went to Westminster up and down the Hall, and with Mr. Swan walked a good [deal] talking about Mr Downing's (age 35) business. I went with him to Mr. Phelps's house where he had some business to solicit, where we met Mr. Rogers my neighbour, who did solicit against him and talked very high, saying that he would not for a £1000 appear in a business that Swan [Map] did, at which Swan was very angry, but I believe he might be guilty enough. In the Hall I understand how Monk (age 51) is this morning gone into London with his army; and met with Mr. Fage, who told me that he do believe that Monk is gone to secure some of the Common-council of the City, who were very high yesterday there, and did vote that they would not pay any taxes till the House was filled up. I went to my office, where I wrote to my Lord after I had been at the Upper Bench, where Sir Robert Pye (age 75)1 this morning came to desire his discharge from the Tower; but it could not be granted. After that I went to Mrs. Jem, who I had promised to go along with to her Aunt Wright's, but she was gone, so I went thither, and after drinking a glass of sack I went back to Westminster Hall, and meeting with Mr. Pierce the surgeon, who would needs take me home, where Mr. Lucy, Burrell, and others dined, and after dinner I went home and to Westminster Hall, where meeting Swan [Map] I went with him by water to the Temple [Map] to our Counsel, and did give him a fee to make a motion to-morrow in the Exchequer for Mr Downing. Thence to Westminster Hall, where I heard an action very finely pleaded between my Lord Dorset (age 37) and some other noble persons, his lady (age 38) and other ladies of quality being here, and it was about; £330 per annum, that was to be paid to a poor Spittal, which was given by some of his predecessors; and given on his side. Thence Swan [Map] and I to a drinking-house near Temple Bar, where while he wrote I played on my flageolet till a dish of poached eggs was got ready for us, which we eat, and so by coach home. I called at Mr. Harper's, who told me how Monk had this day clapt up many of the Common-council, and that the Parliament had voted that he should pull down their gates and portcullisses, their posts and their chains, which he do intend to do, and do lie in the City all night. I went home and got some ahlum to my mouth, where I have the beginnings of a cancer, and had also a plaster to my boil underneath my chin.

Note 1. Sir Robert Pye, the elder, was auditor of the Exchequer, and a staunch Royalist. He garrisoned his house at Faringdon, which was besieged by his son (age 40), of the same names, a decided Republican, son-in-law to Hampden, and colonel of horse under Fairfax (age 48). The son, here spoken of, was subsequently committed to the Tower for presenting a petition to the House of Commons from the county of Berks, which he represented in Parliament, complaining of the want of a settled form of government. He had, however, the courage to move for an habeas corpus, but judge Newdigate decided that the courts of law had not the power to discharge him. Upon Monk's coming to London, the secluded members passed a vote to liberate Pye, and at the Restoration he was appointed equerry to the King (age 29). He died in 1701. B.

Pepy's Diary. 14 Feb 1660. To Westminster Hall, there being many new remonstrances and declarations from many counties to Monk (age 51) and the City, and one coming from the North from Sir Thomas Fairfax (age 48). Hence I took him to the Swan [Map] and gave him his morning draft. So to my office, where Mr. Hill of Worcestershire came to see me and my partner in our office, with whom we went to Will's to drink.

Pepy's Diary. 13 Jun 1667. In the evening comes Mr. Pelling, and several others, to the office, and tell me that never were people so dejected as they are in the City all over at this day; and do talk most loudly, even treason; as, that we are bought and sold-that we are betrayed by the Papists, and others, about the King (age 37); cry out that the office of the Ordnance hath been so backward as no powder to have been at Chatham, Kent [Map] nor Upnor Castle, Kent [Map] till such a time, and the carriages all broken; that Legg is a Papist; that Upnor [Map], the old good castle built by Queen Elizabeth, should be lately slighted; that the ships at Chatham, Kent [Map] should not be carried up higher. They look upon us as lost, and remove their families and rich goods in the City; and do think verily that the French, being come down with his army to Dunkirke, it is to invade us, and that we shall be invaded. Mr. Clerke, the solicitor, comes to me about business, and tells me that he hears that the King hath chosen Mr. Pierpont (age 59) and Vaughan (age 63) of the West, Privy-councillors; that my Chancellor (age 58) was affronted in the Hall this day, by people telling him of his Dunkirke house; and that there are regiments ordered to be got together, whereof to be commanders my Lord Fairfax (age 55), Ingoldsby (age 49), Bethell, Norton, and Birch (age 51), and other Presbyterians; and that Dr. Bates will have liberty to preach. Now, whether this be true or not, I know not; but do think that nothing but this will unite us together.

On 12 Nov 1671 Thomas Fairfax 3rd Lord Fairfax (age 59) died.

Thomas Fairfax 3rd Lord Fairfax and Anne Vere Lady Fairfax were married. They were second cousin twice removed.

Letters of Horace Walpole. Rochester, Kent [Map], Sunday.

We have finished our progress sadly! Yesterday after twenty mishaps we got to Sissinghurst to dinner. There is a park in ruins, and a house in ten times greater ruins, built by Sir John Balier, chancellor of the exchequer to Queen Mary. You go through an arch of the stables to the house, the court of which is perfect and very beautiful. The Duke of Bedford has a house at Cheneys, in Buckinghamshire, which seems to have been very like it, but is more ruined. This has a good apartment, and a fine gallery, a hundred and twenty feet by eighteen, which takes up one side: the wainscot is pretty and entire: the ceiling vaulted, and painted in a light genteel grotesque. The whole is built for show: for the back of the house is nothing but lath and plaster. From thence we Went to Bocton-Malherbe, where are remains of a house of the Wottons, and their tombs in the church; but the roads were so exceedingly bad that it was dark before we got thither, and still darker before we got to Maidstone: from thence we passed this morning to Leeds Castle [Map].347 Never was such disappointment! There are small remains: the moat is the only handsome object, and is quite a lake, supplied by a cascade which tumbles through a bit of a romantic grove. The Fairfaxes have fitted up a pert, bad apartment in the fore-part of the castle, and have left the only tolerable rooms for offices. They had a gleam of Gothic in their eyes, but it soon passed off into some modern windows, and some that never were ancient. The only thing that at all recompensed the fatigues we have undergone was the picture of the [his daughter] Duchess of Buckingham348, la Ragotte, who is mentioned in Grammont-I say us, for I trust that Mr. Chute is as true a bigot to Grammont as I am. Adieu? I hope you will be as weary with reading our history as we have been in travelling it. Yours ever.

Note 347. A very ancient and magnificent structure, built throughout of stone, at different periods, formerly belonging to the family of Crovequer. In the fifteenth of Edward II Sir Thomas de Colepeper, who was castellan of the castle, was hanged on the drawbridge for having refused admittance to Isabel, the Queen-consort, in her progress in performing a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket at Canterbury. The manor and castle were forfeited to the crown by his attainder, but restored to his son, Sir Thomas Colepeper. By his Diary of May 8, 1666, it appears to have been hired by Evelyn for a prison. "Here," he says, "I flowed the dry moat, made a new drawbridge, brought spring-water into the court of the castle to an old fountain, and took order for the repairs."-E.

Note 348. Mary, Duchess of Buckingham, only daughter of Thomas, Lord Fairfax.-E.

Thomas Fairfax 3rd Lord Fairfax succeeded 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron. Anne Vere Lady Fairfax by marriage Lord Fairfax of Cameron.

Royal Ancestors of Thomas Fairfax 3rd Lord Fairfax 1612-1671

Kings Wessex: Great x 17 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 14 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 20 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 15 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 16 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 13 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 10 Grand Son of Philip IV King France

Ancestors of Thomas Fairfax 3rd Lord Fairfax 1612-1671

Great x 4 Grandfather: Guy Fairfax of Carthorpe in Yorkshire

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Fairfax of Steeton 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Rhyther 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Fairfax of Steeton 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Manners 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Fairfax 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Ros 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Fairfax 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

GrandFather: Thomas Fairfax 1st Lord Fairfax of Cameron 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Father: Ferdinando Fairfax 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Aske 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Aske 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bigod 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Aske 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John "Butcher" Clifford 9th Baron Clifford 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Clifford 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Bromflete Baroness Clifford 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Aske of Aughton in Yorkshire 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Rhyther 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph Rhyther 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Fitzwilliam 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Rhyther 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Constable

Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Constable 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Wentworth 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

GrandMother: Ellen Aske 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Dawnay of Cowick

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Dawnay 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Neville 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Neville 2nd Baron Latimer of Snape 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Bourchier 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Dorothy Neville 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey Stafford 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Stafford Baroness Latimer 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Fray

Thomas Fairfax 3rd Lord Fairfax 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Sheffield

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Sheffield 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Ellen Delves 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edmund Sheffield 1st Baron Sheffield 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: George Stanley 9th Baron Strange Knockin 5th Baron Mohun Dunster 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Jane Stanley 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Strange 9th Baroness Strange of Knockin 5th Baroness Dunster 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Sheffield 2nd Baron Sheffield 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John de Vere 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Colbroke

Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Vere Baroness Sheffield 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Trussell

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Trussell Countess of Oxford 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Donne 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

GrandFather: Edmund Sheffield 1st Earl Mulgrave 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Moleyns 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Howard 1st Baron Howard 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Tilney

Great x 3 Grandmother: Agnes Tilney Duchess Norfolk

Great x 1 Grandmother: Douglas Howard Baroness Sheffield 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Gamage

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Gamage Baroness Howard 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John St John 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret St John 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Sybil of Lansgtone Manor

Mother: Mary Sheffield 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Tyrwhitt

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Tyrwhitt 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Constable

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Constable 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Wentworth 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Tyrwhitt 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Tailboys 7th Baron Kyme 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Tailboys 8th Baron Kyme 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bonville Baroness Kyme 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Maud Tailboys 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Heron of Ford Castle Northumberland

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Heron Baroness Kyme

GrandMother: Ursula Tyrwhitt 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Girlington

Great x 1 Grandmother: Isabel Girlington