Sally Cary Fairfax is remembered for being the woman George Washington was apparently in love with at the time of his marriage to Martha Dandridge Custis.
Sally Fairfax came from one of Virginia's oldest and wealthiest families. Although she had many suitors, George William Fairfax eventually won Sally's favor, and in records found by Wilson Miles Cary, a writer and family historian, their marriage was announced in the Virginian Gazette in December of 1748. After their marriage, Sally and George William moved into the Belvoir estate that had been established in the 17th century.
Despite any ardor that Sally and young Washington may have shared, the forbidden temptation that Sally represented could not fit into the lofty standards that Washington had established for himself. All evidence points that they were on their best behavior. Washington married the wealthy Martha Dandridge Custis, initially perhaps only to heighten his social status, but their marriage appears to have been strong. Sally and George William were, in fact, the most frequent visitors to Mount Vernon, implying that any inkling the spouses had of previous indiscretions were politely ignored.
The happy foursome separated in 1773, after George William's fortunes were crushed. As a Loyalist, he had every intention of returning to America after the insurrection was over, but the success of the Revolution prevented George William and Sally from ever returning. He died in 1787, and Sally lived alone until her death in 1811.
Sally Fairfax came from one of Virginia's oldest and wealthiest families. Although she had many suitors, George William Fairfax eventually won Sally's favor, and in records found by Wilson Miles Cary, a writer and family historian, their marriage was announced in the Virginian Gazette in December of 1748. After their marriage, Sally and George William moved into the Belvoir estate that had been established in the 17th century.
Despite any ardor that Sally and young Washington may have shared, the forbidden temptation that Sally represented could not fit into the lofty standards that Washington had established for himself. All evidence points that they were on their best behavior. Washington married the wealthy Martha Dandridge Custis, initially perhaps only to heighten his social status, but their marriage appears to have been strong. Sally and George William were, in fact, the most frequent visitors to Mount Vernon, implying that any inkling the spouses had of previous indiscretions were politely ignored.
The happy foursome separated in 1773, after George William's fortunes were crushed. As a Loyalist, he had every intention of returning to America after the insurrection was over, but the success of the Revolution prevented George William and Sally from ever returning. He died in 1787, and Sally lived alone until her death in 1811.
Sally Cary Fairfax is remembered for being the woman George Washington was apparently in love with at the time of his marriage to Martha Dandridge Custis.
Sally Fairfax came from one of Virginia's oldest and wealthiest families. Although she had many suitors, George William Fairfax eventually won Sally's favor, and in records found by Wilson Miles Cary, a writer and family historian, their marriage was announced in the Virginian Gazette in December of 1748. After their marriage, Sally and George William moved into the Belvoir estate that had been established in the 17th century.
Despite any ardor that Sally and young Washington may have shared, the forbidden temptation that Sally represented could not fit into the lofty standards that Washington had established for himself. All evidence points that they were on their best behavior. Washington married the wealthy Martha Dandridge Custis, initially perhaps only to heighten his social status, but their marriage appears to have been strong. Sally and George William were, in fact, the most frequent visitors to Mount Vernon, implying that any inkling the spouses had of previous indiscretions were politely ignored.
The happy foursome separated in 1773, after George William's fortunes were crushed. As a Loyalist, he had every intention of returning to America after the insurrection was over, but the success of the Revolution prevented George William and Sally from ever returning. He died in 1787, and Sally lived alone until her death in 1811.
Sally Fairfax came from one of Virginia's oldest and wealthiest families. Although she had many suitors, George William Fairfax eventually won Sally's favor, and in records found by Wilson Miles Cary, a writer and family historian, their marriage was announced in the Virginian Gazette in December of 1748. After their marriage, Sally and George William moved into the Belvoir estate that had been established in the 17th century.
Despite any ardor that Sally and young Washington may have shared, the forbidden temptation that Sally represented could not fit into the lofty standards that Washington had established for himself. All evidence points that they were on their best behavior. Washington married the wealthy Martha Dandridge Custis, initially perhaps only to heighten his social status, but their marriage appears to have been strong. Sally and George William were, in fact, the most frequent visitors to Mount Vernon, implying that any inkling the spouses had of previous indiscretions were politely ignored.
The happy foursome separated in 1773, after George William's fortunes were crushed. As a Loyalist, he had every intention of returning to America after the insurrection was over, but the success of the Revolution prevented George William and Sally from ever returning. He died in 1787, and Sally lived alone until her death in 1811.
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