4. William Fairfax, fourth son of Henry Fairfax of Tolston, co. York,
second son of Henry, fourth Lord Fairfax, settled in New England in
America, and was agent for his cousin Thomas, sixth lord, and had the
entire management of his estates in Virginia. His third and only surviving
son, Bryan Fairfax, was in holy orders, and resided in the United States.
On the death of Robert, seventh Lord Fairfax, July 15, 1793, this Bryan
went to England and preferred his claim to the peerage, which was
determined in his favour by the House of Lords. He then returned to
America. Bryan Fairfax married a Miss Elizabeth Cary, and had several
children. (Vide Douglas, and Burke's _Peerage_.)
There are several English families who possess Scottish peerages, but they
are derived from Scottish ancestors, as Talmash, Radclyffe, Eyre, &c.
Perhaps the writer may be permitted to inform your correspondent W. H. M.
that the term "subject" is more commonly and correctly applied to a person
who owes allegiance to a crowned head, and "citizen" to one who is born and
lives under a republican form of government.