Young Washington Setting Up A Survey by John Buxton

Land surveying in early Virginia was a respected and profitable pursuit for any young man. In 1747 at age 15, George Washington’s association with the Fairfax family earned him the notice of Lord Fairfax. Fairfax employed competent surveyors to map his extensive lands in northern Virginia.

It is recorded that Lord Fairfax engaged George William Fairfax and his friend George Washington to execute land maps of some of these northern holdings. The resulting surveys proved quite satisfactory and in turn resulted in steady work for the young Washington.