should be holden as
parcel of the lot numbered 57 and that the purchaser hold the same
without being compelled to make any improvements other than what was by
law required on one whole and entire lot.

In 1771, when Fairfax by reason of prospective inheritances of land and
titles, was contemplating removal to England he turned to Robert Adam, a
successful businessman, for assistance in disposing of his Alexandria
property. Court records reveal that George William Fairfax and Sarah,
his wife, sold on November 25, 1771, to Robert Adam, lots Nos. 56 and 57
with all "Houses, buildings, orchards, ways, waters, water courses" for
L350 current money of Virginia.[94]

The transaction deed was witnessed by George Washington, Anthony Ramsay,
and James Adam, and it is interesting that the entry for that day in
Washington's diary reads: "went a hunting in the morning with Jacky
Custis. Returned about 12 o'clock and found Colo. Fairfax and Lady here,
Mrs. Fanny Ballendine and her nieces, Miss Sally Fairfax, and Mr. R.
Adam, Mr. Jas. Adam, and Mr. Anthy. Ramsay, all of who went away in the
afternoon, when Miss Scott came."[95] This deed was recorded at Fairfax
Court on September 23, 1772, with another deed from John Carlyle and
George William Fairfax, executors of the estate of William Fairfax, to
convey lot No. 58 with all houses, building, etc., to Robert Adam for
L125. Up to this time only one house stood on lots 56 and 57.

It may well be that Adam acted only as agent for George William Fairfax,
or that he assured title to the property for cash advanced. Within the
month he had sold half of the lots to Andrew Wales, a brewer, for L331
17_s._ 6_d._, nearly as much as he paid for the entire property. The
other portion he sold to John Hough, Gentleman, of Loudoun County,
Virginia.

Robert Adam was quite the man of affairs in Alexandria. Born in
Kilbride, Scotland, in 1731, the son of the Reverend John Adam and wife
(_nee_ Janet Campbell), he came to Maryland at about twenty years of age
and was in Alexandria before 1758, associating himself with that
merchant prince of the town, John Carlyle, as early as 1760. The firm of
Carlyle & Adam acted as agents for Mount Vernon as well as Belvoir,
handling the wheat and tobacco from these plantations. Washington was
close to both men until he was outraged by treatment accorded his wheat
and bags, though he afterward did Adam the honor of dining with him.

Following Colonel William Fairf