Does anyone know who this William mentioned in McCarty's records was? josie [McCARTY-L] chapter 2 (VA McCARTY'S) page 53-55 SOURCE: The McCarthys In Early American History by Michael J. O'Brien, New York Dodd, Mead and Company 1921: "was thus referred to by the famous William Fairfax in a letter dated August 15, 1749, to Lawrence Washington, then in England: *11* "Our Principal Occurrence in this County Since your Departure has been the Election of our Vestry, a copy of which is enclosed." The enclosure was a list of the successful and defeated candidates in the handwriting of George Washington, and among the names of the twelve vestrymen elected was that of Daniel McCarty. Moncure D. Conway, in commenting on the individuals included in Washington's list, says: "The McCartys and Bronaughs were connected with the Mason family and were men of great influence." *12* It might appear as if Colonel McCarty was a builder and contractor, since the Vestry Book shows that at a meeting held on February 19, 1749, it was voted to erect an addition to the church, and an entry in the record of that date reads: Captain Daniel McCarty undertakes this work for 5500 pounds of tobacco, he also having the material in the old Vestry House to make what use of he can in building the new." The parish meetings were supposed to be held in the church edifice, but the records show that they were held occasionally at the home of one or other of the vestrymen and that they lasted sometimes for two or three days. Doubtless, these occasions were largely turned into social gatherings, since their attendance often involved a ride on horseback for a considerable distance, depending at whose house the meeting was held, and we may depend upon it that much was discussed at these meetings other than the mere local business of the parish. The vestrymen and wardens of those days were important people and only men of prominence in County affairs were chosen for such positions, since they were not only officials of the parish but also of the State, and one of the functions of government devolving on the vestrymen and wardens was the levying of taxes for the support of the poor and the appointment every fourth year of commissioners to view all boundary lines of land grants and claims, to arbitrate disputes and to see that the shooting and range laws were complied with. The meeting of the Vestry for Truro Parish held in November, 1765, lasted three days and was held at the home of Daniel McCarty, and the record shows that there were present on that occasion "Mr Edw Payne, Col. Geo Washington, Capt Posey, Capt Daniel McCarty, Col Geo William Fairfax, Mr. Thomas Ford and Mr. Alex Henderson." The Vestry Book attests the regularity with which Washington attended the meetings and the interest he took in the affairs of the parish. There were two churches in Truro Parish, Pohick and Old Falls church, the latter called after the falls of the Potomac. Washington and McCarty were also vestrymen of Old Falls church, as is seen from an entry in the record dated March 28, 1763, on which date both were present at a meeting in the capacity of vestrymen. At a meeting of the Vestry held on February 3, 1766, relating to a new church building, it was "Ordered that Colonel George Washington, Captain Daniel McCarty, Colonel George William Fairfax, Mr. Alexander Henderson and Mr. Thomas Ford or any three of them do view and admire the said building from time to time as shall be requisite." Washington continued an active and untiring member of the Vestry of Truro Parish until the outbreak of the Revolution. Among his original papers at the Library of Congress I find a letter to him from Daniel McCarty dated February 22, 1784. It is an unusually fine specimen of penmanship for the time and its purpose was to notify Washington that "Tomorrow is appointed for us to have a Vestry; the place of meeting is to be at WILLIAM LINDSAY's in Colchester by 11 o'clock; it was attempted five or six times last fall, but you and Mr. Henderson's both being out of the country we never could get a sufficient Number of Gentlemen to meet to make a Vestry, by which means the poor suffers very much and some of them must inevitably perish without they can have some assistance. I must therefore beg your attendance. Mrs. McCarty and family join me in our best respects to you and your worthy Lady and I am with the greatest esteem Dr Sir your Most Obt and very humble servt Daniel McCarty." But, Washington at this time had decided to retire and he replied to the above letter on February 23rd.tendering his resignation, and on that date the following entry was made in the parish book: "John Gibson, Gent. is elected a Vestryman of this Parish in the room of His Excellency General Washington, who has signified his resignation in a letter to Daniel McCarty, Gent." At the same meeting Daniel McCarty himself tendered his resignation and Lund Washington was elected in his place. He died at his home at Cedar Grove, Fairfax County, in 1791. His only son, Daniel McCarty, Junior, was elected a Vestryman of the Parish on December 8, 1779. Thaddeus, second son of Major Dennis and Sarah (Ball) McCarty, was born on April 1, 1739, and the records of Lancaster County show that on May 19, 1758, Kathy "Kath" (Burden) Shaffer Omaha, NE YESIMABURDEN@aol.com source: *11* Quoted in Barons of the Patomack and the Rappahannock, by Moncure D. Conway, pp. 264-266; New York, 1892. *12* Ibid., p. 267.