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George Washington's lovesong Sarah (Sally) Cary Fairfax

George Washington loved Sarah (Sally) Cary. But most mentions of this adoration fail to really emphasize one major obstacle. Sara (Sally) was married. She was married to George William Fairfax.  George William Fairfax married Sarah (Sally) Cary in December 1748.


James Flexner writes, "After Martha had accepted George, Sally Fairfax could not resist teasing her longtime admirer about his 'anxiety' at the 'animating prospect of possessing Mrs Custis.'


This elicited from the young soldier, away on the Forbes Expedition, a passionate avowal that he loved only Sally.


"You have drawn me, my dear Madam, or rather have I drawn myself into an honest confession of a simple fact. Misconstrue not my meaning . . . nor expose it. The world has no business to know the object of love declared in this manner to you, when I want to conceal it."


He tried to elicit from Sally a similar avowal. Although she kept Washington's letter by her for all her life, she did not give him the assurance he desired."


Sources:

Washington: The Indispensable Man (Illustrated Editions) Hardcover – Illustrated, November 6, 2012 by James Thomas Flexner (Author), and 3rd paragrah of letter GW writes to Sarah Cary Fairfax, 12 Sept 1758 : https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-06-02-0013



But just to re-emphasize the original point. Sally is married.


By the time of that letter of 1758 she has been married 10 years.


George Washington marries Martha Dandridge Custis on 6 Jan 1759.  


That day isn't random. That happens to be a special day. That day happens to be the 12th day of the Twelve Days of Christmas. If you count Christmas Day as Day One of the Twelve Days of Christmas, then 6 January is the 12th day. That 12th Day is also known as 3 Kings Day, when the 3 Wise Men came to see baby Jesus. That 12th Day is also known as Epiphany. Epiphany is sudden knowledge. Sudden knowledge of what? This author will leave that to the reader who probably knows already. So was this 12th Day widely observed then? Yes it was.In some ways it was more celebrated than Christmas Day, the 1st of the 12 Days of Christmas. See sources for that claim.




Then in May of 1760, Sarah Cary Fairfax and her husband leaves for England.




Source of painting. Unknown artist.


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Letters from GW to Sarah (Sally)

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1755

In order to engage your corrispondance, I think it expedient, just is incumbent on me to deserve...

I have, at last, with great pains and difficulty, discover’d the Reason why Mrs Wardrope is a...

When I had the pleasure to see you last, you expressd an Inclination a wish to be informd of my...

After thanking Heaven for your safe return I must accuse you of great unkindness in refusing us...


1756

John informs me that you told him Miss Nancy West was to be at your House in a day or two; and...


1757

I have lingerd under an Indisposition for more than three Months; and finding no relief above, on...


1758

The Inclosd came to my hands this moment—Colo. Carlyle desird after I had perusd the Papers, that...

Letters which I have just receivd from the President, and others from Winchester render it...

Letter not found: from Sarah Cary Fairfax, 1 Sept. 1758. On 12 Sept. GW wrote to Mrs. Fairfax :...

Yesterday I was honourd with your short, but very agreable favour of the first Instt. how...

Do we still misunderstand the true meaning of each others Letters? I think it must appear so, thô...


1779

Mrs Græme a Lady of large property in South Carolina, the Place of Her Nativity, who has been in...


1785

Tho’ I did myself the honor of filling more than one sheet of Paper in answer to your Excellencys...


1798

Five and twenty years, nearly, have passed away since I have considered myself as the permanent...







 

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