The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Sister of Lord Fairfax ( - fl. c. 1715)

Ambiguous reference to her as a donor in Thoresby's Musaeum Thoresbyanum. At the time of its publication, the current "Lord Fairfax" was Thomas, the 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (and later Virginia slave trader): his sisters were Katherine, Margaret, Frances, and Mary. Those sisters would have been quite young at the time (their eldest brother was around twenty-three and the youngest around eight years of age). More likely it was Henry, the 4th Lord Fairfax, and his sister that Thoresby is referring to. It was this generation of the Fairfax family that figured so importantly in Thoresby's life and who were his near contemporaries. Henry's sisters were Mary (b. 29 Jul 1653), Dorothy (b. 30 Dec 1655), Ursula (b. 3 May 1661), Frances (b. 2 Apr 1663), Anne (b. 27 Apr 1670), and Mary Fairfax (b. 1673). Relationships: Sister of Lord Fairfax was a source of object(s) for Ralph Thoresby (1658-1725)

 References in Documents:
Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

Of the inner Rinds of the Lagetto Tree, are made Mantles (c)(c) Sloan's Cat. Plant. Jam. p. 137.. My honoured Friend Dr. Sloan gave me a Specimen of this, that raises the Admiration of all that behold it, being like a delicate fine Gaws or Crape, woven by the greatest Artist. Musk-berries, and a String of them. Don. D. Sam. Kirkshaw. Hazel-nuts, two and three (triorchis) growing together. A Cluster of 15 grown Nuts from Holbeck in this Parish. Don. D. Tho. Kitchingman Alderm. Leod. Another of 40 Nuts (but not full grown) sent me by my Lord Fairfax's Sister, from Denton, where they grew. A Hazel-Nut that grew at Theobalds, near 40 Years ago; it is three Inches round.