Early Years
Carlyle was born on February 6, 1720, the son of William Carlyle, an apothecary-physician, and Rachel Murray Carlyle. He may have been born in the city of Carlisle, where his parents lived and from which the family took its name, in Cumberland County, England, or a few miles away at his mother's family estate, Murraythwaite, in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Eight of his nine brothers and sisters died in early childhood. Carlyle apprenticed at the mercantile house of William Hicks in the coastal town of Whitehaven and may have made his first voyage to Virginia in 1739. On September 24 of that year a John Carlyle witnessed two deeds in Prince William County. Carlyle moved to Virginia about two years later and joined other relatives who had already settled in the Chesapeake Bay region. Registering his power of attorney as a factor, or agent, for Hicks at the Prince William County courthouse on July 27, 1741, he intended to make his fortune working for Hicks in the Maryland and Virginia markets and then return home.
On December 31, 1747, Carlyle married Sarah Fairfax, daughter of William Fairfax, a member of the governor's Council. They had five daughters and two sons, but only two of the daughters lived beyond childhood. Sarah Carlyle died on January 22, 1761, following the birth of her seventh child. On October 22 of that year Carlyle married Sybil West, daughter of Hugh West, one of the early developers of Alexandria. Of their three sons, two died in infancy. Sybil Carlyle died on March 17, 1769, as a consequence of her fourth pregnancy, which terminated in a miscarriage.
In Alexandria
Early in the 1750s Carlyle built his family a grand stone Georgian mansion in Alexandria and saw to the details of its construction himself. It was by far the most splendid structure in the new town. He resided there for more than twenty-five years. As a trustee he administered to the town's needs in education, public health and sanitation, streets, safety, and the town market, and as a justice of the peace and leading citizen he oversaw the construction of the courthouse, bridges, churches, docks, roads, a school, and warehouses. Although a Presbyterian, he may have also attended services of the Church of England, and he was a Freemason.
Later Years
Carlyle supported the colony's protests against British policies during the decade after the war and in 1774 was a member of the Alexandria Town and Fairfax County Committees. He most likely took part in procuring small arms, fieldpieces, and ammunition for the local volunteer companies. During the Revolutionary War his only living son, George William Carlyle, served in the legion commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee and on September 8, 1781, at age fifteen, was killed in the engagement at Eutaw Springs, South Carolina.
Time Line
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February 6, 1720 - John Carlyle was born in England.
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September 24, 1739 - John Carlyle witnesses two deeds in Prince William County.
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July 27, 1741 - John Carlyle registers his power of attorney as an agent for the mercantile house of William Hicks at Prince William County courthouse.
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December 31, 1747 - John Carlyle and Sarah Fairfax marry. They will have two daughters who survive to maturity.
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1749 - The General Assembly designates John Carlyle one of the eleven trustees of the new town Alexandria.
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March 1749 - John Carlyle becomes a justice of the peace in Fairfax County.
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Early 1750s - The merchant John Carlyle builds his family a grand stone Georgian mansion in Alexandria, seeing to the details of its construction himself. It is by far the most splendid structure in the new town.
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1754 - The merchant John Carlyle serves as commissary to the Virginia militia's Ohio River expedition during the French and Indian War.
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1755 - The merchant John Carlyle serves as Alexandria commissary to the British expeditionary forces during the French and Indian War.
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1755 - By the end of this year, John Carlyle is a colonel in the militia.
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January 22, 1761 - Sarah Fairfax Carlyle, the wife of the merchant John Carlyle, dies following the birth of her seventh child.
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October 22, 1761 - John Carlyle and Sybil West marry. They will have one son who survives to maturity.
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March 17, 1769 - Sybil West Caryle, the second wife of the merchant John Carlyle, dies as a consequence of her fourth pregnancy.
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1774 - John Carlyle is a member of the Alexandria Town and Fairfax County Committee.
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October 17, 1780 - The will of John Carlyle is proved in Fairfax County Court.
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September 8, 1781 - George William Carlyle, at age fifteen, is killed at the Battle of Eutaw Springs, in South Carolina, during the Revolutionary War.
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Categories
- Colonial History (ca. 1560–1763)
References
Further Reading
Cite This Entry
- APA Citation:
Munson, J. D., & the Dictionary of Virginia Biography. John Carlyle (1720–1780). (2018, August 9). In Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved from http://www.EncyclopediaVirginia.org/Carlyle_John_1720-1780.
- MLA Citation:
Munson, James D. and the Dictionary of Virginia Biography. "John Carlyle (1720–1780)." Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities, 9 Aug. 2018. Web. READ_DATE.
First published: March 13, 2018 | Last modified: August 9, 2018
Contributed by James D. Munson and the Dictionary of Virginia Biography.