arby Ramsay House, the home of John Carlyle has also been
threatened by business interests and was in danger of demolition just
before the outbreak of World War II. It was saved by Mr. Lloyd L.
Scheffer who acquired the property from the Wagar estate and continues
to maintain the residence as a historic house museum. Entrance to the
Carlyle Home is through the lobby of the Wagar apartments at 123 North
Fairfax Street.]

In an ancient will book at Fairfax Court House is the inventory of a
gentleman's estate--household fabrics, mahogany and walnut furniture,
family pictures, maps, prints, books, silverware, glassware, chinaware,
and all manner of utensils, and drawers of "Trumpery!" More personal
items imply a rich wardrobe and a man who doubtless cut a figure in
society, for the list of apparel is long, containing, "1 scarlet cloth
jacket with broad gold lace," "1 crimson velvet jacket with broad gold
lace," "1 pair scarlet breaches with gold knee bands," "1 silver tobacco
box," "1 tortoise shell ditto with silver top," "2 pair silver shoe
buckles and 1 pair gold studds," "24 silver large coat buttons and 1
stock buckle," "1 box with 4 wiggs," etc.[73]

Another entry in a more ancient tome reads:

At a court held for the County of Fairfax, 19th March, 1754. Present
John Colvill, Geo. Wm. Fairfax, John West, William Ramsay and Thomas
Colvill, Gentlemen Justices.

Mr. John Carlyle produced a commission from the Honorable the
Governor under the seal of the Colony appointing him Commissary of
provisions and stores for an expedition intended to the River Ohio
pursuant to which he took the oaths according to Law, repeated and
subscribed to the Test.... Lieutenant Col^o George Washington,
Lieutenant John West Jr. and James Townes pursuant to their military
commissions from the Honorable the Governor took the oaths according
to Law and subscribed to the Test.[74]

[Illustration: John Carlyle's Alexandria Mansion]

Military echoes are not lacking from the inventory of his possessions.
Is it possible that "1 Blue cloth coat with vellam holes"[75] related to
his military service as major of Virginia militia? Was this perchance
the coat worn by Major Carlyle in 1755 when the Redcoats of His
Britannic Majesty's forces and the Virginia Militia fought under General
Edward Braddock and met defeat at Great Meadows at the hands of the
French and Indians? Major Carlyle was quartermaster in those day