John West, Jr. (d. 1777), of Fairfax County was commissioned a lieutenant in the Virginia Regiment 27 Feb. 1754 and served until August, when the regiment was disbanded (VA. TROOPS, 284; GW to Robert Dinwiddie, 20 Aug. 1754, ViHi). His resignation may have been prompted by the death about this time of his father, Hugh West (Hugh West's will, 9 Feb. 1754, Fairfax County Wills, Book B-1, 74--75, Vi Microfilm). John West, Jr., like GW, was a trained surveyor, and during the previous year had been appointed surveyor for Fairfax County (John West, Jr.'s bond, Fairfax County Deeds, Book C-1, 546, Vi Microfilm). He was Fairfax County sheriff 1759--61, justice of the Fairfax County court 1757--76, and clerk of Truro Parish 1758--63.
The Indian who accompanied the party refused to proceed beyond the Forks until GW "promised him a ruffled shirt, which I must take from my own, and a match-coat" (GW to Joshua Fry, 23 May 1754, WRITINGS, 1:52--53). )
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