Sarah “Sally” Fairfax Carlyle, born around 1730, was a member of one of Virginia’s most prominent families. A cousin of Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron—namesake of Fairfax County—she belonged to a lineage that shaped the colony’s social and political landscape. In 1747, she married John Carlyle, a Scottish-born merchant who became a founding figure in Alexandria.
Sarah died in 1761 at approximately 31 years old from complications during childbirth. She became the first recorded burial in what is now the 18th-century burial ground at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House.
Her epitaph, transcribed in 1814 by Reverend Timothy Alden, offers a glimpse into how she was remembered by those who loved her:
“A dutiful child, loving wife, affectionate parent, indulgent mistress, faithful friend, sincere Christian.”
Though her story faded from public memory by the 20th century, Sarah Carlyle’s grave marks the beginning of an enduring sacred space in Alexandria and connects us to the personal histories behind Virginia’s most influential families.
