 Following his admission to the bar and the death of his mother in 1745 , Jones was persuaded by either Thomas Fairfax , 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron , the landowner of the Northern Neck Proprietary , or his relative Hugh Mercer to return to Virginia . Once he was " free of his indentures " and had " attained his majority " , Jones secured his return to Virginia . He settled first in Fredericksburg and later relocated to Frederick County , after which on March 1 , 1747 , he acquired a tract of land along Opequon Creek near present @-@ day Kernstown , where he resided for several years . Upon settling in Frederick County , Jones became the private secretary to Lord Fairfax . 
