The papers include a substantial quantity of naval correspondence, together with business, personal and political letters. The naval correspondence features commissions, letters and orders, including correspondence from Lord High Admiral, Prince George of Denmark, admirals Sir Cloudsley Shovell, Sir Thomas Dilkes, Sir John Leake and Sir George Rooke. The personal papers include letters to his mother, his wife and his uncle in Dublin. (232 items).

Collection received treatment from the paper conservation studio in 2014 and the whole collection is available to order in the archive catalogue.

Administrative / biographical background
Robert Fairfax joined the navy in 1687 and participated in the battles of Bantry Bay (1689) and Beachy Head (1690). He captained the BERWICK, one of the 20 ships with which Rear Admiral Byng seized Gibraltar. He played a prominent role in the battle of Malaga (1704), and the reduction of Barcelona (1706). He became Rear Admiral of the Blue following the disasterous death of Sir Cloudsley Shovell (1707), but the promotion was instead given to Lord Dursley, by dint of the former's connections. Fairfax was left without employment, and after unsuccessfully petitioning the Crown to be reinstated, retired altogether from naval life. In 1713 Fairfax was elected to the seat of York but his rival candidate, Mr Tobias Jenkyns, disputed the result and a recount took place. Fairfax was returned, though he lost the seat the following year, when elected Alderman of the city of York. In 1715 he was elected Lord Mayor. Fairfax also purchased his estate of Bilbrough from his extended family. He died in 1725 leaving his wife, a son, and a daughter. His wife out lived him by another 10 years.