The Fairbanks Revolutionary War Patriot Project II
Sharmin Fairbanks McKenny
Youngest Fairbanks in the Revolutionary War
Asa Fairbanks
Lineage:
Asa, Ebenezer V, Eleasur IV, Eliesur III, George II, Jonathan I
Asa Fairbanks (March 4, 1762- July 26, 1819) is found as #129 in the Fairbanks Family of America by Lorenzo Sayels Fairbanks, page 170. Most of the information below was gleaned from this source.
Daughter of the American Revolution Information
The Daughter of the American Revolution number for Asa is # A038341. The information given for Asa Fairbanks on DAR.org is as follows: Service: MASSACHUSETTS Rank(s): PRIVATE, Birth: 3-4-1762 SHERBORN MASSACHUSETTs, Death: 7-26-1819 DUBLIN NEW, HAMPSHIRE, Service Description: 1) CAPT DIX . Asa served in SHERBORN, MASSACHUSETTS. His wife was HEPZIBAH ADAMS.
Youngest Patriot known for The Fairbanks Family of America
Asa was born March 4, 1762, in Sherborn (now known as Medway) not far from his Great Great Grandfather, George Fairbanks that helped open that area in the 1650s.. This was not far from Dedham, MA where Asa’s third Great Grandfather, Jonathan Fairbanks built the house known now as The Fairbanks House Museum.
At the young age of ourteen, in 1776, Asa enlisted into service to his country during the early years of the Revolutionary War. The youngest military age at that time was sixteen. However, it was likely other young men did the same as Asa. We are fortunate his family saved his efforts in their entry into the Lorenzo Fairbanks book.
Asa volunteered for guard duty of the military stores of Sherborn, Massachusetts that summer. Two years later, 1678, when Asa reached 16 years, he reenlisted. This time he joined the army at Rhode Island about 38 miles away.
Asa’s responsibilities were to ferry soldiers, horses, provisions, and ammunition across a river. He was required to do this both day and night. Asa was not always alone on the river in this service. On one occasion when he traveled the river by night with a load of soldiers, there were six other boats in his company. A severe storm took them by surprise. They lost their pilot and lights. The waves were so bad they couldn’t find their way. Asa’s boat finally drifted upon an island where they found another of their boats that was also lost in the storm.
The next morning, they realized they were near an enemy encampment. They signaled a distress sign to other boats crossing the river, but no one responded for two days and nights. Asa’s and the other boat were supposed by their officers to be lost. Only those two boats had crossed the river that night. Asa and his soldiers were left wet and cold without food or fire for warmth. Eventually they were rescued.
Two years later 1780, now a seasoned soldier of 18 years of age, Asa re-enlisted for six months. This time he served part of that time at West Point. He was present when Benedict Arnold attempted to hand it over to the British.
In 1780, Asa’s military career was over. He married Hepzibah Adams April 28, 1784. They settled in Dublin, New Hampshire. At first, they lived in a log cabin with no chimney or doors. They cooked their food for the first few months in the open air. Their first child was born about a year after they were married. Together, they had four children in all. Asa died at age 57 years in Dublin, N. H. You can find his tombstone on Find A Grave.
If Asa Fairbanks is of your lineage or if you have more information on his Revolutionary War Services please send me a message by clicking the “Contact” on the sidebar.
You can submit your own Fairbanks Revolutionary War Patriot by clicking the button below and sending in a page of information about your Patriot. Send the form to Sharminmc@gmail.com or if by US postal, to Fairbanks Family in America, Inc. 511 East Street, Dedham, MA 02026. If you don’t have all the information, please send what you have.
Next Up!
A female descendant of the Fairbanks recognized for her contribution to the Revolutionary War.
