What if Christmas Was Banned
It Was!

Ban of Christmas in 1659

Christmas was bleak both in 1659 and in 1777. In July of 1659, Susan Fairbanks Daye, second daughter of Jonathan and Grace Fairbanks died, probably of childbirth. Christmas was banned in the Colonies the same year. The Puritans didn’t believe in Christmas, but long standing seasonal traditions were probably observed at the Fairbanks House. Some of these may have been figgy pudding, decorating with greenery, a Yule log or a Yule candle. The absence of a family member would have been felt even more when sharing seasonal traditions. For a Glimpse into Made to Last Forever, the book being published about the original Fairbanks Family, press the button below for an explanation of the Banning of Christmas in 1659. Also see an authentic English Christmas pudding made by the family that now lives in the house believed to be owned by the Fairbanks in the 1600s.

Fairbanks Revolutionary War Patriot Project
Christmas at Valley Forge

Christmas was banned in the Colonies in 1659 and not reinstated until 1681. At the time it was reinstated, the Colonies were governed by the British appointed Governor Sir Edmund Andros. Even though Christmas was reinstated, the Puritan Colonist refused to observe the holiday until the mid 1800s, well after the Revolutionary War.

Several Christmas Days were well marked by Revolutionary War history. In 1776, George Washington took 2,400 men across the Delaware River to Trenton, New Jersey where they fought a successful battle against the British hired German soldiers (Hussians). During 1777, they had a successful battle at Princeton, but the year 1777 didn’t end well. Three major fights against Britian, at Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown, ended in defeat for the Patriots. Philadelphia was now occupied by the British, and the Continental Congress had to take refuge farther west.

By December 19, 1777, more than 12,000 soldiers and hundreds of civilians marched into Valley Forge, the winter encampment for the Continental Army, overlooking the British occupation of Philadelphia. The civilians included women, wives, and children of the soldiers. It is said 1 in 4 of the soldiers were not fit for service by that time because of lacking adequate clothing, shoes, and food. Things didn’t get better soon.

Valley Forge was in the farm fields of the area. Initially they set up tents and bush huts, but soon built small wooden huts. Each hut was occupied by many people. Sanitation suffered. Disease flourished. Two thousand soldiers died of disease. Yet, they would stay at Valley Forge until June 19, 1778, six months later.

There were at least ten Fairbanks descendants in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. One died before the winter of Valley Forge, and one had not joined until 1780. The rest of the Fairbanks men were likely at Valley Forge. The enlistment term was usually 1 or 3 years. Eight Fairbanks enlisted during 1777.

Fairbanks Descendants at Valley Forge

This information primarily is based on that found in the Lorenzo Sayles Fairbanks’ book The Fairbanks Family in America 1635-1897. There’s a list of Continental Soldiers who were in service through December 1777 (LSF, p. 858-859).

George Fairbanks, Surgeon’s Mate, enlisted on January 1, 1777, and resigned April 10, 1778. Samuel Fairbanks, a Lieutenant, also joined on January 1, 1777, and ended his service 36 months later.

Private Abiel Fairbanks of Lancaster, MA enlisted January 9, 1777, but died November 26, 1777, before they marched to Valley Forge. Another Lancaster Fairbanks, Seargeant Luther, joined January 10, 1777. It is said he was discharged November 20, 1777. However, the LSF book has a more extensive history of Luther’s service that will be explored in a later blog. He was at Valley Forge, so he must have re-enlisted.

You will see below that only two Fairbanks were sole service men under two different Colonels. The rest appeared to fight together with relatives under Colonel Bradford, Putnam, or Nixon. In Valley Forge, together, the Fairbanks men were part of a city with the 4th largest population in the 13 colonies.

There were men of color and Native Americans among the 14,000 troops that left Valley Forge on June 19, 1778. Though the encampment was harsh Baron von Steuben, formerly a Prussian officer, trained the men and united them to fight the British. On May 6, 1778, a month before they left Valley Forge, the France Treaty of Alliance was signed giving the Patriots yet another significant ally. Though bleak during the Valley Forge stay, things looked up when the Continental Army left to fight another year in the 8 year battle.

George Ferbanks VI

Lineage: Jonathan I, George II, George III, George IV, George V

Dr. George Fairbanks is given number #121 in the LSF book. He was born in Medway July 12, 1751, and resided there for some time. He was a physician and a surgeon.

First Dr. George served during the Lexington Alarm. He served 9 days under Captain Joshua Partridge and Colonel John Smith. He served miscellaneous services under Ephraim Wheelock. Vol.28 page 370 (LSF, p. 858-859).

In the Continental Army, Dr. George Fairbanks was recognized as a Surgeon’s Mate, enlisting on Jan 1, 1777. He served through April 10, 1778, before the encampment ended in June. It is stated that he resigned at Valley Forge. He had a total of 15 month, 10 days of service. George’s commanding officers were Captain unknown and Colonel Gamaliel Bradford in the Continental Army. George Fairbanks,, Surgeon’s Mate, is not found in the DAR records.

George married Cally Boyden in November 1778, seven months after his discharge from Valley Forge. They had three children spaced 7 years apart. George died in Wrentham, MA October 23, 1829 at 75 years of age.

Others Descendants That Served Under Captain Redding and Colonel Gamliel at the same time that Dr. George Fairbanks served.

Private Abiel Fairbanks from Lancaster enlisted January 9, 1777, but died in service on November 26, 1777. It’s possible he died in the Battle of Gouchester. It was fought November 25-226, 1777. He died before Valley Forge encampment. He is not found in LSF book or DAR’s records, Vol 14 p 9 .

# 86 Sergeant Luther Fairbanks was also from Lancaster. He enlisted one day after Abiel on January 10, 1777. The account of his service under the Continental Army on page 858-8596-586 LSF says he was discharged November 20, 1777, before the encampment of Valley Forge. Yet he has a much richer history on page 124 that we will explore later. In that review it states he participated at Valley Forge and was discharged July 1778. The Commissioner of Pension Report from Washington, D.C. is cited for this information. Luther will be the subject of another blog.

Other Fairbanks at Valley Forge Under other Officers.

Benjamin Fairbanks VI
Lineage: Jonathan I, Jonas II, Jabez III, Thomas IV, John V

Benjamin was born in Athol. The LSF book gives him the number 181, and he can be found on page 221. He married Hannah Stratton. He resided in Athol at the time of the Revolutionary War where he enlisted in the Washington’s Continental Army under Captain J. Blanchard and Colonel Wesson. He was in their service for 36 months from May 1, 1777 through May 14, 1780, which means he would have encamped in Valley Forge in 1777. Benjamin and Hannah had six children. Benjamin is said to have died in Enfied, MA in 1834.

Benjamin is recognized by the DAR for his service as #A0383568. He would have encamped with Washington at another well know difficult winter encampment in Jockey Hollow at Morristown, New Jersey in Dec. 1779 - June 1780. Like LSF, the DAR records have his birth date as 8/7/1759 in Athol, Worcester Co., MA. However, his death is recorded as 11/19/1838 at Stafford Springs Tolland Co., Conn. The DAR records add that he was in the 9th Regiment with the leadership as mentioned above. Citation for their information is MA Sols and Sails Vol 5 P 460. NARA M881, Comp Mil Serv Recs, Rolll #440.

Under Colonel Rufus Putnam

There were three John Fairbanks who served under Colonel Rufus Putnam. Each of the Johns held the rank of Private. Each John is listed in the LSF book as having a different Captain. White, Joshua Benson and Morse. The first John Fairbanks was registered by the DAR as serving under both Captains White and Morse. He enlisted at Sherborn, MA and served 35 months. This means he would have been at Valley Forge. The second John, under Captain Benson, has no listing of dates of enlistment of discharge. It is not known if he was at Valley Forge. The third John enlisted April 9, 1777 with Captain Morse. It is also said he served for three years which would have placed him at Valley Forge and Jockey Hollow. Only the John from Sherborn is registered by the DAR. There are so many John Fairbanks, that distinguishing them was very difficult.

John Fairbanks of Sherbourn
Lineage: Undetermined

John Fairbanks was born 5/8/1760 of Sherborn, MA. His DAR number was #A03898. He is listed as a Private under Captains White and Morse and under Colonel Putnam. He died in 1805 at Hope, ME, District of MA.
LSF cites Vol 5, pages 96 & 80 for this John.

The second John Fairbanks in the LSF book on pages 858-859 had no residence indicated. He was a Private with no enlistment, discharge or service time listed. He served under Captain Joshua Benson and Colonel Rufus Putnam. LSF book cites Vol. 50, page 9 for this John. There is no John Fairbanks listed in the DAR registry that is similar to this man.

The third John Fairbanks listed by the LSF book on pages 858-859 had no residence mentioned. He too was a Private enlisting on april 9, 1777 for 3 years under Captain Morse and Colonel Rufus Putnam. His records can be found in Vol. 51, p. 195m according to LSF. No DAR registration could be found for this John Fairbanks.

Laban Fairbanks VI
Lineage: Jonathan I, John II, Joseph III, Joseph IV, Samuel V

Laban Fairbanks is found on page 156 of the LSF book as #111. It states he was born Deham, Oct 1, 1755, settled and died in Mendon, March 27 1799. He married Nancy Wheelock March 9, 1785. They had six children. During the Revolutionary War, Benjamin was a Private May 18, 1777 through May 14, 1780, in the 6th Company of Colonel Bailey. LSF’s book listed Vol 2 171 & 230 as citations.

DAR # A038425 lists Laben’s service as a Massachusetts Private under Captain Warren and Colonel Bailey. DAR varies in the birth place but not the date of birth. They record him as born in Mendon. His death is recorded as 3-27-1799 in Mendon.

Under Colonel Thomas Nixon

There were two Samuel Fairbanks listed under Thomas Nixon. Neither had a residence cited. The first was a Lieutenant, enlisting January 1, 1777 to Dec. 31, 1779, serving 36 months. He would have been at Valley Forge and Jockey Hollow.

The second Samuel Fairbanks is listed as a Captain serving from January 1, 1780 to December 31, 1780 for 12 months of service. However, in the remarks, it states that he was not a Captain, but a Lieutenant. He was receiving a pension.

Neither of these Samuels are recognized in the DAR database. Again there are too many Samuels in the LSF book to research for this blog.

If you recognize one of these John or Samuel Fairbanks as your ancestor, please send in your information, so we can give them a lineage and find more information for them.

Resources

The Continental Army arrives in Valley Forge. https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/march-in-to-valley-forge.htm  Valley Forge National Park Services

What Happened at Valley Forge. https://www.nps.gov/vafo/learn/historyculture/valley-forge-history-and-significance.htm#:~:text=NPS%20Photo-,People%20of%20the%20Encampment,and%20two%20miles%20of%20fortifications. National Historica. Park Pennsylvania

 Fairbanks, Lorenzo Sayles (LSF). The Fairbanks Family of America: 1635-1897. Fairbanks Family in America, Inc. 1991. https://archive.org/details/fairbanksfamilyi00fair/mode/2up

Youtube: “Life of a Patriot Soldier During the Revolutionary War.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEnpvuI94Ok

Timeline of the Revolution. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/americanrevolution/timeline.htm National Park Services.

Up Next!

Glimpse into “Made to Last Forever”
Changing Times: Why 1636/37
Continuing the Fairbanks Revolutionary War Patriot Project

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