Fairbanks Revolutionary War Patriot Project and Free Revolutionary War Short Story

Made to Last Forever: A Family A House A Nation
and
"Soles of War”

by Sharmin Fairbanks McKenny

Art by J.C. Kohn

I interrupt this blog to give you a special limited free offer. A short story about the Revolutionary War., “Soles of War.”

Like my book, about ready for publication, Made to Last Forever: A Family A Home A Nation, “Soles of War” is a historical story, based strongly on facts.

My writing voice as an author is much different than the one I use for my blog. I’m offering you a glimpse at my author’s voice in “Soles of War,” about Jockey Hollow, Washington’s other winter encampment during the Revolutionary War. The characters weren’t Fairbanks, but they could have been. This was a shoemaker’s family that married into my Fairbanks lineage later. “Soles of War", the short story, received the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) American Heritage Award for historical fiction in 2021. If you don’t already receive my Monthly Blog Notifications, use the button below to receive your free copy. If you have already signed up for the Monthly Blog Notification, you will automatically get this short story and the special Glimpses of Made to Last Forever once a month until it is published.

Corning Fairbanks

Lineage: Jonathan I, George II, Jonathan III, George IV, Jabez V, Corning VI

Young Corning (Comeing) Fairbanks was born in 1759 in Holliston, MA. His family moved to Framingham in 1773. His father, Jabez, leased a farm from the town officers. It was called the “Brinley farm.” Mr. Brinley was a Tory so the town officers took possession of the property and managed it. (LSF)

According to records, the Brindly family as a whole were wealthy mechants, business minded and landowners. They were well connected to political figures and the elite, yet many of them remained loyal to England and had to flee during the Revolutionary War.

 Corning is mentioned in Lorenzo Sayles book page 94 under his father, Jabez (#57) on page 93. The son is not given a reference number, probably because he died early and had no family. He is however recognized by Lorenzo S. Fairbanks in the Coat Rolls (Bunker Hill and Siege of Boston). 

British on Breed's Hill by Percy Moran c. 1909 found in the Library of Congress.

Young Corning (Comeing) Fairbanks was 16 years old at the time of the Battle of Bunker Hill. He fought and died in that battle. However, we don’t know the particulars about his service. There are two listings for Corning (Comeing) Fairbank as Privates from Framingham in the Lorenzo Sayles Fairbanks book on page 858 that appear to be the same person. One is dated enlisting May 2, 1775, the other has no listing. One is listed as having 44 days of service. Both served under Captain Aaron Hayes and Colonel Jonathan Brewer. Remarks for one include, he was killed June 17, 1775. The other remarked that he was a minor. The reference noted by LSF, for Corning is Vol.15, page 38. The other for Comeing is Vol 56, page 37. This listing for Comeing has a note that ‘he appears listed among men who received money from public treasury for losses at battle.’ The money was paid to heirs. 

Young Corning Fairbanks is not listed by the Daughters of the Revolution, probably because he died at an early age at Bunker Hill leaving no descendants to claim him in their lineage.

Corning Fairbanks is memorialized on the bronze tablets in memory of the soldiers who were killed at Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775. These were placed in Winthrop Square, Charlestown, Massachusetts, June 17, 1886.

Corning Fairbanks’ Brothers

Two of Corning’s three older brothers, Joshua (#135) and Isaiah (#136), also enlisted in the Revolutionary War. Both lived to have families.

Brother Joshua ( b. 1743) is listed as a Sergeant under the same leaders as Corning, Captain Aaron Hayes and Colonel Jonathan Brewer. Remarks for Joshua states he was at Prospect Hill, Oct 6, 1775. His Records are in (Vol.56, page 37) according to the LSF book. The DAR list Joshua as #A128891 and says that he died at Post 182 at Templeton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, but his residence was in Framingham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Joshua had one wife, Mary Parmenter. They had eleven children.

Prospect Hill was a part of Charleston during the Revolutionary War. It was only 2 1/2 miles from Bunker and Breed’s Hills. Prospect Hill provided safety as the Patriots retreated from the battles. Prospect Hill was immediately fortified and received cannon fire from the British. It was important throughout the rest of the war as a prison for the captured British.

Joshua was not the only Fairbanks at Prospect Hill on Oct. 6, 1776. Sgt. Samuel Fairbank of Framinghan was there under the same leadership as Corning and Joshua. Pvt. Calvin Fairbank of Lancaster was there under Capt. Ephraim Richardson. Another Fairbanks arrived the next day. His name was Israel Fairbanks of Dedham, under Captain Moses Draper and Col. William Bond (see LSF p. 858-59 for the Fairbank/s at Prospect Hill Oct 1775.).

The Colonial losses at Bunker Hill were 140 killed with a total of 450 casualties. The most notable death at Bunker Hill was Joseph Warren. He was the President of the Third Massachusetts Provincial Congress. Deacon Thomas Fairbanks sat in that Congress during the battle of Bunker Hill and was a part of selecting a new President of that Congress afterward. At Bunker Hill, the British had the highest casualty count suffered in any single encounter during the entire war.

Isaiah, Corning’s other brother, (LSF #136, page 175)served later, enlisting in miscellaneous duty as a Private on August 21, and discharged August 26, 1777 ( 5 days under a different Captain Joseph Warren) and Colonel Ephraim Wheelock). His records are in Vol 24, page 90. There are no remarks for this brother. DAR designation for Isaiah is #A038386. They classify him as a Private under the same leaders and cite the Massachusetts and Sailors. Vol. , Page 291. Isaiah had four spouses and eleven children in his lifetime.

Distant Relative in Provincial Congress at the time Corning Served.

Deacon Thomas Fairbanks, distant relative, was sitting in the Third Provincial Congress while Corning was fighting on the battlefield. Deacon Thomas was too old to fight with a weapon, so he fought with his words and deeds. He was on the committee in charge of getting spears, blankets, and coats for the men who lost theirs in battle. Perhaps Deacon Thomas saw Corning or his brother’s name listed among the other men on the Coat Rolls as he attempted to get them the supplies they sorely needed to continue to fight.

Corning is the second young Fairbanks Patriot we have explored. He gave his life for his beliefs in freedom.
We as a family have not forgotten him, even though he had no descendants to continue his memory.

Thanks to Spence and Sue Fairbanks for submitting this young Patriot who gave his life for this country.

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Fairbanks Descendants that Fought Under Different Surnames

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