Fairbanks Who Fought for Our Freedom
by
Sharmin Fairbanks McKenny

This will be the first of many contributions to the America250 national celebration on behalf of the Fairbanks Family in America, Inc. and this author. At times, the Prescotts involvement in the Revolutionary War will be introduced as they were close friends of the Fairbanks. Jonas Fairbanks, the third Fairbanks son, married Lydia Prescott, the fourth Prescott daughter.

At the end of this blog, there is a form you can submit for your Fairbanks Revolutionary War Patriot/s. They can be Patriot/Loyalist, Fairbanks/Prescott, have the Fairbanks surname or other. Your Patriot can have military service, civil service, governmental service, make uniforms, provide food or shelter, etc.

In the last couple of blogs, we found that life in the New England Colonies was not without problems even after the end of the French and Indian Wars. After King Philip’s War and the French and Indian Wars, the Colonies were in debt. England tried to extract taxes in reparation. All this and more goaded the potential for war between England and the New England Colonies.

The Revolutionary War is considered between the dates April 19, 1775 and September 3, 1783. The military age was considered 16-60 years of age. However all men, women, and children were needed in the war effort. Many remained behind in the towns and on farms to carry on while their men of age fought. Some older men fought with their words instead of their weapons. Other men hired mercenaries to take their places.

Committee of Communications and a Fairbanks Patriot

As the tension increased between England and the New England Colonies, it became necessary for the towns to communicate without England’s knowledge. They needed to share what they were doing and plan to provide a united effort should they go to war. Thus the Committee of Correspondence was started by the Son’s of Liberty and became their key communication system between 1772 and 1776.

Most of you know about the Committee of Correspondence from the poem about Paul Revere’s ride. Paul Revere and Dr. Samuel Prescott were instrumental in warning and calling Patriots to action against the English invasion to capture military supplies in Concord and Lexington. The communication in the Colonies started long before Paul Revere’s ride. Only the most trusted men were asked to share communications from town to town for a coordinated preparation for an offensive. Note: Dr. Samuel Prescott finished the ride after Paul Revere was captured.

One of our oldest Fairbanks Patriots, Deacon Thomas Fairbanks (1707-1791) was a part of the Communications Committee. Thomas’ lineage is your author, Sharmin Fairbanks McKenny’s, line. Thomas was XII in Sharmin’s downline: Lloyd J. XI, Lloyd R X, John H. IX, Alpheus VIII, Horace VII, Samuel VI ,
Silas V , Thomas IV, Jabez III, Jonas II, Jonathan I. Thomas’s title was Deacon because of his church work in the Second Precinct (later known as Sterling) of Lancaster, MA. He had to be a trusted Patriot to hold that position. He carried information to Lancaster from other towns and encouraged those in his area to back the actions being taken by the Colony.

Continental Congress

A Continental Congress was convened in Philadelphia September 5, 1774. It was formed as resistance to the “Intolerable Acts.” It represented all Thirteen Colonies and became the base of government for all the colonies. At this time, I have not found the names of Fairbanks or Prescott represented in the Continental Congress. Please contact me if you know of a descendant of Fairbanks or Prescott that participated in the Continental Congress under a different surname.

Massachusetts Provincial Congresses

Provincial Congresses were convened to govern and prepare each individual colony. Conventions were formed by the counties of Massachusetts. These groups depended on the ongoing communications.

The first Provincial Congress for Massachusetts was formed in Salem, October 7, 1774 and was dissolved in December. The Second Provincial Congress met at Cambridge, February 1, 1775 and dissolved May 21, 1775. Soon after, the Third Provincial Congress convened in Watertown on May 31, 1775 and sat until July 19, 1775. The last two Provincial Congresses of Massachusetts sat during active battles between England and the Colonies on their own colonial land.

You can see the proceedings of each Massachusetts Provincial Congress on the internet. Find them at The journals of each Provincial congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775, and of the Committee of safety… Massachusetts (Colony) Provincial congress Boston, Dutton and Wentworth. 1838

Fairbanks and Prescott Representation in the Provincial Congresses

First Provincial Congress of Massachusetts

The first Fairbanks found in the Revolutionary War was Ephraim Fairbanks (1724-1799) from Bolton/Berlin, MA. His Lineage was: Ephraim VII, Jabez iV, Jabez III, Jonas II, Jonathan I. At 50 years old, he represented Bolton in Wocester County in the First Provincial Congress (October 1774-Dec 1774). There was no information on specific action he took during the First Massachusetts Provincial Congress. Later, Ephraim marched with 127 other men about 29 miles from Bolton to Cambridge on the Lexington Alarm (LSF #69, p. 107).

Captain William Prescott was also present at the First Provincial Congress from Pepperell, County Middlesex.

Second Provincial Congress of Massachusetts

A Patriot, Mr. Stephen Metcalf, is noted in the Second Provincial Congress. It is unclear whether this Patriot is a Fairbanks descendant. However, he is listed in this report as he carries the married name of Mary (Fairbanks) Metcalf of Dedham, the daughter of Jonathan and Grace. Mr. Stephen Metcalf was from Bellingham, Suffolk County. Can anyone verify his lineage to the Fairbanks?

Colonel James Prescott, also on the Second Provincial Congress, would have been a relative of Deacon Thomas Fairbanks, but not in the lineage of the Fairbanks. He was from Groton, Middlesex County.

During a recess of the Second Provincial Congress, April 19, 1775, Paul Revere and later Dr. Samuel Prescott made their famous ride to warn the people and gather minutemen and troops to unite and head for Lexington and Concord. The Second Provincial Congress returned to work as the men of the Colonies fought. May 21, 1775, The Second Provincial Congress dissolved just to summons the Third Provincial Congress three days later.

Third Provincial Congress and Deacon Thomas Fairbanks

The Third Provincial Congress convened in Watertown near Dedham, May 31, 1775.. Deacon Thomas Fairbanks (#30 LSF, p. 75) at age 68 attended this Congress. He had fought in the French and Indian Wars, but the age of military duty being 16-60, he was too old to fight with a weapon, so he fought with his words and deeds. As a trusted member of the Congress, he, among all others, were sworn to secrecy.

Thomas was not alone. His relative, Honorable James Prescott, Esq, was at the Third Congress from Groton. Colonel Sawyer (Prov. Congress, p 318), another relative, worked with Thomas on his first committee appointment for resolving issues caused by the British seizing merchandise in Boston.

On June 17, during the Third Provincial Congress, the Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill) was fought. Colonel William Prescott, Fairbanks’ relative, is one of several men who have been given credit for saying, “Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes.” The President of the Third Provencial Congress, Dr. Joseph Warren, took it upon himself, though strongly discouragement to do so, to fight that battle and was killed.

In Lorenzo Sayles Fairbanks’ book, he lists twenty-five Fairbanks that probably fought at Bunker Hill. Of those, three were from Athol where some of Deacon Thomas Fairbanks’ sons and grandsons lived.

After the Battle of Bunker Hill, General Ward wrote a letter to the Third Provincial Congress. Which directly impacted Thomas Fairbanks’ role in the Third Provincial Congress.

On June 19 1775, George Washington was Commissioned as General of the Continental Army. June 21, Third Provincial Congress made preparations to receive General Washington (MA Prov Congress, page 391). Although Deacon Thomas was not on the committee to prepare for George Washington’s arrival, he was aware of all the preparations.

 On June 20, Deacon Fairbanks was on a seven man committee to purchase spears in accordance to General Ward’s specifications (Provincial Congress, page 358).
On June 29, 1775, the last order Deacon Fairbanks was given was to sit on a three man committee to find safe and convenient stores for gun powder for the Patriots. (MA Provincial Journals, page 421)

July 3, General Washington assumed command of the Army outside of Boston

On July 19 1775, the Third Provincial Congress was dissolved. Though the Patriots lost the Battle of Bunker Hill, the English kept the city of Boston in Siege until March 17, 1776.

The American Revolution continued on for many years with many Fairbanks by name and descendants by other names making their contributions to the freedom of our nation and democracty. See the form below to submit your Patriot to the Fairbanks Revolutionary War Patriot Project. Your Patriot introduced to the family. Check the extended lineage for other Fairbanks in your line.

References

Fairbanks, Lorenzo Sayles. The Fairbanks Family Family in America. The Fairbanks Family in America, Inc. 1991 (LSF)

The Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775 . Massachusetts (Colony). Provincial Congress. 1838. (MA Provincial Journals)

Click the link for the Fairbanks Revolutionary War Patriot Project

Tell us about your Patriot and watch for him/her to be presented to the family. Watch the lineages to find Patriots/relatives in your own line.