Keeping the Fairbanks Family Together for over 400 Years
The Original Family Stays in Dedham
Jonathan and Grace were married May 20, 1617 at the St. John the Baptist Church, in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. Like all people of that time, their family came soon after the marriage. About two years apart, they had six children, four boys and three girls from 1618 to about 1629: John, George, Mary, Jonas, Susan and Jonathan Jr.. It doesn’t appear Jonathan and Grace lost any children in that time. They probably moved to the New World, shortly after Jonathan Jr. was born.
Jonathan built, with the help of craftsmen, a large family home in Dedham, Massachusetts. The house was in the top 15% of homes by tax valuation in 1648. All of the original family, except Jonas remained in the Dedham vicinity. Jonas left for Lancaster, Massachusetts about 1658, ten years before his father died.
Jonathan, a believer in primogeniture (first son receives the home land and house), bequested the 1637 house, much of his land, and his town privileges to John, the first son. However, he also gave land and movable items to George and Jonathan Jr. before he died. The only son not receiving land was Jonas. He received an inheritance equal to the value of his two other brothers’ inheritance, 14 pounds.
Grace was provided for in the house until her death in 1673. At that time, John took possession. He probably didn’t live in the original house. John’s house, based on the tax valuation was greater than the original home. In 1684, John died leaving the house to Joseph, one of his younger sons. The house was passed down in Joseph’s family until 1879, when a niece, Rebecca, occupied the house until 1904.
Rebecca lived in the original house as the eighth generation. The house was not changed or updated , no electricity, lighting, furnace, etc. during that time, Rebecca lived there. It was threatened for destruction due to financial problems. By 1904, Rebecca reluctantly relinquished the house. A philanthropic and historically minded woman, Mrs. J. Amory Codman, purchased the house to save it and sold it back to the Fairbanks Family in 1902.
The first gathering of the Fairbanks descendants occurred in 1902. Over 700 participated for the purpose of purchasing the house, organizing the Fairbanks Family in America, Inc., and developing a plan to preserve the house. It is said there were 3,500 families not represented at the first reunion.
This year, July 13, 2023, will be the Fairbanks’ 121st annual reunion held at the original Fairbanks House built in 1637. I hope you will be able to attend. As the keynote speaker for this reunion, I will share pictures and information from my 2022 tour of the Yorkshire, England lands, churches, and homes of our ancestors.
If you have never been to The Fairbanks House, it is a must for full appreciation of your heritage and the history of our country. A reunion is a great time to go, when you can meet those who work so hard to preserve our history and heritage. All of the children’s lines have been represented in the past: John, George, Mary, Jonas, Susan, and Jonathan Jr. For more information about the eight generations that held the house and how to participate in this years reunion, go to The Fairbanks House website.
Hope to see you there, July 15, 2023.
1902 First National Fairbanks Family Reunion, planned repurchase of the house and house and organized the Fairbanks Family in America, Inc.
1903 Fairbanks Family Reunion, at The Fairbanks House, Dedham, Massachusetts
1904 National Fairbanks Family Reunion at The Fairbanks House in Dedham, Massachusetts.
1904 Grand Army of the Republic Veterans at National Fairbanks Reunion
Early Fairbanks Family Reunion
1936 National Fairbanks Reunion reported by National Labor Tribue (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania October 3, 1936
What’s Up Next
The Characteristics of a Yorkshireman: An Insight into the Character of Jonathan Fairbanks
This will be published early July, don’t miss it, especially if you are coming to the National Fairbanks Family Reunion, and we will share how our families still hold to some of the same traits as our forefathers. If you have local Fairbanks Reunions it is a fun thing to do whenever a number of Fairbanks descendants get together. If you find new or differing traits, share them with me through my comment section.
