Time Travel as a Family This Year: 122nd National Fairbanks Reunion and More
How Are Spending Your Summer?
Consider a Family History Trip
Do you live in your ancestral home? Do you live in the same town, state, or even country as those who came before you? What can we learn from many generations of life experiences?
Your ancestral home of 387 years, The Fairbanks House, in Dedham, Massachusetts, still beacons you to come home and to live a bit of our illustrious heritage. Whether you are a lineage descendant or an associate member of the Fairbanks Family in America, Inc., or member interested in history and preservation, you can participate in the National Reunion July 13, 2024, at the Old House in Dedham Massachusetts.
Since it is the oldest frame house in America, it could be considered the home of our Nation. At least it tells the story of our Nation’s beginning since eight generations of Fairbanks lived there and saw it through the Revolutionary War and several other conflicts to gain and keep our independence. Perhaps you are just interested in history and historic preservation. You only need to be a member to attend. (Their are lineage members, associate members, corporate members, and more. )
Each year since 1902, the Fairbanks Family in America, Inc. has hosted a National Fairbanks Gathering or Reunion at the Fairbanks House that Jonathan and Grace Fairbanks and their six children built in 1636/37 after they came from West Yorkshire, England. It is the oldest frame house still standing in America. The original part has changed little since the original family lived there. This year it will be the 122nd National Fairbanks Reunion
Did your grandmother or great aunt tell you about the Fairbanks house and your heritage? Have your aging parents visited their ancestral home? Did you read about the house or see it on media? Have you told your children that they descend from a an illustrious family or how they can travel back in time by visiting the house? All should know, not only about the Nationally recognized house, but the contributions of the past families that fuel the success of the Nation’s future?
There are Fairbanks (and descendants with other names) that are war heroes, a vice president of the United States, statesmen, persons who stood up for the rights of all ethnicities, females, and religions. There are religious leaders, sports figures, physicians and geneticist (even women), famous artists and sculptors, world renowned actors, authors, inventors, and the salt of the earth who grew this Nation through the work of their hands and minds?
A Call to Share
There are local and regional family reunions also. The Utah Fairbanks have an annual reunion there. Perhaps the California family has a reunion. The Kansas Fairbanks and perhaps the Texas family have one or more reunions. We would like to hear about all reunions and gatherings of Fairbanks and descendants of the original Fairbanks Family in Dedham, Massachusetts.
2023 National Fairbanks Reunion at The Fairbanks House, Dedham, MA photo by Donna Russo
Last year we had families from all over the Nation join us at Dedham for the National Fairbanks Reunion 2023. Some already attended their local or regional reunion but wanted to share our long past with their own families. In 2023, we had 85 attendees from all over the Nation: Arizona, Mid-west, Florida, East Coast, and even Canada. One group brought ten family members. Others came in twos or fours.
As an American, it is time for you share this with your family from small children to parents in their 90s? We had them all at last year’s reunion.
Making the Most of Your Travels
If you are traveling long distances or taking your school or work vacation to make this trip. Let us make suggestions to make it even more worth while with more Fairbanks and early history.
Start at Plimoth and Patuxet Living History Museum and the Mayflower II in Plymouth, Massachusetts. You will find a living replica of that village settled 10 years before the Massachusetts Bay Colony and perhaps sixteen years before the Fairbanks settled in Dedham. Board the Mayflower II and imagine what it would be like to travel six to eight weeks on the Atlantic ocean with Jonathan, Grace, John, George, Mary, Jonas, Susan and Jonathan Jr. to arrive in a near wilderness land to start a new life.
Boston
Need I say more?
You can tour past where Richard Fairbanks, unknown relationship, had his tavern where he pinned missives from and to England as the first Post Master in the Colonies. See the Bostotn Commons which started out as a cow pasture in the early 1600s. Follow the history through the Revolutionary War. A blog will soon touch on it in light of the national America250 Celebration which has already started and will culminated July 4, 2026.
Newton Falls
If you are adventurous, go to Newton and find the two falls the founders of Dedham had to portage around
because their canoes could not handle the falls. It’s tucked back into a community and there is a bridge over the upper falls. You will find information on how to find it in Touring Dedham and Surrounding Areas part II.
The Keye (Landing Place at Dedham) & Training Field for Dedham’s Militia
First Church, School, and Cemetery
Current church on the grounds of the first church of Dedham
First School of Dedham situated very near the first church in 1649 Depiction by Frank Smith
First Cemetery of Dedham, Burial place for Jonathan and Grace but no markers
The Ditch or Mother Brook
Go to Mother Brook, the first English built canal built by English immigrants in the New World. The Fairbanks men helped dig the “Ditch” as it was called to drain a spring flooding area and to create a stream that would sustain a water driven grist mill. Jonathan and a committee of townsmen planned and directed implementation of making the cart and foot path to the first grist mill on Mother Brook as well as many of the first roads, bridges, and lands of Dedham. The sons and other townsmen helped build the transportations systems under Jonathan and other committee members’ instructions. See Touring Dedham and Surroundings Part I and II. See below for quick links.
Wigwam Pond
Go to Wigwam Pond just a fifteen minute walk from the Old House. Go to an entrance and see the tall reeds they would have found in many parts along the Charles and Little River. The Indigenous People had a winter encampment here before and during the times of the Fairbanks.
See Touring Dedham and Surrounding Area Part I and II quick link below.
Visit The Fairbanks House with a docent. When you step through the door, you will be transported back in time. See more details at fairbankshistory.com and fairbankshouse.org. At the reunion the house is open to members only on Friday evening and all day Saturday. The docents, all knowledgable and some even descendants, will make your visit special. For those who want to visit at other times from May through October, check the website for days and times and be sure to make reservations. FairbanksHouse.org
Dedham Museum and Archives
After the Fairbanks House, visit the Dedham Mueum and Archive in the center of Dedham. They have many items that belonged to the Fairbanks through the eight generations they lived in the house. They share the original 1650 chest commissioned by Jonathan Fairbanks for Grace with the Fairbanks House. The Fairbanks House has the replica right now. They both swap the original and replica during different times of the year. If you are a researcher, take extra time to see the Dedham collections.
Spin off Towns of Dedham Significant to the Family
The children of Jonathan an Grace mostly stayed in Dedham or nearby towns that were spun off the Dedham grant land.
John, the first son and primogeniture, moved to Wrentham, but retained the heir to the family farmstead. His descendants maintained the Fairbanks House and added to it over the eight generations they lived there. There is a Wrentham Historical Commission. Please check for its availability and things of interest.
George was a cooper and turner which means he made barrels and wooden household goods. He moved his family to what was known as Medfield early, now known as Millis. Find the Boggastow Pond. His house would have been near there, but it is private property now. Millis has a Historical Commission and has historical items including those from an excavation near the George Fairbanks House. Please check for Millis Historical Society’s hours and availability.
George’s descendants, Erastus and Thaddeus, moved to St. Johnsbury, Vermont where they developed the Fairbanks Scale and developed the Fairbanks motor which is invovled in the motor industry that is today the Fairbanks Morris Motor Company that produces engines and power systems for the U.S. military. You can visit the Fairbanks Natural History Museum and Planetarium which includes information about both the Fairbanks scale and Fairbanks motor.
Mary remained in Dedham with her husbands, first, Michael Metcalf Jr., and second, Christorpher Smith. Michael Metcalf Jr. died early. Susan married Ralph Day, the drummer for the town. Ralph stood in a resonant place to beat his drum with a cadence to call the town’s people to church, warn of danger, mark the beginning and end of road work, etc. Susan died early in 1649. But as we know from descendants, they had children together.
One of the five replicas of Hammersmith at NPS Saugus Ironworks
Jonas worked at Hammersmith, now Saugus Ironworks, in 1650 and 1652. It was one of the top 12 ironworks in the world at that time. He worked in the forge. Saugus Ironworks is now a National Parks Service reproduction of Hammersmith with an extensive museum which holds the 500 pound hammer from the forge where Jonas worked. Saugus Ironworks NPS is about 34 miles from Dedham. See Saugus Ironworks Part I quick link below.
Jonas relocated to Lancaster, Massachusetts, to help family friends, John and Mary Prescott, build that town. Jonas married Lydia, daughter of the Prescotts, and lived, farmed, and died in Lancaster. He was killed during the King Philip’s war in 1656/57. Lancaster has many Prescott markers, a Historical Commission, library and research room. Lancaster is only 44 miles from Dedham.
Jonathan Jr. is known for his role in the King Philip’s War of 1675/76 when his brother Jonas was killed in Lancaster and his brother George’s garrisoned or fortified house was attacked days later in Medfield. According to the Soldiers of King Philip’s War, by Bodge, Jonathan was with the cavalry during the initial formal battles during this war and was responsible for rescuing Praying Indians from warring Indians in the areas of Marlborough, Massachusetts near Lancaster. It is also believe that he and his family may have spent some time in Roxbury, Massachusetts.
Natick, First Praying Indian Village
Natick, Massachusetts was the first Praying Indian Village developed by Reverend John Eliot and Sachem Waban. This town is important, because like Wrentham and Medfield, it was created as a town on the original Dedham grants. Yes, the Indigenous people lived, hunted, and/or fished that land prior to the settlement of English in Massachusetts. Dedham was granted the land by the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635 and 1636. In 1650/51 this band of Indigenous People were displaced by their own tribe and other communities in the coastal towns. Dedham ceded 2000 acres for them to create the Praying Indian village. This became 4000 acres after eight years of peaceful court directed disputes. Natick is 10 miles from Dedham and has an Indigenous Natick History Museum and a tour of the lands that the original Natick settlers and John Eliot worshiped on and made their town. The Natick History Museum is open by appointment.
Quick Links for Details on your Trip
For more detail about touring Dedham and surrounding ares, go to:
First People of Massachusetts
MayFlower II
Touring Dedham and Surrounding Areas Part I
Touring Dedham and Surrounding areas Part II
Saugus Ironworks Part I
Saugus Iron Works Part II
Come Home to The Fairbanks House This Summer
Join us for the 122nd Fairbanks Reunion and Annual Meeting on July 13, 2024. Check the Fairbanks House website for details and ticketing information.
Or plan your own pilgrimage to your family or nation’s ancestral home. Check fairbankshouse.org for scheduling and reservations for tours of the Fairbanks House. I promise you will feel like you left the 21st century for the 17th century when you walk in the door.
Become a member to feel even more a part. Get a free ticket to tour the Fairbanks House. With your help we will assure the Fairbanks House will always be there for you and your descendants.
