Join me as I go back in time to 1600s West Yorkshire. We might feel we stepped into a different culture, even though we descended from our ancestors of then and there. What characteristics of people from the Halifax area still remain part of our character today? Can we glimpse at what Jonathan Fairbanks and others of the family were like just by learning about the typical people of that time and the current people of West Yorkshire today.

To study this, I researched the 1600s Puritans, the faith of our ancestors, and visited West Yorkshire, England to interact with West Yorkshire relatives and other who reside there today.  I asked for personal accounts from relatives and other native Yorkshire people.

What would Jonathan Fairbanks be like in the 1600s

First we will examine the few records we have to learn about the Jonathan’s characteristics.

Fairbanks Associated with Like-Minded People

Jonathan emigrating from Halifax in the early 1600s, chose Dedham, one of the early inland towns to establish as his family’s home. The town self-professed in its covenant that it was based on their common religion (Congregationalism or Puritan) and “Everlasting Love”. Anyone accepted into the town would be of “one heart”. If not, they would be denied acceptance. Early proprietors of the town named it Contentment. The village residents would work for the good of the whole and pay taxes (rates) for the good of the town and everyone who lived there. When they signed the Dedham covenant, (page 2), they agreed that their heirs and their servants would abide by ideals of that document.

Therefore, Jonathan was a Congregationalist or Puritan: like-minded with the men who established Dedham. Many of the men were educated as Jonathan was. He agreed that he and his family would uphold the ideals of that society.

Jonathan, like all others, was scrutinized by the men of the town before he was accepted into their community. They required a sponsor. In Jonathan’s case, John Dwight sponsored him (page 28). John Dwight was one of the earliest settler, a wealthy and a very respected man. He had the house with the fourth valuation in Dedham in 1648 and was listed as early as fifth on the meeting attendance lists. John Dwight was also given important positions in the town. If Fairbanks failed to live up to the ideals of the community, Dwight would have experienced repercussions for sponsoring him. Jonathan was accepted into the town as the first on the list for the second round of grants in Dedham..

Education

Jonathan Fairbanks’ history indicates he was an educated man. Many Puritans knew how to read and write, especially the men. The Puritans believed everyone should be able to read the Bible and be able to understand laws to further and protect themselves.

On Jonathan’s inventory upon death, there are listed two pairs of glasses. We have documentation of two letters that he received. One was from a merchant, Richard Hartley, who set up practice in Dedham in the mid 1600s. Mr. Hartley asked Jonathan to keep his ledger and business in Dedham while he was away. These tasks would include reading, writing, making transactions, and computations. Jonathan received another document in 1650. It was the will of his half-brother, George Fairbank in Sowerby. Though we don’t have the titles, fourteen books were listed on Jonathan’s inventory upon death.

The town of Dedham respected Jonathan’s skills. They entrusted him to survey the lands, roads and bridges and and make calculations to develop them.

Jonathan provided a good education for his sons while in England. All but Jonathan Jr. were old enough for school in England. Fairbanks’ voted in favor providing free school in Dedham along with all other proprietors. Sons of proprietors and sons of servants from the ages 4 to 14 were eligible. This school was supported in part by a yearly tax of the proprietors.

From his house, we could surmise that Jonathan liked things well done. His house was so well built that it has lasted for over 386 years.

Trustworthy

Fairbanks’ acceptance into Dedham and his association with the merchant, Richard Hartley, speaks to his being trustworthy.

Mr. Harley asked him to collect outstanding balances from other Dedham proprietors for his business. Hartley even suggested he keep the money for a long period of time until it could be retrieved later. In order for Jonathan to make these transactions, the townsmen of Dedham also had to accept Fairbanks’ reliability.

The town of Dedham demonstrated their trust in Jonathan’s skills and management of the surveys requested of him. One of the comments in the Dedham Town Records alluded to making the roads so they would pass the test of time. 

Good Provider and Fair-Minded

The Fairbanks family was well taken care of by Jonathan. The house he built for his family was in the top 15% of Dedham houses based on taxes in 1648. There were 73 houses listed on that year’s valuation of house taxes (page 153). On the inventory at death, there were many spinning wheels and the tools to make them, indicating Jonathan supported his family as a wheelwright, making various types of spinning wheels as well as farming.

Fairbanks’ will speaks to his character also. He was careful to write his will about six months before his death. It was very detailed. As tradition dictated, not the law, Jonathan assured Grace, his wife, was well taken care of throughout her remaining life. The children didn’t receive their bequests until Grace’s welfare was settled.

John, the oldest son, as primogeniture, received the house, many lands, and all the town privileges of Jonathan. Fairbanks also endowed the other children. He didn’t wait to die to give George and Jonathan Jr. lands and tools or implements. Jonas, didn’t receive these, probably because he now lived in Lancaster. However, all three younger sons received total inheritances of 14 pounds each.

More of Jonathan’s character shows through his will. He left inheritance to his living daughter, Mary. She received the same 14 pounds. It was not common for daughters to receive endowments equal to the sons at that time. Above that, Mary received a fine suit of clothes which was a valuable gift at that time. Susan, his other daughter, preceded him in death. Jonathan left an endowment to her children and her widower.

Even one granddaughter received a cow. I believe that Jonathan was probably rewarding this grandchild for helping her grandmother with the milking chores.

Mind of His Own, Yorkshire Stubborn

Having a mind of their own, often considered stubborn, was one of the characteristics that was pervasive in my research and interviews concerning Yorkshiremen. It is also said, they are not afraid to speak their minds and are sometimes considered argumentative.

Jonathan’s decision to bring his family to the New World may be viewed as his having a mind of his own. Many emigrants during the Great Migration from 1628-1640 came as family groups, not just single families units. There is no indication that Jonathan’s family came with others from their area or from their extended family.

Richard Fairbanks, who settled in Boston in 1633 and became the first postmaster in the colonies, cannot be documented as having a close relationship to the Jonathan Fairbanks family as of the current research.

Another example of Jonathan having a mind of his own and possibly stubbornness is found in the accounts of Jonathan joining the Dedham Church. The church in Dedham was gathered in 1638. Nine officers were established and ten members had joined by spring of 1639. It is said Jonathan “stood away” from the church for sometime on his “scruples”. Mary, his daughter, joined in 1640. Grace joined in 1643.

Grace’s entry was only her first name with no indication of her relationship to Jonathan, but she is the only Grace noted in early membership. Jonathan didn’t join the church until 1646 “after divers loving conferences” with the clergy. When Jonathan did confess his faith before the congregation, he was “gladly received by the whole church”. By 1648, seventy percent of the men of Dedham had joined the church according to Lockridge, chapter II page 31.

Frugal, Thrifty, Mean

Another trait that seems pervasive for Yorkshiremen then and now is that they loved to bargain, “Ow much”. In the early times, their frugality was called mean, a word that was also used for poor. 

According to Weaver to Web, a historical website about the Calderdale (West Yorkshire) area, "In contrast to the wealth of southern clothiers, these men of the north were noted for their frugal living and ceaseless toil which provided them ‘the necessities of life without its superfluities". In the language of the day they were ‘clothiers of the meanest sort’.

The Fairbanks House was in the top 15% of houses in Dedham on a tax basis in 1648. Other than the three most valuable houses, one belonging to the Minister and one to John Dwight, Jonathan’s house was equal to or only about 2 pounds less in valuation of those above his.

Perhaps this doesn’t speak to Jonathan being frugal or thrifty, but perhaps he espoused those qualities while in England to save for this house that would serve his family for generations after he was gone. His attention to detail was also shown in how carefully he instructed his wishes in his will.

Pride in Yorkshire

Although pride, was considered a sin by the Puritans, perhaps pride in country could be conceived differently. The colonist continued to be a part of England, following her rules and traditions, as long as they didn’t interfere with their new religious “freedom”.

Yorkshiremen are considered to have great pride in their area even now. Yorkshire has its own dialect. In fact, going from town to town or area to area, the dialect changes. It is said that their brogue becomes even stronger when they are among those from their area. Some examples of their standard dialect is that they don’t use the word “the.” They use “t’” instead. They use the words owt (aught) and nowt (naught). The greeting in olden days was ‘How fare thee?’ Now they say hello by using ‘Ey Up’ or ‘Now Then’. In old, they might say ‘good morrow’. Now they say ‘Ta Ra’. The word ‘Ta’” by itself means thanks.

Unlike many areas in England, Yorkshire, in most recent years, has created their own anthem. "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at," in Yorkshire speak or “On Ilkley Moor without a hat,” in standard English.

One source says that Yorkshire people rarely traveled outside the Yorkshire area. Yorkshire is a large area in England, however, all of England is about the size of Alabama. Perhaps that is why they don’t like change. Considering this, the Fairbanks family must have had a difficult time leaving England. Once they settled in Dedham, for generations they didn’t leave. There are still Fairbanks descendants there.

The last few characteristics given by Yorkshire contacts were that they don’t often express their feelings, making them seem stoic and gruff. However, it is also said they are very warm hearted and kind. The last two were the characteristics that I experienced during my tour around West Yorkshire.

They also have a broad and simple sense of humor.

Fairbank Cousins in England

We also have some Fairbank soccer and rugby players around the Halifax and Huddlesfield, England, areas that are quite renowned in that area. Unfortunately, I don’t have pictures of them that are not published.

Physical Characteristics

We have little to assist us in what Jonathan looked like. Our England relatives think that the Fairbank of that area are fair with light or blond hair. As I remember in The Fairbanks House, and The Fairbanks Family in America by Lorezo Sayles Fairbanks, the Fairbanks men’s portraits all seemed to be with dark hair and features.

In 1801, a newspaper description of Jason Fairbanks was that he had a fair complexion and dark hair. At 21 years old he was six feet tall and slender.

My father, with the surname of Fairbanks, had very dark balding hair. His brother had light brown hair. Their father, Lloyd R. Fairbanks, was dark headed. However, his 13 brothers and sisters in the early 1900s ranged from very light hair to dark, short and stout to tall and thin.

A lot of genetic combinations have come down over the last 400 years. But even now my brother is dark haired. I have several cousins with different mothers that are naturally blond, and a very light blond at that. Blond hair is a recessive genetic trait. Both the father and mother must carry the blond gene.

In 1984, the Fairbanks family received a medal from an unknown source that awarded them for having superior appetites, good looks, and industry. In the early 1900s, a Yorkshireman’s motto was ‘where there’s muck (dirt), there’s brass (money)’. They weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty to support their families.

Do any of these traits remind you of your Fairbanks relatives? My Grandfather, nine generations from Jonathan and Grace, exhibited many of these characteristics.

Early Women of the Fairbanks House

Four Generations of Fairbanks in USA from 1836-2005
Descendants of Jonas-Jabez

Up Next!

Keeping the Fairbanks Family Together over 406 Years:

The Fairbanks House and The 121st National Fairbanks Family Reunion

Note

Thumbnail picture is of William Henry Fairbank, West Yorkshire, England (late 1802 -1939)