Amos FAIRBANK

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Born in Harvard, Apr. 21, 1737. He was a farmer. His name appears as a private on a Muster Roll of a foot company commanded by Israel Taylor, of Harvard, out of Col. Oliver Wilder's Reg., that marched on the alarm for the relief of Fort William Henry, as far as Springfield. Service Aug. 13 to Aug. 26, 1757. Was Ensign of the oldest military company in 1774; Lieutenant, Lexington Alarm, Apr. 19, 1775, and Captain in the Miscellaneous Service. Served on the Committee of Correspondence and Safety in 1780. Chosen Deacon of the Church, Nov. 28, 1786; resigned Nove. 4, 1798. He died Jan. 4, 1809, aged 71 yrs. 8 mos. 23 ds.......

Amos married Lucy GATES on 23 Apr 1760. Lucy (daughter of Jacob GATES and Elizabeth HAPGOOD) was born on 31 Oct 1739 in Harvard, Massachusetts; died on 12 Nov 1767 in Harvard, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Amos married Rhoda GATES on 12 Nov 1768. Rhoda (daughter of Phineas GATES and Sarah HAPGOOD) was born about 1741; died on 23 Feb 1813 in Harvard, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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At a meeting of the first church of Lancaster, held Sept 9, 1733, "the brethren present by vote Discovered ye willingness that Joseph Fairbank, Henry Willard, Peter Atherton, and Elijah Whitney, all of harvard, should joyn with others in said Town in forming of Church there." He was a selectman in harvard in 1733, '5, 1743, '5 and 1745-52, and was Town Treasurer, 1736-40.

He was in 1740 the choice of his townsmen for their first representative to the Great and General Court, but modestly declined to serve, and Peter Atherton was chosen.

He was prominently identified with the stirring events that preceded the Revolutionary War, as a leading man in all the public meetings. He served on most of the town committees that were appointed to protest against and resist the encroachments of the British parliament upon the rights and liberties of the colonies.

He was one of the Committee to whom was referred the consideration of the Form of Government sent from the General Court to the several towns and plantations in the state for their approbation.

He was a deacon of the church and one of its strongest supporters In 1750, after some additions had been made to the seating capacity of the meeting house, it became necessary to reseat the people, and a committee was appointed for this purpose, with instructions to "seat the two foremost seats below, Respecting men for Age as well as Pay, and all other seats and persons to be seated on dignity according to what they payed to the minister, real and personal estate the three last years passed." The report of the committee named ten persons to occupy the "fore seat below." Dea. Joseph Fairbank was the ninth in order. In march 1766 the people were agin reseated by a committee under similar instructions. Thirteen persons were seated in the "Fore Seat Below," Dea. Joseph Fairbank being the first in order. Capt. Joseph Fairbank, Jr., his son, was assigned to the third seat below.

The first Fairbank homestead in harvard is that now owned and occupied by Andrew Fairbank and his son. The house is very old, though most signs of its age are concealed under modern improvements. It was built, probably about 1720, by Dea. Joseph Fairbank.

Joseph married Mary BROWN on 21 Apr 1718. Mary was born about 1700; died on 14 Nov 1791. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]