Dea. Joseph FAIRBANK

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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]

1. Amos FAIRBANK was born on 21 Apr 1737 in Harvard, Massachusetts; died on 14 Jan 1809.

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Born in Lancaster, 8:11:1670(?) and lived there, "died March 2, 1758, aged abou 84," according to the inscription on his tombstone, which would make his birth later than 1670.

He was a very efficient soldier and officer in the Indian wars, and was no doubt incited to heroic exploits by the massacre of his father and brother, in 1676, and of his only surviving brother in 1697. During the raid upon the town in 1697, when his brother Jonathan and one of the latter's children were slain, he was the means of saving a garrison and perhaps many lives, including that of his "little son," probably Joseph. In all, outside the garrison, twenty-one persons were killed, two wounded, and six were carried away as captives, of whom five returned. Among the captives returned was the wife of Jonathan....."See marvin's History of Lancaster"

"First in the order of time of our military heroes, in these dys of trial, " says marvin, "was Lieut. afterwards Capt. Jabez Fairbank. he was a famous scouting officer, and traversed large sections of the country to the north, east and west, in search of prowling Indians. More than sixty parties were engaged in this service. Some of names of the men under his command, between 1721 and 1724, were the following: Edward Hartwell, Ephraim Wheeler, Daniel Osgood, Isaac Farnsworth, Isaac Lancain, John Bennett, Joseph Wheelock, Ezra Sawyer, Moses Willard, John Eams."

Gov. Dummer immediately sought the services of Fairbank to enlist men. He offered him the choice of the office of sergeant, if he remained at home in Lancaster, or that of Lieutenant, if he wer willing to serve at Groton or at Turkey Hill. He chose the latter, and at once entered the service. He reported directly to the Governor during the war, and the published correspondence between them furnishes many interesting chapter of history. (See Mass. Archives and Marvin's History of Lancaster; also History of Groton)

In the year 1700 he had lands laid out to him "on both sides of danes Brook above Thomas Sawyer's Sawmill." This site became the home of the Fairbanks, and so remained for a hundred years or more."

He was elected as a representative to the General Court in 1714, 1721, 1722 and 1723.

Jabez married Mary WILDER. Mary was born about 1675; died on 21 Feb 1718. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Thomas Wilder and Mary Houghton