Fairbanks Revolutionary War Patriot Project: Descendant Patriots by Other Surnames & Glimpse into the Book: "Made to Last Forever"

First a Glimpse into Made to Last Forever
the pre publication book
by
Sharmin Fairbanks McKenny

King Charles of England took the throne suddenly in 1625.

We are approaching a USA National election. This is not a political comment; it is a comparison of the anxiety we feel about who will lead our country when the voting is over in November and the anxiety of the original Fairbanks Family from West Yorkshire, England, in 1625 when King James died suddenly during a severe plague and his son, Charles I, took the throne. How would King Charles I’s rule affect the Fairbanks Family? If you would like a Glimpse into Made to Last Forever, the upcoming book that explores the original family’s reasons for immigration to the early Massachusetts Bay Colony, press the button below. If you are not already getting notified of new monthly blog posts, sign up with the “Sign Me Up” button to the right and get the blog notifications and the Glimpses into Made to Last Forever.

Fairbanks Revolutionary War Patriot Project
Descendant Patriots of Mary and Susan Fairbanks, the Daughters of Jonathan and Grace

Patriots with Metcalf and Day Surnames

When Lorenzo Sayles Fairbanks wrote the Genealogy of the Fairbanks Family 1633-1897, he did a great service for our family. However, he followed largely the male lines that retained the Fairbank/s name. Yes, following the family surname is much easier. However, anyone who descends from females of the original Fairbanks, Mary (Fairbanks) Metcalf Smith and Susan (Fairbanks) Day, are Fairbanks descendants also.

The men and women who descend from the daughters of the original sons are also Fairbanks descendants even though they have different surnames. All descendants should be recognized if possible.

In this blog, we will only discuss the Metcalf and Day Patriots that have been found that possibly descended from Mary and Susan Fairbanks. Note there were Metcalf and Days other than the Fairbanks descendants in the Revolution. Later, we will explore Fairbanks descendants from daughters of the original sons.

At the end of this blog, there is a button to push to supply information for your Fairbank/s descendant Patriot that carries either the Fairbank/s or another surname, so they can be recognized. Just send what you know.

The Mary (Fairbanks) and Michael Metcalf Jr.’s Descendant Patriots

Mary Fairbanks (1622 - 1676 or 1684) was born in Shelf, West Yorkshire, England. She was the third child and first daughter of Jonathan and Grace Fairbanks. Mary came with her parents and five siblings to the early Massachusetts Bay Colony between 1633 and 1636. In Dedham, Massachusetts, their town, Mary married Michael Metcalf, Jr., April 2, 1644. Mary was 22 years old and Michael was 24. They had seven children, including twins that died within days of their birth. A year after their last child was born in 1654, Michael Jr. , Mary’s husband, died.

That same year, Mary married Christopher Smith, July 1654. There is no notation of births to this couple in the Lorenzo Sayles Fairbanks book. (LSF, Page 22)

Michael Metcalf Jr. had two other brothers. Therefore, Patriots named Metcalf are not definitely descendants of Mary and Michael Metcalf Jr. Some of the descendants of Mary and Michael moved to Wrentham. Since LSF didn’t follow the female lines, the Daughters of the American Revolution’s records were researched for Metcalf Patriots.

The DAR recognizes 41 Metcalfs in total and 25 Metcalfs that served in Massachusetts during that Revolutionary War. One was from Dedham, Jonathan #A078432, one from Medway (Medfield), Burgess #A078404, and fifteen were from Wrentham, all early spin-off towns of Dedham. Of these, one was a drummer, Eli #A078410, one a surgeon, John #A078423, and one was a bombardier, James Jr. #A0209393. The interesting thing is that 5 of the 15 Metcalfs from Wrentham served under Captain Asa Fairbanks some time during the War.

Susan Fairbanks and Ralph Day’s Descendants

Susan Fairbanks (1627 - 1659) is believed to be born in Thornton-in-Craven at the West Yorkshire and Lancashire County border. She was the fifth child and second daughter of Jonathan and Grace Fairbanks. She married Ralph Day in 1647 in Dedham, Massachusetts. He is believed to be from Halifax Parish in England.

Ralph was the drummer for the town, using his instrument for warnings, calling to meetings, calling to worship, beginning and end of work shifts, etc. It has been said he was also a mason. Susan was 20 years old and Ralph was c 1620. Ralph was seven years older than Susan.

Together, Susan and Ralph Day had five children which included two sons that had families of their own. Susan died in 1659, age 32, about two years after her last child was born. It is quite possible she died of childbirth, one of the two most frequent causes of death for women at that time. Ralph remarried Abigail Ruggles, a widow. They had one daughter.

There are 65 Patriots from Massachusetts with the surname Day that are recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Nine were from Wrentham, Walpole and Needham, all spin-off towns of Dedham. This does not mean that in four generations that descendants would not migrate to other areas of the colony, but the likelihood of descendants living in spin-off towns of Dedham would be greatest.

Day surnames that participated from spin-off towns of Dedham. Daniel #A030859, Daniel #A03860, Jesse #030889, Jonathan #A030905, Joseph #A030907, Joseph #A030909, Orion # A030927, Robert #A030933,
Samuel Jr. # A030939, Samuel Sr. #A030938.

We must strive to remember all of the Fairbanks descendants who participated in the Revolutionary War for the freedom of our nation. Fairbanks descendants by other surnames are equally a part of the family as are the women and their contributions and sacrifices that are not always recognized.

REFRENCES:

LSF - Fairbanks, Lorenzo Sayles. Geneaology of the Fairbanks Family in America 1633-1897. 3rd ed., Fairbanks FAmily in America, Inc. American Printing and Engraving Company, 1991.

https://archive.org/details/fairbanksfamilyi00fair/page/94/mode/2up

NSDAR, DAR -National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution -https://services.dar.org/
You may need to ask a member to help you find details about your Patriot if you are not already a member.

Join the Fun! Submit your Revolutionary War Patriot

Send in your Fairbanks Descendant Revolutionary War Patriot to be recognized on this website. We welcome and encourage those who have surnames in addition to Fairbank/s. There are many descendants of the original Fairbanks that are not recognized by their surnames. Submit Your Patriot by clicking the button below.