David Fairbairn1

(16 March 1822 - 6 August 1894)
FatherJohn Fairbairn (1792 - 1847); appears in Doug's Aunt Betty's notes as David FAIRBAIRN II, which implies his father was David I, but now looks to be John instead1,2
MotherJane Williamson1,3 (1794 - Dec 1876)
Relationship3rd cousin 4 times removed of Lorna Henderson
David FAIRBAIRN 1822 - 1894

BMDB data

     David Fairbairn was born on 16 Mar 1822 Hawkesbury, Prescott Co., ONT, CAN.4,1,5,6
     David Fairbairn married Prudential Arnold on 6 Jul 1841 Grenville, Ottawa Co, QUE, CAN, entry reads: David Fairbairn and Prudential Arnold having been regularly proclaimed and no objections offered were married by me at Grenville, Ottawa Canada on this sixth day of July in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and forty one. William Mair Minister Grenville & Chatham; Wit: John Blair and John Topland.7
     David Fairbairn married Charity Walker, daughter of William Walker and Agnes Cunningham, on 29 Aug 1845 Chatham, Ottawa River, ONT, CAN, Entry reads: Marriage - David Fairbairn and Charity Walker having been regularly proclaimed and no objections offered were married by me at Chatham Ottawa River Canada West on this the twenty ninth day of August in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty Five; William Mair Minister of Grenville & Chatham Wit: George Laigth and Tho Higginson
NB family records seem to say 24th Aug.4,8,9,10,11
     David Fairbairn died on 6 Aug 1894 Hawkesbury, Prescott Co., ONT, at age 72.12,3,1,9

Census/Where lived/Occupations

     David Fairbairn appeared on the census of 1829 Grenville, QUE, CAN, in the household of John Fairbairn and Jane Fairbairn.13
     David Fairbairn appeared on the census of 1842 Grenville, QUE, with Prudential Arnold, enumerated as David FAIRBURN (sic) (Head assumed, and also assumed to be the one married to Prudential ARNOLD, with Mum Jane nee WILLIAMSON along for the ride, father John or David absent) ,
Total number of inmates, 7;
Natives of Ireland, 1 (assumed to be Jane);
Natives of Canada, British Origin, 5 male FAIRBAIRNs;
Single males above 5 under 14: 2 (James 12, John 10 assumed)
Single males 14, under 18: 2 (William 17 and Robert 15 assumed)
Married males 18, under 21: 1 (David, 20 assumed)
Married females 14, under 45: 2 (Prudential, Jane 47 assumed)
Children between 5 and 16: 3 (Robert 15, James 12, John 10 assumed)
Initially, this conflicted slightly with known information, namely the 1845 marriage date given by Doug B from family records for David and Charity. Given that there are no names other than the head, identification is tentative, and also this is Quebec, when I thought they were all still in Ontario at this time. Ross has searched all the 1842 Census, Quebec and Ontario more than once and says: The David Fairburn, Grenville, Quebec record is the only one that could be Jane with some of her sons. I (Ross) have wondered for sometime if David (Charity) had an ealier wife who died without children...
(which I (Lorna) believe I have confirmed by finding the marriage to Prudential ARNOLD, and makes the data less conflicting.)14,15,7,2 David Fairbairn and Charity Walker lived aft. 1845 Hawkesbury, Prescott Co., ONT, CAN, "My earliest memories are of two homes, one on the main street which ran parallel to the Ottawa River for a mile and a half. The other was on the Snigh, as the Island was called. There were several small islands joined together by bridges to the French part. The lumber mill was on the Snigh and also the offices, the company store and the homes of the management. My Grandfather Fairbairn lived in one of these homes. It was a large house built of solid planks laid flat on each other making the walls about a foot thick."10
     David and Charity Walker were likely to be Hawkesbury Village, Prescott Co., ONT, CAN, in 1851 but not immediately obvious as yet.16
     David Fairbairn appeared on the census of 1861 Hawkesbury, Prescott Co., ONT, with Charity Fairbairn, enumerated as FAIRBAIRN: David, 39, carpenter (Ross said farmer), Charity 35; Children: Agnes 14; Jane 12; Mary 10; Devizes, 8; Ann, 6; David 2 all b CW (i.e. Canada West, now Ontario).
Two hseholds away SMITH: David, Eliza, Gordon, Webster.17,18
     The census of 1871 showed David with his wife Charity, their sons David and Angus, their dtrs Devises, Anne, Clarissa and Jessie Hawkesbury Village, Prescott Co., ONT, household enumerated as FAIRBAIRN: David aged 49, carpenter, born Ontario of Scottish origins, Presbyterian. Charity 45, Irish Origins, 6 children: Deaizes (? aka Diza), 18; Annie, 16; David, 12; Clarissa, 9; Jessie, 6; Angus, 3.19,6 David Fairbairn was not found in the census of 1881 not obvious as David in Canadian online census, also couldn't find the children apart from RIGBY and possibly MILLER.
     The census of 1891 showed David with his wife Charity, their dtr Jessie W2/7, Hawkesbury Village, Dist of Prescott, QUE, CAN, household enumerated as FAIRBAIRN: David 65 b ONT F b SCT M b Ireland, Presb, carpenter; wife Charity 65 b ONT F/M b Ireland; Children: Jessie 25 sewing; William 16 both b ONT F/M b ONT; Grdson David 6 b USA F/M b ONT.20

Names

     David Fairbairn was also known as Ella Given Ross' mother says 6 sons and accounts for all the others, this leaves David as "Ella" however unusual that seems.21

All the other info

     "There were 6 brothers, William, Archie, James, John, Ella (David!!) and Robert. James was brought up at Hawkesbury and Bytown, moved to Toronto after being married and then to Port Burwell etc.." (from a conversation with her grandmother Georgina.)21
     David Fairbairn was the informant for the death of Jane Williamson on 10 Dec 1876 West Hawkesbury, Prescott Co., ONT, CAN.22,23,1,24,25 David Fairbairn appears in the photo of Jessie Gorrie Grant cir. 1897 Ottawa, ONT, CAN; Family group with Jessie Gorrie GRANT as a young girl. left to right William GRANT, Jessie Gorrie Grant, Daniel Douglas Grant (standing), and David FAIRBAIRN, grandfather of Jessie (photo shows signs of David's photo being added on later and a final photo taken of the composite, especially as he had died in 1894.15 ) Gordon's26 uncle's tree identifies 4 children who died infancy.
Charity MANNING's memoirs (at age 92, c 1967) say: Charity Walker, my grandmother, married David FAIRBAIRN and they lived in Hawkesbury."..."My grandparents had ten children, Jinnie, David (died), Mary, Dizzie, Annie, David (second as first one had died), Angus, Jessie, Clarey." (and Charity's mother Agnes.)4,10
     David Fairbairn is remembered by Charity Alice Manning "Grandpa was the right hand man of the Hon. John HAMILTON who owned the mill. He surveyed the timber lands and oversaw the logging camps. Some of the positions he had were millright, head filer, foreman, timber cruiser, logging foreman. He also had a small steam boat with which he pushed the logs around in the river pond. In the winter he took the crews up to the logging grounds and helped build the shanties, (bunk houses was what we call them). The mill only ran in the summer so the same crew went logging in the winter."10

Family 1

Prudential Arnold (say 1820 - bet. 1842 - 1845)

Family 2

Charity Walker (Mar 1826 - Nov 1900)
Children
  • Agnes Fairbairn4,9,10 (Mar 1847 - Sep 1896)
  • Jane Fairbairn4,9 (Feb 1849 - 1900)
  • David Fairbairn10 (cir. 1850 - cir. 1850)
  • Mary Fairbairn4,9 (Jun 1851 - 1930)
  • Devises Fairbairn4,9,27 (Apr 1853 - 1940)
  • Anne K Fairbairn4,9,28 (1855 - 1923)
  • David Fairbairn4,9,29 (Mar 1859 - 1932)
  • Clarissa Harlow Fairbairn4,9,30 (Sep 1862 - 1939)
  • Jessie Fairbairn1,31,9 (May 1865 - Jan 1938)
  • Angus U Fairbairn4,9,19 (Feb 1868 - Mar 1921)
  • William E Fairbairn20 (Jul 1874 - aft. 1920)
ChartsJohn & Bessie (FFLINT) FAIRBAIRN
Last Edited12 Sep 2018

Citations

  1. Douglas BROWN (29659), "EM FAIRBAIRN, David ex Douglas B," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Aug 2002.
  2. Lorna Henderson, "FAIRBAIRN Analysis", Dec 2009.
  3. Gordon SUDDABY, "FT (and Emails) FAIRBAIRN/WALKER ex GSuddaby Rootsweb," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Sep 2002 Family tree.
  4. Gordon SUDDABY, "FT (and Emails) FAIRBAIRN/WALKER ex GSuddaby Rootsweb," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, extracted Aug 2002.
  5. Douglas BROWN (29659), "EM FAIRBAIRN, David ex Douglas B," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Rcvd Oct 2002 ex Diary of D D GRANT, husband of Jessie FAIRBAIRN.
  6. Census image, Canada, via Ancestry.com, 1871 Hawkesbury Village, Prescott, ONT MFilm C-10010-C-10011Pg 57 hsehold of David FAIRBAIRN, extracted Mar 2008.
  7. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, Marr. 6 Jul 1841 David FAIRBAIRN & Prudential ARNOLD, by William MAIR Minister of Grenville & Chatham, from Protestants of Dist St Jerome, Co Terrebonne, PQ, in Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967, extracted Jan 2009.
  8. Douglas BROWN (29659), "EM FAIRBAIRN, David ex Douglas B," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Aug 2002 ex family records.
  9. Bart & Helen (LINDSAY) FAIRBAIRN, "Corres. re FAIRBAIRN ex Bart & Helen, CAN," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, ex descendant chart found in Wellington Cty Archives, rcvd Feb 2003.
  10. Gordon SUDDABY, "FT (and Emails) FAIRBAIRN/WALKER ex GSuddaby Rootsweb," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Reminiscences of Charity Alice MANNING (nee RIGBY) of her life as she could recall at the age of 92, rcvd Mar 2003.
  11. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, Marr. 29 Aug 1845 David FAIRBAIRN & Charity WALKER, by William MAIR Minister of Grenville & Chatham, from Protestants of Dist St Jermoe, Co Terrebonne, PQ, in Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967, extracted Jan 2009.
  12. Ross HOTCHKISS (32667), "EM FAIRBAIRN: QUE/ONT ex Ross H," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Jan 2003.
  13. Ross HOTCHKISS (32667), "EM FAIRBAIRN: QUE/ONT ex Ross H," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, 1829 Grenville QUE Census, family of John FAIRBURN, nr David WILLIAMSON, extract rcvd Dec 2009.
  14. Ross HOTCHKISS (32667), "EM FAIRBAIRN: QUE/ONT ex Ross H," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, ex 1842 Census, only summary data by age and birthplace was collected, none named other than Head, rcvd Jan 2003.
  15. Douglas BROWN (29659), "EM FAIRBAIRN, David ex Douglas B," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Rcvd Dec 2002.
  16. Census image, Canada, via Ancestry.com, 1851 searched Mar 2008.
  17. Ross HOTCHKISS (32667), "EM FAIRBAIRN: QUE/ONT ex Ross H," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, From Census records 1851-1871 received Jan 2003.
  18. Census image, Canada, via Ancestry.com, 1861 Hawkesbury, Prescott, Ontario; Roll: C-1068, hsehold of David & Charity FAIRBAIRN, extracted Dec 2009.
  19. Douglas BROWN (29659), "EM FAIRBAIRN, David ex Douglas B," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Oct 2002 ex Canadian census (Dist 075, Division 0 P57 Film C-10,010 - C-10,011 Ref RG31) Dwelling #179.
  20. Census image, Canada, via Ancestry.com, 1891 Hawkesbury Village, Dist of Prescott, ONT Dist 111 Archive roll T-6364 hsehold of David & Charity FAIRBAIRN, extracted Sep 2008.
  21. Ross HOTCHKISS (32667), "EM FAIRBAIRN: QUE/ONT ex Ross H," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Notes taken by Ross' mother Treva HOTCHKISS nee CHUTE from her grandmother Georgiana (Rcvd Jan 2003).
  22. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, Dth 8 Dec 1876 Jane FAIRBAIRNE, reg. West Hawksebury, Prescott Cty ONT, extracted Mar 2008.
  23. Gordon SUDDABY, "FT (and Emails) FAIRBAIRN/WALKER ex GSuddaby Rootsweb," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Sep 2002 Family tree from Ontario death register Prescott County, W. Hawkesbury.
  24. Ross HOTCHKISS (32667), "EM FAIRBAIRN: QUE/ONT ex Ross H," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Jan 2003 ex 1876 dth cert Jane FAIRBAIRN.
  25. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, Dth 16 Dec 1876 Agnes MITCHELL, West Hawkesbury, Prescott, ONT roll MS935_14, from Ontario, Canada Deaths, 1869-1934, extracted Dec 2009.
  26. Gordon SUDDABY, "FT (and Emails) FAIRBAIRN/WALKER ex GSuddaby Rootsweb," e-mail to Lorna Henderson.
  27. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, Marr. 2 Jan 1879 George SAUNDERS & Devizes FAIRBURN, Hawkesbury, Prescott Co, ONT, Roll MS932_31, extracted Sep 2008.
  28. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, Marr. 2 Jun 1884 Annie FAIRBAIRN & John MILLER, reg Prescott, ONT, MS932_47, extracted Jun 2008.
  29. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, Marr. 19 Dec 1883 David FAIRBAIRN & Azelia VALLEY, Prescott, FHL Film MS932_44, from Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1857-1924, extracted Jun 2008.
  30. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, Marr. 5 Jan 1884 Clarissa Harlow FAIRBAIRN & Elihu Robert MARSTON, FHL Film MS932_44, Prescott, ONT, extracted Jun 2008.
  31. Douglas BROWN (29659), "EM FAIRBAIRN, David ex Douglas B," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Death cert 1938 Jessie GRANT nee FAIRBAIRN copy held by Doug B. transc. received Sep 2002.

E. & O. E. Some/most parish records are rather hard to read and names, places hard to interpret, particularly if you are unfamiliar with an area.