John Fairbairn1

(15 April 1833 - 28 March 1909)
FatherJohn Fairbairn2,3,4,5 (1792 - 1847)
MotherJane Williamson6 (1794 - Dec 1876)
Relationship3rd cousin 4 times removed of Lorna Henderson

BMDB data

     John Fairbairn was born on 15 Apr 1833 Grenville, QUE, CAN.1,3 Some sources show John as born on 7 Sep 1834 Grenville, QUE, this date coming from his death cert. Assorted records over the years have ranged from abt 1833 thru to 1842, and the place is the most likely from the range of Scotland, Canada West (Ontario) and Canada East (Quebec), and the Grenville on his newfound baptism, and his marriage cert, which place does appear to be just across the river from Hawkesbury, and matches where other related Fairbairns were in 1842.5,7,8,9,4 He was baptized on 14 Sep 1834 St-Philippe-d`Argenteuil (Ch of Sct), Dist of St Jerome, QUE, CAN; entry reads: Folio fifty sixth Baptism
John lawful son of John Fairbairn born on the fifteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one Thousand and Eight Hundred and Thirty Three was baptised by me at Grenville Lower Canada on this the fourteenth day of September One Thousand Eight Hundred and thirty four
William Mair Minister of Grenville & Chatham
Witnesses J Asntly?, John Wilson.3
     John Fairburn married S A Daugherty, daughter of Jacob Daughterty and Ann UnknownSurname, on 1 May 1862 reg. West Hawkesbury Twp?, Prescott Co., ONT, CAN, John Fairburn, 23, Hawkesbury, b Grenville, resid. West Hawkesbury Twp, s/o Johnathan Fairburn, marr. 1 May 1862 to S. A. Dougherty, 19, b Vankleek Hill, resid. West Hawkesbury Twp, d/o Jacob Dougherty.10,11,4,5
     John Fairbairn remarried on 2 Jun 1877 Stillwater, Washington Co., MN, USA, to Charity Smithson, daughter of Robert Smithson and Mary Jane UnknownSurname ?Walker, (had been married 23 yrs at 1900 census.)8,12,13
     John A Fairbairn died on 28 Mar 1909 St Croix & Greeley, Stillwater, Washington Co., MN, USA, at age 75; cert. shows John A as aged 74 yrs 6 mths 21 days, ie born 7 Sep 1834, s/o John Fairbairn and Agnes Williamson, both b Scotland. John A born Canada, married at 27, 9 children, 8 still living; cod senile paraplegia, Buried Fairview 31sth Mar. indexed as: John A FAIRBAIRU (sic) dth CertID# 1909-MN-013830, Washington Co.14,5
     Despite John A's marriage and dth cert both stating his father was John, and his dth cert saying his mother was Agnes Williamson, not Jane, I had reached the conclusion that the John who married Sarah Daughterty was the John s/o David and Jane (Williamson) F. The ONLY candidate I can find in 1851 Canada that fits is the one with (mother assumed) Jane and (assumed) brother James in Hull, and John can't be found after that census in Canada.
As to his mother: US census records up to 1895 merely say parents "foreign born". 1900 shows John, and both parents as born Canada East (Quebec) but the 1905 census shows John's father as born Scotland and his mother as born Ireland, which is probably the most accurate information.
Placing John as son of David and Jane also neatly "solved" the mystery as to how John's descendant Walter and brother David's descendant Clarissa come to describe themselves as cousins.
All of which theory I thought had been vindicated (Mar 2009) by the Fairbairn Surname DNA Project, in that a descendant of John is a good dna match to a descendant of his presumed father David's brother Willliam.
However (Dec 2009): Perhaps there was another brother John to David and William? I'd just stumbled across a baptism that looks rather like it might be this John, and would make his marriage and death certificates correct after all.
The Drouin collection records, at St-Philippe-d`Argenteuil (Church of Scotland) the baptism on 14 Sep 1834 of a John, lawful son of John Fairbairn of Grenville Lower Canada, born 15 Apr 1833.
Options are being explored, and even further information has since come to light that does rather indicate that Jane Williamson's husband may well be John, not a David, so for now, I've renamed the father as "John or David" and left him in situ while mulling over some other implications, namely that just maybe, "John or David", is actually John, son of Archibald and Alison (Crosser) Fairbairn.15,16,17,18,3,19

Census/Where lived/Occupations

     John Fairbairn appeared on the census of 1842 Grenville, QUE, CAN, in the house of David Fairbairn and Prudential Arnold, as the son of David Fairbairn.20,21,22,23 John Fairbairn appeared on the census of 1852 Hull, QUE, CAN, in the household of Jane Fairbairn as (presumed) son of Jane.1,24
     John Fairbairn appeared on the census of 1852 Hull, Ottawa Co., Canada East (QUE), CAN, as neighbour of A? J? Fairbairn.24
     John Fairbairn appeared on the census of 11 Jun 1870 Stillwater, Washington Co., MN, USA, with Sarah E Fairbairn, enumerated as FAIRBAIRN: John 34, b Canada West, works in mill, male, white, real estate valued at $400, personal estate valued at $100, both parents of foreign birth, marked as a "Male citizen of US of 21 yrs of age or upwards, whose right to vote is denied or abridged on other grounds than rebellion or other crime", not marked as a male citizen of the US of 21 yrs of age or upward; Sarah E (sic), 27, fem, white, "keeping house", b Canada West, both parents of foreign birth; Assumed children (all "parents of foreign birth"): Marion, female, 6, and Helen, 5 both attending school during year; John 4, male, white, did not attend school during year; all b Canada West; William 1 b "Minn", did not attend school. Also Elizabeth SYGELKE, domestic 16 b Iowa.7,25
     The census of 11 Jun 1880 showed John with his wife Charity, their sons John and William, their dtrs May, Helen, Sarah and Mary Marine St (274), Stillwater, Washington Co., MN, USA, household enumerated as FAIRBURN: John 45 Carpenter ; wife Charity 32 keeping house, both b Canada, F/M b Canada; Children: May 17 Seamstress , Helen 15 At Home, John 13 Works In Saw Mill, all b Canada, F/M b Canada; William 11,Sarah 9 both at school; Mary 2 all born Minnesota, F/M b Canada; Also nephew James 28 Laborer b Canada F/M b Canada.26
     John Fairbairn appeared on the census of 1885 Stillwater, Washington Co., MN, with Charity Fairburn, enumerated as FAIRBURN: John A 49y b. CAN; wiffe Charity 39y b. CAN; Children: Marion 21y, Helen F 20y both b. CAN; John A 18y, Wm J 16y, Sarah A 14y, Mary J 7y, Russell L 4y, Howard R 3y, all b. Minnesota. All show "parents of foreign birth."27
     John Fairbairn appeared on the census of Jun 1895 Ward 3, Stillwater, Washington Co., MN, USA, with Charity Fairbairn, enumerated as FAIRBAIRN: John A 58 in MN 29 yrs 6 mths at locality 27 yrs 6 mths saw ?felu? mill emp 6mths of last year, Charity 46 both b CAN; Mary J 17, Russell L 14, Myrtle F 4 all b Minn ?or Wisc? All parents foreign born.28
     John Fairbairn appeared on the census of 1900 1221 ??clian St, Stillwater, Washington Co., MN, USA, with Charity Fairbairn, enumerated as John FAIRBAIRN, head, white, male, b Apr 1842, aged 58, married 23 yrs, born Canada E(ast), parents both b Canada E, yr of immigration unknown, Naturalisation = "NA"; occupation saw????, unemp 6 mths, can read, write and speak English, house owned, free of mortgage. Wife Mrs Charity FAIRBAIRN, b Mar 1846, aged 54, married 23 yrs, mother of 4 children, 3 living, b. British Columbia, father b England, mother b British Canada, immigrated 1878, in US for 28 yrs, can read write and speak English. Dtr Mary J FAIRBAIRN, b May 1878, 22, single, student, unemp. 3 mths, attended school 9 mths; b Minnesota, father b C(anada) E(ast), mother British Canada Son Russell S FAIRBAIRN, b Nov 1880, aged 19, bookkeeper, 0 mths unemployed; Dtr Faith Myrtle FAIRBAIRN, b Dec 1890, aged 9, student, at school 9 mths; both b Minnesota, father b Canada E(ast), mother b C(anada) E(ast) both can read, write and speak English.12
     John A Fairbairn appeared on the census of 4 Jun 1905 #1221 Cnr C'an & St C Ann, Stillwater, Washington Co., MN, USA, with Charity Fairbairn, enumerated as FAIRBAIRN: John A 70 b CAN F b SCT M b IRL, resid, in state and ED 39 yrs, farmer; Charity 60, b CAN F b ENG M b CAN, resid. 33 yrs in state 30 in ED; Children: Russell L 24 b MN book keeper resid. state/ED 24 yrs (might be 27); Faith 14 student resid state/ED 14 yrs.16

All the other info

     We'd love to hear from you if can share any light on how the Sunderland ancestors of Albert and this line can be cousins (see the Fairbairn DNA project for further details: yes related, but only very distantly.)15

External links

     John Fairbairn belongs to a DNA tested line. There may be more information available on DNASurnames under the DNA project for his/her surname/line.

Family 1

Sarah Ann Daughterty (cir. 1843 - bef. 1880)
Children
  • Marion Fairbairn8 (cir. 1863 - aft. 1945)
  • Helen Fairbairn8 (cir. 1865 - aft. 1880)
  • John A Fairbairn Jr8 (Jul 1866 - Dec 1945)
  • William George Fairbairn10,8 (Mar 1869 - Mar 1935)
  • Sarah Fairburn8 (cir. 1871 - aft. 1909)

Family 2

Charity Smithson (Mar 1847 - Jan 1920)
Children
  • Mary J Fairbairn8 (May 1878 - aft. 1945)
  • Russell S Fairbairn12 (Nov 1880 - bet. 1914 - 1945)
  • Howard R Fairburn27 (cir. 1882 - )
  • Faith Myrtle Fairbairn12 (Dec 1890 - Dec 1959)
ChartsJohn & Bessie (FFLINT) FAIRBAIRN
Last Edited18 Jan 2022

Citations

  1. Ross HOTCHKISS (32667), "EM FAIRBAIRN: QUE/ONT ex Ross H," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, From Census records 1851-1871 received Jan 2003.
  2. FamilyTree DNA, "FamilyTree DNA", DNA match between William (F-12), a descendant of John s/o of John & Jane (WILLIAMSON) FAIRBAIRN, and Roy (F-3) a descendant of John's brother William, rcvd Mar 2009.
  3. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, Birth 15 Apr 1833 Bap. 14 Sep 1834 John s/o John FAIRBAIRN of Grenville, Lower Canada, St-Philippe-d`Argenteuil (Church of Scotland) , from the Drouin Collection, extracted Dec 2009.
  4. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, Marr. 1 May 1862 John A FAIRBURN & S A DOUGHERTY, Prescott, ONT, FHL Film 1030064, from Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1857-1924 (index only), extracted Sep 2008.
  5. Index of births, marriages and deaths, http://people.mnhs.org/, Dth 28 Mar 1909 John A FAIRBAIRN, born 7 Sep 1834, CAN, d. Stillwater, St Croix & Greeley, Washington Co MN, Cert 13830, copy rcvd Dec 2008.
  6. Ross HOTCHKISS (32667), "EM FAIRBAIRN: QUE/ONT ex Ross H," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, 1851 Census, received Jan 2003.
  7. Gordon SUDDABY, "FT (and Emails) FAIRBAIRN/WALKER ex GSuddaby Rootsweb," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, From 1870 Census Schedule 1 page 40: Stillwater Township, Washington County, State of Minnesota, entry 258 family 294, rcvd Mar 2003.
  8. Www FAIRBAIRN searches and miscellaneous correspondence by LornaHen (1) 1880 US Census via LDS site extracted Feb 2003 (Family History Library Film 1254637 Page Number 331B).
  9. Gordon SUDDABY, "FT (and Emails) FAIRBAIRN/WALKER ex GSuddaby Rootsweb," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, From Ontario Marriage Records Prescott County , Film 1030064, rcvd Feb 2003.
  10. Sanna F Ross (Gaffney), "EM FAIRBAIRN: Borders ex Sanna G," e-mail to Lorna & GenForum FAIRBAIRN, From Norma C, rcvd Feb 2003.
  11. Gordon SUDDABY, "FT (and Emails) FAIRBAIRN/WALKER ex GSuddaby Rootsweb," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Marr. 1 May 1862 John s/o Jonathan FAIRBURN; S.A. d/o Jacob DOUGHERTY, from Ontario Marriage Records Prescott County , Film 1030064, rcvd Feb 2003.
  12. Gordon SUDDABY, "FT (and Emails) FAIRBAIRN/WALKER ex GSuddaby Rootsweb," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, From 1900 Census Schedule 1 sheet B: Stillwater Township, Washington County, State of Minnesota, Enum Dist 48 Ward 3. House 153 family 179, rcvd Mar 2003.
  13. GenForum online at http://www.genforum.genealogy.com/my/, Posting Feb 2007 John A FAIRBAIRN/Chairty SMITHSON, by Daniel SENJEM, email hidden, extracted Jun 2008.
  14. Gordon SUDDABY, "FT (and Emails) FAIRBAIRN/WALKER ex GSuddaby Rootsweb," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Minnesota FAIRBAIRN dths, rcvd Mar 2003.
  15. "Lorna's Family History Musings", Dec 2008, updated Mar 2009.
  16. USA census images, Various, 1905 Minnesota Historical Society. Minnesota State Population Census Schedules, 1865-1905. St. Paul, MN, USA: Minnesota Historical Society, 1977. Microfilm. Reels 1-47 and 107-164, roll MNSC_161, hsehold John & Charity FAIRBAIRN, extracted Dec 2008.
  17. 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).
  18. 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, "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.."
  19. "Lorna's Family History Musings", Dec 2009.
  20. 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.
  21. Douglas BROWN (29659), "EM FAIRBAIRN, David ex Douglas B," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Rcvd Dec 2002.
  22. 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.
  23. Lorna Henderson, "FAIRBAIRN Analysis", Dec 2009.
  24. Census image, Canada, via Ancestry.com, 1851/2 Hull, Ottawa County, Canada East (Quebec). Schedule: A. Roll: C_1131, Page 67, Line: 35, hseholds of Jane FAIRBURN, then A?J? FAIRBURN, extracted Dec 2009.
  25. USA census images, Various, 1870 Stillwater, Washington, Minnesota; Roll: M593_718; Page: 104; Image: 212, hsehold of John & Sarah E FAIRBAIRN, rechecked Dec 2008.
  26. Online search: assorted surnames, International Genealogical Index (IGI), 1880 US Census: FHL Film 1254637 Pg 331B hsehold of John & Charity FAIRBURN, extracted Feb 2003.
  27. Census images, Ancestry.com, Assorted state census records, 1885 census: Stillwater, MN, hsehold of John A & Charity FAIRBURN, extracted from https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQFM-37L, Jan 2022.
  28. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, 1895 Stillwater Ward 3, Washington, MN Roll V290_103, hsehold of John A & Charity FAIRBAIRN, extracted Jun 2008.

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.