Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-13
THE Fairbanks HOME
Ancestral Residence in Ded-
ham,
REUNION THIS MONTH
CHANGES MADE va IN THE SPELL
ING OF THE NAME.
Interest in the Occasion on Account Of
the Republican Vice Presi-
Dental Candidate.

| center of clump of ancient elms and
partly uncovered by syringa bushes is
! time-worn weati1er-beaten building. the
| most ancient structure in the town-the old
| Fairbanks house 1t is occupied by Re-
becca Fairbanks of the seventh generation,
| aged eighty the oldest living member
| Of the family. The house has always been
occupied by a member of the Fairbanks
| family since it was constructed by Jona-
than Fayerbanke in 1886.
| Three years ago an organization of the
| descendants of Jonathan Fayerbanke was
| effected, and extensive preparations are be-
ing made for the third annual reunion,
| which will be held a the homestead August
49, The organization comprises 5000 fami-
| lies scattered over the United States. 1t
| has purchased the old homestead, and will
restore to it the original furniture as far
as possible and preserve it from decay.
The reunion this year promises 10 be of
| unusual interest because of the prominence
before the public of one of the descendants
of Jonathan Fayerbanlle, Senator Charles
w Fairbanks. The homestead and 6, ounas
will be deliberately decorated by Il commit
tee in charge of Judge Rufus G. Fairbanks
of Massachusetts. The badge design this
year is in red, white and blue silk with
cross bar in silver gray and celIuiold oval,
on which will appear the old homestead in
colors and a picture of Senator Fair banks.
| The program includes lunch, dinner and
| speeches
The Fairbanks Name.
The Fairbanks name has undergone some
| changes but Is now spelled with CT with
out the final s. Thus Indiana has two
prominent members of the family, Senator
| Fairbanks and Crawford Fairbank who
are sixth cousins, according to the genoa
| logical records kept by the secretary of the
association. Fayerbanke was the original
spelling, and 1t has been spelled Faerbank,
Farbanke, Fairebapke by descendants
| Two "Fairbanks'S names appear on the
early records Of the Puritan colony. Rich
ard Fairebanke came to Boston in 1888
| with his wife Elizabeth. 1t is thought
| that they came In the Griffin. the ship
which brought Rev. John Cotton to these
shores Savage, the historian, saws that
| they united with the church a month after
| that great teachers arrival, on the same
day with Elder Ieverett and his wife, Gov
ernor Brewster. and Edward Hutchinson.
| 1t was ''in We Sth moneth 1888" that these
moneth Elizabeth Fairebancke." Richard
was prominently identified with the public
affairs of the new settlement and held
| many town offices.4 He was a member of
the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Com
pany. and was the first postmaster of the
colony In 163a the council granted the
| petition Oh the inhabitants and the fol-
| lowing order was issued
/ FOR preventing the miscarriage of let
ters, and 1t is ordered that notice be given
Richard Fairebanke. his house in Boston
| is the place appointed for all letters which
are brought beyond the seas or are to be
sent thither. are to be brought unto; and
| he is to take care that they be deliver ed
and sent according to their directions: and
| he Is allowed for every letter penny and
| must answer all miscarriages through his
own neglect in this kind provided that no
man shall be compelled to bring his letter
| thlther except he please"
The Present Association.
The present association is composed only
| of the descendants of Jonathan Fayer-
| banke.
jonathan Fayerbanke was born in Eng
| iand, probably about 1895 He married
tHahtax, England. parish register), May
70, 1871 Grace Smith of Marley, England.
he he died in Dedham, Mass December 3
| loos; She died either December IS, 1913, or
| May 10, 1876 " '' "a
Iheir children were all born in England
| UNA nan fayerbanke is reported to have
f come IRON Sowerby, in the v.carage OF
aahfaX. Yorkshire, England to Boston
ma -, IN idSa at the same time that Rich
ara came. With Jonathan came his wife
grace and six chldrea-John, George
MARY susan. Jonas and Jonathan. 1t Is
| SAID that they brought with them the
| frame OF a house and that the timbers lay
IN Boston for three years, during which
I'm tIine Jonathan looked about for location
| he ilnally decided on Dedham (Conten m mt
as then called, where he settled in 1896
Dedham dates from 1888, when on the
! same Gay Concord was Incorporated the
| general court ordered that plantation be
| settled about two myIes above We Charles
| RIVER IN We northeast side thereof" The
| plantation was begun by twenty-five pro-
| prletors' one of whom was Jonathan Fayer-
| panke They signed a town covenant and
| peutioned the general court for town
grant the town to be called Contentment.
| The court granted the petition, but changed
the name TO Dedham. 1t is a town of pic
turesque old streets shaded by massive
ems The Charles river makes a great
| pend here and the sloplng meadows are
among the notable landscape effects. On
| the public square is an old buttonwood
| tree, which for generations has been the
town bulletin board Paste never used
always lacks, and close observation dis
closes thousands of them imbeddsd in the
buttonwood bark. Did deep in to the inner
layer of bark and tacks with rust-reddened
heads come out to the pry of the knife.
BARK has grown over fastenings of the
Mexican war period. over those which held
bulletins of civil war battles and the come
and-enlist coaxers nailed to the old tree
by the recruiting officers OF more than forty
| years ago. The Historical Society building
stands near it, wherein are gathered many
rare antiques. Hills surround the town,
ana all IN all 1t is an interesting and pic
turesaue SPOT famous in stage-coaching
| days, when it was a breakfast station be-
| tween Boston and Providence.
The Fairbanks Home.
Facing to the south the Fairbanks home
occupies one of the best corner lots in Ded-
ham, at the INTERSECTION of Eastern avenue
and East street.. She entire length of the
main part and wings is but seventy-five
feet The main part is two stories with
pitch roof exteusrR over the leanto at the
back to within n few feet of the ground;
the two lower wings have gamhreI roofs
The windows are small and of various sizes;
the doorways low hfhe front entry is eight
feet wide and three and half feet deep;
the rooms of irregular shape with low CELL
lngs: The beams, and rafters show In the
Kitchen and the wood work has turned
chocolate brown with age and smoke from
the wood fires IN the parlor a wooden
crane swings over the old-fashioned fire.
place. Up to few years ago an Indian
arrow projected from the roof but none of
the family knew It's history. The brick
oven still remains. Suspended from two
hooks fastened into the great beam in the
ceiling is the heavy smoothbore musket
two yards long. carried by Lieutenant Jo-
seph Fairbanks at the siege of Leusberg.
On the wall is the Fairbanks motto. Fidem
Respice. The tall clock In the corner is
$50 years old. Near 1t is a contribution box
made 'of bark and fastened with thongs
which was once passed around by Deacon