Benjamin Fairchild (1721 - 1794)

Born 31 Mar 1721 in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut Colony

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 18 Jun 1794 at age 73 in Charlotteville, Norfolk County, Ontario, Upper Canada

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Benjamin Fairchild was a United Empire Loyalist.
UEL Status:Proven
Date: Undated

Biography

Birth

...Assuming that his father, Benjamin Fairchild, Sr., had enjoyed the average span of life of the members of the Fairchild family, which would probaby be about 75 years, it becomes evident that he must have been born about 1721, although his son, Isaac Fairchild, the pioneer, was 90 years old at the time of his death.^[1]

From Land Petition of Benjamin Fairchild Jr. (1796):

. . . That your Petitioner's Father was . . . from his attachment to the British government at all times ready and willing, and did as much as lay in his power, contribute in promiting the interest and welfare of his Country by aiding and assiting all . . . and other Parties, which came within his read, with provisions, . . . and intelligence.

That your Petitioner's fath was so situated on the North River, as to enable him to give great assistance to all Persons desirous of moving into Lower Canada by that Route to join the British Standard & also was, during the whole of General Burgoines Campaign entrusted with the charge of . . . the movements and other dispositions of the Enemy, which trust he discharged with credit to himself and satisfaction to others.

That your Petitioners father was frequently employed in the most important and secret services, which he never failed to execute faithfully, as may appear by Certificates in the Possession of your Petitioner.

That from the strong attachement and Loyalty of your Petitioner's Father, he was most inhumanly and severely dealt with by the Americans - who not only deprived him of a very valuable property, consisting of Lands and very extensive buildings, as well as a . . . by burning his buildings & depriving him of a great number of Moveables, but also frequently imprisioned him, to the great detriment of himself and fmaily.

That your Petitioner's father being thus deprives of an ample property, almost destitute of very necessary of life which a numerous family required for their support came into this Province in the year 1792 with his family, consisiting of an aged wife four sons and three daughters, relying on the bounty of Government for such a grant of lands as his services might have entitled him to but being aged and infirm he died very shortly after his arrival in this Province by which prevented the necessary application taking place.

That your Petitioner's Mother as well as the Children before mentioned are still living and therefore your Petitioner most humbly prays your Honour to take the services and situation of his late Father into your consideration and and thereupon to grant such a portion of lands . . .

(see: https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.02-e.php?q2=29&q3=2436&sqn=257&tt=976&PHPSESSID=1fqui40bqga3k80ktub83hhbqv74ik96l93r0r2u46e529ac4m31)

Notes

Benjamin Fairchild Sr., (1721-1792-6), of the fourth generation, Number 44 of the Orcutt genealogy. He married Melissa Hall, and lived in "The Oblong," Dutchess County, New York during colonial times then moved upstate to the Queensbury Patent north of Albany. They had seven children named in the following pages. He and his brother, Samuel Fairchild, 3rd, were the heads of families at Queensbury, Washington County, N. Y., when the first census of the United States was taken in 1790. In 1792, when 71 years of age, he moved with “his aged Wife” accompanied with most of his adult children from near Queensbury, N.Y., to Ontario, probably being partly persuaded to make this move so late in life by the report from Ontario of their sons, Benjamin Fairchild, Jr., and Isaac Fairchild, who were the first settlers in Brant County, Ontario. Joshua and Reverend Peter Fairchild settled in Townsend Township, Norfolk County. They were also probably influenced to some extent at least by the hardships the United Empire Loyalists were enduring in the State of New York after the close of the Revolutionary War. Benjamin Fairchild Sr. died soon after moving to Ontario and was dead when his son, Benjamin Fairchild, Jr., filed a petition for a land grant with the Canadian Land Board in 1796. His aged wife was still living at that time. Includes ancestors and five generations of descendants in Norfolk, Oxford and Brant Counties, and in Illinois and Michigan and elsewhere. Descendant surnames included: Post, Smith, Fields, Martin, Midyett, Hensley, House, Graham, Hoover, Roberts, Kinnard, Laird, Peel, Hardy, Wheeler, Broad, Moe, McEwen, Bell, Johnston, Claxton, Kesler.^[2]

United Empire Loyalist Information

Name: Benjamin Fairchild (Source: United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada)

• Resettled: lots 26/27 concession 5 in Ancaster Twp.
• Notes (Expunged, Suspended, Reinstated: See Petition of his Daughter; Deborah Saylar; read this day; Order in Council 18 June 1807
• Date & Place of Birth: 21 March 1721, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut
• Settled before the war: "The Oblong", Duchess County, New York; and Queensbury Patent north of Albany
• Date & Place of Death: 18 Jun 1794, Charlotteville, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; Home District, inserted by O.I.C., June 18, 1807, he is Dead
• Wife's name: Millicent (Melissa) (Mille) Hall
• Children: Ruth, Peter, Benjamin, Jr., Deborah, Mary, Isaac, Joshua and Joshua, Jr.
• Biography^[3][4]: They lived in "The Oblong", Duchess County, NY during colonial times then moved upstate to the Queensbury patent north of Albany. During the American Revolution, Benjamin joined the British forces at Fort Edward. Prior to 1792, his sons Benjamin and Isaac came to Upper Canada and were joined by the rest of the family in that year. Family members including Rev. Peter Fairchild settled in Townsend Township.

They were Loyalists and had personal and real property confiscated.

Mentioned as Mother in Upper Canada Land Book C 4/11-4/25/1797

Per Nathan Dawthorne: filed Land Petition 2 February 1797, stating that her children had come of the year of maturity and requesting a grant of land. An attached certificate of David McFall stated that Mille Fairchild was the widow of Benjamin Fairchild who joined the Royal Standard in 1777, and a daughter of Joshua Hall, likewise a loyalist. (f/3100)

Received lots 26/27 concession 5 in Ancaster Twp.

Had land in Ancaster Twp where Benjamin, Jr. lived also, lived with youngest d. Ruth m. Daniel Springer, after 1796 at Delaware twp, west of London in Middlesex Co. Ontario. Signed deed of 400 acres in Ancaster in favor of Ruth and Daniel Springer, for taking care of her. Crown deed never recorded in her name. A Daniel Fairchild in Queensbury, N.Y. also signed off on deed.

When Augustus Jones surveyed Barton Township in 1791, (25 October 1791) he prepared a map on which he recorded the names of settlers who had already been granted lots prior to his survey.

Concession Three: Fairchild, Benjamin, 1791, Conc. 3, Lots 1-2 Mar. 19, 1798

According to Grand River UELAC Newsletter The Johnson Settlement (part of Brantford Township), was named in honour of George Johnson, son of Molly Brant and first teacher in the Native settlement north-east of Brant's Ford. This was one of the earliest settlements on the Johnson Tract, north of Cayuga Village, on Fairchild's Creek. The early settlers were an enclave of Loyalists. Benjamin Fairchild and Alexander Westbrook had served under Chief Joseph Brant during the American Revolution. They moved to the Johnson area in 1788.

Land Grants

The Canadian Land Records record that on 24 July 1793, petitions were filed for land grants by Peter Fairchild, Isaac Fairchild, Benjamin Fairchild, Jr., and Mordecia Sayles, their brother-in-law, and by Daniel Fairchild. They were likely separate petitions filed the same day, although they may have all joined in the one petition, nevertheless, these petitions indicate the joint action of these brothers and cousins.

Children

The Name And Family Of Fairchild

When Timothy Marsh Fairchild published The Name and Family of Fairchild he did not know about Samuel, the first-born of Benjamin and Melissa. The discovery of Samuel as a son of Benjamin and Melissa is explained in Jean Fairchild Gilmore's 2001 book.^[5]

Sources (Online)

• Jacobus, Donald Lines, History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, Vol. II, ^[6] Data Extract:

1. ) History of Old Fairfield, Vol II, Part I; Text Page 328; (Ancestry.com Page 334 of 514): Samuel Fairchild, son of Samuel, b. ca. 1682; d. 28 Feb 17, age 79 at Redding, Conn.; m. 3 Jan 1706 Ruth Beach, dau of Thomas, at Wallingford, Ct.
   1. ) Children of Samuel and Ruth (Beach) Fairchild, Stratford Records, (page 329):
      1. ) Anna, Mary, Samuel, Ephraim, Abigail, Eunice.
      2. ) Benjamin {Fairchild}, born March 1721.
2. ) History of Old Fairfield, Vol II,; Page 426: or at History of Old Fairfield, Vol II, Part II; (Free) Text Page 426; (FamilySearch Page 46 of 384): Joshua Hall, son of Isaac, b. 4 Nov 1708; d. 1789 at Redding; m. (first) ____ Williams, daughter of Thomas. In 1755 and 1786 his wife was Anna Lane, wife of Charles.
   1. ) Notes (land deed) conveyances to sister Anne Corns in 1745; son Joshua in 1762; and to son Burgess in 1765--from which Burgess transfers half to brother Thomas Williams. Insolvent estate administrated by William Hall 25 Sept 1789.
   2. ) Children:
      1. ) ?Lydia; b. circa 1729 at Winchester, Ct., d. 24 Feb 1824 age 95; m. Capt. Timothy Benedict.
      2. ) Deborah; b. about 1731, d. 3 Sept 1736, age 5
      3. ) Elizabeth; bapt. 8 July 1733.
      4. ) Millicent {Hall}; bapt. 24 Nov 1734.
      5. ) Mabel; bapt. 13 June 1736.
      6. ) Joshua; b. ca. 1738
      7. ) William; b. 1741; d 1824; m. at Newtown 10 Jan 1764 Sarah Peck; resident of Hartford, NY.
      8. ) Burges; b. 1743; m 23 July 1767 at Redding, Eunice Whitehead; 1791 resident of Cambridge, Albany, NY.

• Orcutt, Samuel, A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II;, ^[7] Data Extract:

1. ) History of Stratford; Page 1198: Benjamin Fairchild (44), son of Samuel and Ruth (Beach) Fairchild was born March ____, 1721.

• Fairchild, Timothy Marsh & Fairchild, Sarah Ellen; The Name and Family of Fairchild^[8] Data Extract:

1. ) Fairchild Genealogy; Page 158 -174: Family History of the Benjamin Fairchild Sr. Family.
   1. ) Page 158: Benjamin Fairchild Sr. (1721-1792), Number 44 of the Orcutt genealogy ^[7] married Melissa ____. They had seven children.
   2. ) Page 162-163: The seven children of Benjamin and Melissa (___) Fairchild were probably all born in the province of New York are as follows: {see original text for an exhaustive, well-documented treatment of this family}
      1. ) Peter Fairchild, b. ca. 1750-1856 at Probably at Dutchess Co., NY
      2. ) Mary Fairchild, m. John Meyers
      3. ) Benjamin Fairchild Jr.; b. ca. 1765 at Dutchess County, NY.; he was taken captive by the Mohawk Indians as a child and taken to Canada, later became and interpreter for the Canadian Government.
      4. ) Joshua Fairchild
      5. ) Ruth Fairchild; m. Daniel Springer
      6. ) Deborah Fairchild; b. probably NY, either Dutchess Co. or Queensbury; m. Mordecia Sayles of Oxford Co.
      7. ) Isaac Fairchild (1769-1859); b. in Dutchess Co. NY.; m. Lucy Kilbourne; Great Grandfather of the author.

• Gilmore, Jean Fairchild, Early Fairchilds In America, ^[9] Data extract:

1. ) Early Fairchilds In America and Their Descendants; Page 19-20: Benjamin Fairchild, son of Samuel and Ruth (Beach) Fairchild; born 31 March 1721 at Stratford, CT; m. Melissa Hall, daughter of Daniel Hall, b. ca. 1723 at Fairfield, Ct; died 18 June 1794/5 at Charlottesville, Ontario, Canada. ... was a grantor with wife Millison (sic) in April 1792... (more information--see text.)

Research Notes

Disputed parentage

The Gilmore ^[9] and Hall narratives differ on the parentage of Melissa Hall.

Inactive link

02 June 2021: Moved this paragraph to Research Notes section. The reference link given at the bottom of the note brings up a page with the message "..the site you requested has been disabled". Note can be moved back to biography if future research determines a source.

Ruth and Samuel Fairchild Jr. had a son named Benjamin, who was born on March 21, 1721 in Stratford. When he was about 33 years old, Benjamin Fairchild married Melissa Hall, daughter of Joshua Hall of Fairfield, Connecticut. They had seven children: Peter, Ruth, Mary, Benjamin Jr., Joshua, Deborah and Isaac, who was born in 1771 in Stratford. This family lived for many years in Townsend, Norfolk Canada. Allegedly, the reason for Benjamin Fairchild's settling there in the first place was that he was a loyalist (Tory), siding with the English against the American independence. There was an old story about one of his sons, Benjamin Fairchild, Jr. who was taken prisoner by the Mohawk Indians and [many years later] was hired by the British government to interpret for them in doing business with the Indians.

Benjamin's contemporaries in Canada around 1787 included respected Indian chief of the Mohawk tribe, and white men Moses Mound and Caleb Reynolds.

Benjamin Sr. died in Canada in 1795.

Source: http://ancestor.homestead.com/files/Thomas_Fairchild.htm

An Internet archive search reveals no citation, unfortunately. There are references to many more connected to this branch, hinting at this being transcribed from a book.

Benjamin was born in 1721. He passed away in 1794. ^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ The Name and Family of Fairchild Compiled by Timothy Marsh Fairchild and Sarah Ellen Fairchild Publication Date 1944. page 161
2. ↑ The Name and Family of Fairchild Compiled by Timothy Marsh Fairchild and Sarah Ellen Fairchild Publication Date 1944. page 158
3. ↑ From the Papers and Records of the Head-of-th-Lake Historical Society, Hamilton, Ontario, Volume 1; Walsh Printing Service, Hamilton, Ontario. 1958
4. ↑ Crown Patentees of Barton, By Mabel Burkholder and T. Roy Woodhouse
5. ↑ More Fairchilds in America Compiled by Jean Fairchild Gilmore Gateway Press, Inc. Baltimore, MD 2001. page 42
6. ↑ Jacobus, Donald Lines; History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, Vol. II, Part I nd II, Genealogical Publishing Co., Fairfield, Conn., 1930-1932. With additions and Corrections in Oct, 1943, Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co. in 1976, 1991. Available online at:

   1. ) Title Page at Ancestry. com (membership fee reqd)
   2. ) Family Search Book Library (free) History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, Vol. II, part II On line

7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II; Title Page, Published by the Fairfield County Historical Society, 1886. (Public Domain)
8. ↑ Fairchild, Timothy Marsh & Fairchild, Sarah Ellen;The Name and Family of Fairchild The Mercer Printing Company, Iowa City. Iowa, 1944. (Opensource, Public Domain)
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Gilmore, Jean Fairchild; Early Fairchilds In America, Title Page, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, 1991.
10. ↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to David Meyers.

• Fairchild Family Resources on WikiTree
• National Archives of Canada, Upper Canada Land Petitions, Petition of Benjamin Fairchild Jr. as Son of Loyalist J Benjamin Fairchild, 1797 Volume 186, Bundle F-3, Petition 103, RG 1 L3 Microfilm C-1894 (online at https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.02-e.php?q2=29&q3=2436&sqn=257&tt=976&PHPSESSID=1fqui40bqga3k80ktub83hhbqv74ik96l93r0r2u46e529ac4m31)

Acknowledgements

• Graeme MacKay, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Graeme and others. Ahnentafel GM-500
• WikiTree profile Fairchild-354 created through the import of Smith Family Tree.ged on Sep 1, 2012 by Pamela Smith-Irowa. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Pamela and others.