James E Fairbairn (1849 - 1922)

Born 24 Jan 1849 in New Kingston, Delaware Co, New York, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Alton) Fairbairn — married 25 May 1874 in Delaware, New York, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 9 Feb 1922 at age 73 in Margaretville, Delaware Co., New York, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rob Reinhardt [send private message]

In 1850 (3 Oct), the Fairbairn family lived in Shandaken, Ulster, New York. Present were parents John (38) and Elizabeth (28), both born in Scotland. Their children were Walter (9 born Scotland), Francis (6), Jarvin (5), and James (2). Francis, Jarvin and James are all reported to have been born in New York. Interestingly, in the 1865 census, Jarvin is reported to have been born “at sea”.^[1]

In 1855 (Jun), the Fairbairn family was in a log-built home in Shandaken. Present were John (43), Elizabeth (34), Walter (14), Jarvin (8), James (6), John F (3), and Nelson (3/4). ^[2]

By 1860 (2 Aug), the “Fairburn” family had moved to Hardenburgh, Ulster, New York. Present were John (47 Farmer, born Scotland), Elizabeth (40, born Scotland), and their children Jarvin B (14), James (11), John F (8), Nelson (6), and George (3). All the children are reported to have been born in New York, except for Jarvis, whose birthplace is listed as “unknown”. The reported values of the families real estate and personal estate were “800” and “400”.^[3]

In 1865 (7 Jun), the Fairbairn family was located in a log-built home in Hardenburgh, Ulster, New York. Present were head of house John Fairbairn (51), Farmer, born Scotland), his wife Elizabeth E Fairbairn (45 born Scotland), and their children, Jarvin B. (19 born at sea), James E. (16 born Delaware County), with the remaining children born in Ulster County being John F (13), Nelson G (10), George G. (10), and William H (2 ¾).^[4]

The 1870 (Aug) Census is a bit of an anomaly as some ages don’t seem to line up and it’s the only one where Elizabeth is listed as “Betsy”. Present are John (63?), Betsy (53?) and children Jarvin (23), James (21), George (13), and Willie (8). Their real estate and personal estate are valued at “800” and “400”.

In 1875 (19 Jun), the Fairbairns are now noted to be in a framed home in Hardenburgh, Ulster. Present are parents John (63) and Elizabeth (54), Jarvin (29), James (26 now married), John F (23), Mary (19 wife of James E), Nelson (20, George (18, William (12) and daughter of James and Mary, Rachel (3/12). In this census, Jarvin is listed as having been born in Ulster County. ^[5] It is around this time that it's believe the posted photo was taken. The following description is posted with the photo:

James Fairbairn with the baby on his lap, the baby is probably his oldest child, Rachel born 1875 (my great grandmother). One of the women is probably his wife and the baby's mother, Mary Alton. She had sisters, Harriet, Nettie, Martha, and Cora so perhaps they are represented among the women. The man behind James is believed to be a Fairbairn but I forget who at this point. - Courtesy of Edward Stewart, October 4, 2010^[6]

In 1880 (21 Jun), the “Farborn” family was located in Hardenburgh, Ulster, New York. Present were head of house John Fairbairn (68), his wife Elizabeth (60),and their children “Jarven” (34), William H (17), and George (23), all laborers. Also in the home is their son James (30) with his wife Mary (24) and their children Rachel (5), Francis (3), and Nelson (1). It’s noted that John and Elizabeth were born in Scotland while everyone else was born in New York. ^[7]

By 1900 (6 Jun), James (51, farmer) and Mary (45) had been married 26 years and were living in Margaretville, Middletown, Delaware, New York. Mary is noted as having had 12 children, 10 of whom were still alive. Living in the home were James Jr. (18 – Oct 1881, farm laborer), David (16 – Sept 1883, school), Niles (13 – Feb 1887, school), Thurber (11 – May 1889, school), May (8 – Feb 1892), and Charles (3 – Dec 1896). The Fairbairns owned their home. ^[8]

In 1910 (22 April) James (60) and Mary (55) had been married 35 years and were living in Middletown, Delaware, New York, with two of their children, May (18) and Charles (13). James was a dairy farmer and they owned their home.^[9] In 1915 (Jun 1) many of the family were living on Huckleberry Hill Rd. James (65) and Mary (59) hosted their daughter Mae (23), son Charles (18), and grandson George (4). Living next door was their son Nelson (36) with his wife Anna (34), daughter Wyneta (14), daughter Agnes (12), son Alvin (11), and a lodger William McCann (50, farm laborer). In 1920 (30 Jan) James (70) and Mary (65) are still in Middletown and James is now a “general farmer”. The only child living with them at the time was their grandson George (9), though their son Charles (23) was living next door with his wife Nettie (20), and their newborn son Charles (3/12) ^[10]

• • Begin historical work completed by Lorna Henderson. Thank you, Lorna!

Biography

James E Fairbairn was born in 1849 to John FAIRBAIRN and Elizabeth MILLER. ^[11]

Born 24 JAN 1849 New Kingston, Delaware Co, New York, USA^[11][12][13]

Died 09 FEB 1922 Margaretville, Delaware Co., New York, USA^[14]

Family

Husband: James E Fairbairn

Wife: Mary Alton

Married 25 MAY 1874 probably, ?Delaware Co, New York, USA^[15]

Children:

Rachel Elizabeth (Fairbairn) Todd (1875-1961)

Frank Miller Fairbairn (1876-1955)

Harold DeForest Fairbairn

Charles Fairbairn

Nelson A Fairbairn

Archibald Fairbairn

James E Fairbairn

David Lyon Fairbairn

Niles G Fairbairn

Thurber Fairbairn

Agnes Blanche Fairbairn

May E Fairbairn

Census information:

03 OCT 1850 Shandaken, Ulster Co., New York, USA

FAIRBURN (might be FAIRBAIRN): John 38, Elizabeth 28, (assumed sons) Walter 9 all b Scotland; Francis 6, Jarvin 5, James 2 all b NY^[16]

02 AUG 1860 Hardenburgh, Ulster Co, New York, USA

FAIRBURN: John 47 farmer 0 real estate/0 personal, b Scotland; Elisabeth 40 b Scotland; Assumed children: Jarvin B 14 birthplace unknown; James 11, John F 8, Nelson 6, George D all b NY^[17]

AUG 1870 Hardenbergh, Ulster Co, New York, USA

FARBIN (#29): John 50 farming 00/650 b Scotland; Betsey 45 b NY; Watson (hard pushed to turn the entry into Walter, but that's who it has to be) 26; Jarvin 24; James 22; Francis 19; George 14; Nelson 17; William 7 All b NY (living next door to Nelson's future wife and her parents). Then again, later in the same film as:

FARBARN (#112): John 63 farming 800/400; (wife) Betsey 53; (Children): Jarvin (sic) 23, James 21, George 13, Willie 8 all b NY.

How can we ever expect to get our ancestors' lives right! Both were enumerated in Aug, but as you can see, with wildly varying ages and wealth for John and Betsy, and with different sets of children, including once with son Nelson, once with Nelson on the next page with a Kelly family)^[18][19]

1880 Hardenburgh, Ulster, New York, USA

FARBORN: John 68 wife Elyzabeth 60, both b Scotland; Children: Jarven (sic) 34, William H 17, George 23 all laborer b NY F/M b Scotland; James 30 F/M b Scotland, Mary 24 wife F/M b NY, both at home b NY; Rachel 5 dtr b NY F/M b NY; Francis 3, Nelson 1. (Near neighbour, son John Francis as Frank)^[17]

06 JUN 1900 Middletown, Delaware, New York, USA

FAIRBAIRN: James E 51 b Jan 1849 NY F/M b Scotland; wife Mary 45 Nov 1854 b NY F/M b NY, 12 children 10 living; Children: James Jr 18 famr laborer b Oct 1881; David 16 b Sep 1883, Niles 13 b Feb 1887, Thurber 11 b May 1889, May 8 b Feb 1892, all "at school"; Charles 3 b Dec 1896 all b NY F/M b NY^[13]

22 APR 1910 Middletown, Delaware, New York, USA

FAIRBURN: James E 60 b NY F/M Scot English, dairy farmer; wife Mary 55 b NY F/M b NY (both married 35 yrs), 12 children 10 living; Dtr Mary 18; Son Chas 13 both b NY^[12]

30 JAN 1920 Middletown Twp, Delaware Co, New York, USA

FAIRBAIRN: James 70 own farm, freehold b NY F/M b Scotland; wife Mary A 65 b NY F/M b NY; Grdson George 9 b NY F/M b NY (s/o David and Martha?); (Next door were son Charles and family)^[20]

Sources

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
2. ↑ Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., State Census, 1855 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
3. ↑ The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Hardenburgh, Ulster, New York; Roll: M653_872; Page: 886; Family History Library Film: 803872
4. ↑ New York State Archives; Albany, New York, USA; Census of the State of New York, 1865
5. ↑ New York State Archives; Albany, NY, USA; Census of the State of New York, 1875
6. ↑ https://www.dcnyhistory.org/Fairbairn-James-family.html
7. ↑ Year: 1880; Census Place: Hardenbergh, Ulster, New York; Roll: 939; Page: 94b; Enumeration District: 191
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS61-JJ1 : Wed Mar 06 03:33:08 UTC 2024), Entry for James E Fairbern and Mary Fairbern, 1900.
9. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
10. ↑ Year: 1920; Census Place: Middletown, Delaware, New York; Roll: T625_1096; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 170
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Family of John FAIRBAIRN & Elisabeth MILLER, from Correspondenc re John FAIRBAIRN (NY) from Rosalie F-G (Penn.), Recipient: Lorna Henderson (NZ)
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} 1910 census Middletown, Delaware, New York; Roll T624_935; Pg 10A; ED 25; Image 748; hsehold of James E & Mary FAIRBURN, from USA Census images via Ancestry.com
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} 1900 census Middletown, Delaware, New York; Roll T623 1021 Pg 7A; ED 23; hsehold of James E & Mary FAIRBAIRN from images via Ancestry.com
14. ↑ Death 1922 James E FAIRBAIRN, from cCorrespondenc re John FAIRBAIRN (NY) from LeRoy W F. (N.H.), Recipient: Lorna Henderson (NZ)
15. ↑ Marriage 25 May 1874 James E FAIRBAIRN & Mary ALTON, from http://www.dcnyhistory.org/pdfs/tree-miller-james.pdf, from correspondence re John FAIRBAIRN's family ex Ed S (NY), Recipient: Lorna Henderson (NZ)
16. ↑ 1850 census: Shandaken, Ulster, New York; Roll M432_608 Pg 222; Image 448, hsehold of John & Elizabeth FAIRBURN, from images via Ancestry.com
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} 2 Aug 1860 census: Hardenburgh, Ulster, New York; Roll: M653_872; Page: 135; Image: 348, hsehold of John & Elizabeth FAIRBURN, from images via Ancestry.com
18. ↑ 1870 census: Hardenbergh, Ulster, New York; Roll M593_1105; Pg 107; Image 214; hsehold of John & Betsey FAIRBARN, from images via Ancestry.com
19. ↑ 1870 census v2: Hardenbergh, Ulster, New York; Roll: M593_1105; Pg: 103; Image: 205, hsehold of John and Bestey FARBIN, from images via Ancestry.com
20. ↑ USA Census: 30 Jan 1920 Middletown, Delaware, New York; Roll: T625_1096; Page: 11A; ED 170; Image: 1182, hsehold of James & Mary A FAIRBAIRN, from USA Census images via Ancestry.com

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Lorna Henderson for creating WikiTree profile Fairbairn-536 through the import of FAIRBAIRNJohnMILLERNy4WikiTreeJul2013v3PlaceUpdated.ged on Jul 13, 2013. (Reference: 18116)