Can You Hear a Fairbanks Now? Glimpses into Made to Last Forever and Fairbanks Revolutionary War Patriot
Tell Someone About:
Made to Last Forever: A Family. A House. A Nation.
We are about four weeks away from launching the book you have all been waiting for.
Yes, it will be public on October 1, 2025.
It will be available at:
The Fairbanks House Gift Shop
Dedham Museum & Archive Gift Shop
Amazon
IngramSpark
Front Cover Painted by Lance Jonthan Fairbanks
Great news! The biographical historical novel, Made to Last Forever: A Family. A House. A Nation. will be available for everyone. Even the busiest, most isolated and most reticent to read will have the opportunity to read or “listen” to it. YES! A Fairbanks descendant, Jordan Fairbanks, asked to produce it as an audiobook. This will let those who are too busy to read listen as they go to or from work, or the reticent to read can let someone read it for them, and those who are isolated or just have low vision problems will be able to enjoy it, too. I have had at least two followers ask me about low vision options.
A person will likely not see what they don’t already know about. This is a variation of Richard Power’s concept in The Overstory. So, like Jordan, you can help this book reach so many more people. If everyone tells someone or many someones, we will reach more families, friends, history lovers, and historical novel lovers. I found the Civil War letters from my second great grandfather, Alpheus Fairbanks, in a book on Amazon, Blue as Blue Can Be, just by chance. The story of the original Fairbanks in the 1600s should not be left to chance to be found. You can help.
I have eight energetic, creative people who are helping with the book launch, trying to tell as many people as we can about the book. But we can’t reach everyone. You can be an unofficial Launch Team member by putting the book cover on your social media pages, telling newspapers, TV broadcasters, podcasters, historical societies, schools and libraries about it. You may have more creative ideas. And of course, tell all your family about their history and your friends who are interested in history and historical novels. If you are excited about the book, start now, they’ll get excited too. Then share your thoughts as you read.
The Sounds of Progress
Sharmin Fairbanks
McKenny
When I was on a Family History Tour in England in 2022, I was interviewed by Howard Priestly of Phoenix Radio FM about the England tour, the upcoming book and why it was important in England. I’m sharing that interview with you. It’s about 33 minutes long.
Saint John the Baptist Church in Halifax, England
Jordan Fairbanks Sound Engineer and narrator and producer of Made to Last Forever…
Jordan Stacey has been a long time follower. He is an adopted Fairbanks, but I assured him that he was still a Fairbanks. Jonathan and Grace took in Martha Pidge when she was about four years old, just about the time all of their children were getting married. You can read all about that in Made to Last Forever: A Family. A House. A Nation.
I have six adopted nieces and nephews. Douglas Fairbanks, the famous actor, was not given the surname Fairbanks, but he was raised by one. Mabel Fairbanks, famous coach to many American Olympic Medalist skaters, was also adopted.
Jordan Fairbanks was reared in Colorado. He started singing under the name Jordan Stacey, but prefers Jordan Fairbanks. Jordan started his sound engineering career in Las Vegas. He has done audio for commercials and other audible creations. He is also a husband and father to two amazing young children.
Recently, Jordan added a sound studio in his home. At that time, he contacted me and asked if he could read and produce Made to Last Forever: A Family. A House. A Nation. as an audiobook. Of course, I said “yes.” I started immediately to find the pronunciations of the Indigenous names and places that are used in the book for Jordan to listen to before he records.
We agreed not to delay the launch of the soft-cover or ebook to add the audiobook. The audio version may not come out on October 1st. I’ll let you know when it is ready. The October launch is to give plenty of time to purchase books for family Christmas presents. Please feel free to highlight, underline, and put notes in the margins. There are even pages in the back to write your family leanage, for yourself or the person you gift it to.
Here is your very early unedited sneak preview of Made to Last Forever: A Family. A House. A Nation. Yes, you are getting this right off the first “draft” of the audio.
Fairbanks Revolutionary War Patriots
In honor of Jordan Fairbanks, who is an avid Revolutionary War follower, our Patriots this month are in Jordan’s line. Jordan comes from the Jonas line as I do. In fact, we share one Patriot ancestor, #30 Deacon Thomas Fairbanks (page 72, Lorenzo Sayles Fairbanks). Deacon Thomas Fairbanks was the subject of one of the earliest Revolutionary War blogs.
Jordan’s next Revolutionary War Patriot was #74 John Fairbanks (page 113, Fairbanks) the second son of Deacon Thomas Fairbanks. His older brother was killed during the Colonial Wars. John, Deacon Thomas’s second son, also fought in the Colonial Wars.
John Fairbanks V
Jonathan I, Jonas II, Jabez III, Deacon Thomas IV
John was born on May 4, 1731, in Lancaster, Massachusetts. After marrying Relief Houghton, his first wife and mother of all their children, in Lancaster on July 10, 1751, they moved to Athol, Massachusetts in 1757. Many Fairbanks resided in Athol and fought in the Revolutionary War from there. Even some of John’s brothers moved to Athol. John’s DAR number is #: A038397. John was a Private under Captain Ichabod Dexter and Colonel Ruggles Woodbridge either in the Battle of Bunker Hill or the Siege of Boston indicated by his inclusion on the “Coat Rolls.”
The Coat Rolls service started April, 1775. Enlistment was for eight months. Anyone who served six months or more was entitled to a coat or money for their service. Deacon Thomas Fairbanks, John’s father, was part of the Third Provincial Congress of Massachusetts during and after the Battle of Bunker Hill. Deacon Fairbanks was on the committee in the Provincial Congress to procure the coats and spears for the men that needed them.
John and Relief (Houghton) Fairbanks had nine children, the first a daughter, then 4 sons before the last four children.
John’s first son and second child, Nathum #179 (page 218, LSF), was on the Coat Rolls. He too fought under Captain Ichabod Dexter and Ruggles Woodbridge. So it appears he fought along side his father. Nathum doesn’t have a number in the DAR records.
John’s third child and second son, # 180 Major John (page 220, LSF), also appears on the Coat Rolls serving under Captain Icabod Dexter and Colonel Woodridge. So the father and two sons fought together. Next, John Jr. served 2 months and 29 days under Capt. Thomas Lord’s Company of Colonel Cushing’s Regiment in Miscellaneous Militia Service. This service began Sept. 1, 1777. We are led to believe this was served at Valley Forge. His DAR number is #: A038399
The third son, Benjamin #181 (page 221, LSF), enlisted in the Continental Army on May 1, 1777 to May 14, 1780. He was in the 9th regiment under Captain J. Blanchard and Colonel Wesson. It appears he was at Valley Forge for less than two months, but served in the Continental Army for 36 months. Benjamin’s number in the DAR records is #: A038356. It is said his records are found MA SOLS & SAILS, VOL 5, P 460; NARA, M881, COMP MIL SERV RECS, ROLL #440.
John Sr.’s youngest son, Ephraim was too young to participate in the Revolutionary War (page 113, LSF).
Summary
Our Patriot story gives another example of the strength of family. Here the father and sons fought or went into service together in the same unit. This often happens in the most difficult times. In the Civil War stories of my lineage, the older brother went with the younger brothers to watch over them. There is comfort in being with family in both good times and bad.
A feeling of family doesn’t always comes from a blood relationship. Family can be those who care about you and act in your best interest. To maintain a family bond, blood or otherwise, we must communicate and hold dear our heritage. Today, let your voice be heard. Tell family, friends, who often seem like family, and others about the original Fairbanks that came to the New World to build a family here. Tell everyone about Made to Last Forever: A Family. A House. A Nation. and you are sharing the story. Then you have taken part in preserving the family and national history and the nation’s oldest frame-house in America.
