Thomas Fairman1,2

M, #1870
Last Edited: 16 Dec 2013
Charts:
Pedigree of Josephine Bailey

Parents:

Father: William Fairman3

Family:

Elizabeth Kinsey d. 18 Nov 1720

Children:

Thomas Fairman11 d. 1718
Benjamin Fairman+ 11 d. 1 Jan 1739
Abigail Fairman+11
Ruth Fairman11
Robert Fairman12 d. 2 Sep 1689
William Fairman13 d. 10 Jul 1703

Notes

  • Immigration*: circa 1679; New Jersey; "His arrival date in America can be fixed at about 1677-1679. He was not likely a planter and came first to the colony at Burlington, West Jersey."6
  • Note*: Thomas Fairman arrived in America about 1677-1679.

    He is perhaps best known for providing his mansion at Shackamaxon for the newly arrived William Penn, with the nearby Treaty Elm. More important were his accomplishments as Penn and Holme's deputy surveyor, laying out around thirty townships in Montgomery, Philadelphia and Bucks counties between 1682 and 1713. Also, he obtained control of over 24,000 acres, some as attorney for his absent brother Robert. Land was constantly purchased and sold, and records contain numerous disputes of title and dissatisfaction.

    L. Paul Dilg's article is highly recommended, as an account of Fairman's accomplishments and character. Though not written as a genealogy, Dilg's article provides much information on the family. Dilg drew upon "a paper in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, compiled in 1928 by Miss Mame Ellison Wood, entitled 'The Fairman Family'." [This compiler has been unable to locate Wood's paper. Any help finding it would be greatly appreciated.]2
  • Note: "The Friends who had been meeting since 1681 at the house of Thomas Fairman, at Shackamaxon, a short distance up the river, joined with the newer settlers in Philadelphia in establishing [the Phila. Mtg.] on eleventh month 9, 1682"7
  • Note: Thomas Fairman in Philadelphia Monthly meeting Men's Minutes:
    1683 7/04 - Has apprentice Richard Mason, p. 149.
    1698 7/30 - Difference in accounts with John Jones, p. 169.
    1700 9/29 - Differ with John Goodson, 300 acres, widow Moor, p. 174.
    1708 4/24 & 7/24 - Complaint against & wronged David Lloyd, p. 193-4.
    1713 6/28 - Refuses pay to William Hudson. p. 206.8
  • Note: Philadelphia will of Anna Salter 9/7/1688 9/17/1688 leaves legacy to Thomas Fairman.9
  • Note: Will abstract:
    "FAIRMAN, THOMAS. Philadelphia.
    7/27/1711. December 22, 1714. D. 17.
    Sons Thomas (now in the army of the Duke of Marlborow) and Benjamin. Daughters Ruth wife of Nicholas Heglin, Abigail wife of Jeremy Hopton.
    Executrix: Wife Elizabeth.
    Advisor: David Powel of Philadelphia; John Smart; Thomas Millard; Peter Virbin; Mattotsen; William Palmer.
    Witnesses: John Stary, Thomas Williams, William Cotes and Neailes Loykens."1
  • Note: Two wills provide lists of children of Thomas & Elizabeth Fairman: First, the 1689 will of Elizabeth's brother John Kinsey named his little cousins Abigail, Ruth, William, Thomas and Robert Fairman. Secondly, the 1711 will of Thomas Fairman named Thomas, Benjamin, Ruth wife of Nicholas Heglin, and Abigail wife of Jeremy Hopton. The Philadelphia meeting recorded the intervening deaths of sons Robert and William. Birth order is unknown.
  • Note: Earliest entry in NJA Vol. 21: "1682 May 14. [Return of survey] for Thomas Fairman, of 200 a. on Dellaware R., S. Simsissinck Cr."10

Citations

  1. [S6] Abstracts of Philadelphia County Wills 1682-1726, and Abstracts of Philadelphia County Wills 1726-1747. publ 1995 Family Line Publications. 'abstracted under the auspices of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in the early 1900s.' p. 151.
  2. [S131] Dilg, L. Paul, "The Man Who Set Our Boundaries; The Life, Family, Character and Work of Thomas Fairman, Quaker and Surveyor", Old York Road Historical Bulletin Vol 38 (1977, p. 3-15.   Dilg--Fairman.pdf
  3. [S131] Dilg, L. Paul, "Dilg - Fairman", p. 5.   Dilg--Fairman.pdf
  4. [S423] Society of Friends, Burlington Monthly Meeting, NJ. Filmed at Dept. of Friends Records, 302 Arch St. Phila. FHL microfilm 20,455. 3 - Marriages, Births & Deaths 1677-1765, p. "214", marr. cert. of Thomas Fairman & Elizabeth Kinsey.
  5. [S206] Hinshaw, William Wade, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. II (Pa. & N.J.), Vol III (N.Y.) (Originally published Ann Arbor, 1938. Reprinted Genealogical Publishing Co. Baltimore 1969., ), II:360, Phil. MM.
  6. [S131] Dilg, L. Paul, "Dilg - Fairman", p. 4.   Dilg--Fairman.pdf
  7. [S206] Hinshaw, William Wade, Encyclopedia, II:p. 329, Philadelphia Monthly Meeting.
  8. [S509] Watring, Anna Miller, Early Quaker Records of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Vol 1 1682-1750; Vol 2 1751-1800 (Westminster, Maryland: Family Line Publications, 1997).   Watring--Early-Quaker-Phil.pdf
  9. [S6] Abstracts of Philadelphia County Wills 1682-1726, and Abstracts of Philadelphia County Wills 1726-1747. publ 1995 Family Line Publications. 'abstracted under the auspices of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in the early 1900s.', 1682-1726, p. 10.
  10. [S133] Documents relating to the colonial, revolutionary and post-revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey. Also known as New Jersey Archives. First Series. Vol. 21. Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State. 1664-1703. p. 353.
  11. [S6] Abstracts of Philadelphia County Wills 1682-1726, and Abstracts of Philadelphia County Wills 1726-1747. publ 1995 Family Line Publications. 'abstracted under the auspices of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in the early 1900s.', 1682-1726, p. 151.
  12. [S6] Abstracts of Philadelphia County Wills 1682-1726, and Abstracts of Philadelphia County Wills 1726-1747. publ 1995 Family Line Publications. 'abstracted under the auspices of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in the early 1900s.', 23:276.
  13. [S132] Documents relating to the colonial, revolutionary and post-revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey. aka New Jersey Archives. 23:276.