John Thomson Fairbanks

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Railway employee
• Cause of Death: Gunshot wound to the head
• Residence: Jul 1964, Helidon, Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia

Notes:

Source [QDoJaAG-1964a] does not state whether John Thomson Fairbanks’ death was accidental, suicide, or the result of his being murdered.

Residence:
Railway Street

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 31 Aug 1862, Parish of Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom
• Emigration: 30 Jun 1888, London, England, United Kingdom
• Immigration: 17 Aug 1888, Brisbane, Colony of Queensland

Notes:

[Fairbanks-1949] claims that John Fairbanks was killed in the Boer War while serving with the British Military. However this conflicts with [QDoJaAG-1938a] and [QSA-1888a].

Although a memorial exists at Helidon General Cemetery, source [QDoJaAG-1938a] seems to indicate that John Edward Fairbanks is not actually buried there but instead is buried in Toowoomba Cemetery. It is not clear if this is a reference to Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery or another in the area.

[QDoJaAG-1891b], the birth entry for John Edward Fairbanks’ daughter Myra, lists four living children: Euphemia (age 7), Ethel (age 6), Lillian (age 4), and James Richard (age 2). With the exception of Ethel, for whom no birth record has yet been found, these correspond roughly to the children that were known to have been alive in 1891. The record also states that there were no deceased children of John Edward and Elizabeth (Lush) Fairbanks. Consequently, Euphemia must be the eldest child who emigrated from the United Kingdom under the name “Eliza”, and Lillian is probably the second or third eldest who emigrated under the name “Mary J”. Being so close in age to Euphemia, Ethel remains unresolved.

John Edward Fairbanks, his wife Eliza, and two daughters, Eliza and Mary J, departed from London, England on their way to Australia in 1888. [QSA-1888a] also notes that their origin was Warwick, but that the family were all listed as being Irish.

Emigration:
Aboard the Taroba

Immigration:
Aboard the Taroba

Died:
Wilga Private Hospital

John married Elizabeth Lush on 23 May 1882 in Easky, County Sligo, Province of Connacht, Ireland, United Kingdom. Elizabeth was born about 1863 in Easky, County Sligo, Province of Connacht, Ireland, United Kingdom; died on 19 Mar 1954 in Gatton, Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia; was buried on 20 Mar 1954 in Helidon General Cemetery, Helidon, Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Emigration: 30 Jun 1888, London, England, United Kingdom
• Immigration: 17 Aug 1888, Brisbane, Colony of Queensland

Notes:

Elizabeth (Lush) Fairbanks, her husband John Edward Fairbanks, and two daughters, Eliza and Mary J, departed from London, England on their way to Australia in 1888. [QSA-1888a] also notes that their origin was Warwick.

Elizabeth Lush’s parents were James Lush and Margaret Cook.

[QDoJaAG-1891b], the birth entry for Elizabeth (Lush) Fairbanks’ daughter Myra, lists four living children: Euphemia (age 7), Ethel (age 6), Lillian (age 4), and James Richard (age 2). With the exception of Ethel, for whom no birth record has yet been found, these correspond roughly to the children that were known to have been alive in 1891. The record also states that there were no deceased children of John Edward and Elizabeth (Lush) Fairbanks. Consequently, Euphemia must be the eldest child who emigrated from the United Kingdom under the name “Eliza”, and Lillian is probably the second or third eldest who emigrated under the name “Mary J”. Being so close in age to Euphemia, Ethel remains unresolved.

Emigration:
Aboard the Taroba

Immigration:
Aboard the Taroba

Died:
Gatton Hospital

Notes:

Dates for the marriage of John Edward Fairbanks to Elizabeth Lush vary greatly across the Australian birth entires of their children. Sources [QDoJaAG-1891a] and [QDoJaAG-1891b] have the date 23 May 1882; [QDoJaAG-1892a] has 22 May 1882; [QDoJaAG-1894a] has 23 May 1883; [QDoJaAG-1900a] and [QDoJaAG-1902a] have 22 May 1884. On the assumption that John and Elizabeth’s memories would have been more accurate earlier in their marriage, and because it appears as frequently as any other date, this database uses “23 May 1882”, but a Irish marriage record should be sought.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Nov 1860, Cambo Estate, Kingsbarns Parish, County Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
• Residence: Mar 1864, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom

Notes:

[Fairbanks-1978] states that Richard Fairbanks was the ‘Chief Steward of the Temple family of Coventry’. This is probably a reference to Henry Lord Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston who was known to have estates in Scotland and Ireland, including Cassiebawn Castle and estate in northwestern County Sligo. However, most of Richard Fairbanks’ children were born in the area of Temple House Estate, the ancestral home of the Perceval family near Ballymote. In fact, two daughters, Beatrice and Margaret, are actually listed as being born at ‘Temple House’. Given these facts, it is more likely that Richard Fairbanks worked for the Perceval family in some capacity rather than for Lord Palmerston.

[Fairbanks-1949] lists Euphemia Thomson’s husband as “James Fairbanks,” born in Coventry, England but numerous birth records of their children and their marriage license contradict this. The name “James Richard Fairbanks” is, however, supported by one source, the death entry of their eldest son, John Edward Fairbanks.

[Fairbanks-1949] states Nancy Ruth Fairbanks’ great-grandfather died at the age of 56 (probably around 1893 based on his age at marriage.), but this conflicts with the date listed in [NAoI-1889].

[Fairbanks-1949] breaks down the emigration of the nine listed (of eleven known) children as follows:
- A son (James or William?) emigrated to South Africa to work the diamond mines and was not heard from again after a few early contacts. (Neither proven nor disproven.)
- A son and a daughter emigrated to Australia for the gold rush. (John Edward and an unknown sister possibly Margaret?)
- Two daughters (probably references to Beatrice and Martha) accompanied their brother “Tom” (almost certainly Thomas) to Canada. (Although it has been proven that the two youngest sisters actually travelled alone to meet their older sister Euphemia’s family. Thomas emigrated to Canada later.)
- Richard accompanied Robert to the United States. (Neither proven nor disproven.)
- A son (James or William) joined the British Military and was killed in the Boer War in South Africa. (Neither proven nor disproven.)

Richard and Euphemia (Thomson) Fairbanks appear to be living in “Kingspark” in Warwickshire in 1862. His profession is listed as “Bailiff”.

Richard married Euphemia Thomson on 19 Nov 1860 in Kingsbarns, Kingsbarns Parish, County Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom. Euphemia (daughter of John Thomson and Margaret Kay) was born on 15 Nov 1840 in Kingsbarns, Kingsbarns Parish, County Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom; died about Sep 1908 in _______, County Sligo, Province of Connacht, Ireland, United Kingdom. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 29 Nov 1840, Kingsbarns, Kingsbarns Parish, County Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
• Census: 31 Mar 1851, Kingsbarns, Kingsbarns Parish, County Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
• Census: 8 Apr 1861, Kingsbarns, Kingsbarns Parish, County Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
• Residence: Mar 1864, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom
• Residence: Mar 1901, Sligo, County Sligo, Province of Connacht, Ireland, United Kingdom
• Census: 31 Mar 1901, Ward of West Sligo, Sligo, County Sligo, Province of Connacht, Ireland, United Kingdom

Notes:

According to [Fairbanks-1949], Euphemia died at the age of 58 attended by two of her children (a son and a daughter) who then emigrated to Australia after their mother’s death--the other children having emigrated previously. However this is contradicted by [UK-GRO-1908a] and [LaAC-1913a]. The children that were living with Euphemia at the time of her death were probably Thomas and Martha, both of whom emigrated to Canada along with their sister Beatrice in 1913.

There are many individuals named “Euphemia Thomson” in the 1861 Scotland Census. However the individual listed in [Scotland-1861a] is named “Euphima Fairbanks”. Since this census was taken only 6 months after the marriage of Richard Fairbanks and Euphemia Thomson, it is plausible that she was enumerated with her family. Consequently, the connection to the family of John and Margaret Thomson is well supported.

[Fairbanks-1949] and [Fairbanks-1978] both have the name “Euphemia Thompson”, and this name is listed with the birth information for most of the children of Richard Fairbanks and Euphemia (Thomson) Fairbanks. However, “Thomson” is spelling used by Euphemia’s family.

A niece, “Ethel Fairbanks”, is living in Euphemia (Thomson) Fairbanks’ household in 1901. It is likely, but not yet proven, that this child is the daughter of one Richard Fairbanks’ siblings.

Residence:
1 Wolfe Tone Street

Notes:

Richard Fairbanks and Euphemia Thomson were married at the “Manse of Kingsbarns”--in other words, at the minister’s home or residence.

The marriage of Richard Fairbanks and Euphemia Thomson was witnessed by Euphemia’s younger brothers Alexander and James.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer

Edward + Eliza Mann. Eliza was born in ? in (unknown); died in ? in (unknown). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Tailor
• Census: 31 Mar 1851, Kingsbarns, Kingsbarns Parish, County Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
• Census: 8 Apr 1861, Kingsbarns, Kingsbarns Parish, County Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom

John married Margaret Kay on 18 Jan 1840 in Kingsbarns, Kingsbarns Parish, County Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom. Margaret was born about 1819 in Kingsbarns, Kingsbarns Parish, County Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom; died in ? in (unknown). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 31 Mar 1851, Kingsbarns, Kingsbarns Parish, County Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
• Census: 8 Apr 1861, Kingsbarns, Kingsbarns Parish, County Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom

Notes:

John Thomson and Margaret Kay signed their marriage contract at Kingsbarns on 4 Jan 1840.