Asa Fairfield

b. 28 January 1797, d. 4 October 1868
Asa Fairfield|b. 28 Jan 1797\nd. 4 Oct 1868|p5218.htm|William Fairfield|b. 26 Dec 1754\nd. 16 Mar 1827|p7381.htm|Mary King|b. 14 Dec 1773\nd. 9 Apr 1851|p7373.htm|John Fairfield V|b. bt 1728 - 1730|p9327.htm|Mary Burbank|b. s 1733\nd. 1825|p9328.htm|David King|b. 21 Aug 1726\nd. 11 Mar 1807|p7360.htm|Elizabeth Gray|b. Aug 1745\nd. 17 Mar 1777|p7366.htm|

Great-grandfather of Ruth Minerva Fairfield.
3rd great-grandfather of Laura Jane Munson.
Family Background:
Fairfield and Allied Families
Appears on charts:
Pedigree for Ruth Minerva Fairfield
Click to view thumbnails
Asa Fairfield
     Asa Fairfield was born on 28 January 1797 in Arundel, York County, Maine.1,2 He was the son of William Fairfield and Mary King.1 He was baptized on 10 September 1797 in Church of Christ, Arundel.3 He married Olive Stone, daughter of Jonathan Stone and Margaret McCulloch, on 13 June 1819.2 He died on 4 October 1868 in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, at age 71 years, 9 months.2 He was buried in Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne.4
     
     Traditionally, Asa Fairfield first went to sea with his father at age 9. During the War of 1812, he and his brother Oliver were captured with the rest of the crew of a privateering vessel. Oliver was imprisoned in Nova Scotia; Asa was sent to the infamous Dartmoor Prison in England where he was held for six months. At age 18, he was first mate to a ship captain who was killed in a drunken brawl in a foreign port. Asa was made captain, and returned the ship safely to her owner.

     These stories were told in a letter from Sue Fairfield Zimmer to a sister, probably Sadie. At the time, the sisters, some or all, and perhaps other family members, were trying to file spoilation claims. Sue lamented that she hadn't the insight to write the stories down when her grandpa (Asa) told them to her years before.

     If Oliver and Asa were taken prisoner during the War of 1812, it was likely they were captured aboard the brig Macdonough along with their older half-brother, James, and many other Arundel men. The Macdonough was captured 1 November 1814 just after clearing the harbor at Arundel, and taken to Halifax. From there, the prisoners were transported to Dartmoor Prison where they were checked in the day before Christmas. On 6 April 1815, a bloody massacre of prisoners took place, but none of the Arundel men were killed. The British began releasing prisoners in late April, but James didn't reach home until 3 July, just over six months from the time he entered Dartmoor. There is no certainty that Oliver and Asa were among this group of Arundel men, but the facts seem to fit the story well. (Click here to read a fascinating story about Captain James Fairfield).

     Captain Asa continued to follow the sea until about 1831 or '32 when he began to explore the possibility of moving inland. He traveled to Fort Wayne, Indiana, bought land, and returned to Maine for his family in 1834. Also moving from the Kennebunks to Fort Wayne about the same time were Asa's brothers Oliver and Charles and their families, perhaps their younger sister Sarah who married in Allen County a few years later, and Olive's first cousin Hugh McCulloch who became the 27th Secretary of the Treasury, and is credited with founding the Secret Service.

     In Fort Wayne, the family prospered, and much has been written about them:

     Fort Wayne Sentinel, 27 January 1912
     The Wabash and Erie Canal Through Huntington County, Indiana Click to view image
     Letter from Anna Fairfield Pevoto to Ruth Fairfield Horn
     Colorful past wins house a reprieve

     The writer has many more articles and documents relating to Captain Asa Fairfield that will be uploaded as time permits.

Additional Data
Asa Fairfield appeared on the 1820 U.S. Census in Arundel, York County, Maine. In his household were one male 18-25; one female 26-45.5 Click to view image

Asa Fairfield appeared on the 1830 U.S. Census in Kennebunkport, York County, Maine. In his household were one male 0-5; one male 30-40; one female 0-5; one female 10-15; one female 30-40.6 Click to view image

Asa Fairfield appeared on the 1840 U.S. Census in Wayne township, Allen County, Indiana. In his household were two males 5-9; one male 10-14; one male 20-29; one male 40-49; one female 10-14; one female 40-49.7 Click to view image

Asa and Olive Fairfield appeared on the 1 June 1850 Federal Census of Wayne township, Allen County, Indiana, enumerated 9 September 1850. Their children Olive, Augustus and Cyrus were listed as living with them.8 Click to view image

Asa and Olive Fairfield appeared on the 1 June 1860 Federal Census of Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, enumerated 29 June 1860.9 Click to view image

Children of Asa Fairfield and Olive Stone

Citations

  1. [S719] S.M. Watson, "David King, of Saco, and some of his Descendants", Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder 3:2 (1886): 118.
  2. [S723] Fairfield, Holy Bible, This bible was given to Ruth Anna (Horn) Munson by Anna Miriam (Fairfield) Pevoto. It was lost when the Munson home burned in 1972. However, the family information contained therein was carefully copied by Laura (Munson) Cooper some years prior to that time. The handwriting was imitated and the formatting preserved in the copy, and it is still in the possession of the writer. Unfortunately, the publication data was not understood at the time the copy was made to be important, so that is lost forever. Hereinafter cited as Fairfield Bible.
  3. [S761] The New England Historical and Genealogical Register; (Online database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001), (Orig. Pub. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 148 vols., 1847-1994) 108:55.
  4. [S770] Asa Fairfield tombstone, Fairfield plot, Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana; photographed by the writer in September 1987.
  5. [S793] Asa Fairfield household, 1820 U.S. Census, Arundel, York County, Maine, page 338; National Archives micropublication M33, roll 39.
  6. [S792] Asa Fairfield household, 1830 U.S. Census, Kennebunkport, York County, Maine, page 127; National Archives micropublication M19, roll 52.
  7. [S791] Asa Fairfield household, 1840 U.S. Census, Allen County, Indiana, page 30; National Archives micropublication M704, roll 74.
  8. [S769] Asa Fairfield household, 1850 U.S. Census, Allen County, Indiana, population schedule, Wayne twp, page 134A, dwelling 795, family 807; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 135.
  9. [S771] Asa Fairfield household, 1860 U.S. Census, Allen County, Indiana, population schedule, Wayne twp, Fort Wayne, page 104, dwelling 702, family 702; National Archives micropublication M653, roll 243.