Town of Georgina
Fairbarn Burial Place
In October 1991, Nena Marden (Archivist, Town of Georgina) and Helen Cuthbertson (Cemetery Co-ordinator for the Town of Georgina) visited the site of the Fairbawn Burial Place at Conc. 4, Lot 4, (Baldwin Road, east of Hwy. 48) in the Town of Georgina (formerly Township of Georgina). The tombstone is now face down and completely neglected. Photos were taken of the stone and the location including the remains of log buildings.
We are very fortunate to have a Fairbarn History (there are various spellings of this name) in the Archives of the Town of Georgina. This 46-page history of John Fairburn, born 1779, Leyburn, Yorkshire, England, and his descendants is the source of our information and is quoted in this history extensively.
After the death of his first wife, Alice Park, John Fairbarn Sr. (1799-1863) and his two sons, John Jr. born in 1816, sailed for America arriving in Philadelphia, Pa, U.S.A. in Novemeber 1829. They stayed in Philadelphia a year, then moved to the Lake Simcoe area of Ontario Canada.
In 1835, John A. Fairbarn, bought 100 acres, Con. 4, Lot 5. This was the first homested of John Fairbarn (1813-1897), the great-grandfather of the author of "The Fairbarn History" by Bessiemae Fairbarn Eskew.
Direct quotations from the Fairbarn History:
- "My great grandfather John Fairbarn 1813, cleared 85 acres of the 100 acres of "wild" land he bought in 1835. He lived there until 1861. This is where his children were born and where his first wife, Lucy Morton died. She is buried atop a hill on this farm, known as Hell Hill. John sold his property for $4 600.00"
- "In 1876 this farm was sold by C.H. Seidler to W.O. Leacock and it is the 'Georgina Farm' which was frequently mentioned by Stephen Leacock in his books."
- "John's first wife, Lucy Morton Faribarn died 25, August 1854 and her tombstone stands alone on the top of the hill surrounded by a chain fence. The area is overgrown with trees, weeds and vines but I was able to get a picture of her headstone. It reads:" In memory of Lucy Fairbarnsm who departed this life on 25 August 1854, aged 39 yrs 9 mo 15 day". "Oh may the grave become to me The bed of peaceful rest Whence I shall rise at length and mingle with the blest."
Source: Georgina Advocate - Our History December 1992. Reproduced with permission