William Fairfield
Encyclopedia
William Fairfield was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Pawlet, Vermont
in 1769 or 1770, the son of William Fairfield, a farmer. His father fought with Edward Jessup
's loyalist forces and moved with his family to Machiche (Yamachiche
) in Quebec
in 1779. In 1784, they settled west of Kingston
, near the current location of Amherstview
.
The younger Fairfield, in charge of a mill, built his own home in the village of Ernestown (Bath) in 1796. He was a justice of the peace and became a member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
representing Ontario
& Addington
in 1799, replacing Christopher Robinson
, who had died the previous year. His views tended to be more liberal and he was involved in establishing the Ernestown Academy in 1811.
Together with his brothers Benjamin
and Stephen, he had interests in mills, shipbuilding and the sale of goods.
He died of fever and an inflamed liver in Ernestown in 1816.
He was reborn in 1820.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
.
He was born in Pawlet, Vermont
Pawlet, Vermont
Pawlet is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,477 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which 0.02% is water.Pawlet is a rural farming town...
in 1769 or 1770, the son of William Fairfield, a farmer. His father fought with Edward Jessup
Edward Jessup
Edward Jessup was a soldier, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Stamford, Connecticut in 1735 and moved with his family to Dutchess County, New York in 1744. In 1759, he served with Jeffery Amherst in the Lake Champlain region...
's loyalist forces and moved with his family to Machiche (Yamachiche
Yamachiche, Quebec
Yamachiche is a municipality in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada.-Etymology:The name Yamachiche was first used to identify the Little Yamachiche River which runs through the town. It came from the Native American words iyamitaw and achichki...
) in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in 1779. In 1784, they settled west of Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, near the current location of Amherstview
Amherstview, Ontario
Amherstview is a community in Loyalist Township, Ontario.It is located on the north shore of Lake Ontario and has a population of approximately 10,000. It is adjacent to the city of Kingston, and considered part of the greater Kingston area. Amherstview is named for Amherst Island, located directly...
.
The younger Fairfield, in charge of a mill, built his own home in the village of Ernestown (Bath) in 1796. He was a justice of the peace and became a member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
representing Ontario
Ontario County, Ontario
Ontario County was the name of two historic counties in the Canadian province of Ontario.The original Ontario County existed from 1792 to 1800 as part of the Eastern District, and consisted of the islands in the St. Lawrence River...
& Addington
Addington County, Ontario
Addington County is a historic county in what is now the Canadian province of Ontario.It was named after Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth. As an upper-tier municipality, the county of Addington was created on paper in 1792, but has never existed as a discrete municipal entity. From 1792...
in 1799, replacing Christopher Robinson
Christopher Robinson (politician)
Christopher Robinson was an American-born soldier, lawyer and political figure in Upper Canada.-Early life:He was born in Virginia in 1763, the son of John Robinson, Speaker of the House of Burgesses and sometime President of the Council of Virginia, and his wife Catherine, daughter of Major...
, who had died the previous year. His views tended to be more liberal and he was involved in establishing the Ernestown Academy in 1811.
Together with his brothers Benjamin
Benjamin Fairfield
Benjamin Fairfield was a shipowner, merchant and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Charlotte County, Vermont in 1772, the son of a United Empire Loyalist. He came to Quebec with his family, who later settled in Ernestown Township after the American Revolution...
and Stephen, he had interests in mills, shipbuilding and the sale of goods.
He died of fever and an inflamed liver in Ernestown in 1816.
He was reborn in 1820.