Descendants of John Fairley of Argyllshire, Scotland

Flag of Scotland (1286 to Present)

Generation #1

John Fairley of Argyllshire, Scotland

CLAN HISTORY

This family first appears in Ayrshire as proprietors of the lands of Fairley (the village of Fairley near Largs still exists today). Nisbet, in his commentary on the Ragman Roll of those who submitted to Edward I of England in 1296, states that Robert de Ross was heritor to the lands of Fairly in Cunningham whence the family took its name. The arms of Ross and Fairly both contain a lion rampant but this is such a common feature of Scots heraldry that little can be deduced from it. The name also arose around Edinburgh, and William Fairlie received lands at Inverleith from Robert I. The Fairlies of Braid claimed descent from a natural son of Robert II, and Nisbet cited as evidence of this theory the fact that they bore the red lion rampant on a gold shield of the royal house. There is, however, no other evidence to substantiate this claim. The family of Braid claimed the chiefship of the name when the original Ayrshire line failed. They acquired, by purchase, the lands of Little Dreghorn in Ayrshire which they renamed Fairlie. This line also failed to produce a male heir, and Sir William Cunningham of Robertland, Baronet, who had married the sister of the last Laird of Fairlie, assumed the additional name of Fairlie in 1781.

    Armigerous Clan Fairley Home Page, Genealogy Web Site <http://www.myclan.com/clans/Fairlie_197/default.php> 15 July 2006.

It is a fact that Highland Scots were involved in the Jacobite Rebellion. And after their defeat at Culloden Moor in 1746, many were exiled to America. These refugees populated the foothills of the Appalachians building the economy of America. But perhaps most importantly, they sent their sons to fight the British in the Revolutionary War. 

John Fairly was reportedly born in Kintyre, Argyllshire, Scotland, sometime in 1717. In about 1747 in Argyllshire, Scotland, John married Margaret Stewart b. 1719 in Scotland. In 1770 John and Margaret and family immigrated aboard the ship Edinburgh to Wilmington NC. Exactly why he migrated is not known; but when he arrived in North Carolina, he settled among descendants of other Scottish immigrants.

In 1772 John is recorded purchasing land on the Lumber River in what was then Bladen (now Robeson) Co NC. By 1779, John migrated up Drowning Creek (now the Lumber River)  to what was then Richmond Co NC. John and Margaret lived along Drowning Creek, attending Centre Presbyterian Church near Maxton NC. Margaret died 8/1781. She was buried 8/20/1781 in an older cemetery near Centre Church Cemetery, Robeson Co NC.

John and the remainder of his family are enumerated in the 1790 Richmond Co Census. John died 7/4/1798 in Richmond Co NC and is believed to be buried next to Margaret and several children in McNair Cemetery near the Lumber River, Robeson Co NC.

Ship "Edinburgh" voyage from Campbeltown, Scotland to Cape Fear, North Carolina in 1770 and to Island of St. Johns (Prince Edward Island) in 1771.

Table 2. Voyage to North Carolina: Passengers in the Hold:
19. Jno Fairley 5 Births

Note: Children normally shared births aboard ship. There are multiple possibilities of combinations which would allow for eight family members to occupy five births.

    Frank Bigwood, MA, "Two Lists of Intending Passengers to the New World, 1770 and 1771," The Kintyre (Online) Magazine <http://www.kintyremag.co.uk/1997/11/11page9.html> 17 July 2006.
Bought land on Lumber River in Bladen (now Robeson) Co. NC in 1772.
Centre Church Cemetery, Robeson Co NC:
"Here lies Margaret Fairly
Departed Life 20 Aug. 1781
Aged LXII Years"
John Fairley received a grant from the State of North Carolina for 100 acres in Richmond County, NC dated 1787.
1787 August 27. State of North Carolina, Richmond County. This day William Welch complains on oath to me, one of the Justices assigned to keep the peace, that on the 7th instant in the night came to his house Peter Hall, John Hall and James Dunkin and in a riotous or murdering manner with their guns presented and laid hands on him the said William Welch and bound him with bonds and carried him away, and after great threats and abuse the day following, took him to the house of John Farlie . . .for a sum of money and did very evilly treat him contrary to the laws and dignity of our State. These are therefore in the name of the State to command you to take the bodys of said Peter Hall, John Hall and James Dunkin or either of them found in your County and them safely keep till you have them before some Justice of said County where they shall be dealt with as the law directs. Given under my hand and seal this 27th day of Aug. 1787. John McAlester. Summons witness in behalf of State, John Farlie, Archibald Farlie, John Grimes and Mallachai Dees. Source: Our Native Heath - Bridges. Civil Action Papers CR.082.325.3
Males Born
After		 # Fairley Females # Fairley
18+   2 John
John (son)

All

 1

 Sally (d/ law)
17- 1778 0  
Richmond Co NC, Will Book 1 (1799-1830), p. 110:
Will of John Fairley. Dated 26 AUG 1795; Proved in MAR 1806 by Alexander Fairley:
Sons: Archibald, Alexander, Robert, John
Daughters: Ann (deceased, wife of Angus McGillis), Mary
John Fairley, Jr., was appointed executor. The entire estate was left to son, John Fairley, Jr., with a token of two shillings to each other child or their representative.
Signed "John Farley." Witnessed by Alexander Fairley, John McKoy, Patrick McEachin.

    Children

    1. Archibald Fairley

The signatures of Scottish immigrants on a petition dated September 6, 1799 at the home of Capt. Alexander Fairley in Richmond County are Daniel McNair, Donald McKinnon,  Edward McNair, Gilbert McNair, Alexander Fairlie, George Graham, Hector McMillan,  Peter McRae, Arch'd Fairly, John Matthews, Jr. Donald McCall (x his mark), Alex McMillan,  Arch'd Lucas, John Carmichael, Colin McArthur (x his mark), Dugal McCormick, Arch'd McInnis,  Daniel McCall, John McCall, John McIntyre, Kenneth McKenzie, Duncan McLaurin, John Lucas,  Duncan McIntyre, and Peter Fairly.
Source: NCArchives- 'Scotland County Emerging 1750-1900' by Joyce M. Gibson.  
    2. Mary Fairley     3. Alexander Fairley

The signatures of Scottish immigrants on a petition dated September 6, 1799 at the home of Capt. Alexander Fairley in Richmond County are Daniel McNair, Donald McKinnon, Edward McNair, Gilbert McNair, Alexander Fairlie, George Graham, Hector McMillan, Peter McRae, Arch'd Fairly, John Matthews, Jr. Donald McCall (x his mark), Alex McMillan, Arch'd Lucas, John Carmichael, Colin McArthur (x his mark), Dugal McCormick, Arch'd McInnis, Daniel McCall, John McCall, John McIntyre, Kenneth McKenzie, Duncan McLaurin, John Lucas, Duncan McIntyre, and Peter Fairly.
Source: NCArchives- 'Scotland County Emerging 1750-1900' by Joyce M. Gibson.  
In 1818 John Fairley deeded to Alexander Fairley 100 acres of land in Richmond County.

Richmond Co NC Will Book 1, p. 281:
Will of Alexander Fairley. Dated 12/31/727. Probated 1/1728.
Will devised his lands to John Fairley, Daniel and  Archibald Fairley, his sons.
Wife: "Effy"; Sons: Peter, Archibald (co-executor), John, Daniel; Daughters: Margaret ("Daniel McNair's wife"), Mary, Catherine; Grandson: Alexander; Granddaughter: Margaret McEachin; Son-in-law: Daniel McNair (co-executor)
Witnesses: Duncan McIntyre, Rhoderick McRae, Colin McArthur

    4. Robert Fairley

    5. John Fairley b. 1763 Argyllshire, Scotland

    6. Ann Fairley

Generation #2

Caveat
This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
Home Index About Me