The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Nathaniel Fairfield was baptized at the First Church of Boston, 4 October 1730, a son of Nathaniel Fairfield (1704-1745) and Abigail Jones (c. 1708-1793). He married Judith Pierce, likely a daughter of John Pierce and Ruth Hilton, at Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, 6 May 1752. She was born 10 December 1732 at Gloucester, Essex County, Massachusetts, and died at Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, 3 December 1775. Nathaniel and Judith were the parents of nine children, all born at Pittsfield, except Abigail, who was born at Westfield:
1.Abigail Fairfield (1752-1778), died at Pittsfield. She married Massachusetts Revolutionary War Patriot William Brattle.
2. John Fairfield (1757-1828) died at Pittsfield. He married (first) Lucy Howland and (second), Elizabeth Howland (Lucy’s sister). He was a Massachusetts Revolutionary War Patriot.
3. Ruth Fairfield (1759-between 1801 and 1818), died probably at Floyd, Oneida County, New York. She married Connecticut Revolutionary War Patriot Dan Blackman.
4. Judith Fairfield (1763-1820), died at Pittsfield. She married Massachusetts Revolutionary War Patriot Zebulon Herrick Jr.
5. Sarah Fairfield (1766-1854), died at Orwell, Addison County, Vermont. She married Massachusetts Revolutionary War Patriot Eli Root.
6. Nathaniel Fairfield (1768-1837), died at Pittsfield. He married Martha Wells.
7. Enoch Fairfield (1769-1832), died at Pittsfield. He married (first) Zulima Lawrence and (second) Huldah Wing.
8. Naomi Fairfield (1770-1857), died at Pittsfield. She married Aaron Noble.
9. Samuel Fairfield (1774-).
Following the death of his wife, Judith, Nathaniel married Mrs. Abigail (Fairfield) Phelps, widow of William Phelps, at Pittsfield, March 16, 1776. Her identity is not known, although she is probably a cousin. She died at Pittsfield 20 August 1813, aged 80 years.
In addition to his service in the Revolutionary War, Nathaniel Fairfield is listed as a private in Massachusetts Soldiers in the French and Indian Wars 1744-1755, serving for 21 weeks and five days from 18 April to 26 June, and 27 July to 16 October 1749 in the Ashuelot Military Expedition.
Nathaniel was among the first settlers of Pittsfield, then called Poontoosuck, in 1749.
Nathaniel died at Pittsfield 17 September 1817 and was buried at the Old Burying Ground. The original graves were later moved to Pittsfield Cemetery. No gravestone survives and the exact location of his grave is not known.
On his father’s side, he was a descendant of Gateway Ancestor Reverend William Skepper of Essex County, Massachusetts.
Revolutionary War Service of Nathaniel Fairfield is detailed in Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War, Vol. 5, Pg. 474 as:
· Marched from Pittsfield to Kinderhook 4 May through 11 May 1777. Service: one week.
· Marched from Pittsfield to Fort Ann 30 June through 26 July 1777. Service: three weeks, five days.
· Private, Captain John Strong’s Company, Colonel John Brown’s Regiment, enlisted 30 June 1777, discharged 20 July 1777. Service: 20 days.
· Marched from Pittsfield to Skeensborough 6 September 1777; dismissed 1 October 1777. Service: three weeks, five days.
· Private, Captain John Strong’s Company, Colonel John Brown’s Regiment, enlisted 6 September 1777, discharged 2 October 1777. Service: 26 days.
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