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Hugo’s Toy Theatre

John Fariburn - Family History

Elizabeth Mitchell (Died 1830 Aged 43)	= (m 15-Sep-1807) St Martin in the Field	John Fairburn (b abt 1787) (Died SepQ 1854 aged 67) Islington 1b 160	= (m 1831)	Susanna Thomas? (Died MarQ1878 Aged 73) Islington 1b 175
	Samuel Fairburn (Chr 1813)		Susanna Mary Fairburn (Chr 1832)
	Ann Butler Fairburn (Chr 1816)		Edward Abel Fairburn (Chr 1833)
	Elizabeth Lawrence Fairburn (Chr 1820)		Henry Charles Fairburn (Chr 1837)
			Ellen Fairburn (Chr 1839)
			William Lawrence Fairburn (Chr 1841)
			John Fairburn (Chr 1844)
			Fanny Maria Fairburn (Chr 1846)
			Frederic George Fairburn (Chr 1849)

John Fairburn was an old-established publisher and known employer of the Cruickshank family.

He didn’t produce any toy theatre plays himself, but he did do a very stylish series of portraits in the 1830s. The plates of which passed to WS Johnson and eventually to the Webb family, who used them for tinselling.

The origins of John Fairburn are unknown. The name Fairburn is Scottish in origin, but in the 1841 Census there were many Fairburns in Yorkshire, with only two or three Fairburn families in London.

Following the birth of his third child in 1820, through to 1839, John Fairburn lived in around the Minories. Sometime between 1839 and 1841 the family moved to Holloway.

Although a publisher all his life, he appears to have left the theatrical publishing business before 1841.

The London Commercial Directory for 1829 finds John Fairburn, bookseller at 110 Minories. However a second John Fairburn, also a Bookseller, is also listed, living at 13 Broadway, Ludgate Hill.

Census Extract 1841

HO107-665-14 Folio 14 - Page 22

Bedford Terrace, Finsbury, Islington.

Name	Age	Occupation	Born in County
John Fairburn	50	Bookseller	Yes
Susannah Fairburn	35		No
Ann Fairburn	20		Yes
Elizabeth Fairburn	20		Yes
Susan Fairburn	9		Yes
Edw’d Abel Fairburn	7		Yes
Henry Fairburn	4		Yes
Ellen Fairburn	2		Yes

Although John Fairburn moved out of 110 Minories before the 1841 census was taken, there was a John Fairburn listed as living at 110 Minories. This second John Fairburn was not John Fairburn’s son, but presumably a close relation, as he too was in the book business.

Census Extract 1841

HO107-725-6 Folio 46 - Page 16

110 Minories, St Botolph, Aldgate.

Name	Age	Occupation	Born in County
John Fairburn	30	Bookseller	Yes
Sarah Fairburn	30		No
Ann Fairburn	5		Yes

By the time of the 1851 Census, John Fairburn, was still at Bedford Terrace, with a somewhat large family.

Census Extract 1851

HO107-1500 - Folio 555 - Page 22 - Schedule 91

12 Bedford Terrace, Finsbury, Islington

Name	R to Head	Age	Occupation	Place of Birth
John Fairburn	Head	63	Printer & Publisher (employing 2 men)	City, London
Susanna Fairburn	Wife	46		Bishop Frome Hereford
Ann Fairburn	Dau	34	Teacher of Music	City, London
Susanna Fairburn	Dau	18		City, London
Edward Fairburn	Son	17	Merchants Clerk	City, London
Henry Fairburn	Son	14		City, London
Ellen Fairburn	Dau	11	Scholar at Home	City, London
William Fairburn	Son	9	Scholar at Home	Upper Holloway
John Fairburn	Son	6	Scholar at Home	Upper Holloway
Fanny Fairburn	Dau	5	Scholar at Home	Upper Holloway
Frederick Fairburn	Son	1		Upper Holloway
Ann Fairburn	G Dau	15		Mile End
John Fairburn	G Son	13	Errand Boy	Mile End

 John Fairburn died in the September quarter of 1854 at the age of 67, in Islington. He was buried at Islington Parish Church on 20^th September 1854, with his abode given quite simply as Holloway.

By the time of the 1861 Census, most of his family had spread their wings, but a few remained to aid their mother.

Census Extract 1861

Rg9- - Folio 39 - Page 7 - Schedule 24

12 Bedford Terrace, Finsbury, Islington

Name	R to Head	Age	Occupation	Place of Birth
Susannah Fairburn	Widower	56	Proprietress of Houses	Frome Bishop
Ellen Fairburn	Dau	21	Daily Governess	Middx, London
John Fairburn	Son	16	Booksellers Clerk	Middx, Islington
Alfred Fairburn	G Son	19	Corn Merchants Clerk	Middx, London
Thomas? Connor	G Son	8	Scholar	Surrey, Camberwell
Sarah Wright	Serv	20	General Servant	Bucks