GEMMS IDGEMMS-PERSON-000320
NameJohn Fairfax
TitleMr.
Gendermale
DenominationDissenter - Presbyterian
Livedb. ca. 1623-03-25 - d. 1700-08-11 (old)
Linked Manuscripts
Linked SermonsSermon on Jeremiah 23:6 -- preacher (autograph: uncertain)Sermon on John 14:19 -- preacher (autograph: uncertain)
Linked Reports
Associated PlacesBarking -- ParishIpswich -- ParishIpswich -- ParishSwaffham Bulbeck -- ParishCorpus Christi College -- Place of StudyNeedham Market -- Post
Source of DataJeanne Shami; Hannah Wood
Biographical Sources ConsultedSI (ID: 9660); ACAD (ID: FRFS640J); ODNB (Article: 9086)
Other NoteJohn Fairfax was born in Norfolk to Benjamin Fairfax (1592-1675/6) and his wife Sarah Gallard (d.1671) in 1623/4. He was admitted sizar at Corpus Christi College Cambridge, whence he graduated B.A. in 1645 and proceeded M.A. in 1647. He was a fellow from 1645 to 1650, at which point he was stripped of the fellowship for refusing to subscribe to the engagement of loyalty to the republican government. He was made vicar of Swaffham Bulbeck, Cambs. in 1649, and by the following year was rector of Barking with Needham Market in Suffolk. Fairfax was ejected from Barking for refusing to conform in 1662. He continued to preach, sometimes inciting controversy, as was the case with his memorial sermon for Matthew Newcomen delivered at Dedham in 1669. Fairfax was arrested in 1670 alongside five other ministers at Walsham-le-Willows church when attending a sermon delivered by the unlicensed preacher Stephen Scandratt; he ultimately spent five months in gaol. After his release, he took out a license as a presbyterian teacher ministering at the house of Margaret Rozier in Needham Market. Fairfax served as a preacher at Ipswich and helped build a congregation in the parish of St Nicholas. He died at Barking on 11 August 1700. He was predeceased by his wife (m.1650, d.1695), with whom he had five sons and two daughters.
GEMMS record createdApril 11, 2016
GEMMS record last editedJanuary 29, 2024