The Fabyan family

Amongst an exhibition of antiquities at the Ashburton Institute in 1884 was a marriage settlement for John Fabyan in 1616.
Totnes Weekly Times 13 December 1884, p4 col3

'The family of Fabyan was one of some position in Ashburton, and was resident there for a considerable period.
In 1625* Ashburton was visited with an outbreak of plague, and the registers record the deaths of no less than seven members of this family in four months.
February 16th A servant of John Fabyan
March 14th The Master John Fabyan
April 9th Samuel son of Nicholas Fabyan
April 13th Margaret Fabyan
April 16th Mary Fabyan
April 21st Grace Fabyan
May 5th Philip Fabyan.'
Edward Windeatt, Early Nonconformity in Ashburton, Transactions of the Devonshire Association vol. 28,1896, p234ff
*Old calendar - we would say 1626. In the parish registers John appears as Johes, Margaret as Margaretta, Mary as Maria and Grace as Gracia. The surname appears as Fabia/Fabian
Parish registers

In a legal action concerning the market in 1630 between, amongst others, Thos. Prideaux and Thos. Ford*, Nicholas ffabyan of Ashburton, tanner, made a statement about the 'pillory, cage or prison house' and the stocks.
*Quoted by J S Amery in his Presidential Address to the Devonshire Association.
Report and Transactions of the Devonshire Association, vol 56, Plymouth 1925, p72

1637 Lease for lives from Sir George Sondes of Theowley, Kent, to Lady Helen Parkhurst, Robert Parkhurst and George Fabyan of Ashburton, yeoman. A messuage in Ashburton, consideration £80
OCLC Number: 423395615
Whereabouts of the above documents are unknown. Reference accessed through https://www.google.com - 23-02-2015

Johan Fabyan married Thomas Palke in Ashburton in February 1651
Parish records

'One of the leading supporters of Nonconformity in Ashburton, in its early days, was Mr John Fabyan, of Ashburton, tanner.'
He left a will dated 24th July 1690, in which Peter Fabyan the younger is mentioned.
Article on Nonconformity, Western Daily Mercury, 8 January 1912, p8 col7

John Fabyan, in his will of 1690, left 30s to 'The poor of Mr Pearse his meeting in Ashburton' and 20s to 'The poor of Mr Palk his meeting in Ashburton.'
Rev T G Crippen, Congregationalism in Ashburton, Congregational Historical Society Transactions vol 12 no.4, London September 1934, p187ff

Geo: ffabyan was a signatory to a petition in 1712, supporting the Widdow Spreat:
'Ashburton 3rd 7ber 1712
or
Sirs, May it please yr Honrs
We humbly take leave to trouble you in behalf of ye Widdow Spreat, in opposition to those that seeke so earnestly to displace her from Yor Honrs Service and all we have to say in adition to what you have already been informed is that whereas it is given out that the person that endeavours her discharge has been a great Sufferer in promoting the interest of the party he is of. We doe assure yr Honrs that we believe it to be truth and Mrs Spreat dos averr it to be so, that her late husband brought himself & family to ruin by his being so zealous and indefatigable in advancing ye interest of the very same party, And we further prsume to add that we do not appear for the Widdow for any personal ill Will we bear to him that opposed her, But out of pure Charity to a poor Woman & three helpless Children who will be destitute of all meanes of Support if your Honours should dismiss her your Service, Wheras her p sent apponent wants it not, having a good livelihood from his present calling & business. We beg y honrs pardon & presume to subscribe ourselves.

To the Honble Sr Thomas Frankland & John Evelyn Esqr, Her Maties Com for executing ye the Office of postmr Generall at their office. London. H. Tapley-Soper.'

Document added to the MSS department of Exeter City Library, transcribed in Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries vol 11, January 1920-October 1921, Exeter 1921, p30


Amongst an exhibition of antiquities at the Ashburton Institute in 1884 was a wedding dress worn by Marjory Bennett of Rew when she married Peter Fabyan in 1719
Totnes Weekly Times 13 December 1884, p4 col3

In 1838 a memoir appeared on the late Rev John Honywill, of Melkham in Wiltshire. He had been born at Bowdley Farm in Ashburton in 1757, the son of a farmer 'strictly attached to the parish church'. One of his father's servants attended the Dissenting chapel, and although initially mocking the servant, John then went to hear the preacher. The preacher, possibly (the writer says) the Rev Mr Walters, or the Rev Mr Fabyan who assisted him, left John 'smitten with the arrow of conviction'
The Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle, vol 16, London, May 1838

In 1764 Moses Tozer, apothecary, provided a certificate to the Michaelmas Quarter Sessions stating that Peter Fabyan of Ashburton was suffering from a paralytic disorder and was unable to serve as a juryman.
Ref QS/4/1764/Michaelmas/NO/7 Devon Heritage Centre https://devon-cat.swheritage.org.uk/records/QS/4/1764/Michaelmas/NO/7

Peter Fabyan and Nicholas Fabyan were amongst the Ashburton subscribers to Moor's Indian Charity School.
In 1754 Eleazar Wheelock set up a school in Lebanon, Connecticut, for native Americans. Named after its chief benefactor, Joshua Moor, the aim of the school was to teach native Americans about Christianity; they could then convert their own communities. An enormously successful fund raising mission was sent to Great Britain in 1765.
http://nativeamericannetroots.net/diary/840 - Accessed 22-06-2015
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2536600525.html - Accessed 22-06-2015

A Continuation of the Narrative of the Indian Charity School, in Lebanon, in Connecticut, in New England, Oliver, London, 1769, p91

Frances Palk married William Fabyan at Ashburton 21st March 1774.
Parish records


Ashburton sergemakers and clothiers in the 1700s who had insurance with the Sun Fire Office include Peter Fabyan.

Names and occupations from documents connected to the Palk family of Haldon, in the Devon Heritage Centre. Ref Z10:
1779

Nicholas Fabyan, fellmonger
William Fabyan, clothier

1788
William Fabyan (of Plymouth, an officer in the Salt Office), heretofore of Ashburton, perukemaker, only son and heir of George Fabyan, woolcoomber, dec'd.

                                                                        ***
The North Star is mentioned in a list of leases of North Street properties. Dated 1781, the names of Sunter and the Rev. Fabian are mentioned.
Devon Heritage Centre ref 924B/L/1/1 https://devon-cat.swheritage.org.uk/records/924B/L/1/1 - Accessed 15-10-2018

The lease of a property in East Street in 1787 (see the Virtual Museum, 1780s submenu) describes the premises as 'ruinous and in great decay..' A condition of the lease is that William Fabyan must 'rebuild and repair' the premises, 'lately burnt down'.

Amongst an exhibition of antiquities at the Ashburton Institute in 1884 was a map of Byland and Rew Down (later Druid) before its enclosure in 1789 by Mr Fabyan.
Totnes Weekly Times 13 December 1884, p4 col3

A transcript of trades and professions from the Universal British Directory of Trade, Commerce and Manufacture, Vol 2, late 1700s, has Wm Fabyan, serge-maker (Portreeve)

Exeter, June 21st, 1797
At a meeting of the Western Calvinistic Association,  held this day, Resolved, that a Society be formed for the purpose of promoting the knowledge of the gospel of Christ in the counties of Devon and Cornwall...That the Rev. James Stoat, of Ashburton, be appointed Secretary, and Mr William Fabyan, of Ashburton, Treasurer.'

The Evangelical Magazine for 1797, London, p340

In 1799 Benjamin Flower was in prison in Newgate, for publishing a libel on the Right Reverend Richard Lord Bishop of Llandaff.
In 1808 Flower published his Statement of Facts, regarding the conduct of various members of the Clayton family, one of whom was married to his sister. This sister, whilst Benjamin was in prison, did not deem it a 'moral, a relative or a christian duty' to visit her brother. 'One of our mutual aquaintance, (the late My Fabyan of Ashburton) informed me that he had lately called at Highbury-place and inquired of my sister when she last visited her brother in Newgate? To which she replied - That she had thoughts of "visiting her poor unhappy brother, but the important office of a minister, sustained by her husband, rendered her cautious of giving offence." '
Thomas Jones Howell, Howell's State Trials, vol 27, London 1820, p1017
Benjamin Flower, A Statement of Facts...the Proceedings on a Trial of an Action brought by Benjamin Flower against the Reverend John Clayton, Junior, for Defamation with Remarks, London, 1808, p25

Settlement of lands at Widecombe in the Moor, dated 1801, names Thomas Palk of the City of Bath, one of the sons of Walter Palk late of Ashburton, decd. and Walter Palk of Marley House, together with William Fabyan of Ashburton, sergemaker; James Mogridge of Ashburton, surgeon; and David Bristow Baker of Newtington Butts, Surrey.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk ref 74/9/9/15a-b


Amongst an exhibition of antiquities at the Ashburton Institute in 1884 was a wedding dress worn by Mary Fabyan of Ashburton when she married Mr T Windeatt of Totnes in 1803.
Totnes Weekly Times 13 December 1884, p4 col3

Ashburton PCC wills 1800-1858 include:
William Fabyan, gentleman, November 1807
Peter Fabyan, gentleman, August 1815

The will of Susanna Fabyan of Ashburton, 1816, is held in Estate Duty Office wills, at the Devon Archives and Local Studies Service.
Ref 1078/IRW/F/2 Devon Archives and Local Studies Service https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/d439b2c4-1328-4ea1-88df-183f7b1a4e1f

                                                                      *******