Falmouth Enterprise, Saturday, December 03, 1898; Page: 8

DEATH OF MRS. FAIRLEY

Mrs. Caroline Fairley widow of Rev. Samuel Fairley, died at the home of her son, Rev. James A. Fairley, Nutley, on Saturday, November 19, 1898, in the sixty-fourth year of her age.

Mrs. Fairley was born in March, Cambridgeshire, England, March 8, 1898. She was the daughter of William and Mary (Elmer) Cole.
In 1861, Miss Cole married Rev. Samuel Fairley, who was at that time minister of the Congregational church in March. After a time they removed to King's Cliff, and in May 1865 came to the United States. Mr. Fairley used to say that he came here for exactly the same reason that brought the Pilgrim Fathers across the ocean, he was seeking freedom to worship God. At that time the social and legal restrictions which were, placed upon Nonconformists in England were extremely galling to a man, of spirit.


Mr. Fairley's first charge in this country was the First Congregational church in Philadelphia. In 1868, he became pastor at Wellfleet, Mass., from whence he removed in 1873 to Berkley in the same state, and in 1877 to East Falmouth. He had charge of the church in Waquoit as well as of that in East Falmouth. In all these parishes Mrs. Fairley was a faithful and efficient helpmeet to her husband, doing well the duties which fall to a minister's wife

After Mr. Fairley's death in 1881, the family lived for a year and a half at Newburg, N. Y., where the oldest son was settled as pastor, and then in 1888 Mrs. Fairley took up her residence in Amherst, Mass., on account of the educational advantages offered there.
During the years of residence in Amherst, Mrs. Fairley was active in the religious and benevolent work of the town. She was the president of the W. C. T. U. which entertained the State convention in 1802 and had as special guests of honor Lady Henry Somerset and Miss Frances E. Willard.

But it was in the home that Mrs. Fairley found the chief scene of her life work. She was devoted to her children, and spent the best years of her life in loving service and self-sacrifice for them. And her children rise up and call her blessed.

The funeral was held at St. Paul's church, Nutley, on Monday, Nov. 21, at one o'clock. After a prayer at the house, the body was carried by the bearers to the church where a beautiful and impressive service was held. The organ played softly as the body was borne in, and the ministers going before recited passages of scripture. The service was in charge of Revs. Fritz W. Baldwin, D. D., of East Orange, and B.F. Bradford, D. D., of Upper Montclair. Dr. Baldwin read selections of scripture and Dr. Bradford offered prayer.

The body was taken to East Falmouth, Mass., for burial and another service was held there on Tuesday at noon in the Congregational church. Here the four sons acted as bearers, and the service was conducted by Rev. William Fairley, D.D., assisted by Rev. John J. Walker of Yarmouth, who read the scripture lesson, and by Rev. Charles A. Breck of Cotuit, who offered prayer. As the solemn words of committal were said, the sons threw flowers into the open grave, and so the dear body was laid to rest, beside that of her husband, in the very spot which she had selected for her resting place.

The children are as follows: Rev. William Fairly, Waquoit, Mass.; Miss Grace E. Fairley, Nutley; Rev. Edwin Fairley, Roseland; Rev. James A. Fairley, Nutley; Miss Annie L. Fairley, Canandaigua, N. Y. and Mr. Samuel Cole Fairley of the same place. -- The Caldwell (N.J.) News.