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Fairfield, a Moravian mission within the wilds of the Carolinian forest of southwestern Ontario, is the first settlement of Europeans within the present day confines of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in 1792. The peaceful settlement was located along the northwest bank of the Thames River at the large bend in the river, half way between the present communities of Bothwell and Thamesville. Moravian missionaries and Delaware First Nations who were fleeing Pennsylvania from religious persecution settled the village.
David Zeisberger, a Moravian clergyman, led the mission originally from Moravia, founded missionaries at Muskingum River in Ohio and Fairfield in Ontario. On October 12, 1806, David Zeisberger wrote:
Our brethren returned from Malden this week. They received their gifts from the agent as usual and may provisions as well. Since several hundred Indians were looked after ahead of them, they were away longer than usual this time. Some wares were sent to our elderly and poor. The helper, Jacob, divided them among the needy. Judging by what they brought home, i.e. shotguns, powder and shot, kettles, tobacco, and articles of clothing, the gifts were worth at least one hundred Pennsylvanian pounds. This gives a good indication of how much the English government spends on the Indians each year. The Indians in the States claim they receive a lot less than the Indians on the English side. We did not begrudge our Indians their yearly presents. On the other hand, it pained us to see that several of our young people fell into sinful pagan practices which so often happens on these occasions. Some who had danced with the heathens excused their behaviour saying that the agent, McKee, had done the same. Right now, the brethren are gathering chestnuts which are abundant this year. They returned home heavily laden.
This peaceful settlement thrived within the wilds until October 5, 1813, when the victorious American army decided to burn it to the ground following the Battle of the Thames, which was located approximately 2 kilometres southwest of the Fairfield village. All that remain of the village today are the papers and correspondence of the Moravian missionaries and the charred archaeological remains from where the former village of 50 houses once stood.
