William Pettingill Fabens

William Pettingill Fabens was born to Elias White Fabens, keeper of the City Scales, and Susan S. Fabens on February 12, 1833. He was baptized in Salem, MA on September 15, 1839. William had four younger sisters: Emily, born in 1834, who married Silas S. Smith, Abby, born in 1837 who never married, Harriet H., born in 1841 and died the following year, and Alice, born in 1844 and died in 1846.

When his father died in 1858, William became the primary breadwinner for his family, and found work as a cooper.

On September 16, 1863 William joined the 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Company. Originally raised for defense of the Massachusetts coast, the group spent the majority of its later service in forts in and around Washington DC. Fabens was assigned to Fort Wagner (also known as Fort Good Hope) in the south east part of the city.

William Fabens died of typhoid-malarial fever while in service at Fort Wagner and was initially buried at Arlington. He was moved to Harmony Grove Cemetery in Salem, MA and laid to rest in the Soldiers Lot.

His mother was able to collect a pension for his service.