The Fay Family: Roswell Bishop Fay and Harry Martin Fay
   
THE FAY FAMILY PAGE

GENEALOGIES
   
Vermont Directory
   
HARRY MARTIN FAY
   
From: Carleton, Hon. Hiram,
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
STATE OF VERMONT
Vol. II, pp.47f.
   
Harry Martin Fay, a progressive farmer of North Williston, Vermont, is a member of the old and famous Fay family of New England. John Fay, son of Nathan Fay, and great-grandfather of Harry Martin Fay, was born in Bennington, Vermont, July 31, 1783, and when a young oby removed with his parents to Richmond, Vermont. On September 5, 1806, he was married to Polly Bishop, daughter of Daniel Bishop, of Hinesburg, Vermont, and to them were born eight children: Roswell B., July 5, 1808; Electa, February 24, 1811; Roxana, November 23, 1815; Daniel B. July 17, 1819; Ransom, August 5, 1822; Julius, August 23, 1825; Edith, February 23, 1828; and Hiram J., December 25, 1831.
   
Roswell B. Fay, grandfather of Harry M. Fay, was born in Richmond, Vermont, July 5, 1808. In 1838 he removed to Williston, Vermont, where he became extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits and later on in lumber manufacturing. In politics he is a staunch Republican. He represented his town in the general assembly in 1850 and 1851. In 1861 and 1862 he was judge of probate for the county of Chittenden, and during his many years of residence in Williston held many offices of trust and responsibility. He was one of the men largely instrumental in erecting and maintaining the Universalist church of Williston. In 1886 he removed to Oakland California, where he still resides with his son, Alfred C. Fay.
   
Mr. Fay married, September 18, 1833, Ann Cutler, daughter of Thomas Cutler, of Richmond; she died May 1, 1870. Of this union there were born five children: Marcia Eliza; John Miles; Alfred Cutler; Cynthia Roxana and Lucy Valeria, born in 1848, died in childhood.
   
Marcia E., born in Richmond, Vermont, November 18, 1837, was an earnest student and became a teacher of languages in Williston Academy, at that time a flourishing institution. She married Hiram A. Clark, of Williston, Vermont, in 1861, and died the same year.
   
Alfred C. was born in Williston, Vermont, March 6, 1843. In 1863 he enlisted in Company E., First Vermont Cavalry; and served until the close of the war. He was a member of the legislature from Williston in 1886, and the following year removed to California, where he has since been extensively engaged in the dairy business in the city of Oakland. He married, in 1879, Adelaide Brownell, daughter of George W. Brownell, of Williston, Vermont.
   
Cynthia R., born in Williston, Vermont, June 15, 1845, married Jonathan R. Talcott, of Williston, and they removed to Oakland, California, in 1879. They have two children, Anna Fay, wife of Walter Gawne, and Seth R. Talcott.
   
John M. Fay, father of Harry M. Fay, was born in Williston, Vermont, April 23, 1840. He received his early education in Williston Academy and later was graduated from Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York. When a young man he purchased a large farm adjoining the old homestead at North Williston, and followed the occupation of a farmer, making a specialty of fine dairy butter. In his politics Mr. Fay was a Republican, and was chosen to serve in the various local offices of the town. He was a consistent and earnest member and worker in the Universalist church at Williston. In 1864 Mr. Fay was united in marriage to Miss Julia R. Martin, daughter of Harry P. and Julia (Ormsby) Martin, of Underhilll, Vermont. Two children were born to this union: Harry M.; and Abbie L, wife of Clinton S. Wright, of Williston. Mr. Fay died February 2, 1879, and his wife died June 5, 1888.
   
Harry Martin Fay, only son of John M. and Julia (Martin) Fay, was born in Williston, September 14, 1865. He received his education at Williston Academy and Goddard Seminary, at Barre, Vermont. Before finishing his schooling he was obliged, on account of the death of his father, to return home and take up the duties of the farm, and since then, with the exception of two years spent in California, he has followed the occupation of a farmer on the farm purchased by his father, and where he was born.
   
Mr. Fay is a very staunch Republican, and has faithfully served his town in many of the town offices. He is a member of North Star Lodge No. 12, F. & A. M., of Richmond, Vermont. On December 9, 1890, Mr. Fay was united in marriage with Miss Josie H. Hutchinson, one of the old and respected families of Jericho, Vermont. An account of the genealogy of the earlier generations of this family will be found in another part of this work in the sketch of Ellery Channing Fay.