VERMONT FAY FAMILY LINE By Michele FitzGerald June 16, 2000 Genealogy of Direct Ancestors researched in Vermont. Capt Stephen Fay (1715/8-1784) Elizabeth Wellington Sgt John Fay (1734-1777) Mary Fisk (1736/1777) Henry Fisk Fay (1770-1818) Betsey Talcott (?) Warner Davis Laura Ann Fay Rancil Fay Davis Jennie C Cook The history of Vermont evolves around the Fay Family line mentioned above and their self-defined conjurer, Ethan Allen, brother Ira Allen, cousins Seth Warner and Remember Baker, Robert Cochran. Land speculation motivated early migrations from Massachusetts and Connecticut alike after the French War about 1750, and inspired opportunity that immediately spurred controversy of spirit. First settlers of Vermont migrated to the northeast corner behind the green hills guarding Lake Champlain, these so-called traditional Yankee. Our family history begins with the migration of Fay from Massachusetts to the southern tip of Vermont bordering Massachusetts and later migrating northwest into the fertile valley between Green Mountains and Lake Champlain - dubbed the radical Yankee. Our particular Fay Family line initiates at the capital of the Green Mountain Boys - Bennington, VT. And without regurgitating well-documented and often recited language of written lore, I endeavor to make relevant remnants of an historic legacy to present-day family heritage. Further, I attempt to spread the legacy beyond the relish for Revolutionary fame onto succeeding generations not yet as widely published or as completely researched as the founders of Vermont and original settlers of Bennington who are the Fay Family. I begin with the fall of John Fay Esq. (1734-1777). Col. Ethan Allen recounts in his published narrative recollection of the Battle of Bennington - the fateful August day, 1777 - when on the 16th Sgt John Fay fell martyr to a presupposed cause. The enemy invested 1500 chosen men, British and Tories together, in their movement toward Bennington. The design was to "demolish it, subject its mountaineers, to which they had great aversion". The young state of Vermont in consequence procured "a number of brave militia from the government of the state of New Hampshire," along with militia from Massachusetts as well as its collection of Green Mountain Boys, to constitute a "body of desperados" under command of the "intrepid gen. Stark". This "little militia of undisciplined heroes," in the words of Col. Allen, equaled in number that of its enemy. The narrative continues, "…with their long brown firelocks, (the best security of a free people) without either cannon or bayonets, was, on the 16th day of August, led on to the attack…" In "less than one quarter of an hour the attack became general," whereby recorded history interrupts to confirm at that precise moment Sgt. John Fay raised his rifle, siting silently to himself he is fighting a good cause. Before his trigger finger responded to his intention to fire a single shot from his brown firelock, he received direct impact by the enemy to his head, mortally wounding this patriotic son and beloved brother of freedom and liberty. Hence, the cause swiftly converted from confrontation between soldier and desperado over occupation by the perilous ringing "John Fay is shot!" to a battle valor between right and wrong. Justice was served up to the enemy on August 16, 1777, and remains to this day etched into eternity on the tombstone of John Fay Esq., "A sweet remembrance of the Just Shall floweth while they sleep in the Dust" Desperados turned heroes took enemy "cannon, killed and captivated more than 2/3 the enemy, immortalizing gen. Stark, and made Bennington famous to posterity." Col. Allen reunited with family and kindred spirit in Bennington after a battle he himself did not fight, but fully conjured by his personal conception of liberty, omitting sentiment in his narrative to the passing of martyred friend, John Fay Esq. Love of country became synonymous with love for John Fay Esq. August 16, 1777, a messenger of Justice. John Fay (1734-1777) fell martyr at the Battle of Bennington and remembered as a catalyst to the Revolutionary War, whose human sacrifice spurred perpetual victories thereafter and whose human spirit could not relinquish his wife and youngest sons. The Bennington Museum at Bennington displays one copper and one brass "vessel" for water that Stephen Fay, John's mourning father, used to wash "the gore from his son's corpse and wiped his gaping wounds" off this his "darling of my soul". Other artifacts are also on display with reference to the Catamount Tavern and the silverware used for guests. Mary Fisk (1736-1777), died within a month of the death of her adoring husband, it is said from grief. She followed him into the ever after as did their two youngest children, Joseph and Hiram Fay. One twin tombstone rests to the left of John Fay Esq. marked, "In Memory of Joseph & Hiram Children of John and Mary Fay Joseph Died Sept 1_, 1777 Hiram Died August 24, 1777 Aged 5 years and nine days Aged 4 months and 24 days Cropped down in early Life our Joys are Fled And die entombed amount the silent dead Sleep on sweet babes your work on earth is done And you are gone to seek a heavenly home" The single tombstone to the right of John Fay Esq. marked, "Mrs. Mary Fay Consort of John Fay Esqr Who departed this life on the 31 Day of Aug AD X777 In the 39th Year of her Age Peace to the Sacred relicts of the Dead Who more than conquer death Through CHRIST their head." John Fay Esq. tombstone is marked also by flag and insignia posted at its side to identify him as a soldier of war. "In Memory of John Fay Esqr. Who Fell fighting for Freedom of his Country in the Battle Fought between Genr Stark and Colo Baum Falling Bennington Battle on the 16th of August 1777 In the 45th year of his Age A sweet remembrance of the Just Shall Floweth while they sleep in Dust" They are buried at the Old Bennington Cemetery next to the Old Church, a Bennington landmark, a block from the site of the Catamount Tavern and Bennington Memorial Monument. John Fay Esq. is survived by his youngest son, Henry Fisk Fay (1770-1818), and oldest children. Henry Fisk Fay migrates to Richmond, VT, marries Betsey Talcott, together with brother Nathan settles Fays Corner, builds an cloth dressing industry, and removes to Burlington to practice law. Henry Fisk and Betsey Talcott are buried in a wilderness cemetery outside Fays Corner, VT. More to come: 1) Index list of Fay's buried at Old Bennington Cemetery 2) Fay Family Bible ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com