Dear Fay subscribers, Recently David Buck and I connected over the Internet. He has an original letter from the 1885 from Simeon Daniels Fay of Oxford Wisconsin, which he has copied below. It is to Ella (Allen) Ockect, the grandaughter of Simeon Daniels Fay in which he explains his understanding of the early history of the Fay's in the US. Enjoy this rare treat! Bob Fay ----Original Message Follows---- From: "David Buck" <dhbuck@wworld.com> Subject: Letter from Fay Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2000 07:33:54 +0000 Dear Bob <snip> I have no objection of your posting what ever. Information is information n to all no restriction when it come to this hobby. As long as this letter could be of great interest to your group we felt that maybe we would give you the full letter, so it copied below. Hope it of some interest to the Fay researchers. I have copied it as best as I can read it with only one place where I could not be sure of the letter. Each line is the length as it appears in the letter. To our knowledge it is the only letter which survived yet we have about a dozen envelopes addressed to either Ella J. Allen or Ella J. Ocock in Marengo. Ocock was the name of my wifes (Sally) mother's, father. My wifes father was a stamp collector and he saved these letters for his collection we are sure. David Buck Fairfield, IL dhbuck @wworld.com Oxford, Wisc. Apr 29, 1885. Dear Ella. Will answer your letter now which I was very glad to receive. Will give a history as near as I can of what I think you would like. The Fay's (I am) the fifth generation from Scotland and Ireland, and the fourth generation from England and the fourth from France. The first Fay that came to this continent (to my knowledge) mar- ried a girl by the name of Brigham These were my fathers great grandfather and great grandmother. My grandfather's name on my mothers side was Phinehas Bemis, My mother's great gran- fathers name was Reid who lost his youngest son (Asahel Reid) in the battle of Concord & Lexington (Revolutionary War) He was shot four times before he was killed. My mother's grandfathers name was Childs (sic) He was an old patriot of the French and Indian War. My mother's maiden name was Lydia Bemis. My grandfather's Fay was Captain Aaron Fay, patriot of the French and Indian Wars which commenced 1756. and the youngest of his fathers family. He lost his oldest son by his first wife in the French and Indian War, and his oldest son by his second wife (whoes maiden name was Bradish) in the Revolutionary War. My father's uncle Robert Fay served in the French and Indian War. One of my father's cousins was shot through the head in the Revolutionary War but lived, which was a very remarkable thing in those days. My grandfather & his brother's (which were old enough) served either in the French and Indian war or the revolutionary. If there is any further or any more that you would like to know write and I will tell you, if I know. Nancy is quite well. I feel very good in according to my age. Love to all, S.D. Fay. Well, Ella I will answer your letter pretty soon. Grandpa cant write any on account of his nerves. I have to do all his writing and tat is the reason he has not answered before because I've been busy. Hastily but Heartily Nettie ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com