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We don't know a lot about Nathan's early years in Michigan. His father died in 1810 in Portland, Chautauqua County. In 1820, Nathan was still in New York. By 1830, he had gone to Michigan. Joshua Fay, his cousin, and brother of his future wife, also went to Michigan "soon after 1820." Did they perhaps travel together? |
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1820
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Nathan Fay: Ripley, Chautauqua, NY. Ripley is not far from Portland.
Two males, one 10-16 and one 19-26. (but not 16-18); and no women. Our Nathan would be 23. |
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1830
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| Fay, Nathan: Washington, Macomb, MI |
males
one under 5; one 5-10; one 30-40 [two sons and Nathan] |
females
one under 5; one 30-40 |
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By 1830, Nathan is in Michigan, in Washington, Macomb County, with a wife, and two sons and a daughter, all under 10. The older son is 5-10, which means he was born before 1825. This indicates a marriage between 1820 and 1825. According to Orlin, there were four children of Nathan's first wife: Ira, Philena; Warren; and Elizabeth. We know that Nathan and Rosanna were married October 11, 1832, in Oakland. It seems, then, that the fourth child of the first marriage must have been born between late 1830 and 1832. Nathan's wife died, possibly because of childbirth, and he remarried. Where was Rosanna in 1830? Eli Fay, her father, is gone; her brother Joshua is in Michigan, but she is not in his household. In 1830, she would have been 25; and might have been in service. But repeated searches have not found her.
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1840
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Nathan Fay: Bloomfield, Oakland, MI
males: 2 under five [Franklin, Milton]; two 5-10 [Gilbert, Albert]; one 40-50 [Nathan]
females: one under 5 [Mary]; one 15-20; one 30-40 [Rosanna]
The female 15-20 would have been born between 1820 and 1825. Nathan's older daughter from his first marriage? What has happened to the other three children? Neither Ira nor Warren seems to be found later.
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1850
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By 1850, Nathan (53) is in Shiawassee, Shiawassee County, with Rosanna (45) and seven children.
Gilbert 16 Mich [1834]
Albert 16 Mich [1834]
Mary 12 [1838]
Franklin 10 Mich [1840]
Julia A 9 Mich [1841]
Sulivan 6 Mich [1844]
Eli F 3 Mich [1847]
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| Milton, Nathan's third child, had died August 27, 1845 at the age of 9 years; 2 mo�s; 16 da�s, giving him a birthdate of 1836 [headstone, Fremont Cemetery, Bancroft, Shiawassee]. |
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1860
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| Nathan died in 1853. In 1860, Rosanna and five children (Mary; Julia; Franklin; Eli; and Nancy) are still in Shiawasee. Nancy is 9 here. That places her birth after August 2, 1850. Nancy is entered as 'Lucy' in 1870, where she is said to be 20 by September 12. A birth date between August 2 and September 12, 1850, would fit all of the requirements. I believe that this is the daughter who married Luther Dodge on November 15, 1870.
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| Two of the children, Albert and Gilbert, are not here with Rosanna. Their story is interesting; Orlin, and the Rice Association following Orlin, said that they were twins. However, I think that they were mistaken. There is a cemetery, Fremont Cemetery, in Bancroft, Shiawassee Township. There are graves there for Milton (see above), Albert and Gilbert Fay. According to the transcription, Gilbert died January 27, 1859, at the age of 27 years, 11 months and 20 days, giving him a birthdate of February 7, 1831. |
| Albert died May 26, 1864, at the age of 30 years, 5 months and 10 days, giving him a birthdate of December 16, 1833. If this is our Albert, he should be in the census of 1860. According to LDS, Albert Fay married Mary Jane Adams, born November 30, 1832, in January of 1856. There is a census record for this Albert, living in St Charles, Saginaw Co. |
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| Albert, 27; Mary J., 28; and a daughter Ella, age 3. But who are Sylvester, age 16, and Leonard, age 35? They have not yet been identified. |
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1870
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| Between 1860 and 1870, Rosanna moved to New Haven. Just the two youngest children, Eli and Lucy, remain with Rosanna, and Lucy leaves shortly to marry Luther.
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| Albert died in 1864. Mary Jane is still in St. Charles, and there are two children with her: Ella A., who is 12; and Willard A., who is 9. Willard was born October, 1860 (according to the 1900 census), thus just after the last census, and four years before the death of his father. Mary Jane is only 37 now. It is a fair assumption that Ella was married before the 1880 census, and that Mary Jane married for a second time before then; at any rate, neither has been found in 1880.
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1880
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| Willard and his new wife live in St. Charles. There in July 1883, a daugher Edna was born; she died two months later on October 1, 1883. Sometime later, a second child was born to them and died. In 1900, they are still living in St. Charles, with two adopted daughters, Grace Banks (born 11/1883) and Laura Dennis (born 6/1884).
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