The Fay Family: Rufus Fay 1805
   
THE FAY FAMILY HOMEPAGE

GENEALOGIES
   
Rufus Fay (1805 - after 1856) of New York
And his Descendants
  
Rufus Fay was born October 26, 1805, in Stafford Township, Tolland County, Connecticut, the son of James Israel Fay and Chloe Torrey.
  
His ancestry is documented in Orlin P. Fay's book:

David (4/23/1679 - 4/10/1738) m. Sarah Larkin

Edward (OPF 9)(5/16/1717 - 1806) son of David; m. Sarah ( - 12/23/1755)

Israel (OPF 82)(2/25/1744 - 8/17/1797) son of Edward; m. 12/15/1768 Mary Torrey (4/19/1748 - 12/23/1837)

James Israel (4/13/1785 - 1855) son of Israel; m. Chloe Torrey (abt 1784 - 1868)

In addition to the one son, Silas (b. 5/17/1803), included by Orlin on page 235, six more children have been documented by Charles Peterson. This can be found at Selvage and Peterson Families and More.

1. Silas FAY b: 17 MAY 1803 in Connecticut
2. Rufus FAY b: 26 OCT 1805 in Stafford Township, Tolland County, Connecticut
*. Russel FAY b: BET 1806 AND 1807
3. James Riley FAY b: 15 NOV 1813 in Java, Wyoming County, New York
4. Chloe P. FAY b: BET 1817 AND 1818 in Bethany, Genesee County, New York
5. Horace Albert FAY b: ABT 1820 in New York
6. Hiram FAY b: ABT 1821 in New York
7. Matilda FAY b: ABT 1826 in Java Township, Wyoming County, New York
   
The story of James Riley Fay has already been told here, and Peterson has a great deal of information about Silas. Peterson's information about Rufus is less complete than about Silas; he lists 8 children born before 1850, but does not continue their lines. Part of that lack is supplied by the work of Cecil Larsen, whose information on Rufus is a bit less sourced, but whose descendancy is far more complete. It is Larsen who names Justina and James, and tells where they are in 1860: each is with an older sister. It is Melvina Miranda, the oldest, who interests Larsen the most, and he follows her line. Therefore only the first generation of her line is given here. Peterson's notes for Rufus may also be found below.
   
1856 Iowa State Census, Carlton, Tama County
   
Based on the above material, the children of Rufus and Miranda are:
Melvina Miranda Fay b: January 1827
Alzina C Fay b: about 1830
Son Fay b: between 1830 and 1835
Emily A Fay b: about 1839
Frederick C Fay b: about 1842
Peter J\Phebe J Fay b: about 1845
Eunice A Fay b: about 1847
Justina G Fay b: about 1851
James L Fay b: about 1852
   
Israel travelled from Connecticut to Bethany in Genesee County, NY, before 1812 (see below for additional information from Charles Peterson). James Israel (see below for Peterson's notes) lived in Genesee, but the family branched out into Allegany, Wyoming, Livingston, and Monroe. Rufus lived in Java, Wyoming County, NY for most of his life; all of his children were born there. Yet in 1856, he is in Iowa. When did he move? He is in NY in 1850. In 1855, he sold land in Java to Liberty Curtis. I believe that that was in preparation for his trip, and that he moved between then and the Iowa census. After that, Rufus disappears, and his two younger children are in the care of older ones. Emily joined the household of her cousin Amos (son of Silas) and married in Iowa. It is not known what happened to Frederick, Peter/Phebe or Eunice.
   
Descendants of Rufus and Maranda (Blakely) Fay
Contributed by Arlene Halsen, additions from research
Material from the ancestry trees of Charles Peterson, Cecil Larsen, Pat Miller
7  Melvina Miranda Fay  b: 1/1827
...+Edwin Libby  b: 8/23/1827  d: 1874
.......8  E. Emmogene Libby  b: 9/29/1849
.......8  Lilly A. Libby  b: 1854  d: 1895-1898
.......8  Alida D. Libby  b: 1856  d: before 1860
.......8  W. A. Libby  b: 1858  d: 3/1860
.......8  Edwin Ray Libby  b: 1860
.......8  Phebe Seville Libby  b: 5/23/1870  d: 3/22/1948
(see Larsen for continuations)
7  Alzina C. Fay  b: 1830
...+William Carson Stover b: ABT 1838
.......8  Charles Stover b: ABT 1858
.......8  Eliza A Stover b: 1860
Alzina seems to have died before 1865. William remarried. Neither William nor Charles has been found in 1900.
7  Emily A. Fay  b: 1834  d: 4/1879
...+Tiberius Donaldson  b: 2/21/1835  d: 1/16/1907
.......8  Morris T. Donaldson  d: young
.......8  Don Carlos Donaldson  b: 7/15/1867  d: after 6/1947
........  +Sophia  b: 11/1861
..............9  Della (or Delia) May Donaldson  b: 8/1892
...............  +unknown Pucci
..............9  Mable M. Donaldson  b: 4/1896
..............9  Pearl Donaldson  b: 10/1898
..............9  Don Carlos Donaldson Jr. b: 10/17/1898 d: 3/1982
...............  +unknown Ayers
.....................10 Forrest E. Donaldson  b: 7/2/1919
...............  +Elizabeth Oran  m: 1925
.....................10 Lavern May Donaldson 24 Mar 1926
.....................10 Don Carlos Donaldson b:2/7/1930 d:12/1990
.......8  Willard Elmer Donaldson  b: 12/1868  d: 2/13/1938
........  +Nellie M. Tompkins  b: 5/1875
..............9  Leon Clyde Donaldson  b: 8/1894  d: 6/7/1938
..............9  Jesse M. Donaldson  b: 3/2/1901  d: 10/7/1916
..............9  Burton W. Donaldson  b: 1902  d: 4/13/1951
..............9  Harold A. Donaldson	b: 1908
.......8  Benjamin Donaldson  b: 1870  d: 1872
.......8  Alonzo Nathan Donaldson  b: 4/14/1873  d: 9/28/1944
........  +Amanda E. Wrenkel  b: 1881  d: 5/15/1966
..............9  Ethel M. Donaldson  b: 1903
..............9  Alonzo N. Donaldson  b: 10/2/1904  d: 5/31/1927
..............9  Norman Donaldson  b: 1906
Emily died in 1879. The census of 1880 shows Tiberius still in Iowa with his three sons. He married again, choosing Clarissa C. Spickler, with whom he had two daughters and a son. According to Arlene, a descendant of this part of the line, he was cruel to Clasissa and her children.
7  Frederick C. Fay; Peter J. Fay; Eunice A. Fay.
Nothing further is known of these three. The names come from the censuses of 1850 and 1856.
7  Justina G. Fay  b: 1851
(listed in 1856 and 1860; nothing further is known)
7  James L. Fay  b: 1852
(listed in 1856 and 1860; nothing further is known)
From Charles Peterson's notes on Israel Fay
   
IGI. Of Bethany, Genesee County.

S.E. North 1899, Our Country and People, p. 106. Israel Fay was in Bethany before 1812. An Ezekiel Fay is also noted as being in Bethany at this time.

Genesee County Library Family Files. Israel Fay came to Bethany in 1812. Married Mary ? Died 8 February 1884 at age of 79. She died 23 December 1837. Both buried in Bethany Center Cemetery.

F.W. Beers, Gazetteer and Biographic Record of Genesee County, New York, 1788-1890, p. 360. Israel Fay was in Bethany.

Genesee County, New York, Deed Book 29, p. 281. Israel Fay purchased land in lots 59 and 60 T11 R1 of the Holland Land Grant from Emory Cheney.

Genesee County, New York, Deed Book 73, p. 166. Land transaction in lot 50 T11 R1 of the Holland Land Grant Survey.

Genesee County, New York, Deed Book 78, p. 35. Israel Fay purchased from Jesse Fay land in lot 1 S11 R2 of the Holland Land Grant Survey.

Genesee County, New York, Deed Book 105, p. 40, 1855. Israel Fay sold land in lots 59 and 60 of T11 R1 of the Holland Land Grant Survey to Jonas L. Fay.
From Charles Peterson's notes on James Israel Fay
   
O. Turner 1850, Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase of Western New York, p. 455. James Fay in T10 R1 in 1802.

History of Wyoming County, New York, 1880, p. 212. James Fay was settler 1803 west of the village of Wyoming. So was David Torrey.

K.E. Livsey 1991, West New York Land Transactions 1804-1824, p. 45. James Fay, 2 November 1809, original transaction for property in Township 11 Range 1 Genesee County, New York.

Robert Morris of Massachusetts purchased Genesee County (originally all of western New York) in 1791. It was sold to the Holland Company 20 July 1793. The Holland Company was a group of Dutch bankers. Their first land sale was 1801.

1810 New York census, Genesee County, 3-0-1-0-0 / 0-0-1-0-0 / 1 [males of age 0-10, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, and >45; females 0-10, 10- 16, 16-26, 26-45, and >45; other individuals].

K.E. Livsey 1991, West New York Land Transactions 1804-1824, p. 84. James Fay, 12 March 1812, subsequent receipt for property in Township 11 Range 1.

K.E. Livsey 1991, West New York Land Transactions 1804-1824, p. 179. James Fay, 21 March 1817 and 31 March 1817, subsequent transactions on lot 58, Township 11 Range 1. 29 March 1817 (father-in-law) Timothy Torrey is receipted for the same lot.

Paul Castillo, 11 March 1998, Genesee County, New York, Deed Book 14, 1818-1823, p. 18: James Fay from Calvin Barross, lot 42 T11 R1.

K.E. Livsey 1991, West New York Land Transactions 1804-1824, p. 306. James Fay, 7 October 1819, original transaction for property in Township 8 Range 3, Wyoming County.

1820 New York census, Bethany Township, Genesee County p. 52. James Fay, 2-1-1-1-1-0 / 0-0-0-1-0 / 0-3 [males of age 0-10, 10-16, 16-18, 16-26, 26-45, and >45; females 0-10, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, and >45; individuals not naturalized; number in agriculture].

1830 New York census, China Township, Genesee County p. 158. James Fay, age 40-50 with wife of same age. Three male children of ages 5- 10 (Hiram), 15-20 (?), and 15-20 (James R.). Daughter of age 0-5 (Matilda).

Paul Castillo, 11 March 1998, Genesee County, New York, Deed Book 37, 1836, p. 482. James Fay from Mary Fay, lot 50, T11, R1.

Genesee County, New York, Deed Book 37, p.482, 12 December 1835. Mary Fay of the town of Bethany sold to James Fay of the town of Bethany for $1000 a parcel of 46 acres in lot #50 T11 R1.

1840 New York census. There are 4 Fay families listed in Java Township of Genesee County:
1) Horace Fay, p. 122, age 20-30. Considered a son and potentially with Amos in the household.
2) James Fay, p. 104, age 50-60 with one other male of age 15-20 in the household (Hiram?); wife of age 50-60 (Chloe?), one other female of age 10-15 (Matilda).
3) James R. Fay, p. 104. Age 20-30.
4) Rufus Fay, p. 104. Age 30-40.

Wyoming County, New York, Deed Book 4, p. 355, 10 September 1845. Horace A. and Eleanor Fay, and James and Chloe Fay, both of Wethersfield, conveyed part of lot 34 in Wethersfield to Ambrose P. Mosier of Wethersfield.

1850 Wyoming County, New York, census, pp. 62 and 63, Java, 13 and 14 August 1850, shows three Fay families:
(1) Dwelling 917/family 917, Rufus Fay 44 Connecticut, and family.
(2) 925/925, Silas Fay 47 Connecticut, and family.
(3) 926/926, James Fay 67 Connecticut, laborer, with Chloa 67 Connecticut, and Matilda 24 New York. James and Chloe Fay are almost certainly the parents of Silas and Rufus. They apparently are also the parents of Hiram Fay with whom Chloe is found in the 1860 Iowa census.

Jones County, Iowa, Probate Index. Estate of of James Fay, packet #0116, also Book C, p. 283. Packet includes only a copy of the estate notice published in the Jones County Bulletin, Anamosa, Iowa, dated 3 December 1855. Chloe Fay, administrator. According to this notice the will had been read in the county court and would be proven in court 7 January 1856.

Jones County, Iowa, Will Book. Last Will and Testament of James Fay. It is my will that my wife Chloe Fay is to have all the household furniture beds & bedding. It is my will that she has the Cow and Calf and the hog in the pen. It is my will that my sife is to have the money that my land in New York State will bring. It is my will that my wife is to have my land warrant from the War Department. It is my will that all the money on hand or coming likewise, all the property in the house or out a doors is to by my wife Chloe Fay. Except it is my will that my Son Silas Fay to have one dollar & Rufus Fay to have one dollar and Harris Fay one dollar like wise Hiram Fay one dollar it is my will that all my honest debts is to be paid first and my Funeral expenses to be paid likewise. It is my will that at the death of my wife if do be that my daughter Matilda should be living that she Fall Heir to all that her mother leaves it is my will that my wife Chloe Fay be the Executor of my will. James (his mark) Fay, Attest Samuel Spear and Jane Spear, June the 4th 1855. Recorded by the County Clerk 4 February 1856.

Another Fay family located about the same time in Jones County; see pp. 169-171 of Anamosa 1838-1988 . . . A Reminiscence. John H. (1822- 1914; married Cynthia Loesa Cameron 17 April 1868 in Anamosa, Jones County) and Edwin (married Margaret Mulconnery 1856 in Chicago) fled Ireland for unknown reasons.

Who is Adeline Fay who married Joseph Brownell, 21 September 1857, Jones County, Iowa, Marriage Record A, p. 76, license #543? The 1860 Iowa census lists Joseph W. Brownell 52 New York in Decatur County p. 116, but he is single.

Beers History of Wyoming County, New York. James Fay, p. 212.

F.W. Beers, Biographic Record of Genessee County, New York, 1788- 1890, pp. 63, 70, 81, 82, 95, 144, 357, 360, 361, 502, 589, 603, and 611.

Jones County, Iowa, Probate Records, Book C, p. 283. Estate #0116. James Fay.

Probate Records, Book C (LDS film 1737955), p. 283: Last Will and Testament of James Fay filed 3 December 1855. Notice to be published in the Jones County Bulletin.

O.K. Porter 1934, Iowa Genealogical Records from the DAR Chapter of Anamosa, p. 144. James Fay died 1855 at age 70. Buried White Oak Cemetery, Greenfield Township, Jones County, Iowa.
From Charles Peterson's notes on Rufus Fay
   
1830 New York census, China Township, Genesee County, p. 157. Rufus Fay, age 20-30, wife wife of same age. Two daughters of age 0-5.

1840 New York census, Java Township, Genessee County, p. 104. Rufus Fay, age 30-40 and wife of same age. 1 male child age 5-10 and four daughters of ages 0-5 (Emily), 5-10 (Alzina), 10-15 (?) and 10-15 (?).

Wyoming County, New York, Vital Records. Daughter born 10 August 1848 in Java, to Rufus and Meranda Fay.

1850 New York census, Wyoming County p. 62, Java Township, 13 August 1850, dwelling 917, family 917. Rufus Fay 44 Connecticut, assets $700, with Maranda 41 Vermont, and children (all born New York) Alzina 20, Emily A. 11, Frederick C. 8, Peter J. 5, and Eunise A. 3.

Was a farmer in the Torrey Hill Section of Java Township. Purchased a farm from the Holland Land Grant along with James and Silas Fay.

Wyoming County, New York, Deed Book 42, p. 478, 7 March 1855. Rufus and Maranda Fay of the town of Java conveyed to Liberty Curtis for $990 part of lot 20 in the town of Java.

Not identified in 1860 or 1870 census.

1880 national census. Neither Rufus or his wife Maranda are identified. None of children identified.