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(IV) Nathaniel, fourth child of Captain Aaron Fay by his first wife, was born February 6, 1747, died in Southborough, Massachusetts, August 10, 1812. He married Ruth Rice. Sons: Elijah, Elisha, Nathaniel and Hollis, all of whom were among the early settlers of the town of Portland, Chautauqua county, New York. Elijah and Elisha have further mention. Nathan Fay, not a brother, also settled early in the town.
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The names of seven sons are recorded in Orlin, and seven daughters.
Nathan ('not a brother,' 'not an uncle') was the son of Nathan (Orlin #110) and Lucy Bemis. He was born 4/28/1772, and was actually a second cousin of Elijah (see below). Part of his story is told in a biographical sketch of David Eaton written by H. C. Taylor.
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(V) Deacon Elijah Fay, son of Nathaniel Fay, was born in Southborough, Massachusetts, September 9, 1781, died in Portland, Chautauqua county, New York, August 23, 1860. He married, prior to 1811, Lucy Belknap, of Westborough, Massachusetts, who died January 18, 1872.
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The marriage between Elijah and "Lucy Belknup of Westborough" on January 20, 1807, is recorded in the Vital Records of Southborough. The intentions are recorded in Westborough; Lucy's name is spelled "Belknap", and the date is December 18, 1806.
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In 1811 he came with his wife to Portland in a wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen and a horse; forty-one days were consumed in making the journey from Massachusetts. He settled on lot No. 20, township No. 5, one hundred and seventy-nine acres; his first log cabin was built and ready for occupancy, January 1, 1812. The next year he built a better house, using the first as a barn and enclosing the space between for a thresh-/ing floor. Three years later a still better house was built, which the family occupied in 1831, when the present residence was built. Mr. Fay was a man of prominence in the town; he was one of the founders of the Baptist church and one of its early deacons. He is the father of the grape industry in western New York; and in 1830 made the first wine ever made in Chautauqua county, ten gallons, all of which was used for sacramental purposes. Children: Clinton S., married Almira A. Clark; Lydia E., married Laurance E. Ryckman; Joseph B., married (first) Maria M. Sage, (second) Martha Haywood.
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As can be seen from various census records, these families seem to have formed a tight group and remained close for a long period of time.
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(V) Elisha; son of Nathaniel Fay and brother of Deacon Elijah Fay, was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, June 2, 1783. He came to Portland in June, 1806, and at the time of his death was the oldest actual settler in Portland. He settled on lot No. 25, on which he lived about seventy years. In 1807 he returned to Massachusetts, and married, September 7, 1807 [recorded in the vital records of Southborough], coming back with his bride, Sophia Nichols. He then built a new log house, which he occupied until 1828, when he built a stone house, which is now standing. He served in the war of 1812, and was in battles at Black Rock and Buffalo. He was an early member of the Methodist Episcopal church, later joining the Wesleyan Methodist. His wife, Sophia, died October, 1850; and after her death he conntinued to reside on the old farm with his son. Children: Lincoln, of further mention; Edward, died aged twenty-three years; Charles, married Lydia A. Hall; Otis N., married Emmeline Van Tassel.
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(VI) Lincoln, son of Elisha Fay, was born in Portland, Chautauqua county, New York, about 1808. He became owner of the homestead located in 1806 by Nathan Fay (not an uncle). He married Sophronia Peck.
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(VII) Elisha II, son of Lincoln Fay, was born in Portland, New York, June 21, 1844, died October 23, 1910. He married Ada Dodge.
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(VIII) Berneda, daughter of Elisha II. She married, May 5, 1891, George W. Fuller (see Fuller IX).
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Deacon Elijah Fay moved to the town of Portland in 1811 from Southborough, Massachusetts, and settled at Salem Cross Roads, now the village of Brocton. He planted the first grape vine on his property in 1818. The vines grew profusely but the fruit was inferior quality. He tried again in 1822 with no luck, for the fruit mildewed. A few years later, Fay purchased William R. Prince of Flushing, Long Island, and roots of Isabella and Catawba. Those varieties grew with excellent production of fruit.
