David Fay (December 13, 1761—June 5, 1827) was a Vermont Judge and militia officer who served on the Vermont Supreme Court and as Adjutant General of the Vermont Militia.
Early life[]
David Fay was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts on December 13, 1761.[1] His father Stephen Fay, owner of Bennington’s Catamount Tavern and one of the founders of Vermont, relocated the family to Bennington in 1766.[2] David Fay served in the Vermont Militia as a fifer during the American Revolution, and took part in the Battle of Bennington as a member of Captain Samuel Robinson’s Company.[3][4]
Career[]
Fay was a farmer and surveyor.[5] He later studied law, and attained admission to the bar in 1794.[6]
A Democratic-Republican, he served as Bennington County State’s Attorney from 1797 to 1801,[7] and was a member of the state Council of Censors from 1799 to 1806.[8] From 1801 to 1809 Fay served as United States Attorney for Vermont.[9]
In 1809 Fay was appointed to the Vermont Supreme Court, and he served until 1813.[10]
From 1817 to 1821 he was a member of the Vermont Governor’s Council,[11] and he served as Bennington County’s Judge of Probate from 1819 to 1820.[12]
Military service[]
Following the Revolution, Fay continued his service in the militia. He attained the rank of Major in the early 1790s[13] and was a Colonel by the late 1790s.[14] In 1795 he was appointed Adjutant General of the Vermont Militia with the rank of Major General. He held this position until 1822.[15]
During the War of 1812 Fay coordinated the activities of the Vermont Militia, including units dispatched to provide security on the Vermont-Canada border and units which took part in the defense of Plattsburgh.[16][17]
Death and burial[]
Fay died in Bennington on June 5, 1827 and was buried in the Old Bennington Cemetery.[18][19]
References[]
- ↑ Freemasons of the Grand Lodge of Vermont, Records of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Vermont, 1879, page 42
- ↑ Zadock Thompson, History Of Vermont, Part III, 1842, pages 17-18
- ↑ James Davie Butler, George Frederick Houghton, editors, Addresses on the Battle of Bennington: And the Life and Services of Colonel Seth Warner, 1849, page 39
- ↑ University of the State of New York Board of Regents, New York in the Revolution, 1887, page 536
- ↑ Almer J. Elliot, The Berkshire, Vermont, Chaffees, and Their Descendants, 1801-1911, 1911, page 16
- ↑ Vermont General Assembly, Records of the Council of Safety and Governor and Council of the State of Vermont, Volume 6, 1878, page 174
- ↑ Alexander Hamilton, author, Harold C. Syrett, editor, The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Volume 22, 1975, page 117
- ↑ Lee Stephen Tillotson, Ancient Craft Masonry in Vermont, 1920, page 32
- ↑ Leonard Deming, Catalogue of the Principal Officers of Vermont, 1851, page 112
- ↑ Daniel Roberts, A Digest of All the Reported Decisions of the Supreme Court of the State of Vermont, Volume 1, 1907, page v
- ↑ Jacob G. Ullery, Men of Vermont Illustrated, 1894, page 178
- ↑ Vermont General Assembly, Journals of the General Assembly of the State of Vermont, 1820, page 32
- ↑ Vermont General Assembly, Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont, 1875, page 215
- ↑ Vermont Historical Society, News and Notes: A Monthly Newsletter, Volumes 11-15, 1959, page 83
- ↑ Vermont Adjutant General, Annual Report, 1966, page 4
- ↑ Vermont General Assembly, Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont, Volume 6, 1878, pages 466-467
- ↑ Henry Swan Dana, History of Woodstock, Vermont, 1889, page 292
- ↑ Abby Maria Hemenway, The Vermont Historical Gazetteer, Volume 1, 1867, page 174
- ↑ David Fay at Find A Grave
The original article can be found at David Fay and the edit history here.