Francis B. Fay: Difference between revisions
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His parents were poor, and he had little education. At the age of 18, he “bought his time” of his father for $80 a year. (The term refers to the practice of sons owing their fathers time and dedication until they were 21; to pursue other occupations, sons were expected to "buy their time" to reimburse their fathers for lost labor.) Fay attended the public scales in [[Dock Square (Boston)|Dock Square, Boston]], in 1811-12, then served as market man and butcher, and in 1817 became a merchant in Southborough. |
His parents were poor, and he had little education. At the age of 18, he “bought his time” of his father for $80 a year. (The term refers to the practice of sons owing their fathers time and dedication until they were 21; to pursue other occupations, sons were expected to "buy their time" to reimburse their fathers for lost labor.) Fay attended the public scales in [[Dock Square (Boston)|Dock Square, Boston]], in 1811-12, then served as market man and butcher, and in 1817 became a merchant in Southborough. |
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From 1816-1824 Fay was an active member of the state militia, reaching the rank of colonel. |
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He was postmaster of Southborough from September 15, 1817, to March 29, 1832. |
He was postmaster of Southborough from September 15, 1817, to March 29, 1832. |
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He was deputy sheriff of [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester County]] 1824–1830. |
He was deputy sheriff of [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester County]] 1824–1830. |
Revision as of 23:09, 2 December 2017
Francis Ball Fay | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 2nd district | |
In office December 13, 1852 – March 3, 1853 | |
Preceded by | Robert Rantoul Jr. |
Succeeded by | Samuel L. Crocker |
1st Mayor of Chelsea, Massachusetts | |
In office 1857–1857 | |
Preceded by | Board of Selectmen |
Succeeded by | Hosea Ilsley |
Member of the Massachusetts Senate | |
In office 1843-1845 1848 1868 | |
Personal details | |
Born | June 12, 1793 Southboro, Massachusetts |
Died | October 6, 1876 South Lancaster, Massachusetts | (aged 83)
Political party | Whig |
Spouse | Nancy Brigham[1] |
Children | Frank B. Fay |
Francis Ball Fay (June 12, 1793 – October 6, 1876) was a United States merchant and politician. He served as U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.
Biography
He was born in Southborough, Massachusetts. His parents were poor, and he had little education. At the age of 18, he “bought his time” of his father for $80 a year. (The term refers to the practice of sons owing their fathers time and dedication until they were 21; to pursue other occupations, sons were expected to "buy their time" to reimburse their fathers for lost labor.) Fay attended the public scales in Dock Square, Boston, in 1811-12, then served as market man and butcher, and in 1817 became a merchant in Southborough.
From 1816-1824 Fay was an active member of the state militia, reaching the rank of colonel. He was postmaster of Southborough from September 15, 1817, to March 29, 1832. He was deputy sheriff of Worcester County 1824–1830. He served as member of the Massachusetts General Court in 1830 and 1831. In 1831 he moved to Chelsea, built one of the first houses there, and bought the first ferry-boats running to Boston from that place. Fay represented represented in the Massachusetts General Court from 1834 to 1836 and in 1840, and served in the State Senate 1843–1845 and again in 1848. Fay served as the first Mayor of Chelsea in 1857, where he was also the first president of Chelsea's oldest bank, the Chelsea Savings Bank, incorporated in 1854.
Fay was elected as a Whig to the Thirty-second Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Robert Rantoul, Jr., and served from December 13, 1852, to March 3, 1853. He was not a candidate for the Thirty-third Congress.
In 1852, Fay endowed the public library in his hometown of Southborough, Massachusetts
After declining to serve a second term as Chelsea's mayor, Fay moved to Lancaster in 1858 to be closer to the state industrial school for girls he had helped found, and with which he was connected as commissioner, trustee, and treasurer, 1854-64. He was again a member of the State Senate in 1868. He died in South Lancaster, Massachusetts, October 6, 1876. He was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett, Massachusetts.
Notes
- ^ Rand, John Clark (1890), One of a Thousand: a Series of Biographical Sketches of One Thousand Representative Men, Boston, MA: First National Publishing Company, p. 209.
References
- United States Congress. "Francis B. Fay (id: F000050)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Francis B. Fay at Find a Grave
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Wilson, J. G.; Fiske, J., eds. (1900). . Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- 1793 births
- 1876 deaths
- Massachusetts State Senators
- Mayors of Chelsea, Massachusetts
- Members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts
- People from Southborough, Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Whigs
- Whig Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- 19th-century American politicians