David Fay

Background

David Fay was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts on December 13, 1761. His father Stephen Fay, owner of Bennington’s Catamount Tavern and one of the founders of Vermont, relocated the family to Bennington in 1766.

Career

Fay was a farmer and surveyor. From 1801 to 1809 Fay served as United States Attorney for Vermont. In 1809 Fay was appointed to the Vermont Supreme Court, and he served until 1813.

Following the Revolution, Fay continued his service in the militia.

In 1795 he was appointed Adjutant General of the Vermont Militia with the rank of Major General. He held this position until 1822.

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. Fay died in Bennington on June 5, 1827 and was buried in the Old Bennington Cemetery.

Achievements

• He later studied law, and attained admission to the bar in 1794. He attained the rank of Major in the early 1790s and was a Colonel by the late 1790s.

Membership

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. A Democratic-Republican, he served as Bennington County State's Attorney from 1797 to 1801, and was a member of the state Council of Censors from 1799 to 1806. From 1817 to 1821 he was a member of the Vermont Governor's Council, and he served as Bennington County’s Judge of Probate from 1819 to 1820.