Robert Fay

Robert 3 was born in Marlboro on 20 Jul 1715 and died on 19 Dec 1810.

In 1749 he purchased of Jacob Wheeler a farm situated in Southboro about one and a half miles east by south from the center, where he is supposed to have reared his great family of 20 children, which could hardly have allowed him time to serve the public in any office.

He was, however, Surveyor and Collector of Taxes in 1747, Constable in 1755 and Tythingman in 1753 & 1768. He served in the French & Indian War, and attained the rank of Captain before the close of the war.

An unparalleled circumstance occurred with Robert and his brother Aaron. Each married two wives and had 20 children. Each wife had 10 children, and of each wife's children, there were 7 sons and 3 daughters, a total in the two families of 28 sons and 12 daughters.

Robert married Elizabeth Joslyn who died 4 Sep 1760. He then married Anna Harrington. Children of Robert and Elizabeth were:

i. Elizabeth, b. 27 Mar 1744, d. 18 Nov 1797, m. Abner Ward 30 Dec 1773; 4 children

ii. Robert, b. 30 Sep 1746, died young.

iii. Nathaniel, b. 18 Sep 1747, d. 22 Aug 1812,m. Ruth Rice, 15 children

iv. Reuben, b. 25 Sep 1749, d. 12 Nov 1797, m. Bethia Fay, Aaron's daughter, 21 Oct 1771; 12 children, 8 of whom died in 1796 within 42 days, possibly a result of their near kinship.[??!]

v. Asa, b. 11 Nov 1752, d. 2 Nov 1818, m. Comfort Newton

vi. David, b. 5 Mar 1755, d. 7 May 1806, m. Jane Ward; 8 children

vii. Joshua, b. 9 Feb 1757, died young

viii. Submit, b. 8 Mar 1758, died young

ix. Rebecca, b. 21 Jul 1759, died young

x. Elijah, b. 26 Aug 1760, died young

xi. Jason, b. 31 Mar 1786

xii. Robert (2)

xiii. Ephraim, b. 31 Jul 1768, d. 1779

xiv. Enoch, b. 7 Sep 1770

xv. Daniel, b. 6 Dec 1772, d. 1783

xvi. Rufus, b. 13 Dec 1779, killed by his team of horses, m. Patty Woods; 11 children

xvii. Silas (no information)

xviii - xx were daughters