The Thomas Fay Family

Thomas Fay, my maternal 2x great grandfather, was born in Ireland about 1839 and immigrated in 1861.[1] On 1 January 1869, Thomas married Bridget McDermott in Trenton, New Jersey.[2] Employed as an Iron Founder, he became a naturalized citizen the following year.[3] Bridget, who was born in 1847 and arrived from Ireland in 1867,[4] would have become a citizen through her husband’s naturalization in 1870.

Thomas died on 8 April 1903 and Bridget on 3 March 1930. Both are buried in St John's Cemetery in Trenton.[5] I’ve been to this cemetery many times but was unaware of this couple. Two of their children appear to be buried with them including Emma, a child unknown to me.

Their oldest daughter, my great grandmother, Anna (Annie) Mariah Fay, was born in 1869.[6] She married Edward James Moore on 23 June 1892 at Sacred Heart Church in Trenton.[7]

Thomas and Bridget’s children also include James (b. 1871), Kate (b. 1873), Thomas T. (b. 1878), John J. (b. 1879), Charles A. (b. 1882) and May E. (b.1887).[8]

While preparing this post, it became clear that there is a great deal about this family in records held at the New Jersey State Archives. A research trip is planned and will focus on marriage and death records for Thomas and Bridget along with records for their siblings and the children of this marriage. I can’t wait!

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[1] 1900 US census, Mercer, New Jersey, population schedule, Trenton, 11 Ward, p. 1, line 40, house 639, dwelling 8, family 8, household of Thomas Fay; digital images online (www.heritagequestonline.com : 14 October 2010) citing NARA publication T623, roll 983.

[2] New Jersey State Archives, State of New Jersey, Department of State, Marriage Records, May 1848 - May 1878, BG:466, marriage of Thomas Fay and Bridget McDermott, date of marriage 1 January 1869; searchable database online (http://www.nj.gov/state/archives/searchdatabases.html : 13 March 2015).

[3] 1900 US census, Mercer, New Jersey, Trenton, 11 Ward, p. 1, house 639, dwelling 8, family 8, Thomas Fay.

[4] 1900 US census, Mercer, New Jersey, Trenton, 11 Ward, p. 1, house 639, dwelling 8, family 8, Thomas Fay.

[5] http://www.findagrave.com : 22 April 2015.

[6] 1870 US census, Mercer, New Jersey, population schedule, Trenton City, 7th Ward, p. 62, dwelling 468, family 546, household of Thomas Fay; digital images online, (www.heritagequestonline.com : 14 October 2010) citing NARA publication M593, roll 872.

[7] Marriage Notice, “People We Meet,” Trenton Evening Times, Mercer, New Jersey, Sunday, 26 June 1892, p. 4, marriage of Edward Moore and Annie Fay, 23 June 1892; digital images online (www.genealogybank.com : 13 March 2015).

[8] 1900 US census, Mercer, New Jersey, Trenton, 11 Ward, p. 1, house 639, dwelling 8, family 8, Thomas Fay.