Patrick Fay was the son of Christopher Fay and Ann Dardis of Ireland. He married Mary Murray around 1878 in Cleveland, Ohio, and was the stepfather of Frank L. Fay of Greenville, PA.

Birth

Patrick S. Fay was born March 1, 1848, in Ireland, according to his death certificate. I have not searched for his birth record.

Emigration

He was brought to the U.S. as a baby. I have found several infant Patrick Fays in ships records dating between 1848 and 1850 but I have not found the correct one yet. He may have arrived with his father Christopher in 1849 but I have not been able to confirm this.

Marriage

Patrick married the widow, Mary Bridget Murray Cavanagh. I have not found a marriage certificate.

Children

Patrick had two birth children and three stepchildren. You can get details on them at his wife’s page.

Occupation

Patrick worked on the railroad as a switchman.

Residence

Patrick lived first in New York and later in Cleveland, Ohio. His family moved around New York state here and there.

1850

Patrick appears with his parents in Syracuse Ward 2 in Onondaga County, NY, in 1850. His father seems to be 34 years old this year and his mother Ann is 37. Their children are two eighteen-year-old girls, Fanny and Ann; their son John, 12; Margaret, 6; Patrick, 2; and Joseph, 6 months. The date the census was taken was August 10, 1850, so Joseph must have been born in February of that year. All are born in Ireland except for little Joseph, who was born in New York. This places the family’s arrival before February 1850. Christopher’s occupation is a little difficult to read but I think it says, “At Work.” See below.

1855

On June 11, 1855, Christopher appears in the New York state census for LaFayette, Onondaga County. He is 50; his wife Anne is 42. They have lived in the town for 4 years. Christopher is unemployed. At home are James, 13; Mary Anne, 11; Patrick, 7; Joseph, 5; and Andrew, 3. See below.

1860

The 1860 federal census finds the family in Cazenovia in Madison County, New York. Christopher is a 55-year-old laborer. Ann is 47. Son John is a 23-year-old storekeeper. Patrick is 12. Joseph A. is 10. Andrew is 8. See the image below.

1865

The 1865 New York state census has not yet been transcribed. I am keeping an eye out for it to be finished. This group is working on it: http://www.unyg.com/blog/index.php/2009/09/the-1865-and-1892-new-york-state-census-online/comment-page-1/.

1870

In 1870, they are back in Syracuse. Christopher has died by this time so we just find Ann with some of her children. She is 57, “Keeping House,” and has a personal estate value of $300. James, 28, is a Brakesman. Patrick, 23, is a Conductor. Joseph, 22, is a Brakesman. Andrew, 17, is “At Home.” See below for the original record.

1875

On June 5, 1875, the New York state census for Geddes, Onondaga County, New York, shows the 62-year-old Ann living with her four boys in a frame house worth $900. Patrick is 27. James is 30. Joseph is 25. Andrew is 23. All are laborers.

1880

Somehow between 1875 and 1800, Patrick met and married Mary Murray of Cleveland, Ohio. He appears in the 1880 federal census for Ohio with Mary and her children: Frank, 11; Nellie, 9; Agnes, 7; and Gertrude, a baby, who I believe is Patrick’s child.

1883

1884

Patrick is listed in the 1884 Cleveland directory as a conductor living at 242 1/2 Liberty Street.

1887

Patrick appeared in the 1887 Cleveland city directory as a brakeman living at 242 1/2 Liberty Street.

1888

Patrick S. Fay appears in the Cleveland, Ohio, city directory. He lived at 242 1/2 Liberty Street and is a railroad conductor.

1889

1890

No census exists for this year.

1892

Patrick appeared in the 1892 Cleveland, Ohio, City Directory as a brakeman, living at 242 Liberty Street.

1895

Patrick is listed in the 1895 Cleveland city directory as a brakeman living at 242 Liberty. His daughter Agnes also appears as a confectioner.

1900

Patrick and Mary Fay appear in District 171 in the Cleveland Ohio census for 1900. Patrick was born in March 1851; Mary in February 1852; Nellie in June 1873; Gertrude in January 1880; and Loretta in 1885. Nellie is 26, Gertrude is 20, and Loretta is 15. Patrick is a Switchman on the railroad. Patrick emigrated to the U.S. in 1851 and Mary in 1862. They have been married for 30 years. They lived on Liberty Street.

1904

Patrick appeared in the Cleveland city directory for 1904 as a brakeman living at 34 Buckley Street.

1905

In 1905, Patrick is listed as a switchman and still lives at 35 Buckley.

1910

Patrick S. is 62; Mary B. is 60; Nellie E. is 35; Gertrude A. is 30; and Loretta M. is 25. Patrick and Mary have been married 32 years and Mary has been married twice. Mary has 5 children, all still living. Patrick emigrated in 1848 and Mary in 1860. Patrick has been naturalized. Patrick is working as a switchman in a rail road yard. They live at West 48th Street.

This is the last census that Patrick and Mary appear in. Patrick died in 1912 and Mary in 1914.

1911

Patrick appeared in the Cleveland City Directory for 1911, living at 2049 West 48th SW Street and working as a switchman.

1912

Patrick appeared in the Cleveland City Directory for 1912, living at 2049 West 48th SW Street and working as a “switchtdr,” which I believe is a switchman for the railroad.

Death

At age 64, Patrick was killed while on the job as a switchman on the Lindale Railroad yard.

He died August 15, 1912, in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He lived at 2049 W 48th St. at the time of his death. See death certificate below.

His head was severed and his body mangled. From his death certificate we learn that he lived at 2049 W. 48th Street in Cleveland. His parents were Christopher Fay and Ann Dardis. All three were born in Ireland, Patrick on March 1, 1848. The informant was F.L. Fay of Greenville, PA. Patrick was buried in Calvary Cemetery on August 19, 1912.

Here are newspaper notices from that time.

Burial

He is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio. See his memorial page at findagrave.com here. Below is the photograph that I asked for and that was kindly taken for me by a volunteer.

And here is a list of some other Fays found in the same cemetery: http://www.interment.net/data/us/oh/cuyahoga/calvary/calvary_f.htm.

I found two mentions of Patrick in the Journal of the Switchmen’s Union of North America, online and digitized by Google: