1870s/1880s Autograph Album of young Mr. Fay of Rockingham, Vermont, and Keene, New Hampshire

1870s/1880s autograph album that I believe belonged to one of two brothers surnamed Fay of New Hampshire and Vermont.  The likely brothers were Harvey G. Fay or Martin Kidder Fay.  I'm leaning toward the former.

The brothers were born at Alstead, New Hampshire, but were living at Rockingham, Vermont, at the time of the 1870 Census, and at Keene, New Hampshire, by the time of the 1880 Census.

Clues that narrowed down the possiblilities were:

• The fact that Laura E. Fay of Rockingham, Vermont, signed a page and indicated she was the album owner's sister.

• The approximate ages of several signers who indicated they were schoolmates, including at Pine Hill Seminary at Bellows Falls, Vermont.  For example, Marcia Church of Bellows Falls, Vermont, who signed a page in 1878.

The album is approximately 5" x 3" and contains over 40 pages signed by relatives and friends.  An alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this post.

Pasted to the reverse of the first endpaper, a wonderful scrap:

From online research, hopefully correct: [corrections welcome]

Harvey G. Fay and Martin Kidder Fay were the sons of Gerould Eardley Fay and Adaline Julia (Livermore) Fay, who were born at Alstead, New Hampshire, and Livermore, New Hampshire, respectively.

Harvey G. Fay was born 6 January 1865 at Alstead, New Hampshire.  He married Mae Irene Dunbar on 12 October 1891.

Martin Kidder Fay was born 17 June 1868 at Alstead, New Hampshire.  He married Gertrude Hinsdell on 5 June 1891 at Elgin, Illinois.

In addition to the page signed by sibling Laura E. Fay, the following pages were signed, I believe, by older brothers of the album owner.

Fred H. Fay of Rockingham, Vermont, signed a page in 1879.

Herbert E. Fay of Keene, New Hampshire, signed a page in 1878.

George H. Fay of Rockingham, Vermont, signed a page in 1878.

Addie M. Fay signed a page at Rockingham, Vermont, in 1880.  She may have been Addie (Cutler) Fay, wife of the album owner's brother Frederick H. Fay (see his page above).

If you have corrections to the information above or additional information on the Fay and Livermore families or on any of the signers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Thanks!

Complete list of signers, in alphabetical order: [Note: given names within a specific surname may not be in alpha order.

• Eva Belle Adams of Rockingham, Vermont, 1880
• Carrie W. Adams, 1880
• Carrie F. Allen of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878
• Mary A. Barry of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878

• Carroll W. Black of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878; schoolmate
• George A. Brown of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878
• Harry E. Bullock of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878
• Frank H. Chipman of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878
• Marcia Church of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878; Pine Hill Seminary
• Elena Dodge of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878
• Mary L. Dow of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878
• Elmer Eddy of Bellows Falls, Vermont
• ? Fay; album owner.  I believe he was one of the younger brothers of Laura E. Fay of Rockingham, Vermont; either Harvey G. Fay or Martin K. Fay
• George H. Fay of Rockingham, Vermont, 1878.  I believe he was an older brother to the album owner
• Addie M. Fay, signed at Rockingham, Vermont, 1880.  Wife of album owner's older brother Frederick H. Fay
• Jennie S. Fay of Keene, New Hampshire, 1880; friend
• Laura E. Fay of Rockingham, Vermont, 1880.  Album owner's sister
• Herbert E. Fay of Keene, New Hampshire, 1878.  Older brother of album owner
• Franklin H. Fay of Keene, New Hampshire, 1880.  Album owner's paternal uncle Franklin Harvey Fay
• Fred H. Fay of Rockingham, Vermont, 1879.  This may be the album owner's older brother
• Elsie M. Glazier of Keene, New Hampshire, 1880
• Mary E. Graves of Keene, New Hampshire, 1880
• Herbert S. Gray of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878
• Fred Griswold of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878
• Mary L. Guild, signed at Pine Hill Seminary at Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878; schoolmate
• William Hall of Keene, New Hampshire.  Middle initial might be C or G
• Mary E. Halpine of Keene, New Hampshire, 1881.  In 1885 she would become wife of album owner's older brother George H. Fay, who also signed a page.
• Mary A. Halpine, signed at Keene, New Hampshire, 1881.  Mary A. (Kingsbury) Halpine, mother of Mary E. Halpine, future wife of album owner's brother George H. Fay; they both signed pages as well
• Carrie M. Hutchins of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878
• Annie L. Kidder of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878; friend
• Gertrude I. Kidder of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1879
• Grace Kidder of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1879
• J. Elizabeth Kingsbury of Keene, New Hampshire, 1881.  Probably Juliette E. Kingsbury, sister of Mary A. Halpine, who also signed a page.
• Willie M. McIntyre of Chester, Vermont, 1878
• Emma L. Moore of Keene, New Hampshire, 1880
• E. G. Osgood of Bellows Falls, Vermont; schoolmate
• J. Putney of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878.  Middle initial might be H
• Cora A. Reed of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878
• Willie T. Russell of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878.  Willard T. Russell perhaps?
• Minnie J. Smith of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878
• Julia A. A. Spaulding, signed at Keene, New Hampshire, 1883
• George I. Whitney of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878.  Mentions football, so perhaps a schoolmate
• Ida M. Wilson of Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1878; schoolmate

Alstead, New Hampshire


View Larger Map

Rockingham, Vermont


View Larger Map

Keene, New Hampshire


View Larger Map

Thanks for stopping by!