Fay attended the common schools for a period of only six months.
He became a land surveyor and later engaged in agricultural pursuits, milling, and manufacturing.
He held various local offices and was Postmaster of Northampton for several years.
He was a member from Montgomery County of the New York State Assembly in 1808–09 and 1812.
He was a presidential elector on the Democratic James K. Polk ticket in 1844.