My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT HAY, a leading citizen of Greenwich, and at one time a popular hotel keeper, was born in Buffalo, N.Y., September 17, 1838, son of Henry and Lydia (Higgins) Hay. Henry Hay, who was a native of Scotland, was a carpet manufacturer in the old country; and he was also proficient in the art of frescoing. He emigrated to America in 1824 or 1825, and lived for some years in Utica and Buffalo. Later he was conducting a small business in Rochester, N.Y. An industrious and thrifty man, he attained a fair degree of prosperity, but died at the early age of forty-seven in Massachusetts, where the latter part of his life was spent. He was twice married. His first wife, Lydia Higgins, mother of Robert Hay, was a native of Buffalo, and died at the age of thirty-one. Besides Robert three children were born to Mr. Hay, namely: Henry, an engineer, who resides in Danvers, Mass.; Allison, widow of Robert Hume; and Elizabeth, widow of the Rev. J. Ashton, who resides in Binghamton, N.Y.

Robert Hay spent his early boyhood in New York State. He became a resident of Connecticut at the age of fifteen. He began to learn carpet-making when a boy of fourteen, and worked at his trade until twenty-six years of age. In 1865 he engaged in the hotel business in Greenwich, assuming charge of the Greenwichville Hotel, which he conducted for six years. He was subsequently proprietor of the hotel at Waltham for three years. Returning to Greenwich, he was three years engaged in the mercantile business, but returned to his former occupation of hotel keeping at the end of that time, taking charge of the Park House at Niagara Falls. At the end of a year he removed to Worcester, where for seven years he was proprietor of the Waverly House. He next took charge of the Massasoit House at Spencer, which he conducted for six years. He then returned to Greenwichville, where he has since resided, retired from the cares of active life. As a hotel man he was very popular, and his enterprise and tact insured success wherever he went.

Mr. Hay was united in marriage with Dolly, daughter of Benjamin C. and Huldah (Schoolcraft) Cotton. The Cottons, who are of English origin, were among the first settlers of New Hampshire, and for generations have been prominently identified with the public welfare, taking part in every war for the preservation of the Union. Mrs. Hay’s great-grandfather and grandfather were soldiers in the Revolutionary army. Her father served in the War of 1812; and two brothers, Oilman and James Cotton, were volunteers in the Federal ranks at the time of the late war. Her father, Benjamin C. Cotton, was one of the leading citizens of Warren, N.H., where Mrs. Hay was born. Seven children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hay: three of them — Dolly, Thomas A., and Inez Blanche — have passed away; Henry is married, and is proprietor of the Dresser House; Addie F. is the wife of Frank Southgate, a manufacturer in Worcester, Mass.; Mabel E. is the wife of Otis Everett, superintendent of the skate factory in Worcester; and Robert, Jr., who also is married, is a shoe cutter in Greenwich.

In political matters Mr. Hay favors the Republican party. He belongs to the Lodge of A. F. & A. M. at Worcester and also to the Continentals of that city. His home, which is one of the finest in Greenwich, a handsome residence surrounded by beautiful grounds, is the centre of genial and courteous hospitality, which none know better how to dispense than Mr. and Mrs. Hay.