Author: James Edward Mitchell
Jellis A. (aka Abraham) Fonda was born (b.) 25 Oct 1759 at Schenectady District, Albany County (Co.), New York (NY). His parents were identified as “Abraham Fonda and Suzanna Glen” parents of Rebecca Fonda (1757-1846) baptized on 12 Jun 1757 with sponsors Sander [(sic) phonetic] (Alexander) Glen and Rebecca (Swits) Glen i.e., Suzanna’s parents; source, U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989, NY, Schenectady Baptisms, Vol 2, Book 42, pg 95. A separate typed, baptism record was found dated Oct 28, 1759 for “Jilles” (sic) Fonda. The baptism record date (1759) was handwritten in pencil upon the page, 106; source, ibid, 106. Also, Joseph Yates and Eva Yates were recorded as sponsors and witnesses for Jellis A. Fonda’s baptism at the Reformed Dutch Church, Schenectady District, Albany Co., NY. Schenectady during the mid-1700s was a farm and market town involved heavily in trading and commerce throughout the Mohawk Valley. The Dutch Reformed Church and community economy of Schenectady* was sketched by historian Stefan Bielinski; see, https://exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/na/schenectady.html On 2 Aug 1832, at age 72, a resident of the City of Schenectady, State of NY, Jellis A. Fonda re-filed a pension claim S.10684 that stated, he was born on the 25th day of Oct 1759, at Schenectady and he was entered on that date in the Baptism Register of the Reformed Dutch Church at the said City of Schenectady. Fonda stated at the time he entered service of the united colonies, at age 18, he lived in Schenectady. He continued residing there after the revolution until 1830, when he moved to the County of Sullivan in said State (NY) but at present, he resided in said City (Schenectady). Fonda re-affirmed with John S. Vrooman, Clerk of the Court of Schenectady that previously, he had filed a claim for his Revolutionary War service under the Act of the 15th May 1828. That claim was initially rejected. Now (1832) he was re-filing to prove his service dates. Fonda initially was appointed as a Lieut. (2nd) Regt., in Capt. Jesse Van Slyck’s company; Col. Abraham Wemple and Brig. Gen’l. (John) Glover’s Bgde. during the New York Campaign, 1777. Fonda was initially appointed an officer by the Schenectady Committee of Safety that raised troops and funds for the Albany Co., Militia, (NY) Regts. Fonda stated that while in said company he was attached to the American Army at Fort Ann, Fort George, Bemis Heights, Fort Edward and other places. He was in the battle of Saratoga, when Gen’l. Burgoyne and his British Army were defeated and captured by Gen’l. Gates. In the spring of 1778, Fonda was commissioned a Lieut. and Adjutant in Capt. John Mynderse’s company, (2nd) Regt., Albany Co., Militia; attached with Gen’l. Frederick Fisher’s Bgde. He served with the bgde. on garrison duty 4 or 5 months at Fort Paris (Stone Arabia); see, John Mynderse, SAR Patriot #: P-335392 /Biography. The History of Schenectady During the Revolution by Willis T. Hanson, 1916, Reprint, publ. originally: Brattleboro, VT.: Private Printing, E. L. Hildreth, Chapter IV, pgs 17 -32 introduced The Schenectady Committee (Cmte) of Safety efforts on 2 Sep 1775 to raise the first militia companies. The Minutes of the Cmte. of Safety noted that the companies of Captain Jellis Fonda (1727-1791) SAR Patriot #: P-159986 /Biography and Capt. John Mynderse, above, retained their classification as minute men and as such served until the spring of 1777, when they were incorporated with the regular militia raised for Schenectady. The motto of these companies as noted on their flags was “Liberty of Death,” and because of the color of the uniform shirts worn by their members, Capt. Mynderse’s company was known as “The Blues” and Capt. Jellis Fonda’s as “The Greens.” -U.S., Pension Office Records, Jellis J. Fonda and Minutes of the Schenectady Cmte. of Safety. In the spring of 1779, Fonda was commissioned as a Lieut. and Adjutant to Col. Thomas Butler’s (4th) Pennsylvania Regt., Continental Line for the duration of that military campaign on garrison assignment at Upper Fort Schoharie. In the spring of 1780, Fonda served as a Lieut. and Adjutant in Col. Morris Graham’s Regt. of NY State Levies guarding West Point and Harper’s ferry. While at West Point, Fonda acted as Bgde. Maj. in the absence of Maj. (John V. A.) Lansing. Jellis A. Fonda advised that he was one of the 1,200 men whom Gen’l. Benedict Arnold (previous to his treachery) sent away to Fort Edward to weaken the garrison at West Point…. Finally in the spring of 1781, Fonda was attached to (Acting) Col. Marinus Willett’s -3rd NY Line, Regt. of Levies. Jellis (Jelles) A. Fonda was appointed Adjutant on the staff of Col. Willett until 1 Nov 1782 and he was discharged after 11 months of service at the rank of Capt. His total service claimed upon duty at the rank of Lieut., totaled at least 3 years and 3 months active service, he stated. See, Fonda’s (2nd) NY Regt., Albany Co., Militia service recorded within the publication entitled, New York in the Revolution as Colony and State, Vol 1, publ. 1904 by J. B. Lyon Co., Printers at Albany, NY, see: The Militia – Lieut., Jellis A. Fonda, pg 97, and The Levies-(Willett); Adjutant Jelles (sic) A Fonda, pg 87. At age 23, during the signing of the Treaty of Paris of 1783, Jellis married a childhood acquaintance Elizabeth Yates (1763-1824), a granddaughter of Joseph and Eva Yates, witnesses and sponsors of record for Jellis at his Reformed Dutch Church baptism, Schenectady. Elizabeth gave her spouse, Jellis A. Fonda, sons Alexander Glen (1785-1869); Chris (1790-1845); James J. (1800-_?) and daus. Jannetje; Susannah (Susan); Jane Helen Whiting; Caterina; Anna (Ann) Groot; Elizabeth; and Mary Austin. Alexander G. Fonda was Administrator for his father’s NY Will and Probate Record signed by Giles F. Yates, Esq., Surrogate said county, City of Schenectady the 18th day of Sep 1834 following Jellis’ death at age 74, recorded on 27 Aug 1834. See: Find A Grave Memorial# 15411461 for Jellis A. Fonda’s photographed upright headstone now, set at Vale Cemetery Assoc., 907 State St., Schenectady, NY 12307 mapped at Latitude: 42.8089 and Longitude: -73.9326