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Aug 04
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There are a few common misconceptions within the Fonda Genealogy that have arisen:
Misconception #1: The Fonda’s descended from Italy
Dutch Poldering Mills
Actual: The American Fonda line immigrated from Holland (Friesland) in 1651 and appear to be Haplogroup I1 (Anglo-Saxon). There is no direct evidence of origins in Italy, France or elsewhere. Fonda lines in Italy and Slovenia are Haplogroup R1b (Basque).
From “Early American Families“, Rev. W.A. Williams; Philadelphia, PA; 1916:
“The Rensselaer-Bowier Papers say that Douw Fonda was a Frisian, and Tacitus says that the Frisians dwelt along the coast of the North sea. They were converted to Christianity before A.D. 800. The family of Fonda was originally from the Republic of Genoa, Italy. The Marquis de Fonda was one of the leaders of a revolution in Genoa, having for its object the overturning of the aristocratic government, and putting the election of the Doge and Senate, into the hands of the people at large. The Doge (=duke) was the duke, or chief magistrate. Our ancestor was an early republican, and must have lived there, between 1339, when the first Doge was elected, and 1528 when the Dogate ceased. Baron de Fonda was unsuccessful in his attempt, and fled from the country, taking refuge in Amsterdam, Holland, whence his descendant, Jellis Douwese Fonda, emigrated to America in 1642 (1650), and had grants of land from the Dutch government, settling in or near the present city of Albany, N. Y.”
Jellis Fonda and family made it to America in 1651 and settled in Beverwyk (Albnay, NY).
“There is a perhaps less credible tradition also, that the Fondas were Huguenots. and fled from France to Holland after the massacre of St. Bartholomew’s night, Aug. 25, 1572. There is another tradition that they fled from Spain on account of persecution or followed the Duke of Alva to Holland. It is also said that they belonged to the royal house of Spain, fled to Italy, because of religious persecution, and came later to Holland. Possibly they fled from Italy to France, and from France to Holland. The form of the family name is Latin and therefore similar in French, Italian, and Spanish, indicating the Latin origin of the family, probably In Italy. The Fondas were Dutch Reformed Protestants when they emigrated to America, and must have been among the first converts of the Reformation. Their descendants are widely scattered throughout the Union, though many are still living near the old home in Eastern N.Y.”
“The family name is taken from a deep valley in the Apennines, about 12 mi. from the city of Genoa, called Fonda, a name which means bottom, deep, foundation, etc. It is said that, in the early part of the last century, the estate was still in the possession of a branch of the family, the Count de Fonda, and there are many of the name, in the various parts of the Genoese territories.” Some of the family may have known Columbus in Genoa.”
The above is disputed in two references:
Old Dutch Families: Fonda Family (De Halve Maen Quarterly, 1945):
“The Fondas were important in up-state New York during the Colonial period and in the early development of the State. Presumably the family is of Frisian origin and one genealogist has outlined European background for the Fondas giving them a really illustrious descent. However, these stories apparently come from tradition rather than substance.”
Innes Getty Collection: Jellis Douwse Fonda (NYG&B, 1957):
“Rev. William A. Williams, in his Early American Families, gives a fanciful account of the European family of Fonda, but no references are cited, and one is free to accept or reject the entire story. Likewise, the data of the American family of Fonda is not authoritative for again, no references to source material are offered, and his conclusions are not in accord with church records. It follows that his material is mere balderdash.”
See Voyage to America Update, Italian Roots, Frisian DNA Profile and Innes Getty Collection
Eagum Aerial Photo
Misconception #2: Jellis Fonda (1615-1659) was the son of Douwe Everts
Actual: We do not know for sure who his parents were. Jellis was first documented in Eagum, Friesland in about 1632, but there is no proof that he was the son of Douwe Everts.
Per the book, “Famous Frisians in America” on pages 111-112:
“According to Van der Meer, Jelle Fonda (Jilles Douwes) must have been a son of Douwe Everts. Eagum was a very small village. But that is by no means proof that he descended from Douwe Everts. The oldest register of births, deaths and marriages, the Quotisatiekohier of 1749 (a century after Jilles Douwes), says there were 47 people living in or near the village, and 19 children under the age of 13. They included five farmers and one independent woman farmer, a widow with no profession, a schoolmaster, and three working-class families. The latter category is particularly difficult to place in a historical sense, especially when it comes to the archives dating from before the French era.
The book “Famous Frisians in America” (Haan & Huisman, 2009) has an entire chapter on the Fonda family.
There is much to be said for the suggestion that Jelle Fonda came from this group. The fact that on the occasion of his marriage he is registered as a ‘journeyman smithy’ indicates that he was a craftsman, and thus did not belong to the group made up of ’tillers of the soil’. Mention is also made of the fact that his parents gave their written consent to the marriage. This means that they could read and write. As could Jelle Fonda and his wife Hester, in view of the signatures which appear at the bottom of the document.
In the period 1632-1633, eight years before he married in Diemen, the lake known as Wargastermeer was impoldered. The primary financier of this project was the Amsterdam merchant Paulus Jansz Kley (1582-1655). Obviously he required an army of diggers and other workmen, including craftsmen. It is quite possible that Jilles Douwes was one of them. Indeed, it may well have been through the mediation of Kley that Jilles moved to Amsterdam, and he may even have helped him to get a job there. He was literate and he had a trade. Moreover, he was anxious to get ahead in the world.“
In conclusion, according to this account, here is what we know… Jilles Fonda was a journeyman smithy, who hired on to a big earthworks project near Eagum in 1632-1633 (he would have been 16-17 years old)… he then moved to Amsterdam, got married in 1641 (age 25), started a family (he became an innkeeper and blacksmith)… and then took the voyage to America in 1651 (age 35) with his young family of five. His parents have not been identified.
See Fonda DNA and History and Famous Frisians in America
The Albany Settlement in 1650
Misconception #3: Douw Jellis Fonda (1640-1700) married Rebecca Conyne
Actual: Douw Jellis Fonda (1640-1700) married Rebecca Janse. There was a misinterpretation of a baptism sponsor listing from 1674.
Rebecca Conyne is a very common listing for the wife of Douw Jellis Fonda (1641-1700), but according to the well-respected report by Innes Getty, former Trustee and Chairman of the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, it is incorrect. His wife is listed in that report as Rebecca Jansen (1646-1727); married in 1666 in Albany. Rebecca Conyne (nee Wemple) was the wife of Peter Conyne married in 1641.
Dutch First Reformed Church of Albany
NYG&B records of Innes Getty Collection (1957):
“In printed genealogies, other than [Williams], Douw Jellis Fonda’s wife is given as Rebecca Conyn of Leendert Philipse Conyn, but in no instance is any reference cited, nor any circumstantial evidence adduced to justify the assumption. In the list of nine children of Douw Jellis Fonda, of whom we have records, not one bears a Conyn name; Philip; Leendert; Caspar; Agniet; nor is a member of the Conyn family sponsor at any of the three baptisms recorded in the Church at Albany. Furthermore, in the list of sixty three grandchildren of Douw Jellis Fonda, not one bears a Conyn name, and in no instance is a member of the Conyn family a sponsor. Rebecca is not a Conyn name.
There is nothing of record to prove the parentage of Rebecca, wife of Douw Jellise Fonda, and the records of the Conyn family prove beyond a reasonable doubt, that she was not the daughter of Phillipse Conyn and Agneietie Caspers. The sole clue, ever so slight, is found in the Schenectady Church records. i.e.- Douw of Jellis Fonda and Rachel Winne bapt. September 1, 1700. Wit. Douw Fonda. Rebecka Janse (Rebecka, dau of Jan —?)”
“The confusion could be the result of a baptism record where Douw Fonda and Rebecca Conyne were listed together as sponsors for the baptism of Benjamin Romeyn on 8/4/1774 at the Caughnawaga DRC (parents Thomas Romeyn & Susanna Van Campen). However, these two witnesses were not husband and wife, just co-sponsors. Rebecca Conyne (nee Wemple) was the wife of Peter Conyne married on 10/23/1741. Thomas Romeyn was the first pastor of the Caughnawaga DRC, where Douw Jellis Fonda (1700-1780) and his second wife, Debora (Peggy) Wemple Veeder (Fonda) as well as Peter and Rebecca (Wemple) Conyne attended. The Douw Jellis Fonda (1641-1700) who has been attributed to have married Rebecca Conyne was the grandfather. However, his wife’s name was Rebecca Janse as established in the Innes Getty Collection.”
Ref: Innes Getty Collection: Jellis Douwse Fonda; The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society; New York, NY; 1957.
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Jul 29
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Crumbl Cookies set to open doors this week in Mentor (Ohio)
National chain aims to draw people in with sweet smells
By Jean Bonchak – Published July 27, 2021
Crumbl Cookies in Mentor is the popular franchise’s first store to open in Northeast Ohio. (Jean Bonchak)
In a move that would make Cookie Monster happy, Crumbl Cookies is set to open its doors in Mentor (Ohio). The new shop. with its modern, minimalist interior, is set to host a grand opening on July 30 at 9662 Mentor Ave., across from Target. Currently paired with its distinctive setup is a singular product — enormous cookies created in more than 150 specialty flavors that are offered on a weekly rotating basis.
A prolific research and development department in Utah, where Crumbl Cookies originated, develops new recipes “inspired by popular flavors, foods, desserts of all kinds — from pies to cakes to candies and more,” according to the company website. A themed “Carnival” week recently tendered caramel apple, cotton candy and cinnamon fry bread varieties, along with chilled sugar and milk chocolate chip, the only staple selections on hand daily.
Andrew Fonda, who moved to Mentor from Montana to open the franchise, worked as a chemical engineer prior to specializing in the sweet treats. He said that his initial introduction to Crumbl Cookies while visiting a shop a few years ago was an enticing experience. “The open bakery… you smell the cookies, see the cookies, it was kind of a cool space,” he said. Based on a suggestion from friends, he decided to check out the Northeast Ohio market, scouting possible locations. Ultimately, Mentor fit the bill. “We really like the Mentor area and the communities surrounding it, and we chose a convenient location where people will already be out shopping,” he said. “It’s a great retail area.”
Andrew Fonda is the owner/operator of the new Crumbl Cookies set to open on July 30 in Mentor. (Jean Bonchak)
Visitors to the store will find sleek black-and-white décor accompanied by punches of pink, a confectionary color used for their streamlined, signature cookie boxes. An open-concept kitchen allows patrons to take a peek at the baking process from its beginning, blending ingredients from scratch, to the final decorated product. Orders can be placed online or in-house. Delivery is also available. Fonda noted that the bulk of business takes place on site, where customers capture the cookies’ sweet, sugary smells.
Since its inception approximately four years ago, more than 200 Crumbl Cookies stores have opened in 32 states, and several more are planned. Fonda is already working on an additional establishment for the Mayfield area. A huge social media presence definitely has helped the company’s quick and steady growth. The first TikTok video featuring its cookies drew more than a million views. And its “Unbox the Pink Box” YouTube videos, which cleverly introduce the four specialty cookies being featured for the week, typically garner thousands of looks.
A June article titled “How Crumbl Cookies took over TikTok” by Maile McCann on modernretail.com states that “The keys to the brand’s success are a rotating flavor drop model, social media savvy and a commitment to digital integration at every touchpoint.” Among the batches and varieties presented, one cookie flavor rises to the top layer of crowd favorites. “Our milk chocolate chip is a staple on our menu for a reason,” said Anna Tibbitts, the company’s public relations specialist. “It’s not only award-winning but was the first cookie on our menu when Crumbl started.”
All cookies are boxed and may be purchased separately or in four-, six- or 12-pack assortments. Smaller-sized cookies are available for catering orders only. Boxes can also be customized with a bow, sticker and note for special gift-giving. Store hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 8 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays; and closed Sundays.
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Dec 05
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Historic home of artist Leonard Ochtman for sale in Connecticut
By Jennifer Gould – New York Post – December 2, 2020
The 1891-built Cos Cob home of art-world power couple Leonard (inset) and Mina Fonda Ochtman is now asking $1.4 million.
The five-bedroom home at 35 Mianus View Terrace was renovated in 2010.
When famed Dutch-American landscape artist Leonard Ochtman moved to Connecticut in 1891 with his wife — Mina Fonda Ochtman, an accomplished American Impressionist painter in her own right — they built a house in Cos Cob and dubbed it Grayledge.
Now on the market for $1.4 million, the five-bedroom home at 35 Mianus View Terrace is where the couple became founding members of the Cos Cob Art Colony (whose famed members included Willa Cather and which helped launch NYC’s iconic Armory Show) and held classes for young artists boarding at the nearby Bush-Holley House.
The Ochtmans would also go on to become founding members of the Greenwich Society of Artists, where Leonard served as president.
Original details in the home, which was renovated in 2010, include the hardwood floors, the staircase and the solarium.
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May 08
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Local healthcare workers shown support through community effort
By: KMTV Staff – Posted at 6:53 PM, May 07, 2020
OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — This week, area hospital workers were surprised with free lunches thanks to a joint effort by the Salvation Army. It’s meant to salute those on the frontlines of this ongoing pandemic.
How the Salvation Army honored healthcare workers.
The Salvation Army says it’s part of a three-state campaign between South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska…and it’s called heart for our heroes. The lunches were packed up by local restaurants and were delivered today.
”We have had such an outpouring of love and support,” said healthcare worker Janice Fonda. “I’m so grateful and all of our staff is to everyone, the Salvation Army, Blue Cross Blue Shield and all of the individuals and corporations and small businesses that have reached out to us. It’s just amazing. I have the best job in the world because I see all the good that’s happening”
Thursday wasn’t the only event. More lunches will be delivered Friday.
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Apr 30
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Myrtle Beach bar owner offers explanation after police find customers inside business
By Kristin Nelson | April 29, 2020 at 3:18 PM EDT – Updated April 29 at 11:22 PM
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) – Police busted a Myrtle Beach bar after they said they found multiple customers drinking inside, even though the governor’s order prohibits it. Officers were called just before 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to Foster’s Cafe and Bar on North Kings Highway after a person in the community complained about the bar serving to the public. When police arrived, they said they noticed multiple cars in the parking lot.
Myrtle Beach bar owner offers explanation after police find customers inside business
The officers “walked inside and multiple bar patrons were inside of the bar consuming open containers of alcohol,” according to the police report. Police also noted that the customers were sitting close to one another at the bar and also at tables. They added that the bartender was serving the customers. Officers met the owner of the bar, Donald Fonda Jr., and informed him of the executive order put in place by the governor, which prohibits dine-in service at bars and restaurants. They are only allowed to do delivery and take-out in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Fonda told WMBF News he disputes the police report and said the customers inside his bar were following social distancing guidelines becuase they were seated with their loved ones. “Those people are married… that couple lives together. They weren’t dining in, but they were having a drink while they waited for their food so they could take it home. Obviously, I guess, I was in the wrong,” Fonda said.
According to the Myrtle Beach Police Department’s website, Fonda was charged with ordinance/enforcement and remedies of regarding executive order. “He wrote me a ticket and I have to appear in June for a hearing,” Fonda said. “No, I was not arrested. I’m just trying to stay open and survive.” Fonda posted on Facebook that the bar will continue to do take-out orders for customers.