Jellis Douwse Fonda

Spelled and referenced to variously, Jellis Douwse Fonda probably was the first member of his family to emigrate to New Netherland. Some family-based resources state that he was born in Amsterdam, Holland in 1604 and was the son of Douwe Fonda. A birth date of 1615 in Friesland also appears in traditional literature However, noting factual discrepancies, we still seek definitive information on his origins.

As with many émigrés (for convenience "original settlers") those born in Europe particularly prior to 1664, we realize that, given our Albany-based goals, focus, and resources, we will have limited potential to ascertain their backgrounds and track their lives through the first three-quarters of the seventeenth. Determined to establish roots for those Albany residents born in the "New World" (the children of the original settlers and their descendants) we do present conventional wisdom on their antecedents - even though such pronouncements have not been verified by our own research.

One "Gillis Dowse" may have been New Netherland as early as 1646.

Jellis Douwse appears to have a complicated marriage record. His wife is said to have been one Hillegont Claese a native of Bommel. However, his marriage (in February 1641 in Amsterdam) to Hester Douws Jansz is more frequently encountered. That union is said to have produced at least two and perhaps five children - most notably Douwe Jellis Fonda. The Fonda family of Albany and its environs appear to be their descendants.

In October 1651, the court granted his request to distill liquor in Greenbush.

In November 1657, he brought suit before the Beverwyck court.

His name does not seem to appear on the "master lists" of Albany-area fur traders compiled in 1660.

Jellis Douwse Fonda is said to have died in 1662. His widow may have lived substantially longer and to have married again.

Past diminishing returns and currently unable to shed more light on his Albany-based life, we move on for now from the life of the New Netherland pioneer and American patriarch known as Jellis Dowse Fonda.

Sources: The life of Jellis Douwse Fonda is CAP biography number 3761. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.

From VRBM (pp. 842-43): "Gillis Fonda; [emigrated] about 1646, Pieter Hartgers advanced some money to Gillis, a boy in the service of Antony de Hooges, possibly Gillis Fonda; Oct. 19, 1651, the court gave Gillis Fonda permission to distill liquor in the greenen bos (Greenbush), in a house belonging to Evert Pels, next to the brewery, on condition that he enter into a contract as to the Gerechticheijt vande Heeren Mrs. (dues to the patroon and co-directors). Gillis Fonda is at a later period commonly referred to as Gillis Dowse Fonda To judge from his name, he must have been a Frisian." [Editor's note with some adjustments]