Maria Fonda Van Vechten

Maria Fonda is said to have been born in Greenbush but christened at the Dutch church in Stone Arabia in March 1754. She was the daughter of Jellis and Jannetje Wemple Fonda. Her father became a prominent businessman, landowner, and patriot leader based in Caughnawaga. Young Maria's marriage would connect her Fondas to the Albany Van Vechtens.

Maria is said to have married Albany native Anthony Van Vechten in Stone Arabia in April 1770. Their son was christened at the Albany Dutch church in November 1771. At least seven subsequent baptisms took place at the Stone Arabia church.

These Van Vechtens probably left Albany for the Mohawk Valley shortly after the birth of their first son.

In 1790, their household was configured on the census in Caughnawaga. At that time, their family consisted of eight members.

Maria Van Vechten is said to have died in June 1800 at the age of forty-six. The same source notes Anthony Van Vechten's passing in October of 1812. However, yet another family-based "record" claimed that she survived until 1830 when a same-named individual was buried at Tribe's Hill, Montgomery County.

Sources: The life of Maria Fonda Van Vechten has no CAP biography number. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. Information on Maria's life and on her family has relied on a more recent online compilation (pp.67-69) of family-based resources and conventional wisdom. Beyond that resource, we have not actively tracked Maria's family beyond Albany.