Reverend Francis Fontaine, I

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 18 2024, 6:12:15 UTC

brief biography and family

Francis Fontaine, (born September 16, 1697, in Cork, Ireland, married twice, first on January 4, 1721 to Marie Glenisson in London, England and second ca.1735 to Susannah Brush in Virginia.

After he attended his fathers' Preparatory School he went to Trinity College north of Dublin, in Ireland.

He received a BA in 1716 and a MA in 1719.

From an unidentified source:

Grace Church in Yorktown, Virginia. The Reverend Francis Fontaine was the rector here for York-Hampton Parish from 1722 to 1749, when he died. He is believed to be buried in the churchyard.

James and Anne Fontaine's 7th of eight children, the Reverend Francis Fontaine (1697-1749), joined most of his siblings in settling in the Virginia colony. When he first came to Virginia, he was minister of the French settlement at Manakintown, Virginia, from 1720 to 1722. In 1722 Francis was installed as rector of York-Hampton Parish. In 1724 ministers in Virginia and Maryland filed reports with the Bishop of London on the status of colonial Anglican churches. Francis provided answers to 17 queries about the state of his parish and ministry. It is apparent from the report that Francis was licensed by the Bishop to serve as "a missionary in the government of Virginia." This means that he had no permanent contract with the church. Francis remained in service at York-Hampton Parish until his death there in early 1749. He is believed to be buried in the churchyard but there is no marker or indication that he is buried there.

It was Francis' older brother, John Fontaine (1693-1767), who first came to Virginia and obtained property where his siblings could settle. He led an adventurous life, accompanying Virginia governor Alexander Spottswood in August and September 1716 on an expedition across the Blue Ridge mountains to the Shenandoah Valley. That expedition is famous because of the journal kept by John Fontaine.

comments

Date and place of marriage to Marie Glennisson have also been (erroneously?) reported to be January 4, 1720 at Westminster, Middlesex (now Greater London), England, Kingdom of Great Britain (now United Kingdom) <unattested, conflicts with Marie's Find A Grave memorial>.

links

• http://www.fontainemaurysociety.com/photos.html
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68602029/francis-fontaine