Jesse Isaac Fonda

b. Colonie, Albany Co., NY; bp. First Dutch Reformed Church, Albany, Albany Co., NY; 1810 US Federal Census, Nassau, Rensselaer Co., NY (Jerry Fondy); 1815 State Census, Franklin Twp, Somerset Co., NJ (Rev. Jesse Fonday); 1820 US Federal Census, Montgomery, Orange Co., NY; bur. Brick (German) Reformed Church Cemetery, Montgomery, Orange Co., NY; [New York Wills and Probate Records - Name: Jesse Fonda; Probate Date: 17 May 1827; Probate County: Orange]; [R002] Pearson's First Settlers of the Ancient County of Albany; [R095b] History of Rensselaer Co., New York; [R038a] The Fonda Family; [Forty years at Raritan: eight memorial sermons with notes for a history of the Reformed Dutch Churches in Somerset County, N.J] >> www.fonda.org <<

["Rev'd Jesse Fonda, late Pastor of the German Reformed Church at Mongomery; This tomb was erected by the females of his charge in testimony of his worth as a man and a Christian Anno Domini 1827; Rev'd Jesse Fonda was installed Pastor of the German Reformed Church at Montgomery September 28 1817 - Born April 27 1786 - Died May 2 1827" Inscriptions of German Reformed Cemetery at Mongomery, Orange County, New York, Roney, Lila James, Unknown publisher, 1925, Page 34.]

[graduate of Union College in Schenectady in 1806 and the Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, NY; ordained 1-Aug-1809 as Joint Pastor, Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, Nassau, Rensselaer Co., NY; installed as Pastor of the German Reformed Church at Montgomery, NY on Sep 28, 1817 (remained till his death in 1827); Pastor for several years of the old 1st Reformed Dutch Church in New Brunswick and the Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor, Michigan]

[New York: A. Lloyd, 1873 - ...on October 2d, 1818, the (New Brunswick RDC) church called Rev. Jesse Fonda. He was called from Nassau, Rensselaer County, New York. His pastorate was brief. He resigned on the 3d July, 1819, and accepted a call from Montgomery, Orange County, where he continued until May 22d, 1827, when he died and entered into his rest. Jesse Fonda, says Dr. Forsyth, was born at Watervliet, Albany County, N. Y., April 27th, 1786; he graduated at Union College, 1806. He was the subject of religious expressions from his youth, and very early formed the desire to preach the Gospel. He studied theology in a desultory way with neighboring clergymen, and received his licensure from the Congregationalists, but in 1805 united with the Classis of Albany, and received a call from the church of Nassau and Schodack, where he continued to labor with great acceptance until he went to New-Brunswick. He bound himself by resolution to a course of regular, systematic study, and rose to eminence. His book on Sacraments evinces maturity of mind and a fullness of knowledge on the subject of which it treats. His physical man was very fine, and his social qualities companionable and interesting. His ministry, at Montgomery particularly, was eminently successful. Three hundred were added to the church on profession of faith in ten years, while the spiritual life of the church was greatly quickened, and the whole moral aspect of that region changed. His remains were followed to the grave by an immense crowd of weeping parishioners and friends, at the head of which walked nine ministers of the Gospel. The funeral sermon was preached by his friend and neighbor, Rev. James B. Ten Eyck, of Berea, assisted by Dr. Fisk, of Goshen, Rev. Samuel Van Veghten and Rev. Mr. Arbuckle, of Blooming Grove, and Dr. Wallace, of Little Britain.]

[Died, on Wednesday, the 2d inst. of apoplexy, the Rev. Jesse Fonda, Pastor of the Reformed Dutch Presbyterian Congregation in Montgomery, NY. He was a man in the prime of life - a faithful labourer and tenderly beloved by his people. 1827-05-11 Weekly Commercial Advertiser]; [Died - On the 2d alt., of apoplexy, the Rev. Jesse Fonda, Pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church, at Wardsbridge, Montgomery, Orange Co. aged 40 years. He has left a widow, with six or seven children, and a numerous congregation, by whom he was much beloved, to deplore his loss. Schenectady (NY) Cabinet, Wednesday, June 6, 1827]; [10,000 Vital Records of Eastern New York, 1777-1834 - Fonda, Jesse (Rev.), 40, (pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church in Montgomery (Orange Co.), d in M (8-5/16/27)]

[full biography at http://www.herkimer.nygenweb.net/ancestors/jessefondabio.html]; [Published papers: 'Familiar Letters on Sacraments: Addressed to the People of His Charge (1824)' http://www.archive.org/stream/familiarletters00fondgoog]