Martha Fones

Notes:

Was this a first marriage for her?
FONES Martha, and Daniel ------; m. by George Thomas, Justice of Peace; recorded ----. --, 1768, North Kingstown.

Martha married Michael Spencer Bef 8 Apr 1790. Michael (son of John Spencer and Lydia Gardiner) was born Abt 1745. [Group Sheet]

1. Fones Spencer was born Nov 1766; died 7 Apr 1856; was buried , Spencer-Briggs Lot, Stone Ridge Dr., East Greenwich, RI.

Notes:

Some family trees have Daniel's wife as Mercy Remington.

See notes for Daniel's grandfather John.

From the book "The Correspondence of the Colonial Governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775" (Google Books), p 329, "Fones was an enterprising sea captain who represented North Kingstown in the General Assembly. He was sent to Cape Breton with the Connecticut transports, in command of the Rhode Island colony sloop, Tartar, and there distinguished himself by intercepting at Famme Goose Bay a force of 1200 French and Indians, who were advancing from Annapolis to the relief of Louisburg. This was two days before the surrender of the fortress."

From the book Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol 3 p 94 (pub 1980 by General Society of Mayflower Descendants, ed Anne Borden Harding): "He m. Mercy ----- perhaps 1743 - 1747. The identity of his wife, the birth place and dates of his children is [sic] not known . . . From 1744 to 1747 he commanded the RI colony sloop Tartar . . . he is referred to as mariner in his will."

The will of Capt. Daniel Fones of North Kingstown, dated 8 Apr 1790 and proved 9 Aug 1790, mentions son Daniel dec'd leaving widow Mary; daughters Mary w/o Edward Yorke of East Falmouth, Nova Scotia; Martha w/o Michael Spencer of East Greenwich, and their son Fones Spencer; granddaughter Margaret w/o William Helme; grandchildren -- children of Mary and probably dec'd son Daniel -- Cynthia, Christopher, Constant, Mary, Dutee, and Daniel.

Daniel married Mercy Unknown Abt 1733. Mercy was born Abt 1715; died Bef 8 Apr 1790. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

It appears that Daniel's wife is still living in the 1782 RI census:
1782 RI Census at North Kingstown, RI
Daniel Fones: Males - 2<16, 1 50+; Females - 1<16, 1 22<50, 1 50+

Some family trees have suggested that her name was Mercy Remington.

I have used Mercy as her first name because that is given in Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol 3 p 94 (pub 1980 by General Society of Mayflower Descendants, ed Anne Borden Harding): "He m. Mercy ----- perhaps 1743 - 1747. The identity of his wife, the birth place and dates of his children is [sic] not known."

Notes:

I have estimated the birthdates for Jeremiah's children.

His will mentions wife Martha; sons Joseph, John, Daniel (under 21), Samuel, & Thomas; and daughter Margaret Davis, dec'd; also grandon John Davis.

Jeremiah married Martha West 9 Nov 1710, Jamestown, Newport Co., RI. Martha (daughter of Francis WEST, Sr. and Susanna SOULE) was born Abt 1676, MA or RI; died 2 Dec 1764; was buried , Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Rt. 102, Exeter, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

As a widow, Martha lived with her brother Francis West (Jr.), probably after the death of her first husband.

Notes:

FONES Jeremiah, and Martha; m. by John Eldred, Warden, Nov. --, 1710.

Notes:

John Fones settled at Kingston in 1669.

He may be the John Fones who was Town Moderator at Jamestown about 1680 (see Proprietors Records at town hall, p. 4).

From "Graveyards of North Kingstown, RI" by Althea H. McAleer (RIGS), Lot 4: "the Foneses were early settlers in North Kingstown. In 1672, John Fones and others negotiated with the Indians for a tract of land north of Devil's Foot and west of the Post Road now known as the Fones Purchase. Jeremiah, son of John, and Daniel, grandson of John, both settled on this land. Two old Fones houses, Jeremiah's and that of his son Daniel, the privateer and commander of the colony sloop "Tartar" stood until well into the 20th century on the NW corner of Post Road and Devils Foot Road. [My note: This area has recently been changed due to road construction and rerouting.] According to Hunter White, a Fones house, probably Jeremiah's, was on Namcook Road. It was owned by the Foneses until 1784, then by the Vaughans, the Reynoldses, and the Madisons. The old Fones Graveyard was found by George Harris in 1883 near the NE corner of Newcomb and Post Roads."

My note: this land of the Fones family is near or adjacent to the land of my Austin ancestors.

John married Margaret Unknown Abt 1660. Margaret was born Abt 1640. [Group Sheet]

Francis — Susanna SOULE. Susanna (daughter of George SOULE and Mary Marie BECKETT) was born Abt 1642; died Abt 1684, Kings Towne, RI. [Group Sheet]