(1751-1839) Sources: Schenectady History, Schenectady During the Revolution (1), (2) Battle of Bemis Heights - 1777( see Wikipedia)
Major Jellis J., only son of Jacob, a Gunstocker by trade, was one of the earliest, most stirring and unhesitating patriots of Schenectady. On the first report of a shot from Lexington, this young brave, who had already tasted military life, just married, and surrounded by the comforts of considerable wealth, immediately raised and commanded a company of Schenectady Minute Men numbering more than 100. He was appointed Captain of the 2d Albany County Militia company known as "The Greens" due to the color of their uniforms. He served with particular distinction in the Campaign against Burgoyne and at the Battle of Bemis Heights.
On September 2, 1775, agreeable to a request from the Committee of Safety, a meeting of all the militia of the town of Schenectady was held at the Dutch Church for the purpose of forming companies in accordance with the plans of the Continental and Provincial Congresses. At this meeting the three companies already formed were reorganized and two additional companies raised. Jellis J. Fonda and John Van Patten were retained as captains; John Mynderse, who had originally been selected as a lieutenant in Captain Van Dyke's company, was promoted to the rank of captain; and to the command of the new companies were elected Abraham Wemple and Thomas Wasson. The companies of Captains Fonda and Mynderse retain their classification as minute men and as such served until the spring of 1777, when they were incorporated with the regular militia. The motto of these companies, as noted on their flags, was "Liberty or Death", and because of the color of the uniform worn by their members Captain Mynderse's company was known as "The Blues" and Captain Fonda's company as "The Green's". Jellis was reappointed June 20, 1776, the commission being signed by Governor Dewitt Clinton. In the fall of the same year, he marched with his company to Stillwater where they were in camp for some time. From Stillwater they marched to Fort Ann, thence down Wood Creek to Skenesborough as guards for boats.
Jellis Fonda served with particular distinction in the campaign against Burgoyne and at the battle of Bemis Heights. He served in many expeditions and on various garrison duties during the succeeding years of the war, being especially zealous in the discharge of his offices. While on guard duty at Schenectady he was spoken of as "attending roll call and giving orders every morning at daybreak, sometimes 2 hours before day." He was actively engaged in the battle of Johnstown (October, 1781) and in the pursuit of the enemy, and on this occasion he "so highly distinguished himself that Colonel Willett addressed him a letter of thanks for his services and praising him for his intrepidity." A pensioner under the Act of June 7, 1832.
In 1777, when Sir William Johnson, with his Scotch retainers, had fortified themselves in "Johnson Hall," Generals Schuyler, Ten Broeck and Herkimer, with a large body of militia, went there to reduce them. When, out of the whole number, General Schuyler selected Captain Fonda, from his known fearlessness of character, to command a forlorn hope of 200 men for the assault, of which his company of minute men formed one-half. The assailing forces were without cannon. But when this brave officer in the lead, under the eye and direction of the noble Schuyler, shouted on his column to the assault, with undaunted dash (for Fonda was in deadly earnest), Sir William immediately lowered his flag and surrendered without firing a gun. Fonda was ever afterwards called, wherever known, one of the most fearless of men.
Jellis' cousin, Jellis Abraham Fonda, also a Revolutionary War Officer, born 1759 in Schenectady, was serving as an ensign in Captain Jesse Van Slyck's company, 2nd Albany County Militia in 1777. He performed service at Fort Ann, Fort George and Fort Edward, and was in the battle of Bemis Heights. In 1778 he was enrolled in Captain John Mynderse's company and attached to General Frederick Visscher's brigade. During the year 1780 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and served in Colonel Morris Graham's Levies at West Point and Harper's Ferry. At West Point he acted as brigade major for a few weeks in the absence of Major Lansing.
He was one of the 1200 men whom General Benedict Arnold (previous to his treachery) sent away to Fort Edward to weaken the garrison at West Point. During the years 1781 and 1782 he was attached to the Levies under Colonel Willet with the same rank as before. He saw service at Fort Plain, German Flats, Fort Stanwix and at the battles of Torlock and Johnstown. On November 1, 1782, he was promoted to the rank of captain. In February, 1783, he went with the expedition to Fort Oswego under Colonel Marinus Willett. Thereafter, he was for many years Clerk of Schenectady County.
Sources and references
- Schenectady History: http://www.schenectadyhistory.org/resources/yates/gen-fonda.html
- Schenectady During the Revolution (1),: http://www.secondalbany.org/albany_greens.html
- (2): http://www.schenectadyhistory.org/resources/hanson/revwar_d_k.html
- see Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bemis_Heights