Mercy FANCHER

Family/Spouse: Jesse SEYMOUR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Marker has last name as "Fansher"

Notes:

Name:
John Fancher, was one of the first settlers of Poundridge, NY, about the year 1730, in that part of the town known later as Stamford, Conn. John Fancher is believed to have been of Huguenot descent. He may have been the Jean Faucher, baptised 26 June 1707 in Monmouth S. church, parish of stepney, son of David (cordonnier) and Marthe (Desfontaines) Faucher, as shown in the Huguenot Society of London records, vol. 16, page 283.

He married , in Stamford, Conn., 15 or 19 Nov. 1736, EUNICE BOUTON, daughter of John and Mercy (Hickcock) Bouton, born in Danbury, Conn., circa 1712 or 1713. The marriage was performed by Worshipful Hait, justice of the peace.

John Fancher died in Poundridge 4 Feb, 1779 and his wife died 12 Nov. 1778, according to engraved boulder gravestones found in Poundridge cemetery. The will of John Fancher is recorded in the surrogate's office, New York City, vol. 38, page 233, and an abstract of the same was printed in the New York Historical Societ's Collection, vol. 13, page 229.

Known as Deacon John Fancher, Fancher when young was a seafaring man. It is a family tradition that on a voyage to the West Indies the crew of the vessel were stricken with small pox and Fancher nursed them and later in Poundridge was frequently called upon to nurse and attend others sick with the disease. At the end of life he contracted the disease and died of it.

Huntington's "History of Stamford" states John Fancher was a fireman in 1734 and he was on the official list of the town in 1750, and also designated as a cordwainer. Stamford Land Records, Vol. E, p. 455 refers to John Fancher as "Sargt Fansher" in 1751. On 9 April 1741, (Stamford Land Records) John Fancher, cordwainer, buys land of Joshua Hoit Jr. Norwalk Land REcords, vol. ii, refers to John Fancher "of Stamford" on may 19, 1757, and as of Old Poundridge on Jan. 10, 1758, indicating the demarcation line between Poundridge and Stamford was changed at about that time.


Stamford Land Records, dated Feb. 18, 1741/2, vol. D, p. 298, states: "Ebenezer Seeley of Stamford sells to Eliphalit Slason and john Fanshawe, both of Stamford, and Reuben Lockwood of North Castle, land on the boundary line of Norwalk and Stamford in the Canaan Parish."

In vol. D, p. 86, as a witness to a deed John Fancher signs himself on March 22, 1737/8 as "John Fansher"; on page 298 of vol. D, Feb. 16, 1741/2 he signs hiself "JohnFancher"; and in his will he signs himself "John Fanshier."

On June 3, 1748, with James Hait, John Fancher bought one-half interest in a saw mill on Mill river near the head of Ponus Ridge. He sold it Dec. 14, 1750. In vol. E, page 469, on June 29, 172, Lieut. James Hait and Mr. John Fansher buy 85 acres below Hunting Ridge on the road to Bedford. Most of the early land purchases of Fancher were at the head of Ponus Ridge on the Stamford-Norwalk boundary line.

Militia Papers, vol 5, p. 367a, State Library, Hartford, Conn., states: "John Fancher is established Lieut. of the Company of Trainband in the Parrish of Canaan; Samll Hanford, Capt." May 20, 1756.

On Sunday, Oct. 22, 1939, William H. Fancher of Danbury and William L. Smith located the graves of John Fancher and his wife, Eunice (Bouton) Fancher, in the Poundridge Cemetery. Both were marked by field stones, inscribed, respectively

Feb 4, 1779
John Fansher
dide

Nov. 12
1778 E.F.

John Fancher's will was drawn 1 Feb. 1779. In it he made no mention of a wife but did mention the following ten children, baptisms of several of which are recorded in the Stamford Congregational Church records.

John married Eunice BOUTON on 19 Nov 1736 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. Eunice (daughter of John BOUTON, III and Mercy HICKOCK) was born about 1712 in Danbury, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA; died on 12 Nov 1778; was buried in Pound Ridge Cemetery, Pound Ridge, Westchester Co., New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]