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 1693 - 1767 (74 years)
Generation: 1
| 1. |  John Fontaine was born on 28 Apr 1693 in Taunton, Somerset, England; died on 26 Nov 1767 in Cromwell Castle, Carmarthenshire, Wales; was buried on 26 Nov 1767 in Newchurch, Wales. Notes:
Appointed Ensign on September 10, 1710 at the age of seventeen and sailed with Lord Shaw's regiment on February 1, 1711 when all troops stationed in Ireland were ordered to Spain. Returned home in 1713.
John was the first of the family to come to America. On December 7, 1714, he sailed on the ship "Dove" and landed in Virginia on June 5, 1715. Purchased a plantation in King William County, Virginia, remained in Virginia for four years, and then sailed for Dublin in July, 1719, arriving December 6, 1719. After a year in Dublin, he accompanied his brother, Francis to London. Studied watchmaking and by 1722 was in business for himself. Later joined partnership with brother, Moses. They made clocks and watches at "The Dial" in Middle Moorfields. He subsequently became a silk weaver, which was the occupation of his father-in-law. By 1748, had moved to South Wales and living at Llanllwch.
John survived all his siblings. He died at the age of 74 and was buried on November 26, 1767.
More about John can be found in The Journal of John Fontaine which was edited by Edward Porter Alexander and published by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in 1972.
Genealogical and Historical Notes on Culpeper County, VA, Page 36-37
John Fontaine, son of Rev. James Fontaine (Huguenot), and brother of the Rev. Peter Fontaine and of the Rev. James Fontaine, clergymen of the Church of England in Virginia, was an ensign in the British army. He came to Virginia in 1713, for the purpose of exploring the country and choosing lands for the settlement of the family when they should come over. He made the acquaintance of Gov. Spotswood at Williamsburg, and under his auspices visited the new settlement at Germanna, and accompanied Spotswood to his Indian school at Christanna, on the Meherrin River, and also on his expedition over the great mountains. He kept a journal of his daily doings, which furnishes the only authentic account we have of this stirring adventure. His plain, unvarnished tale dispels the mist which the popular fancy had peopled with hostile Indians haunting the march, assassins stealing into camp at dead of night, and committing murder, perpetrating massacres, and doing battle in the mountain passes. The recent publication of this journal rescues the facts from traditionary perversions and restores them to their true historical proportions. From him (an eye-witness) we learn that Gov. Spotswood came from Williamsburg by way of Chelsea (King William) and Robert Beverly's (Middlesex), where the Governor left his chaise, and bringing Beverly along came on horseback to Germanna, where, on the 26th August, 1716, they were met by other gentlemen, four Meherrin Indians, and two small companies of rangers. The names of the gentlemen of the party, deduced in part from the camps which were called after them, were: Gov. Spotswood, John Fontaine, Robert Beverly, the historian; Col. Robertson, Dr. Robertson, Taylor Todd, Mason, Captains, Clonder, and Smith, and Brooke, the ancestor of the late Judge Brooke. Campbell says;--"The whole company was about fifty persons. They had a large number of riding and pack-horses, an abundant supply of provisions, and an extraordinary variety of liquors."
The following is from; The MO Fountains and Their Descendants, written by Vida Leola Vance 1967, page 14 thru 18.
After marrying, he and his wife* went to London to live. John, liking action, became an ensign in Lord Shaw's Regiment of the British Army and took part in the Spanish War of Succession. Upon returning home, he began to search for employment. When this proved futile, he then discussed at length with the family the possibility of a future for all in the New World across the Atlantic. They decided that John should go to America and purchase land on which they could settle. It was with heavy hearts that James and Elizabeth accepted the decision. Knowing though, that their children were independent, that they were not ashamed to work at a trade when necessity compelled such and that they were intelligent and morally strong, they readily gave them their blessing as they were confident that they would achieve their goals in the New World.
May 1715 John Fontaine arrived in Virginia he was warmly welcomed by his Majesty's lieutenant governor and Commander-in-chief of the royal colony, Governor Spotswood. He was invited by the governor to accompany him on his expedition to claim the western lands for the King of England. A journal kept by John is the only known and reliable history of the journey. At the conclusion of the trip, Governor Spotswood presented John and each of his fellow travelers a small commemorative golden horseshoe. This earned them the title of Knights of the Golden Horseshoe.
Having had ample opportunity to select a suitable tract of land, John purchased an acreage in King William County. He immediately sent word to the family in Ireland, who had been waiting patiently for such news. John, though, did not remain in Virginia, he went to England where he married Madame Sabatiere and where later he died.
* no name or info on this wife
These passages are quoted from:
Chapter VI: "West of the Blue Ridge 1733-1750"
The Blue Ridge Mountains stood as a barrier against the Virginians for four generations. Only a few young men had climbed into them. On winter nights around the fireplaces, and in summer in the dooryards while families took the breeze and watched the fireflies, they speculated on what might be there beyond the Mountains. Rumors, about Indians, game herds and rich land, were told. Governor Spotswood organized an exploring party in the summer of 1716, to cross the Mountains and find out for sure what lay beyond. A troop of horsemen clattered out of Williamsburg that August with the 40-year-old governor at the head. They rode to the foot of the Blue Ridge and climbed it (along present day Route 33 from Stanardsville west), contending with hornets, blackberry thickets and the late summer sun. They reached the summit on September 5, then peered down at the grand sweep of the Valley of Virginia. John Fontaine, the expedition's chaplain, noted that "We drunk King George's health here and all the Royal Family." Then they descended into the Valley (near present day Elkton) and camped two nights by the Shenandoah River. Once back in Williamsburg, Spotswood advertised the Valley. He gave each member of the expedition a pin, a miniature golden horseshoe engraved "Sic Juvat Transcendere Montes" (What a Pleasure It Is to Cross the Mountains). So he dramatized the Valley and created a wave of interest. Presently a few brave families dared to move there.
John married Mary Magdalen Sabatier on 3 Apr 1728 in St. Anne Soho, Westminster, London, England. Mary was born in Wales; died in 1781 in Wales. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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Generation: 2
| 3. | John Sabatiers Fontaine  (1.John1) was born in 1734 in Wales. Notes:
Was apprenticed to a London watchmaker. Received his freedom in 1759 at the age of 24, and had an illegitimate son, Joseph, by Mary Bradneck. In 1762, John, Jr., was serving against the French on a sloop of war and was killed. Both John's uncles Moses and his father provided in their wills for Joseph Fontaine, alias Thompson.
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Generation: 3
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