Winans, Frances

Birth

Frances Winans, who was known as Fanny, was born August 22, 1831 to William Winans and his wife Elizabeth.

Occupation

Fanny supported herself as a housekeeper.

Marriage & Children

In the 1850s Fanny married John C. Spawn, who was the son of Lewis Spawn and Phebe Thorne. There is no record yet found of any children. John died before 1880. After his death, Fanny remained unmarried for some time during which she adopted Alexander Salisberg (B. abt 1864, D. unk). Then after June 1880, Fanny married Abram H. Onderdonk, who died in 1887. Fanny never married again.

Life

Fanny's parents were from Dutchess County, NY, however she and her siblings were all born and raised in Albany County. Her husband John C. Spawn was from Schoharie County, NY, and therefore it appears that she married John C. Spawn in NY. However apparently after their marriage, they moved to Plainfield, Waushara County, Wisconsin where his parents and siblings had also relocated. John enlisted in Company G of the 30th Wisconsin Infantry regiment. In 1865 Fanny was back home with her parents in Berne where she can be found in the 1865 NY State Census as Fanny Winans. Five years later in 1870 she was living with her elderly father William Winans in Berne and her husband John Spawn, who is working as a farmer. At some point in the 1870s, Fanny adopted Alexander Salisberg, who had been born in about 1864.

By 1880, both Fanny's father and husband have apparently died and she is living alone with her adopted son Alexander Salisberg.

Around 1885 or 1886 she married the elderly Abram H. Onderdonk who was born in 1803 and whose second wife had died in 1884. Onderdonk died in 1887. In 1890 she was recorded in the 1890 US Veterans Census as Fanny Onderdonk the widow of John C. Spawn, who served in Company G of the 30th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.

In 1899 in exchange for her care, food, bed, and housework, Fanny O. granted and released 1 1/4 acres of land and the right of way on side road on West side of her lot to Carrie (and Ellery) Deitz. The land was on Jug St. in the hamlet of Berne and contained a house. Until her death, she lived in the house as the boarder of Ellery Willes Deitz and his wife Carrie E. Warner.

Death

Fanny died the end of January, 1914.

Obituary

Altamont Enterprise 30 Jan. 1914

(Berne) Mrs. Fannie Onderdonk, widow of Abram H. Onderdonk, age 82 years, died after a brief illness. She was a sincere, earnest christian.

Additional Media

Deed on May 20th, 1899 Fanny Onderdonk by occupation a house keeper and who resides in the Village of Berne, town of Berne, County of Albany and State of New York party of the first part and Carrie E. Deitz [my great grandmother] by occupation a house keeper and who resides in the Village of Berne, ...... party of the second part. That the said party of the first part, in consideration of certain care support maintainance and ten dollars lawful money of the US, paid by the party of the second part, .... does herby grant and release that certain piece or parcel of land situate lying and being in the Village of Berne.....

My Translation: In exchange for her care, food , bed, and housework, Fanny O. granted and released 1 1/4 acres of land and the right of way on side road on West side of her lot to Carrie (and Ellery) Deitz. I believe this is how and when my family got a house in Berne when they moved from Pleasant Valley to Jug Street, Berne. --So Fanny Onderdonk was living in Berne as of 1899 at least. Al Deitz

Obituary

Altamont Enterprise 30 Jan. 1914

(Berne) Mrs. Fannie Onderdonk, widow of Abram H. Onderdonk, age 82 years, died after a brief illness. She was a sincere, earnest christian.

Additional Media

Deed on May 20th, 1899 Fanny Onderdonk by occupation a house keeper and who resides in the Village of Berne, town of Berne, County of Albany and State of New York party of the first part and Carrie E. Deitz [my great grandmother] by occupation a house keeper and who resides in the Village of Berne, ...... party of the second part. That the said party of the first part, in consideration of certain care support maintainance and ten dollars lawful money of the US, paid by the party of the second part, .... does herby grant and release that certain piece or parcel of land situate lying and being in the Village of Berne.....

My Translation: In exchange for her care, food , bed, and housework, Fanny O. granted and released 1 1/4 acres of land and the right of way on side road on West side of her lot to Carrie (and Ellery) Deitz. I believe this is how and when my family got a house in Berne when they moved from Pleasant Valley to Jug Street, Berne. --So Fanny Onderdonk was living in Berne as of 1899 at least.

Sources

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