Edmund Fanning

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Edmund Fanning (say 1625–1683)

Ellen Unknown

The migrant ancestor Edmund Fanning was born say 1625. He died in December 1683 in Stonington. [1] He married Ellen Unknown. [2] Nothing is known of his origins.

Edmund appears in a 1668 census conducted in Stonington. [3, 40–41] Widow Fanning was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 2 October 1684. [3, 189]

Edmund and his wife appear to have been friends with Thomas Minor and his wife. In March 1665 Thomas writes, “I was informed by Edward ffanings of the broyle between Aron & Thom parke and John galop.” In March 1666/7 he wrote, “we were at ffanings.” In August 1669 he wrote, “goodwife ffaning was heare with lillie.” In February 1669/70 he wrote, “at ffanings to speake with morgan.” in February 1671/2 he wrote, “my wife was at the farme and goodwife ffaning.” In August 1672 he wrote, “I and my Wife was at Edmund ffanings” and later, “my Wife was fanings.” In May 1675 he wrote, “my wife and I was at fannings.” [4]

Children of Edmund Fanning:

i. Edmund Fanning was born in 1651. [5] He died in 1715. He married Margaret Billings on 13 August 1678. Margaret was the daughter of William Billings. [6]

On 13 August 1678 Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, “Edmund ffaning and margaret billings was maried.” [4, 150]

ii. Margaret Fanning was born about 1653 in New London. [5] She drowned on 29 April 1664.

Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, “Edmund ffainings Daughter was drowned [on 29 April 1664] and buried the 30.” [4, 197].

iii. Thomas Fanning was born about 1655 on Fishers Island. [5] He died on 17 April and was buried on 28 April 1703 or 1704. [1] He married Frances Ellis on 19 October 1684 in Stonington. [1]

On 28 April 1703 Manasseh Minor wrote in his diary, "Tho faning buried." [7, 60]

On 14 August 1676 Thomas Minor wrote in his diary that Thomas Fanning was there to mow. [4]

Frances, the wife of Thomas Fanning, was baptized and admitted to the first church in Stonington on 20 November 1687. [3, 190, 197]

iv. John Fanning was born about 1657 on Fishers Island. [5] He married Margaret Unknown.

Margaret Fanning was baptized as an adult on 26 August 1686 in Stonington. [3, 197]

v. William Fanning was born about 1659 on Fishers Island. [5]

vi. James Fanning was born about 1663 in New London. [5F]

vii. Mary Fanning was born on 28 April 1665, probably in Stonington. She died on 14 December 1743. She married Benjamin Hewitt.

Endnotes

1. "Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630–1870," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org > Stonington, 92. Edmund died December 1683.

2. "New England Marriages to 1700," digitized books, AmericanAncestors, originally published as Clarence Almon Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015), vol. 1: 527.

3. Richard A Wheeler, History of the First Congregational Church, Stonington, Conn., 1674–1874 (Norwich, T.H. Davis and Co., 1875).

4. Thomas Minor, Sydney H. Minor and George D. Stanton, The Diary of Thomas Minor, Stonington, Connecticut, 1653–1684(New London: Press of the Day, 1899).

5. Walter Frederic Brooks, History of the Fanning Family (Worcester, MA: privately printed, 1905), 85–6.

6. Creighton Spencer-Mounsey, “The Billings Family of Connecticut,” New England Historical and Genealogical Register 81 (1927), 156–78.

7. Manasseh Minor, The Diary of Manasseh Minor: Stonington, Conn., 1696–1720 (n.p: published by Frank Denison Miner with the assistance of Hannah Miner, 1988).

Revised July 4, 2023