Frederick Fundy (surname variously spelled as Fondy, Fondey, and Fonda) came to America sometime prior to the summer of 1837 from his home in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany where he was born in 1806. He appears to have been a tanner by trade, as he purchased a working tan yard from Martin Bodine in October 1839.
He appeared before the Bullitt Circuit Court in July 1837, and took the preparatory oath required to begin the process of becoming a citizen of the United States. Then two years later, on 30 Jul 1839, he appeared again before the court, having completed the citizenship requirements, and took the oath that made his a citizen.
Frederick appears to have prospered as a tanner, for he was able to purchase over 50 acres from William W. Swearingen in 1848, and another 50 plus acres from Coleman Bridwell a decade later.
He and Susannah Roby, daughter of Lawrence Roby Sr., were married on 29 Sep 1840, and by the 1850 census were the parents of four children: Isabella, Louisa, Rosella, and young Fred. However, Susannah died in 1854, and Isabella the next year. Then their son Fred died of meningitis in 1860. We find no record of Rosella after the 1850 census. Only Louisa survived. She married J. Warren Hall in 1873, and they appear to have taken over the farm following Frederick's death in October 1874.
The records of Frederick's journey to citizenship are transcribed below.
Bullitt Circuit Court Order Book O, Page 36, 3 Jul 1837.
Frederick Fundy, Stephen Calvert and John Theodore Frilling, late subjects to the Emperor of Germany in Europe, this day in open court with the leave of this court, took the preparatory oath each of their bona fide intention to become citizens of the United States of America and to renounce all allegiance to all foreign kings, princes, emperors, powers and principalities, and titles hereditary and rights thereto. Frederick Fundy was born Damstadt Germany, is 5 feet 8 1/2 inches high; Stephen Calvert of Baden, Germany, height 5 feet 7 1/2 inches.
Bullitt Circuit Court Order Book O, Page 278, 30 Jul 1839.
Frederick Fundy, late a subject of the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt of Germany, having two years since taken the preparatory oath for American citizenship in the United States of America, and having satisfied the court of his residence &c as by law and the Constitution required, he is permitted and did now in open court take the final oath agreeably to law and the Constitution as a citizen of the United States of America and is hereby declared a citizen accordingly, having made the remunerations required by law and the Constitution.
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The Bullitt County History Museum, a service of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is located in the county courthouse at 300 South Buckman Street (Highway 61) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The museum, along with its research room, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday appointments are available by calling 502-921-0161 during our regular weekday hours. Admission is free. The museum, as part of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and is classified as a 509(a)2 public charity. Contributions and bequests are deductible under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code. Page last modified: 12 Sep 2024 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/bchistory/frederick-fundy-citizen.html
