(fl. late 18th century, early 19th century), U E Loyalist. (name also given as Tanno Fonder, Tanno Funda, James Fonda, Thomas Fonda, Tanne Funda) One of the black Loyalists who settled about the Bainsville area of Lancaster Township. Little is known about his life. According to a certificate of 24 Nov. 1785 in the Township Papers for GC, “Tanno Fonder Loyalist” was entitled to 100 acres and had drawn Lot 14 in the 2nd Concession of what is now Lancaster Township. On 30 April 1812 he was given in this tp both Lot 14 in the 2nd Concession and a portion (the “Lower End”) of Lot 14 in the 3rd Concession (perhaps the part cut off by Gunn Creek) for a total of 258 acres. Also, between the two dates already cited, he had been granted, on 27 May 1797, Lot 15 in the 9th Concession of Lancaster Township, for 200 acres. He is reported to have been a slave of the Fonda family of the Mohawk Valley. This family, from which the actor Henry Fonda is said to have been descended, took the side of independence in the Revolution. Tanno Fonda may have belonged to Herkimer’s Bateau Company of labourers based at Coteau-du-Lac. Also, he may have been the same person as the James Fundy who on 19 Sept. 1815 was one of those who pledged money for securing a replacement to the late Rev. John Bethune as Presbyterian minister at Williamstown. The records of the SDG Surrogate Court contain the will of Tanno Funda, of Lancaster, made 8 Jan. 1817. He signed the will with his mark, X. In the will he mentions his son Peter and a grandaughter Nancy Crout. He does not appear in the Old United Empire Loyalist List or in many of the standard printed sources on the Loyalists.

Archives of Ontario-TP for 14-2 & 15-9 Lancaster Township, GC * Domesday Book [record of land patents], entries for 14-2, 14-3 & 15-9 Lancaster Township, GC * Archives of Ontario and other collections: SDG Surrogate Court, Reel G.S. Ont. 1-1251 for wills 1800-1821 * Malcolm Robertson on “Black Loyalists of Glengarry,” GHS Newsletter April 1994 and Glengarry Life 1994 * Pringle 403 (names on McNiff’s map of 1786)