Re: Faunce Codding and Faunce Taylor

Thanks for this fine information. Can you give me an idea where it comes from?

Is there any information on where and when the marriage of George Codding and Mary Faunce took place? On where Mary Faunce was born?

Yes, it's interesting that the surname of a first wife should appear as given name of a child by the second wife. Assuming this could not have been done over the objection of the second wife, this must say something about goodness of the first wife or the tragedy of her death.

The 1827 will of George Codding, Sr., of Bristol, Ontario, N.Y., includes mention, among other persons, of daughters Sally and Abigail and children of deceased brother Faunce Codding. This agrees with your information. Abigail must have been the daughter of first wife Mary Faunce and Sally the daughter of second wife Sarah Thayer. The mystery is that the 1827 will speaks of wife Mary and no other. Mary Codding made her will in 1836.

Do you have have any recollection where you saw the name Faunce Taylor? The wills of both George Codding, Sr., and his wife Mary leave significant legacies to members of the family of Capt. Joseph Taylor of Bristol, who died in 1810. (Not known at this point where he came from.) Executors of the wills of both are Oliver Phelps and Daniel Taylor, with the addition of Gideon Pitts in the case of George.

The connection between the Codding and the Taylor families is still unknown. The existence of a Faunce Taylor could mean the families were related or simply that the Taylors were inspired to give this name to one of theirs.