William FANCY, II

  General Notes:

He could have been in his mid to late 30's when he began his family. This is probably older than most people when they begin their family, but not unusual. William Fancy, Jr. had some financial problems in his earlier years and may have waited to be married.

The weight of evidence indicates the William Fancy/Fanshaw Family of Long Island are the progenitors of the people who took the surname Fancher.

William Fanshaw/Fancy, Jr. is first mentioned in his father's Will of 1675 and appears to have been a minor at that time. The half of the estate he was to receive was entrusted to his mother Katherine, until her death.
On September 11, 1678, John Budd forgives Katherine Fancy from all claims, demands and debts, and also forgives William Fanshaw/Fancy of a debt_____. (The page in the original record was torn.)
The town proprietors voted and agreed to give William Fanshaw/Fancy, Jr. and Richard Clark 20 acres apiece of Upland with commonage for their cattle in December 1679, and the men said they were "nott expecking any more land of the towne." William's mother was still living in 1679. It appears that William had no claim or ownership in his father's proprietors right to town lands at that time.
In June of 1680 William, Jr. bought a bay horse from Thomas Biggs, Jr, for which he paid two barrels of merchantable oil. In November 1680 he swaps horses with Walter Jones, and in April 1681 he swaps the horse he got from Jones for a bay horse from John Hutton.
On September 9, 1680 Katherine Fancy apparently begins giving her son William, Jr. part of his inheritance. Katherine gives William, Jr. her share of the Meadow at Conscience, the 6-acre lot in Old Field, 7 acres in the West Division, and her right in the Little Neck for him to "in Joy for ever after her desese."
It appears that William Fanshaw/Fancy, Jr. came into his majority between 1678 and 1680, which places his birth somewhere between 1655 and 1662. The records indicate that his trade was a weaver.
On May 26 of 1682 William, Jr. exchanges land with his mother Katherine. The same day he creates a mortgage on his property and possessions. He is described as a weaver who is indebted to John Inions (Inian) of New York City. (Around 1680 John Inian had purchased 10,000 acres in New Brunswick, New Jersey and was one of the proprietors and founders of that place.) William Fancy, Jr.'s mortgage includes 10 acres, the share of land at the Meadows, his home lot, 20 acres given by the town, and his loom and associated tackle. The debt is to be paid in the next year. There is no indication that William, Jr. did not pay this debt.

William married.