Called Fanny, she was the illegitimate daughter of British military engineer John Montresor and Anna Schoolcraft of Schoharie, New York. To disguise her father, her maiden name was sometimes given as Montezuma. Her mother died in childbirth, and Fanny was raised by her Aunt Margaret.
In 1766 Margaret married a Tory, Crean Brush, who moved the family to Westminster, Vermont in 1776. The same year, Fanny, by now a skilled botanist and musician, married John Buchanan, a retired British military officer. Buchanan was killed while fighting as a member of the King's Loyal Rangers, and Fanny's child with him died young.
In 1784 Fanny married Ethan Allen, and they settled on a farm in Burlington. The Allens had three children. Hannibal and Ethan attended West Point and became Army officers. Frances Margaret (Fanny) became a nun and lived and worked at a Montreal hospital. After Ethan Allen died in 1789 Fanny and her children moved back to Westminster.
In 1793 she married Dr. Jabez Penniman and they moved back to the Allen farm, where Fanny gave birth to three more children. Debts later forced them to give up the farm and return to Westminster. In 1803 Penniman became US Customs Collector for Vermont and the family relocated to Swanton.
During the War of 1812 they took up residence in Burlington and Colchester, and Penniman served as Colchester Town Clerk and Chittenden County Probate Judge.
Called Fanny, she was the illegitimate daughter of British military engineer John Montresor and Anna Schoolcraft of Schoharie, New York. To disguise her father, her maiden name was sometimes given as Montezuma. Her mother died in childbirth, and Fanny was raised by her Aunt Margaret.
In 1766 Margaret married a Tory, Crean Brush, who moved the family to Westminster, Vermont in 1776. The same year, Fanny, by now a skilled botanist and musician, married John Buchanan, a retired British military officer. Buchanan was killed while fighting as a member of the King's Loyal Rangers, and Fanny's child with him died young.
In 1784 Fanny married Ethan Allen, and they settled on a farm in Burlington. The Allens had three children. Hannibal and Ethan attended West Point and became Army officers. Frances Margaret (Fanny) became a nun and lived and worked at a Montreal hospital. After Ethan Allen died in 1789 Fanny and her children moved back to Westminster.
In 1793 she married Dr. Jabez Penniman and they moved back to the Allen farm, where Fanny gave birth to three more children. Debts later forced them to give up the farm and return to Westminster. In 1803 Penniman became US Customs Collector for Vermont and the family relocated to Swanton.
During the War of 1812 they took up residence in Burlington and Colchester, and Penniman served as Colchester Town Clerk and Chittenden County Probate Judge.
Family Members
See more Buchanan Allen Penniman or Montresor memorials in:
- Elmwood Cemetery Buchanan Allen Penniman or Montresor
- Burlington Buchanan Allen Penniman or Montresor
- Chittenden County Buchanan Allen Penniman or Montresor
- Vermont Buchanan Allen Penniman or Montresor
- USA Buchanan Allen Penniman or Montresor
- Find a Grave Buchanan Allen Penniman or Montresor