Diantha (Elizabeth) Fitch Bunnell

1826 - 1902  (76 years)

• Name	Diantha (Elizabeth) Fitch Bunnell  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]
  Birth	28 Jul 1826	West Haven Conn   [8, 9]
  Gender	Female
  Residence	1850	Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA   [10]
  Death	29 Nov 1902	Mt. Vernon, West Chester, NY, USA   [3, 11]
  Burial	Abt 2 Dec 1902	, New Haven, CT, USA
  Person ID	I7885	Ancestrees
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2026

  
  

  Father	Jairus Bunnel, **,   b. 21 Jul 1789, Cheshire, New Haven, Connecticut, USA d. 10 Mar 1860, West Haven, New Haven, CT, USA (Age 70 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Martha Lincoln, **,   b. 21 Jun 1790, , , Vermont, USA d. 23 Nov 1872, Harlem, New York County, New York, United States of America (Age 82 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Marriage	26 Sep 1810	Cheshire, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
  Family ID	F3068	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Edward Cyrus Forte,   b. 7 Mar 1821, , , Barbados d. 14 Jun 1858, Minatitlan, Tehuantepec, , Mexico (Age 37 years)
  Marriage	24 Oct 1842	New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
  Children	1. Leslie (Lester) Baldwin Forte,   b. 1 Apr 1844, Bridgeport, Fairfield, CT, USA d. 8 Jan 1911, Middletown Twp, Middlesex, Connecticut, USA (Age 66 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   2. Edward (Eddie) Cyrus Forte,   b. 5 Nov 1851, , New Haven, CT, USA d. 10 Jun 1942, Fenton, Genesee, MI, USA (Age 90 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   3. Elizabeth Anna Forte,   b. 8 Feb 1846, , New Haven, CT, USA d. 24 Feb 1870, New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, USA (Age 24 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   4. Henry Lincoln Forte, I,   b. 12 Apr 1855, Orange, New Haven Co, CT, USA d. 28 Sep 1937, Glenside, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 82 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F1169	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2026

  
  

• Photos

  Diantha Fitch Bunnell.jpg

  
  

  Documents		42342_647680_0933-00222.jpg
  		44471_355119-02531.jpg

  
  

• Notes

  There are 6 spoons in existence belonging to Edward and Diantha Forte with the initials E.D.F. on them. As far as I know these are still in existence with Hank and Ray Forte. They were trademarked in 1801, and as such, were made well before Diantha and Edward were born. (F-4) There is a tin type photo of Diantha in Linda Dudick's care thanks to Bill and Ann Forte. Diantha was employed as a house mother for a local college during some of her life. (F-17) When her husband was murdered in Mexico, she did not have the money to care for her children. They therefore went to live with relatives at fairly young ages. Leslie, Elizabeth and Henry Lincoln went to live with relatives in Philadelphia, PA and son Edward C. went to live with his mother's cousin, Marie Amelia Bunnell and her husband Zera Patterson in Fenton, Michigan. Her three children in Philadelphia were raised as Catholics. Edward was raised an Episcopalian. That must have been a very difficult decision to make and live with. Much of this information is from an interview with Margaret Bennett, Diantha's great granddaughter. She believed that Diantha attended St. Paul's Church in Mount Vernon, West Chester Co., NY near the end of her life.

  
  

• Sources

  [S2021] Bennett, Margaret, Interview of Margaret Bennett of Porterville, CA by Linda Coate Dudick, in the 1980's or 90's. [S443] Norman Leroy Forte Erie, PA interviewed by Linda Coate Dudick, grand-daughter by marriage July 17, 1979 In Linda Coate files (F-17). [S208] Raymond & Clara Forte Corrigan, Pedigree Chart prepared by Clara Patterson Forte? deceased It is accurate to the family history passed down by Edward Cyrus Forte (1851-1942). [S433] Jarius Bunnel of Cheshire, CN New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ In possession of Libby Swenson (Boston: Greenough & Stebbins, 1809). [S1802] An inventory of the antique family spoons from the Forte/Lincoln family. [S476] 1850 U.S. Census Bridgeport, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. [S472] Edward Forte Family Bible Boston: Greenough & Stebbins, (1809). [S1805] Ancestry.com, Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Date:2015 Place:Provo, UT, USA;), Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics; Lansing, Michigan, 1,60872::0. [S1146] Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1971, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2014;), Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA, USA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 089001-092000. [S60] Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2009;). 1850 United States Federal Census [S434] Hale, Charles, CT Vital Records.