Descendants of Captain Arthur Fenner

Governor Arthur Fenner

Early Life

Arthur was born 10 December 1745 in Providence, RI, the eleventh of twelve children, son of Arthur Fenner (1699–1788) and Mary Olney. His first child, Arthur, was an illegitimate child with Freelove Westcott. He married Amey Comstock [b ca. 1749; d 5 Sept. 1828 in her 80th yr.], daughter of Gideon Comstock of Smithfield. Arthur and Amey were members of the First Baptist Church in America, at Providence. Arthur’s father owned Fenner’s Wharf, where the Gaspee Incident (June 9–10, 1772) was staged, located near what is now 155 South Main Street in Providence. Arthur was sought after as a person of interest following the incident. 

A few years after the Gaspee Incident, Arthur participated in another protest against the British:

In pursuance of the recommendation of the continental congress, a “committee of inspection” was appointed by this town on December 17th, [1774], which consisted of the following men: William Earl, Nicholas Cooke, Benjamin Man, Zephaniah Andrews, Arthur Fenner Jr., Ambrose Page, Nicholas Power, George Corlis, Paul Allen, David Lawrence, Joseph Russell, Job Sweeting, Joseph Bucklin, Jonathan Arnold, Bernard Eddy, Aaron Mason, Joseph Brown, and Nathaniel Wheaton. The committee was vigilant in carrying out the purposes for which they were appointed. In accord with the recommendation of congress, they urged the entire abstinence from the use of East India tea after March 1st, 1775. To this the people most heartily agreed, and to make their determination the more positive a public demonstration was made on March 2d, the account of which runs as follows:

The town crier at noon ran through the town, giving notice that a quantity of India tea would be burnt at 5 o’clock that afternoon in the market place. All true friends of their country were invited to manifest their good dispositions by coming and casting upon the fire what they might bring of “a needless herb, which for a long time hath been highly tetrimental to our liberty, interest and health.” A great number of people assembled at the time and place appointed, bringing together about 300 pounds of tea, which was publicly burned. There was also east upon the bonfire a tar barrel, Lord North’s speech, Rivington’s and Mills’ and Hicks’ newspapers, and other things. Meanwhile the bells of the town were tolled, and one of the Sons of Liberty went along the streets with a brush and black paint and covered the word “tea” on all the shop signs where it was found. —Richard M. Bayles, History of Providence County, Rhode Island, vol. 1 (1891)

Political Career

For many years before becoming governor, Arthur served as the clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, then in 1790 he became the front runner to lead the state of Rhode Island to the long-delayed task of ratifying the U.S. Constitution:

Active preparations were made for the approaching election. The vote of Gov. Collins for calling the convention, had made him unpopular with his party. The anti-federal members of the convention, on the day of the adjournment, offered the office of governor to Deputy Governor Owen, who declined to serve. A movement was made in Providence to form a coalition party. The Newport committee united with them in proposing to Arthur Fenner, an anti-federalist, then clerk of Common Pleas in Providence, to head a ticket upon which there should be a federalist deputy-governor, and a nearly equal number of assistants from each party. —Samuel Greene Arnold, History of the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations, vol. 2 (1894)

On 5 May 1790, Arthur Fenner was elected governor, and Samuel J. Potter was made deputy governor. A few weeks later, on 29 May 1790, the general assembly voted 34 to 32 in favor of adopting the U.S. Constitution, becoming the last state to do so. As Samuel Arnold put it, “A majority of two votes saved the people of Rhode Island from anarchy and the State from dismemberment.”

On 4 June 1790, George Washington wrote personally to Gov. Fenner to thank him and the state of Rhode Island for adopting the U.S. Constitution. He encouraged the citizens of Rhode Island to continue a spirit of unity:

Since the bond of Union is now complete, and we once more consider ourselves as one family, it is much to be hoped that reproaches will cease and prejudices be done away; for we should all remember that we are members of that community upon whose general success depends our particular and individual welfare; and, therefore, if we mean to support the Liberty and Independence which it has cost us so much blood and treasure to establish, we must drive far away the dæmon of party spirit and local reproach.

Washington personally visited Providence in August, 1790:

He came from New York in the packet Hancock, Captain Brown, and was accompanied by Governor Clinton of New York, Thomas Jefferson, secretary of state, and several members of congress. The party were formally escorted from the wharf to their lodgings at the Golden Ball Inn, while the enthusiastic populace fired salutes, rang bells and paraded the streets. The college edifice was illuminated in the evening. On the following day the president was shown about town by Governor Fenner, and joined in a state dinner with a company of about three hundred. An address was presented to his excellency by a committee of the people, and was handsomely responded to. —Richard M. Bayles, History of Providence County, Rhode Island, vol. 1 (1891)

Arthur’s sister Lydia was married to Theodore Foster, who along with Joseph Staton became the first two U.S. Senators to represent Rhode Island in 1790.

Gov. Fenner issued annual proclamations in observance of Thanksgiving as an official holiday, a tradition established by his predecessors, dating back to at least 1759. Also while in office, the Providence Society for the Promotion of the Abolition of Slavery was chartered, and an act establishing the method of electing Rhode Island's U.S. representatives and senators was passed.

His tenure wasn’t without controversy. In 1802, he was accused of a fraudulent business deal involving a ship, Mesmer, sold to a Madame Le Gras in Hispaniola nearly 20 years previously, which was then taken from her and sailed back to Providence. His son Arthur Jr. was captain of the ship and was involved in the deal. A complaint was published and distributed publicly in April of 1802 and the case was known as John Dorrance v. Arthur Fenner. One historian described the inconsistency of the judicial system at the time and how the case was handled:

With the courts occupying such a subordinate position, and with judges chosen annually, and consequently the footballs of political partisanship, it is not surprising that many of the judges, notwithstanding the glorious examples set by some of them, were not men possessing a proper appreciation of their positions and duties. . . . Thus in the case of John Dorrance vs. Arthur Fenner, tried in Providence in [1802], we find the chief justice declaring that in his rulings he should not confine himself to the law as stated in the books, nor to the custom of the country, nor even to the previous practice of the court. On overruling objections to certain questions put to one of the witnesses in this trial, he refused to give any reasons for his decision further than “that it is the opinion of the court that the witness go on and tell all he knows.” When the jury reported, after being “out” from nine o’clock Saturday till Monday morning, the trial having commenced the previous Tuesday, the judge informed them that he was of the opinion that their disagreement was owing to an unaccommodating public spirit, and sent them out again. In the afternoon, they brought in a verdict, signed by all of them for the defendant but on being asked by the clerk if it was their verdict, one of the jury disavowed it, and others rose to make explanations. Thereupon the judge stopped them, dismissed the jury, and against the protest of the plaintiff’s counsel, ordered the verdict entered as a good one, seeing it was signed by all the jury. —Welcome Greene, Providence Plantations (1886)

At some point, Arthur acquired the home of former deputy governor, Jabez Bowen (son of Mary Fenner and Ephraim Bowen). Arthur used it as a hotel; this was passed down to his son James. It was later known as the Old Manufacturers’ Hotel.

From the platform erected in front of it were read the public proclamations of the time—in 1776 of the declaration of independence, the announcement of peace, and the adoption of the constitution of Rhode Island. A great horse-chestnut tree stood before its entrance on the square. It was the headquarters of stage lines in all directions and was altogether a public house of eminent importance and preference. —Richard M. Bayles, History of Providence County, Rhode Island, vol. 1 (1891)

He served as governor of Rhode Island from 1790 to 1805 and died in office. Two years after Arthur’s death, his son James gave up his position as a U.S. senator to be elected governor of Rhode Island. James served three terms, 1807–1811, 1824–1831, and 1843–1845.

Child out of wedlock by Freelove Westcott, daughter of Thomas Westcott:

1. Arthur Fenner Jr. [b 9 Nov. 1766; d 27 Sept. 1837] m Lydia Sabin.

Children by Amey Comstock:

1. James Fenner [b 22 Jan. 1771; d 17 Apr. 1846] U.S. Senator, Governor of RI, m Sarah Jenckes.

2. Joseph Fenner [b ca. 1773; d 18 July 1797 in Providence, age 24].

3. Sally Fenner [b 1778; d 21 Aug. 1794 at Newport, age 16].

Thanksgiving Proclamations:

1792 | 1793 | 1794 | 1795 A | 1795 B | 1796 | 1797 | 1798 | 1799 | 1800

Other Proclamations:

1790 June 14 | 1793 Sept. 21 | 1796 Nov. 4 | 1797 July 24 | 1798 Oct. 6

Arthur Fenner and His Cabinet/Staff:

1790 A | 1790 B | 1791 | 1793 | 1794 | 1795 | 1796 | 1797 | 1799

Mesmer Controversy:

Broadsheet (1802): PDF
Report of the case John Dorrance against Arthur Fenner (1802): PDF

Lineage:
Arthur | Thomas | Arthur | Arthur

Sources:

1. Gov. Arthur and the Gaspee Incident: gaspee.org

2. Gov. Arthur and Amey are listed in the register of the First Baptist Church in America. The card indicates he was born on 10 Dec. 1745 and died on 15 Oct. 1805.

3. Eva Fenner, Notes, 93. In a letter from the RI Historical Society, Arthur’s children were given as Gov. James, Arthur who m Lydia Sabin, Sally, and Joseph. Signed by Clarkson A. Collins III, 29 Oct. 1956.

4. Eva Fenner, Notes, 93. In another letter, dated 14 Jan. 1957, Mr. Collins indicated the Arthur who m Lydia Sabin was an illegitimate child. Mr. Collins also gave Gov. Arthur’s birthdate as 12 Oct. 1732.

5. Martha Benns, Notes on the Fenner Family of R.I. (1941), pp. 24, 43. Martha showed the marriage of Arthur and Lydia Sabin as 2 Dec. 1787. Joseph’s death is 14 July 1797. A note in her manuscript reads, “A genealogical chart of the Westcott family in the Foster papers, compiled by Theodore Foster, Gov. Arthur Fenner's brother-in-law, states that his son Arthur was an illegitimate child of Gov. Arthur and Freelove Westcott. C.A.C. 3rd”

6. Gov. Arthur Fenner’s gravestone at FindaGrave, no. 22487511

7. Biography by J. Earl Clauson in the Providence Journal (1936): PDF

8. George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741–1799: Series 2, Letterbook 23, p. 27 (Image 49); Letter from George Washington to Gov. Arthur Fenner, 20 Nov. 1790. 

9. Further elucidation of the conduct of Governor Fenner (Providence, 1802). Library of Congress, Printed Ephemera Collection; Portfolio 168, Folder 2: http://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.16800200/ | PDF

10. Letter from George Washington to Gov. Arthur Fenner, 4 June 1790, transcribed in the George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741–1799: Series 2, Letterbook 22, p. 304: Image 323

11. Thanksgiving proclamations by Gov. Arthur Fenner, issued annually from 1792 to 1800: http://www.classicapologetics.com/special/thanks.html#State

12. Richard M. Bayles, History of Providence County, Rhode Island, vol. 1 (1891), pp. 181, 191: Archive.org

13. Samuel Greene Arnold, History of the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations, vol. 2 (1894): Archive.org

14. Welcome Arnold Greene, The Providence Plantations for Two Hundred and Fifty Years (Providence: J.A. & R.A. Reid, 1886), p. 228: Archive.org