Descendants of Captain Arthur Fenner

George Potter Fenner

[b 5 June 1855 at Potter Hill, RI; d 21 Oct. 1915 at New London, CT; bur Hopkinton, RI] On 7 July 1887 in Hanover, CT, George Potter Fenner m Annie Cutler Smith [b 19 Oct. 1855 at Hanover, CT; d 9 Apr. 1938 at New London, CT]. Annie was the daughter of Norman Smith [1826–1905] and Sarah Adeline Cutler [1830–1861]. 

At age 17, George began to learn how to build printing presses, employed by Cottrell & Babcock (Nathan Babcock, his uncle). In 1882, he established a similar business in New London, CT, but merged thereafter with his uncle’s company as the Babcock Printing Press Manufacturing Company. Around 1900, he became president and treasurer of the company. George was a skilled inventor, earning sixty-seven patents in printing press design between 1882 and 1915. At one time, his company was “generally acknowledged to be the makers of the best flat-bed printing presses in the world, having been awarded medals in all the principle cities of Europe and America” (Marshall, p. 120). 

In addition to his printing press business, George was a director or board member of several institutions, including the National Bank of Commerce, Associated Charities of New London, and All Souls’ Church (Unitarian/Universalist). 

George was killed in an automobile accident at New London, CT. After his death, Annie became treasurer and actively led the printing company into continued growth. In spite of an economic downturn during World War I, by 1922 the company employed as many as 400 people, owned seven acres of property (180,000 square feet), and had sold 7,000 presses since its inception.

Child of George & Annie:

1. Mildred Lucile [b 24 Oct. 1889; d 4 May 1969] m Dr. Walter Landon Douglass of New London, CT.

Lineage:
Arthur | Thomas | Thomas | William | Stephen | Philip | Charles | George

Sources:
1. George’s memorial at FindaGrave, no. 29205924
2. A Modern History of New London, Connecticut, ed. Benjamin Tinkham Marshall, vol. 2 (NY: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1922), pp. 120–121, 500–502: Archive.org