Descendants of John Fenner

John Fenner

[b 23 Dec. 1877 in Halifax Co., NC; d 3 May 1928 in Halifax Co., NC] John Fenner, a farmer, m 1st Annie Gary [b 1879] on 14 Mar 1909 at Halifax, NC, officiated by Sandy Fenner, Baptist minister. In the 1910 census, John and Annie were counted in Conoconnara, NC, with six children, Raleigh Gary (age 9), Joseph Gary (age 8), Antoinette Gary (age 3), Katie Fenner (age 4), Willie J. Fenner (age 2), and John Larcia (“Lousay”) Fenner (age 0). The sequence of events outlined here appears to show two children sired by John with Mary Dickens out of wedlock: Winnie in 1907 and Irene in 1911. The latter child likely led to a divorce from Annie Gary. Annie’s whereabouts after 1910 are unclear. Her absence from subsequent census records potentially indicate a remarriage and a name change before 1920.

John m 2nd Mary Dickens [b 1887; d 16 June 1979 at Roanoke Rapids, NC] on 11 Apr. 1915 at Enfield, NC. Mary was the daughter of Spear Dickens and Adeline Davis. Mary had been previously married to Caleb Taylor, in 1903, but in 1910 she was living with her parents in Enfield, NC, listed with three children, Carrie (age 13), Lin (age 3) and Arthenia or Arthuria (age 1). Carrie was probably not hers, with a stated age difference of only 9 years being practically impossible; when Carrie married Arrington Wiggins on 6 Feb. 1918, her parents’ names were left blank but both were marked “dead.”

On his certificate of marriage to Mary Dickens, John’s mother’s name was given as Agnes (not Catherine); the reason for this is unclear. In the 1920 census, the Fenner household included Lynn D. (age 14), Katie (age 14), Scrappy (age 13), James (age 12), Lasalia (age 10), Irene (age 9), Major (age 4), Spier (age 2), and Mary A. (9 mos.). None of the Gary children were present (nor was Annie); the Gary children had all relocated to Newark, NJ, by 1935.

In 1930, after the death of John, Mary was head of household in Conoconnara, Halifax, NC, with many of the children. In 1940, Mary was living with her sons Spear and Burney. In 1950, she was living with her daughter Adeline.

Children of Mary Dickens and Caleb Taylor:

  1. Lynn D. Taylor [b 1906/7] m Lucille Wood, had Lynn Jr. [b 1928; d 3 Apr. 1948 in Wilson, NC].

  2. Arthenia or Arthuria Taylor [b 1909], probably died before 1920.

Child of Mary Dickens and John Fenner:

  1. Winnie “Scrappy” [b 1907]. In 1910, “Scrapie Dickins” (age 3) was listed as an adopted daughter in the household of Grant and Hettie Gray, Enfield, NC. She was living with John and Mary in 1920, and on her marriage certificate in 1926, she was Winnie Fenner, daughter of John and Mary. She m Alfred Pittman [b 11 June 1904; d 9 Mar. 1984], a farmer, on 6 Jan. 1926 at Halifax, NC, son of Berry and Lucy Pittman. They had Sarah Ellen, Alfred Jr, Lucy, and Joe Lewis. On Lucy’s marriage certificate, her parents were Albert and “Scrape” Pittman.

Children of Annie Gary and unknown:

  1. Raleigh Gary [b 18 Mar. 1901 in Halifax Co., NC; d Mar. 1966 in Newark, NJ] was living in Newark, NJ, single, in 1940 and when drafted for WWII.

  2. Joseph Gary [b 1902 in Halifax Co., NC] m Luvenia — [b 1914 in AL]; living in Newark, NJ, in 1940, with no children.

  3. Antoinette “Annie” Gary [b 1907] m Harry L. Pittman [b 2 Jan. 1907 at Tillery, Halifax Co., NC] ca. 1927 in Halifax Co., NC, and had Bernice [b 1928 in NC], Edward [b 1931 in NC], and Carolyn [b 1934 in NC]. They moved to Newark, NJ, ca. 1935.

Children of John Fenner and Annie Gary:

  1. Katie [b 1906 in Halifax Co., NC; d 2 June 1920 in Halifax Co., NC].

  2. Willie James [b 1908 in Halifax Co., NC; d aft. 1920].

  3. John Larcia [b 23 Nov 1909 in Halifax Co., NC; d 6 Dec. 1990 at Raleigh, Wake Co., NC] m Ruby Draughn on 31 Dec. 1924 in Halifax Co., NC.

Children of John Fenner and Mary Dickens:

  1. Irene [b 5 Apr. 1911 in Halifax Co., NC; d 9 Nov. 1966 at Rocky Mount, Nash, NC] m Wesley Wood.

  2. Major [b 26 Dec. 1915 in Halifax Co., NC; d 23 Aug. 1980 at Scotland Neck, NC] m Etta Gray on 31 Jan. 1935, daughter of Wilson and Martha Whitaker, in Halifax, NC.

  3. Spear [b 22 Sept. 1917 at Enfield, NC; d 31 Dec. 1969] m Mamie Battle.

  4. Mary Adeline [b 11 Apr. 1919 in Halifax Co., NC; d 12 May 2004 at Nash, NC] m 1st Rufus Whitaker; m 2nd Lewis Jones.

  5. Henry [b 4 Sept. 1921].

  6. Burnice “Burney” [b 22 Nov. 1922 in NC; d 17 Feb. 2005 at Enfield, Halifax Co., NC] m Dozie Whitaker on 6 Jan. 1946, daughter of Forest and Ardelia Whitaker, at Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., NC. They had Leanna [b 12 June 1953], Billy Lowe [b 29 Apr. 1955], Don [b 28 Mar. 1957], Shirley Lee [b 3 Nov. 1958], Willie Lee [b 3 Nov. 1958], Ray Charles [b 23 Apr. 1960], Lilly Yvonne [b 12 Mar. 1963]

  7. Daniel [b 1 June 1924 in NC; d 26 Dec 1977 at Torboro, NC].

Lineage:
John | John | John

Sources:
1. Data primarily from FamilySearch and Ancestry.