Richard Fenner

[b ca. 1720 at Dublin, Ireland; d 1765 at New Bern, NC] Richard Fenner m Ann Coddington [d 1777], daughter of Dixie Coddington [1693–1776], a wealthy land owner in Ireland. Ann’s grandfather Dixie Coddington owned an estate at Oldbridge, Drogheda, County Meath, Ireland, which stayed in the family through the 20th century. Richard was probably the son of William Fenner, Esq. [d 1754], and was probably associated with the former Fennor Castle in the parish of Fennor, County Meath, near Slane.

Fennor Castle is described as an example of an early 17th century end-stack house incorporating a medieval tower-house, which no doubt contained the stairs. The tower-house was the limb of the T-plan. Fennor is considered a small house, but it is pointed out that the small house in the 17th century was large by comparison with those of today and was massively built. The walls were of rubble stone, varying in thickness from two feet upwards, and supporting a roof of slates. As was the rule, Fennor was built over a basement. The entrance to the house was at the level above the basement.[1]

Richard and Ann arrived at New Bern, North Carolina, in 1757, with their three sons, and Richard took an active role in the community’s leadership. On 18 Nov. 1757, Richard was appointed as Deputy Clerk of the Council, Deputy Secretary, and Deputy Register of the Court of Chancery. At a meeting on 14 Dec. 1757, he was given charge of the “Office of Receiver of the Dutys on Spiritual Liquors imported into Neuse River.”[2] On 25 Mar. 1758, he acquired 300 acres of land in the County of Carteret, and on 1 Oct. 1758, he was granted 600 acres of land by Arthur Dobbs, colonial governor of North Carolina, on the southwest side of the Pee Dee River. On 24 May 1760, he was appointed to the Commission of the Peace for the County of Carteret, together with William Coole, Ross Bell, and Thomas Shaw. On 9 Mar. 1764 he was one of seven trustees involved in the construction of a new school in New Bern. While in New Bern, he actively practiced law, as court records from that time attest. He died at an unknown time after signing a memorial for William Tryon on 16 May 1765.

Richard and Ann were probably associated with the Christ Episcopal Church in New Bern and buried there, but most of the church’s early records have been lost. Robert and William enlisted in the Continental Army in 1776, Richard in 1779.

Ann drafted a will on 30 Jan. 1777, probated in March 1777, her son Robert was named as executor. Her father had died only a few months previously, and her inheritance from Ireland, now passed to her sons, included 400£.

  1. Robert [b ca. 1754].

  2. William [d ca. 1780–1783]; enlisted in the Continental Army in 1776; was commissioned as a Major in the 7th Regiment on 24 Oct. 1777. The 7th was disbanded in May 1778 for lack of numbers and merged into the 1st and 2nd. He resigned/retired on 1 June 1778.

  3. Richard [b 1757; d 1828] m Anne Geddy.

  4. Henry; according to one account, was sent to Europe to be educated and became a sea captain. Little else is known.

Sources:
1. Ruth Leslie Barrett, The Fenner Forebears of Samuel Fenner Leslie (Windom, TX: 1987): The Portal to Texas History
2. William L. Saunders, The Colonial Records of North Carolina, vols. 5–6 (Raleigh: Josephus Daniels, 1887): Archive.org | Archive.org

Will of Ann Fenner, 1777

In the name of God, Amen.

I Ann Fenner of the Town of Newbern and Province of North Carolina, widow, being of sound mind and memory do make my last Will and Testament in the form and manner following That is to say, after the payment of my just debts and funeral charges.

Imprimis I give and bequeath to my beloved son William one hundred pounds sterling to be paid out of the four hundred pounds sterling belonging to me in the kingdom of Ireland, and the remaining three hundred pounds with all the interest I give and bequeath to my beloved sons Robert and Richard to be equally divided between them.

Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved son Robert all the rest of my estate of every Denomination whatsoever I do likewise nominate and appoint my said son Robert Executor of this my last Will and Testament.

Witness my hand and seal this thirtieth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy Seven.

Ann Fennor

Signed sealed and declared to be her last & Testament in the presence of

James Reed
James Little

(Proved, March 1777)