Descendants of Richard Fenner
Robert Fenner
[b ca. 1754, probably Meath Co., Ireland; d 1816 in Halifax Co., NC] In New Bern, NC, on 28 January 1771, Robert Fenner was listed among 78 soldiers of the prison guard under Captain Thomas Sitgreaves. A few months later, Robert was recruited to be part of a militia to help quell the uprising of frontiersmen called Regulators. The Regulators, largely from western counties, were rebelling against colonial governor William Tyron and what they felt was excessive taxation, poor representation in the government, and corruption, among other complaints. The rebellion came to a head on 16 May 1771 at the Battle of Alamance, where the colonial militia routed the Regulators, killing 9 and wounding 61.
Enlisted in the Continental Army in 1776, and was made Lieutenant of the 2nd Regiment on 3 May 1776. Another Lieutenant in the same regiment, John Ingles, served alongside Robert for the entirety of the war. Robert was promoted to Captain on 20 May 1777. He was taken prisoner at Charleston on 12 May 1780, then exchanged some time in the latter part of 1781. He became a Major in 1783. The Continental Army was formally disbanded on 3 Nov. 1783. Through much of the war, Robert acted as paymaster for his regiment. For a more detailed accounting of Robert’s involvement in the war and the conditions he faced, see Ruth Leslie Barrett (1987), pp. 33–43.
Robert made his post-war home in Halifax, NC, rather than returning to New Bern. He had spent several weeks there in the summer of 1777 while his regiment waited to march north to meet General Washington’s troops, and he had been charge of the State Stores there for the first six months of 1782. He m Mary Howson [b ca. 1765; d 15 Mar. 1831] there in 1782. She was the daughter of Richard Howson and Ann Eelbeck, and granddaughter of Montfort Eelbeck. In the 1790 census, they had one son and three daughters (Barrett believes one of these was probably a relative of Mary’s). At least three children were born between 1790 and 1800: Robert Jr., Mary, and John. Another son, Dixie, was born after 1800 and before 1810. In Mary’s obituary in The Roanoke Advocate, 17 Mar. 1831, she was described as “a pious and zealous member of the Methodist Church for more than 20 years.”
After the war, Robert served as an agent for the settlement of accounts related to the North Carolina regiment, which apparently lasted until his account was deemed settled on 10 August 1792. Robert served as the treasurer for the North Carolina Society of the Cincinnati from 1783 to 1791. His brother Richard was also a founding member.
North Carolina rewarded its military officers with grants of land. On 14 March 1786, he was given 3,840 acres in Davidson County, along Blue Creek, emptying into Duck River (this later became part of Humphreys County in Tennessee). As the heir of his brother William, he also acquired 2,057 acres of land in Davidson County, on both sides of the Sulfur Fork of Red River. On 10 July 1788, he purchased 4,030 acres of land on the south side of the Richland Creek of Elk River in present-day Giles County, Tennessee, for roughly 400£.
In the North Carolina state census (1785–1787), he was credited with owning 15 slaves. Deed records indicate the purchase of two more slaves in 1790 and one in 1792. By 1810, that number had increased to 38.
In 1788, Robert was appointed Clerk and Master of Equity for Halifax, a legal position by which he facilitated the preparation of cases for the Halifax District Court of Equity, which met twice annually. He served in this position until at least 1810, possibly until his death. In the late 1790s (ca. 1796–1802), he was a justice for District 9. In 1806, he was Magistrate of Police. He left a will in Halifax County dated 7 September 1816, proved November 1816.
Son (Richard?) [b 1786–1790; d bef 1816]
Daughter [b 1786–1790]
Daughter [b 1786–1790]
Daughter or relative of Mary [b 1786–1790].
Robert Jr. [b 1790–1794; d 19 Sept. 1847] m Lucy Maclin Saunders.
Mary H. [b 1790–1800; d bef 1830?] m John Marrast on 21 July 1814 in Halifax Co., NC; they had John and Dixie.
John Howson [b 1798; d Dec. 1871] m Rebecca C. Eaton.
Dixie Coddington [b 1800–1810; d ca. 12 Jan. 1834] was granted a tavern license in Halifax Co. in Nov. 1822. In 1823, he was named as county jailor. He m Ann Harwell on 1 Oct. 1827. In 1830, they owned 41 slaves. At his death in 1834, 474 acres of land in Halifax Co. and 102 acres of land in Northampton Co. were conveyed to his brother John, who administered his estate. He was apparently predeceased by his wife, and they do not appear to have had any surviving children.
Lineage:
Richard | Robert
Sources:
1. Ruth Leslie Barrett, The Fenner Forebears of Samuel Fenner Leslie (Windom, TX: 1987): The Portal to Texas History
2. Hugh F. Rankin, The North Carolina Continentals (1971/2005): Amazon
Will of Robert Fenner
Halifax County, North Carolina, Wills, Book 3, p. 593.
7 September 1816. Proved November 1816.
I Robert Fenner Senr. of the Town of Halifax in the State of North Carolina do make & ordain this to be my last will and Testament Viz—
1st I lend to my wife Mary during her life my lots in Halifax Town, with all the houses situated thereon, except the new store house at the Corner. I also lend my wife during her life, all my Household and Kitchen Furniture, in full confidence that she will deliver to each of my children their respective proportions of the same as they may need it —
2nd I direct my Executors and do hereby invest them with full power to sell all my western lands on such terms and in such manner as they may think most advisable, and out of the monies arising from the sale of said lands to pay all my just debts, and the residue to be paid to my wife and children in equal proportions.
3rd All the rest and residue of my lands not herein before disposed of I give and devise to my wife Mary and my three sons Robert John H and Dixy Fenner and their heirs and assigns forever, to be equally divided among them share and share alike.
4th I give and bequeath to my wife Mary and my three sons Robert John H. and Dixy Fenner all my Negroes & stock of every kind to be equally divided among them share and share alike.
5th It is my wish and desire that my son Robert take and receive his part or share of my property at the expiration of the present year and that the residual of my Estate be kept together for the Benefit of the rest of my family until my son John H arrives to lawful age, at which time his share is to be allotted to him, and the balance to be kept together until my son Dixy comes to lawful age when his share is to be allotted to him —
6th All the rest and residue of my Property of every kind, I give devise and bequeath to my wife and three sons, to be equally divided between them share and share alike.
7th I do hereby nominate constitute my Brother in Law John Howson and my son Robert Executors and my wife Mary Execurix to this my last will and testament, revoking all others heretofore made.
Robert Fenner
Signed sealed published & declared by the Testator as his last will and testament in our presence this 7th day of Septr A.D. 1816
Jno. Marrast
E.B. Smith gt.
Then this will was exhibited in open Court Novr Sessn 1816 and duly proven by the oath of Elisha B. Smith one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and on motion ordered to be recorded — Whereupon John Howson and Robert Fenner the Executors therein came in and was duly qualified there to Witness.
Richard Eppes, C Ct
Will of Mary Fenner
Halifax County, North Carolina, Wills, Book 4, pp. 74-75.
20 February 1830. Proved May 1831.
In the name of God Amen
I Mary Fenner of the Town and County of Halifax North Carolina do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say — In the first place I wish all my just debts to be paid by the sale of such property as my executors hereinafter named may think proper to sell for that purpose.
I give to my grandson Robert Fenner my negro slave Joe to him his heirs and assigns forever.
I give to my grandson John H. Fenner my negro slave Henry to him his heirs and assigns forever.
I give to my sons John H. Fenner and Dixie C. Fenner all the land I possess in the County of North Hampton to be equally divided between to them their heirs and assigns forever.
I give to my son Dixie C. Fenner all the land I possess in the County of Halifax also one Bed bedstead and furniture and suit of Curtains of his choice, also one dozen Silver Tablespoons I purchased in Baltimore. It is my desire that my Executors should pay a debt in the Branch Bank of Newbern in Halifax in which Mungo J Ponton is principal and John H. Fenner and myself securities for about three hundred dollars or thereabouts and should there be a surplus of money after paying as aforesaid. I hereby leave with my executors John W. Howson, John H. Fenner, and Dixie C. Fenner one third part of said money together with one third part of my negroes not heretofore bequested In Trust for the special support and maintenance of my son Robert Fenner of the State of Tennessee and I wish also that all the interest I have in the houses and lots in the Town of Halifax should be held in Trust in like manner for the support of my son Robert Fenner, and it is my intention and design that the property herein left in Trust for the support of my son Robert Fenner should be controlled by my executors and they are to afford him such assistance with such part of said property as they may deem expedient for that purpose, and the part so allotted or devised is not be subject to be sold for the payment of any debts heretofore contracted by my son Robert or any debts he may hereafter contract and after the death of my said son Robert Fenner.
I give and bequeath such money and negroes to the children of said Robert to be equally divided among them and their heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my sons John H. Fenner and Dixie C.Fenner the remaining two thirds of my negroes to be equally divided between them but should either die leaving no issue lawfully begotten of his body then the survivor to have half of said negroes, and the other half to be held in trust with my Executors for Robert’s support in the same manner as they will hold other property which I have herein left for that purpose — to them and their heirs forever. And I hereby nominate and appoint my brother John W. Howson, John H. Fenner, and Dixie C. Fenner executors to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all wills heretofore by me made.
In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix my seal this 20th day of February one thousand eight hundred and thirty. Executed in the presence of E.B. Smith, M.T. Ponton.
Mary Fenner
State of North Carolina Halifax County
Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions
3rd Monday of May 1831
Then this last will and Testament of Mary Fenner was exhibited in open Court and the execution thereof duly proved by the oath of M.T. Ponton a subscribing witness thereto — and on motion was ordered to be Recorded — Whereupon John W. Howson, John H. Fenner, and Dixie C. Fenner the Executors thereof came forward and was duly qualified thereto. Witness M.H. Pettway, Clerk.