Descendants of Captain Arthur Fenner

Thomas Fenner

 

[b 30 July 1744 in Cranston, RI; d 14 Feb. 1827, age 82 yrs., 6 mo. at Fairfield, NY] Thomas Fenner m Phebe Haynes [d Oct. 31, 1823], daughter of William Haynes, between Middleville and Little Falls, NY. Thomas and Phebe deeded land in North Scituate, RI to Edward Fenner of Johnston in 1769[?] and moved to Berkshire Co., MA, in the neighborhood of Adams, from which place he had the following service in the Revolutionary War: He was a private in Capt. Samuel Law’s Company, in Col. Symonds’ Berkshire County Regiment. He enlisted 27 Oct. 1780, and was discharged 28 Oct. 1780—2 days by order of Gen. Fellows on an alarm at the Northward. He also served in Capt. Levi Brown’s Company in Adams, and Col. Asa Barnes’ Berkshire County Regiment. He enlisted 31 Oct. 1781, and joined the army under Gen. Stark at Saratoga.

His will was signed 29 Oct. 1822, probated 21 Feb. 1827, filed in Herkimer, Herkimer Co., NY.

  1. Catharine [b  ca. 1765; d 1 Mar 1846] m Thomas Spencer on 4 Dec. 1885.

  2. William [b 20 Jan. 1767 at Cranston, RI; d 11 Aug. 1839] m Asenith Jenks.

  3. Jane [b 1769; d 7 Mar. 1835] m Reuben Sheldon.

  4. Major Daniel [b 1 Jan. 1770 at Adams, MA; d 1 Apr. 1817] m Lydia Arnold.

  5. Thomas Jr. [b ca. 1771; d Nov. 1822 in NY] m Mercy [1781–1833], was in Shay’s Rebellion while at Adams, MA. They had Louisa [1805–1831] who m L.L. Kelsey, and Barbary [1806–1867] who m Elhanan F. Cooley [1806–1868].

  6. Phebe [b 1777; d 7 May 1837] m Elisha Burlingame.

  7. Asahel [b ca. 1776 in NY; d 14 Oct. 1818].

  8. George [b 4 Dec. 1781; d 16 May 1846] married twice.

Lineage:
Arthur | Thomas | Thomas | Daniel | Thomas

Sources:
1. Thomas Fenner’s memorial at FindaGrave.com, no. 20506516
2. Eva Fenner, Notes, 502–503. In a letter to Lawrence Myron Fenner from Edward Blaine Fenner, 6 Feb. 1927, Edward gave Thomas’s death as 1821, but considering the evidence in his will, this would be impossible.
3. Eva Fenner, Notes, 381. The will of Thomas Fenner, as copied by the Herkimer Co., NY, Surrogate’s Office and sent to Eva Fenner on 29 Sept. 1959. Thomas’s second son is spelled Asabel.
4. Some genealogies have linked George [1757–1827] to Thomas & Phebe, but they were too young and had a different George.
 

Will of Thomas Fenner

In the name of God Amen, I Thomas Fenner of the town of Fairfield in the County of Herkimer and State of New York, being infirm in body but of sound disposing mind and memory, thanks be to God for the same—and considering the uncertainty of this mortal life do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of the almighty God who gave I, and my body to the Earth to be buried in a descent Christian like manner at the discretion of my executor hereafter named and as touching such worldly property with which it has pleased God to bless me in this world, I give and dispose of the same in manner and form as follows. Firstly I order and direct that Phebe Fenner my beloved wife (provided she outlived me) shall have a good and comfortable maintenance out of my estate at the discretion of my executor during her life. I also give to my son William Fenner the sum of forty-five dollars. I give to my son Asabel Fenner the sum of two hundred and twenty dollars together with my wearing apparel—I give to my son George Fenner the sum of eighty dollars—I also give to the heirs of my son Daniel Fenner deceased as follows: to his three sons George, Nathan, and Daniel Fenner twenty two dollars each, and to his two daughters Amy Griffis married and Lydia A. Fenner two dollars each. I also give to my Granddaughter Louisa Fenner one square fall leafed table, one small copper kettle and one small iron pot. I give to my Granddaughter Barbary Fenner one calico bed quilt and one linen wheel—I also give to my son Thomas Fenner one weavers loom, four reeds, three shuttles, two temples, my sea chest, wall chest, and a fire slice—I also give to my three daughters Katherine Spence, Jane Sheldon, & Phebe Burlingame all my household furniture (not before named and bequeathed in this will) to be equally divided among them except one tea kettle which I give to Jane Sheldon—I further give and devise to my son Thomas Fenner, Jr. all the remainder of my property both real and personal (not heretofore named) and all my monies and securities for money; to him his heirs and assigns forever provided that the said Thomas shall well and truly pay the several legacies before named, to the respective legatees as follows, the one half of that to Asabel in one year after my decease, that to George in three years and all the other in four years. And I do now ordain and appoint my two sons William and Thomas Fenner, Jr. executors to this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former will by me made—in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty-ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty two—signed published and declared by the above named Thomas Fenner to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator.

Thomas Fenner

Bob Arnold
Thomas Arnold
William D. Gray