AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT
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Direct descendant is highlighted in red
| Richard Fenner | Immigrant Ancestor | see Family Tree |
| Born: Abt. 1720 Dublin, Ireland Married: Abt. 1741 to Unknown in Ireland Married: Abt. 1746 to Ann Coddington in Dublin,
Ireland Died: After 1765, New Bern, Craven Co., NC |
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FATHER WIFE CHILDREN with unknown 1. Elizabeth Fenner 2. Alexander Fenner CHILDREN with Ann Coddington 1. Dixie Fenner 2. William Fenner 3. Robert Fenner 4. Richard Fenner
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Home of Richard Fenner, lot #89, in New Bern, NC. 217 Hancock Street. Before and after restoration. Fenner Family Fund Partnership
Richard Fenner
by Chase Brooke
Apr 2021
Richard Fenner is mentioned as the eldest son in the will off William Fenner,
Esquire, in Dublin in 1754. (1) He married first about 1741 to an unknown spouse
and had at least two children baptized in Dublin in 1743. This wife must have
died because around 1746 Richard Fenner married Ann Coddington. Her father
was named Dixie Coddington Jr and he appears in many court cases that involve
Richard Fenner.
The father of this Dixie Coddington was Dixie Coddington Sr
who died in 1728. He was very wealthy man and in 1748 two of his
daughters, Elizabeth Lister and Joan Blondell, were suing their brother, Dixie
Coddington Jr and others, including Arthur Dobbs, who later was the governor of
North Carolina in 1754. The suit began again in 1753 this time including
Richard Fenner. The final case was 13 Nov 1756, also including Richard
Fenner. (2)
The first time Richard Fenner appears on the North
Carolina records is on 18 Nov 1757 when he was named Deputy Clerk and Deputy
Secretary of the North Carolina Governor's Council and Deputy Register of the
Court of Chancery. (3) On 20 Feb 1759 Richard paid £36. 6s for a half lot in New
Bern, Craven, NC. (4) This was lot # 89 where the family lived until Richard's
son William sold the home in 1780. (5) The home sold for £333. 6s. (6)
While
living in New Bern, Richard Fenner was added to the Commission of the Peace for
the County of Carteret on 24 May 1760. (7) On 16 May 1765 he was listed a
petitioner to build a school house. In addition to enhancing their
children's schooling, the petitioners also wanted to entice a school master to
stay on since they felt very highly of him. (8) On 5 Oct 1765 Richard
Fenner, Esq. was a witness to a deed of sale. (9) This is the last record found
on Richard Fenner.
The Craven County Court Minutes list "Henry Fenner
an orphan." on 10 Jan 1767 who is being "Bound apprentice to Capt. Barnes untill
he arrives to the age of Twenty One Years to learn the Art of Navigation." (10).
This suggests, but certainly does not prove, that Richard Fenner was his father
since the Craven County records have no other Fenner listed, in this time
period, in any record, other than Richard Fenner. And thus Richard Fenner seems
to have died sometime between 5 Oct 1765 and 10 Jan 1767.
Sources
(1) Will of his father,William Fenner, Esquire LDS film 595941 image 497
Genealogical abstracts of records of the Prerogative Court of Armagh
(2) Chancery Court Cases in Dublin Ireland
Chancery Court Case Dublin, Ireland 15 Apr 1748
John Lyster and Elizabeth his wife and children, Ralph Blundell, husband of Joan deceased, and their children, and Mary Coddington widow of husband John Coddington and her children are suing Dixie Coddington Jr, Henry Coddington, Revd. William Coddington, Dixie Coddington son of Nicholas Coddington deceased, Dixie Coddington and Robert Coddington, sons of Dixie Coddington, William Coddington, Susanna Barron, Robert Waller, William Finglass, Arthur Dobbs and Anne his wife, Arabella Dixie, Waller Dawson & Edward Griffith.
Chancery Court Case Dublin, Ireland 2 Mar 1753
Elizabeth Lyster widow of John Lyster, Esq., and her children are suing Dixie Coddington, William Coddington, Richard Fenner, Sarah McInerheny and Dixie Coddington younger (son of Henry Coddington)
Chancery Court Case Dublin, Ireland 13 Nov 1756
Elizabeth Lyster, widow, and her children are suing Dixie Coddington, Wiliam Coddington, Richard Fenner, Sarah McInerheny administrator of James McInerheny and Dixie Coddington the young (son of Henry)
(3) Colonial and State Records of North Carolina Vol 5 page 817
At a Council held at New Bern on Friday the 18th Day of November 1757
Richard Fenner was Qualified as Deputy Clerk of the Council Deputy Secretary and Deputy Register of the Court of Chancery by taking and subscribing the several Oaths appointed by Law for the Qualification of Publick Officers
(4) Craven County, North Carolina Deeds fhl film 18639 image 229
(5) The Fenner Forebears by Ruth Leslie Barrett 1987 "When Richard Fenner bought Lot 89 from Dr. Alexander Scott in February 1759, the price he paid (36 pounds 10 shillings) indicates that a dwelling, and probably a very good one, and other buildings already had been built on the half-acre lot. Ann, as the widow Fenner, was living there in 1768. William, one of their sons, sold it in 1780. Ann undoubtedly lived there until her death in 1777. Both William and Robert presumably lived with their mother until they entered the Continental Army in 1775 and 1776. After her death, Richard, the youngest son, must have lived in the house on Lot 89 until he, too, became a soldier in January 1779."Photo of house in New Bern, NC courtesy of Mary Jane McKnight [email protected]
(6) Craven County, North Carolina Deeds fhl film 18656 image 268.
(7) Colonial and State Records of North Carolina Vol 6 page 339
It is Ordered that Richard Fenner, William Coole, Ross Bell and Thomas Shaw be added to the Commission of the Peace for the County of Carteret.
(8) Colonial and State Records of North Carolina Vol 7 page 35-36
(9) County Court Minutes Craven County, NC film 1689308 image 111
(10) County Court Minutes Craven County, NC, film 1689308 image 201