From AWT File # 33924 submitted by verhaal@aol.com Feb. 2000
Robert Fenton - The Common Ancestor Of The Connecticut
Fentons
"Perhaps the first man by the name of Fenton who ever
visited the present territory of the United States," says Judge E.T.
Foote, of New Haven, "was Captain Edward Fenton, of the British Navy, in
the reign of Queen Elizabeth, who under the command of Sir Martin Frobisher,
was a noted captain in an exploring expedition which visited St. Augustine,
Flo. in 1585."
Robert Fenton, who is first heard of at Woburn, Mass., in
1688 was the common ancestor of the Connecticut Fentons. We can learn nothing
in regard to his parentage, birthplace, or nationality. The records at Woburn
shed no light on the subject; and we can find no trace of him elsewhere,
previous to his appearance in that town. Neither can we find any early Fentons
in New England, except Robert; and we are inclined to think all who bear the
name in this country, except immigrants of a later period, are descended from
him. There is an old tradition in one branch of the Mansfield family, that
Robert Fenton was a native of Wales. But very little reliance, however, can be
placed on such traditions, as we have found in the course of our investigations;
though we think it not improbable that this Robert Fenton was born in Great
Britian, or that he was a Welchman. The Records of Robert Fenton, at Woburn,
are very meagre. He remained in the town but a few years, and it does not
appear that he was a real estate owner there. In 1687, he is not on the tax
list in that town; but in August, 1688, he is taxed 2s.6d.,-perhaps a personal
tax. He was also a tax-payer, in Woburn, in 1688,1689, 1690, and 1691; but the
amounts we have not. The early Church records of Woburn are lost.
At precisely what time Robert Fenton came to Windham
[Conn.], we have not been able to ascertain. Between May 30, 1693, and April
19, 1694, he was received as an inhabitant of the town, the exact date not
being given. He evidently located in what was then called the "north
end" of the town, being that part of Ancient Windham which became
Mansfield, where he was appointed, with Joshua Ripley, the first town-clerk and
magistrate of Windham, to lay out the lots on the west side of the river, that
belonged to Willimantic. At the same meeting he was chosen "Fence
viewer," for the north end of town,- an office sometimes held by the
wealthiest planters; at one time by Cates, the first settler. At another time
he was appointed, with Mr. Ripley, to oversee those who were selected to lay
out sundry lots. He, however, took but little part in town affairs. Robert
Fenton built the first bridge across the Natchaug River, according to the
following record: - "June 13, 1695, Robert Fenton engaged to the Towne to
build & make a sufficient bridge over the Notchoge falls, suitable for man
and hors to pass with a lode, the bridge to be made by the first of October
next; the SD Fenton also engaged to maintain the bridge three years." - For
this he was to have "four pounds in money." We judge from this, that
he was a mechanic; probably a carpenter. Robert Fenton bought of James
Elderkin, of Norwich, the second lot of 1,000 acres, lying at the
"Ponds," Sept. 16, 1696. The "home lots" of these 1,000
acre rights, into which the town was divided, were generally twenty rods on the
front. This lot was near what is now known as the "Town Pond," at
Mansfield Center. Dec.28, 1702, Robert Fenton's property was prized as follows:
The housing, home lot, with apple trees and fences thereupon, forty pounds in
money; the first division of land, six pounds in money; the pasture lot, four
pounds in money; the ten acre lot, with eight acres and a half of meadow and
the fence thereupon, twenty-five pounds in money; the hundred acre lot, ten
pounds in money; and all the land, yet to be layed out, belonging to a thousand
acre right, ten pounds in money. The whole amounted to ninety-five pounds.
Ventures, Adventures, and Misadvdentures of Wm. Trescott.
Genealogy of the Fenton Family, Descendants of Robert Fenton: Robert Fenton, who is first heard of at
Woburn, Mass., in 1688, was the common ancestor of the Conn., Fentons. We can learn nothing in regard to his
parentage, birthplace, or nationality.
The records of Woburn shed no light on the subject; and we can find no
trace of him elsewhere, previous to his appearance in that town. Neither can we
find any early Fentons in NE, except Robert; and we are inclined to think all
who bear the name in this country, except immigrants of a later period, are
descendants from him. There is an old
tradition in one branch of the Mansfield family, that Robert Fenton was a
native of Wales. But very little
reliance, however, can be placed on such traditions, as we have found in the
course of our investigations; though we think it is not improbable that this
Robert Fenton was born in Great Britain, or that he was a Welchman. The records of Robert Fenton, at Woburn, are
very meagre. He remained in the town but
a few years, and it does not appear that he was a real estate owner there. In 1687, he is not on the tax list in that
town; but in August, 1688, he is taxed 2s.6d., -perhaps a personal tax. He was also a tax-payer, in Woburn, in 1668,
1669, 1690, and 1691 but the amounts we have not. The early church records of Woburn are
lost. At precisely what time Robert
Fenton came to Windham, we have not been able to as- certain. Between 30 May 1693, and 19 Apr 1694, he was
received as an inhabitant of the town, the exact date not being given. He evidently located in what was then called
the "north end" of the town, being part of Ancient Windham which
became Mansfield, where he was living in 1694.
December, 1694, Robert Fenton was appointed with Joshua Ripley, the
first town-clerk and magistrate of Windham to lay out the lots on the west side
of the river, that belonged to Willimantic. At the same meeting he was chosen
"Fence viewer," for the north end of town,- an office sometimes held
by the wealtiest planters; at one time by Cates, the first settler. At another time he was appointed, with Mr.
Ripley, to oversee those who were selected to lay out sundry lots. He, however, took but little part in town
affairs. Robert Fenton built the first
bridge across the Natchaug River, according to the following record:-
13 Jun 1695, Robert
Fenton engaged to the Town to build and make a sufficient bridge over the
Notchoge falls, suitable for man and horse to pass with a load, the bridge to
be made by the first of October next; the said Fenton also engaged to maintain
the bridge three years.
For this he was
to have "four pounds in money."
We judge from this, that he was a mechanic; probably a carpenter. Robert Fenton bought of James Elderkin of
Norwick, the second lot of 1,000 acres, lying at the "Ponds,"16 Sep
1696. The home lots of these 1,000 acre rights, into which the town was
devided, were generally twenty rods on the front. this lot was near what is now know as the
"Town Pond", at Mansfield Center.
Perhaps a word may be said here in regard to
the descendants of Robert Fenton, particularly those families that remained in
Mansfield and Willington. They have "occupied the middle walks of life,
being mostly farmers and mechanics and, as a general thing, having generally
neither riches or poverty." We have
found, in our genealogical investigations, each family characterized by some
peculiar traits, which, to a greater or less degree, extended through all gen-
erations of such family. The Fentons are
no exception to this rule. Some of their
traits have been mechanical ingenuity, skill in music, courage and pat-
riotism, good sense and especailly a pleasant, genial disposition. Their kind- ness and cordiality as friends
and neighbors, and their good humor, have been proverbial.
Robert Fenton, by
wife Dorothy, had the following children:
1. Robert, b. at Woburn, 6 Oct
1688, of whom we have no further account;
2. Francis, b. at Woburn, 22 Jul
1690; 3.
Samuel, the place and date of his birth not found, but in the Mansfield
records he is
called the son of Robert and Dorothy Fenton.
The following are
recorded in
windham and Mansfield: 4. Bridget, b. 14 Aug 1695 5.
Jacob, b. 5 Apr 1698 6. Dorothy, b. 4 Sep 1700, m Samuel Slafter, and
had a family; 7. Anne, b 7 Jul 1703, m John Rigbe 8.
Violata, b 20 Aug 1706, m John Harris 7 Dec 1730, and had children. 9.
Ebenezer, b 29 Aug 1710 10.
Abigail, twin of Ebenezer, b 29
Aug 1710
An Abigail Fenton
m Abraham Snow, of Lebanon, in 1740; and had children,-
perhaps, this
one.
Robert Fenton was
one of the patentees of the townof Mansfield, which was set off from Windham,
and made a town, 20 Oct 1703. His name
appears sixth on the list. He was called
one of the proprietors of Mansfield, in 1707; and was living there in 1712,
when he sold land to different persons.
Between the later date and 1730, he probably left Mansfield,--as his
name in not on the list of freemen, made out in the latter year; and settled in
the then new town of Willington, where, says the late Rev. Moses C. Welch, in
his Century Sermon, he died at the house of his son, at an advanced age.
The name of
Robert Fenton does not appear as a member of either the Windham or Mansfield
Church; but Dorothy, his wife, generally written "Dorritty" in the
records, was a membr of both. The date
of the death of Robert Fenton and his wife, and their ages at the time, have
not been ascertained. The records of neighter Mansfield or Willington give any
information on the subject; and no stones have been found to mark their last
resting place. The above cited testi-
mony of Mr Welch is all the positive information that we have on the subject.
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