Descendants of Captain Arthur Fenner

Arthur Fenner

 

[b 1658; d 24 April 1725 at Providence, RI] Arthur, like his father, served Providence in many capacities. He was a Deputy in 1707, 1710, and 1720; member of the Town Council in 1716, 1717, 1722, and 1723; and Assistant in 1718–1721. In 1688, his taxable estate included 3 cows, 1 three-year-old, 3 two-year-olds, 1 yearling, 3 mares, 3 horses, 2 swine, 1 share of meadow, 2 acres for planting, and 86 acres of woodland. Mary Smith [b 1667 d; 13 Dec. 1737] was the daughter of John Smith & Sarah Whipple, granddaughter of John Smith, the miller, who was one of Roger Williams’ original companions.

Arthur wrote his will on 23 July 1723. It was probated on 3 July 1725. By then his estate included “8 cows, 1 bull, 2 steers, 4 three year old, 4 two year old, 2 calves, 2 oxen, 22 sheep, 13 lambs, 5 swine, 1 mare, saddle and pillion, corn, rye, hemp, flax, yarn, 4 spinning wheels, 2 guns, a cooper’s adze, a carpenter’s adze, an auger, a chisel, a gouge, 3 steel traps, 1 great Bible, 1 small Bible, 1 testament and other books.”

  1. Mary [b 1690; d 7 Oct. 1745] unmarried.

  2. Mercy (or Marcy) [b 1692; d after 1633] m Solomon Rutenburg on 13 Oct. 1726 in Providence. They had Thomas, who m Ann Westcott, and Mary, who m 1st Solomon Bradford, m 2nd Abel Potter.

  3. Arthur [b 1694; d 1722] m Abigail Dexter [b 26 April 1696; d 11 Jan 1770], daughter of John Dexter, on 5 Dec 1717. They had Amey and Sarah [b ca. 1722; d 2 Aug. 1745 in her 24th yr.], who m Zachariah Mathewson on 24 Dec. 1738 in Providence. Abigail m 2nd Elisha Greene on 13 March 1726/7.

  4. John [b ca. 1696; d 24 Nov. 1725] m Amy Colwell [b 23 June 1703], daughter of Richard and Amy Colwell, on 1 Nov. 1724, by Justice Richard Brown. They lived in Providence. They had Marcy or Mary [b 20 Apr. 1725], who m Seth Dean of Plainfield, CT on 6 Oct. 1743, by Hon. Richard Fenner.

  5. Edward [b ca. 1698–1704; d 28 Sept 1766] married twice.

Lineage:
Arthur | Arthur

Sources:
1. John Osborne Austin, The Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island (Albany, 1887), p. 74.
2. Eva Fenner, Notes, p. 578; historical background of the Fenner family of unknown origin.
3. Arthur’s memorial at findagrave.com, no. 29422121
4. Rick Buckingham, The Book of Begats (rev. 2021), Line 49.