Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Robert Fenton

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Descendants of Robert Fenton

Generation No. 1

1. Robert¹ Fenton was born Abt. 1660 in Mansfield, Tolland County, MA, and died December 03, 1741. He married Dorothy Farrar February 27, 1687/88 in Woboun, Middlesex County, MA. She was born Abt. 1665, and died Unknown.

Notes for Robert Fenton:
This information was found on the world wide web at the following address:
http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/v/e/r/Janice-K-Verhaal/BOOK-0001/0028-0001.html

Robert Fenton was born Abt 1660 in Mansfield , Tolland County, CT and died December 3, 1741 in Willington, Conn or Manfield, Tolland County, MA. He married Dorothy Farrar February 27, 1687/88 in Woburn, Middlesex County, MA, daughter of John Farrar and Johanna. She was born Abt. 1665 in Woburn, Middlesex County, MA.

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 on 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 the town. Neither can we find any early Fentons in New England, except immigrants of a Rober; 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 Rober 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 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, tool 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. Tobert Fenton bought of Hames Elderkin, of Norwich, the second lot of 1,000 acres, lying at the "Ponds," Sept. 16,1696. The "home lots' of these 1,000 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 Venter. Dec. 28, 1702, Tobert 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.

Robert Fenton was one of the patentees of the town of Mansfield, which was set off from Windham, and made a town, Oct. 20,1703. 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 latter date and 1730, he probably left Mansfield,- as his name is not on the list of freeman, 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 member of both. We think it probable she was an original member of the Windham Church (the early records are gone), from which she was transferred to the South Mansfield Church, on its organization in 1710. The date of the death of Robert Fenton and his Wife, and their ages at the time, have not been ascertained. The records of neither Mansfield nor Willington give any information on the subject; and no stones have been found to mark their last resting place. The above cited testimony of Mr. Welch is all the positive information that we have on the subject.

With regard to the character and position of Robert Fenton, there is not much in the records on which to base an opinion. Still, there is sufficient to indicate that he enjoyed the confidence and respect of the early settlers of the town. Most of the planters were in moderate circumstances. They generally owned 1,000 acres of land each, for which they paid about ten pounds. As settlers increased, and the original proprietors were enabled to sell their surplus land, which rapidly increased in value, their means increased, and some of them became quite wealthy.

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 nor poverty." We have found, in our genealogical investigations, each family characterized by some peculiar traits, which to a greater or lesser degree, extended through all the generations of such family. The Fentons are no exception to this rule. Some of their traits have been mechanical ingenuity, skill in music, courage and patriotism, good sense and especially a pleasant, genial disposition. Their kindness and cordiality as friends and neighbors, and their good humor, have been proverbial.
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note: above information taken from FTM Vol. 8 Tree # 3561
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Found Oct 6, 1998 at Jana Wellman Ulrich Research---http://members.aol.com/janau/fenton.htm

Robert (and probably wife Dorothy) first appear in the Colonial records on the tax rolls Woburn MA where they were assessed 2s 6d. It appears that Robert originally immigrated as a "bonded emigrant" having been "reprieved for transport to America by the Midland Circuit Court aboard the ship Warwickshire on July 17, 1682. On February 27, 1688, he married Dorothy Farrar in Woburn, Mass".(per M. Fenton's query in the Figtree News). Robert and Dorothy must have lived in Woburn until at least 1691, for they were taxed in each of the years through that time. They moved to Windham CT and were received there on 30 May 1693. They lived in the area that was to become Mansfield; Robert was an original patentee of that town when it was carved out of Windham on 20 Oct 1703.

In December of 1694, Robert and Joshua Ripley were hired to lay out lots on the west side of the river and Robert was appointed "fence viewer" for the north end of town. He built the first bridge across the Natchez River the contract for which is dated 13 Jun 1695 and requires that it be "sutable for man and hors to pass with a lode ... the sd ffenton also ingaged to maintain the bridge three years". For this service they were paid "four pounds in money"

On 16 Sep 1696 Robert bought 1000 acres in Windham, lying at the Ponds. This land was purchased from James Elderkin of Norwich. In an inventory dated 28 Dec 1702, he listed his real estate holdings as: "Housing, home lot with apple trees and fences - 40Ł; 1st land division - 6Ł; pasture lot - 4Ł; 10 acre lot with 8 1//2 acres of meadow and fence - 25Ł; 100 acre lot - 10Ł; all land yet to be layed out - 10Ł"

Other notations in the official record as it applies to Robert FENTON include a 1707 entry where he is referred to as "Proprietor of Mansfield"; in late 1710, Ebenezer and Abigail, "children of Robert and Dorothy Fenton", were the first baptisms listed in the First Church of Mansfield; he sold some land in 1712. He is not listed on the 1730 List of freemen and biographers assumed that he was "living with a son in Willington and that he died at an advanced age."

Sources: A Genealogy of the Fenton Family: descendants of Robert Fenton .., William L. Weaver - 1867; Vital records of Mansfield CT, Research of Merril B. Fenton; Research of Dave Wells
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Found at FTM genealogy library page 76

Bullard and Allied Families

Author: Edgar J. Bullard

Call Number: CS71.B936x

This is a record of the American ancestors of George Newton Bullard and Mary Elizabeth Bullard. It contains very detailed genealogies of this family and others families married in to the family. There are about 5000 names included.

Bibliographic Information: Bullard, Edgar J. Bullard and Allied Families. Private Publisher, Detroit 1930.

FENTON
The name of Fenton has distinction in Chautauqua county, New York, as one of a pioneer family, and in the Empire state it is the name of one of her eminent sons, Governor Reuben E. Fenton.

The first of the name on this side of the water was ROBERT FENTON who settled first in Woburn, Massachusetts, but later in that part of Windham which is now Mansfield, Connecticut. m. Feb. 27, 1688, Dorothy F??. He built the first bridge across the Natchang river and purchased a large tract of land. In 1703 he was one of the patentees of Mansfield when it was set off from Windham, and between 1712 and 1730 he left Mansfield and settled in the new town of Willington, where he died at the home of his son at an advanced age. His wife, Dorothy (written Dorritty), was a member of both the Windham and Mansfield churches.

More About Robert Fenton and Dorothy Farrar:
Marriage: February 27, 1687/88, Woboun, Middlesex County, MA

Children of Robert Fenton and Dorothy Farrar are:

2	i.	Robert² Fenton, Jr, born October 06, 1688 in Woboun, Middlesex County, MA; died Unknown.
3	ii.	Francis Fenton, born July 22, 1690 in Woboun, Middlesex County, MA; died January 25, 1781 in Willington, Tolland County, CT.
4	iii.	Samuel Fenton, born Abt. 1692 in Windham, Tolland County, CT; died Unknown.
5	iv.	Bridget Fenton, born August 14, 1695 in Windham, Windham County, CT; died June 15, 1744.
6	v.	Jacob Fenton, born April 05, 1698 in Windham, Windham County, CT; died July 15, 1763 in Norwich, Windor County, VT.
7	vi.	Doritty Fenton, born September 04, 1700 in Mansfield, Tolland County, CT; died September 29, 1783 in Mansfield, Tolland County, CT. She married Samuel Slafter January 24, 1720/21 in Mancroft, Norwich, Norfolk, England/Norwich, England; born August 16, 1696 in Lynn, Essex County, MA; died July 31, 1770 in Mansfield, Tolland County, CT.

More About Samuel Slafter and Doritty Fenton:
Marriage: January 24, 1720/21, Mancroft, Norwich, Norfolk, England/Norwich, England

vii.

Ann Fenton, born July 07, 1703 in Mansfield, Tolland County, CT; died Unknown. She married John Rigbe April 18, 1722; born Abt. 1699 in Mansfield, Tolland County, CT; died Unknown.

More About John Rigbe and Ann Fenton:
Marriage: April 18, 1722

viii.

Violata Fenton, born Abt. 1704 in Windham, Tolland County, CT; died Unknown. She married John Harris December 07, 1730 in Mansfield, Tolland County, CT; born Abt. 1703 in Windham, Tolland County, CT; died Unknown.

More About John Harris and Violata Fenton:
Marriage: December 07, 1730, Mansfield, Tolland County, CT

	10	ix.		Abilail Fenton, born August 29, 1710 in Mansfield, Tolland County, CT; died September 21, 1802 in Lebanon,Tolland County, CT.
+	11	x.		Ebenezer Fenton, born August 29, 1710 in Mansfield, Tolland County, Ct; died Aft. 1786.

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