Eleazer Fenner

Notes:

Captain Arthur Fenner, father of Major Thomas Fenner, built Thomas a house around 1677 on the Cranston side of Plainfield Pike, on the hill near Thornton.

Roger Williams listed Thomas as one of those who stayed at home and protected his house and the town during the Indian hostilities in 1675. It is not known exactly where he lived at this time.

For a time, Thomas Fenner conducted a tavern and store in his home.

Thomas married Dinah Borden 26 Jul 1682, Providence, RI. Dinah was born Oct 1664; died 18 Dec 1761; was buried , Major Thomas Fenner Lot, Plainfield St., Thornton, Cranston, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Dinah, widow of Major Thomas Fenner, died in the 98th year of her life. According to her gravestone inscription, "she died a sincere Christian."

Notes:

Thomas & Dinah were married by Joseph Jenckes, Ass't.

Notes:

Arthur & Mehitable Fenner were among the earliest residents of Johnston, RI. They lived near Neutaconkanut Hill, on the Cranston side of Plainfield Road, and owned land in Providence, Cranston, and Johnston.

Around 1657, Capt. Arthur Fenner built a stone house which came to be known as "Fenner Castle." Sketches of it still exist. It is said that George Washington was entertained there.

It is believed that Arthur also built a house for his son Thomas, around 1677, on the Cranston side of Plainfield Pike.

According to "The Fenner Family," Arthur arrived in Providence, RI, on 27 Feb 1649. He received his lands from Indian Chief Massasoit, as did Roger Williams. He was Ass't. Governor of RI for 19 years, was treasurer for one year, and held other positions of public service.

The following is excerpted from "The Fenner Family" at fennerfamily.com:
"The derivation of the name Fenner is plainly from the Anglo-Saxon word 'fen' or 'fenn,' a marsh or moorland. Bardsley's dictionary speaks of Fen and Vanner as variations of the same name . . . Some contest that the Fenners from this tree came from the Celtic tribe of Fens, which was instrumental in helping William the Conqueror become King of England in 1066. The name Fenner is mentioned a few times in the history of William's conquest, and Fenners are known to have received land from William in return for their bravery.

"Another name has been instrumental in the development of this family: God. Most of the early Fenners in this genealogy were Christians, and a good portion still are. Anyone reading this genealogy would become slowly aware that the success of this family is deeply related to its ties to Christianity. The success is worth noting: there are two governors of Rhode Island, many high-ranking military officers, prize-winning authors, Justices of the Peace, educators, doctors, ministers, and many others who demonstrated a passion for being an honorable servant to society. This alone might not qualify the name for greatness, but the fact that there are [no] less than ten thousand Fenners in the United States should conjure up some idea of the magnitude of this line. Of all the Fenners that have been at war, only two have been killed. Richard L. Fenner, of Quincy, FL, sums things up nicely: 'It can be said that surely the Lord has kept his hand upon us, and for this we thank him.' "

Arthur married Mehitable Waterman Abt 1650. Mehitable (daughter of Richard WATERMAN and Bethia WAITE) was born 1626, Salem, MA; died 3 Dec 1683, Providence, RI. [Group Sheet]

Arthur — Sarah Brown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The following notes are paraphrased from the book "Descendants of Roger Williams" by Dorothy Higson White:

When Richard Waterman arrived in Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony on 29 June 1629, his reputation as a skillful hunter had preceded him. In addition to helping supply the people with good venison, he was appointed to inspect canoes by the Court at Salem, and he also served on a Petit Jury in 1636. Richard agreed with many of the ideas preached by Roger Williams, concerning religious and civil liberty. Because of this, he was among a group of eighteen or more men who were asked to leave the colony, along with their families.
"Providence Town Records quote Roger Williams in 1661 as having declared that in 1634 and 1635 he made treaties with the Narragansett Indians and bought land he called Providence 'for a shelter for persons destressed for Conscience.' He communicated this fact to his 'loving friends, John Throckmorton, William Arnold, William Harris, Stuckley West(cott), John Greene Sr., Thomas Olney Sr., Richard Waterman, and others who desired to take shelter with him. Roger Williams generously shared his purchase of land with twelve" others, who along with Roger are called The Original Proprietors of Providence. Several of them were baptized or re-baptized in the new colony and are co-founders of the First Baptist Church in America, an active congregation to this day.
Richard Waterman was one of the signers of the Compact of Providence of 27 July 1640, proposing a form of government. He also served on the Providence Committee of 18 May 1647 to form a government under the Charter that Roger Williams had brought back from England. At one point he was arrested and jailed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony over a border dispute, and found to be "erronious, hereticall, and obstinate."
There is some question as to whether Richard and family relocated to Warwick. He, along with Samuel Gorton and ten others, was one of the purchasers of the "Grand Purchase," the area which is now Warwick, West Warwick, and Coventry. This was bought from Myantonomy (Miantonomo) on 12 January 1642.
Of the men named as The Original Proprietors of Providence, we -- meaning Grandpa Norman Remington and thus I and my children -- are direct descendents of at least five them: Roger Williams, Richard Waterman, Stukeley Westcott, Thomas Olney, and John Greene. We are descended from the Watermans through the Whitford line.
(Read more about Richard Waterman's adventures and accomplishments in the above-mentioned book, pages 2-3, available online from the Roger Williams Family Association; also see other books and web sites to learn about Rhode Island's fascinating history.)

According to "The History of Warwick" by Oliver Payson Fuller, Cowesett farm #8 belonged to Richard Waterman, one of the 12 original purchasers of Warwick. As nearly as I can determine, this would be on the southwest corner of Route 3 (Cowesett Rd.) and Route 2 (Quaker Lane). Farm #3, on the opposite corner (northwest of the four corners), originally belonged to Robert Potter, but was purchased from his heirs in 1707 by Israel Arnold of Pawtuxet. A portion of this was purchased by the Remingtons, and in 1875 "is now owned by heirs of Jonathan Remington." The next plantation eastward also belonged to the Remingtons.

Richard — Bethia WAITE. Bethia died 3 Dec 1680. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

"The Fenner Family" gives her name as Bethia Rice.