John Fenner Jr.

[b ca. 1846–48] Born into slavery in Halifax Co., NC, on a plantation owned by either John Howson Fenner [1798–1871] who had as many as 100 slaves in 1860, or his son William Eaton Fenner, who had 46. Halifax Co. was known for its cotton and its corn. After the war, John Fenner Jr. m Catherine Clark (Kate, Katie) on 25 Dec. 1866 in Halifax Co., NC, in a ceremony presided over by Rev. Ananias Buck. In 1870, John Fenner and his wife “Cata” were counted in Arcadia, Halifax, NC, with no children. In 1880, he was counted as a farmer in Butterwood Twp., Halifax, NC, with a wife, Kate, and seven children. John and Katie were still living when their son General applied for a marriage license in 1894, but both deceased when Milon married in 1905.

Regarding John’s parentage, there were four black men named John Fenner in the 1870 census born ca. 1810–1823 and living in Halifax Co., NC. One was living by himself in Dalmatia, Halifax, NC; one was living with a wife, Tobertha (age 60), and son Robert (age 18) in Arcadia, Halifax, NC; one was living with a wife, Rose (age 27), and children Leon (age 7) and Elizabeth (age 2), also in Arcadia; and another John (age 60) was living with a wife, Fannie (age 56), and son Monroe (age 15), in Arcadia. The most likely options would seem to be John & Tobertha or John & Fannie. The townships of Arcadia and Dalmatia are no longer recognized and do not appear on maps.

  1. Charles [b 1868; d aft. 1910], was living with brother Milon in Enfield in 1910 census.

  2. Jacob [b 10 Jan. 1869; 26 Apr. 1956 at Scotland Neck, NC] married four times.

  3. Major [b 1872; d aft. 1880]. Not to be confused with Major Fenner [b Apr. 1869; d 17 July 1942], son of Fred and Mary Fenner, who m 1st Margaret Eaton, divorced, m 2nd Mattie Rolfe and had several children.

  4. Mattie [b 1874] m Fred Dawson [b 1848 in VA], lived in Conocanary, NC, had Marcus [1895], Susie [1897], John W. [1903], Frederick [1906], Florida [1908], Mary Leora [1910].

  5. General [b 1876] m Alice Pittman [b 1877], daughter of Gus and Amanda Pittman, on 21 Aug. 1894 in Halifax Co., NC. See also the marriage of General and Carry (Caroline) Hall, 8 Jan. 1896 in Scotland Neck, NC, except there his mother was listed as “unknown.”

  6. John [b 23 Dec. 1877; d 1928] married twice.

  7. Caroline [b Feb. 1880] m Lunce G.H. McGee [b 1884] on 20 Dec. 1904 at Crowells, NC.

  8. Milon B. [b 21 Apr. 1883; d 28 Jan. 1952 at Enfield, Halifax, NC] married twice.

Sources:
1. Data primarily from FamilySearch and Ancestry.
2. Ruth Leslie Barrett, The Fenner Forebears of Samuel Fenner Leslie (Windom, TX: 1987): The Portal to Texas History