Fenton Family Stories
This does not represent a complete history of the Fenton family or all the information I have on them. I am constantly researching and updating. If you would like more information or have something to share, I look forward to hearing from you.
Robert Wright Fenton
Robert Wright Fenton's birth record in Scotland says he was born July 18, 1855 in Slains Waterside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His death record, which was completed by his son-in-law, says he was born July 8, 1854 in Durris, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. I've chosen the birth date as listed on his birth record.
Robert was the son of Joseph Fenton and Margaret McDonald. He lived in Slains before marrying Margaret Smith Scott at her home in Bilbo Park on June 27, 1884.
He was a Shepherd Master in 1884 and he was a sheep dealer in Logie Buchan, Aberdeenshire in Scotland from 1886 to 1901. He's also listed as a farmer.
In 1891, he was living in Waulkmill in Logi Buchan, Aberdeenshire in Scotland. By 1901, he and his family were living in Cookston Cottage in Ellon, Aberdeenshire.
He and Margaret had 10 children: Alexander, Margaret Jane, James Scott, Elizabeth "Minnie" (aka Lizzie), Robina Copland, William W., Robert Wright McDonald Fenton (he's listed as Junior which would mean his father's name is also Robert Wright McDonald Fenton but I've only found him as Robert Wright Fenton), Harry Stewart-Wynne, Mary Ann and Alice.
On June 12, 1911, Robert, his wife Margaret and some of their children left Scotland for Canada. The took the ship Saturnia from Glasgow, Scotland,, arriving in Quebec, Canada on June 12, 1911. The children that came with them were: Elizabeth (Lizzie), Robert Jr., Harry, Mary and Alice.
He and his wife lived in Canada for the remainder of their lives. He died of throat cancer on June 6, 1934 in Pt. McNicoll, Township of Tay, County of Simcoe, in the Province of Ontario, Canada. They both are buried with his sister, Isabela Fenton Lobban, in Lakeview Cemetery in Tay Township, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada.
Robert was the son of Joseph Fenton and Margaret McDonald. He lived in Slains before marrying Margaret Smith Scott at her home in Bilbo Park on June 27, 1884.
He was a Shepherd Master in 1884 and he was a sheep dealer in Logie Buchan, Aberdeenshire in Scotland from 1886 to 1901. He's also listed as a farmer.
In 1891, he was living in Waulkmill in Logi Buchan, Aberdeenshire in Scotland. By 1901, he and his family were living in Cookston Cottage in Ellon, Aberdeenshire.
He and Margaret had 10 children: Alexander, Margaret Jane, James Scott, Elizabeth "Minnie" (aka Lizzie), Robina Copland, William W., Robert Wright McDonald Fenton (he's listed as Junior which would mean his father's name is also Robert Wright McDonald Fenton but I've only found him as Robert Wright Fenton), Harry Stewart-Wynne, Mary Ann and Alice.
On June 12, 1911, Robert, his wife Margaret and some of their children left Scotland for Canada. The took the ship Saturnia from Glasgow, Scotland,, arriving in Quebec, Canada on June 12, 1911. The children that came with them were: Elizabeth (Lizzie), Robert Jr., Harry, Mary and Alice.
He and his wife lived in Canada for the remainder of their lives. He died of throat cancer on June 6, 1934 in Pt. McNicoll, Township of Tay, County of Simcoe, in the Province of Ontario, Canada. They both are buried with his sister, Isabela Fenton Lobban, in Lakeview Cemetery in Tay Township, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada.
Alexander Fenton
Alexander Fenton by his sister-in-law, Beatrice Huntington, abt 1918
Alexander Fenton was the first of 10 children born to Robert Wright Fenton and Margaret Smith Scott Fenton. He was born on February 14, 1886 in Bilbo Park in Logie Buchan, Aberdeenshire in Scotland.
His siblings were: Margaret Jane, James Scott, Elizabeth "Minnie" (aka Lizzie), Robina Copland, William W., Robert Wright McDonald Fenton, Harry Stewart-Wynne, Mary Ann and Alice.
Alexander studied arithmetic in Inverurie, Scotland. He also took a class in shorthand at the Elementary Technical Institute in Inverurie.
He immigrated from Scotland to Canada sometime between 1905 and 1911. His parents and some of his siblings arrived in 1911.
Between 1914 and 1916, he was a cash accountant in Canada.
From 1916 to 1920 Alexander served the Canadian Militia and the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Alexander was already a member of the Canadian Army when he agreed to go overseas to fight in World War I.
On June 8, 1916, he was given the temporary rank of Lieutenant in the Canadian Militia.
On January 1, 1918, he was referred to as Alexander Fenton Esquire Captain in the Forestry Corps of the Candian Forces in the documents inducting him into the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (typically abbreviated to M.B.E.).
On May 25, 1918, he was promoted to Lieutenant of the Land Forces of the Canadian Army Service Corps, an appointment that appears to have been retroactive starting June 24, 1915.
On November 30, 1920 he was given the rank of Captain and Quarter Master in the 17th Duke of Yorks Royal Canadian Hussars. He left service as Major.
Besides his M.B.E., he was inducted into the National Geographic Society in 1920.
During the war, he married his first wife, Gladys Huntington on June 6, 1917 in St Andrew's and St. Leonardo, County of Fife, Scotland. He as apparently stationed in England during this time. Gladys and Alexander had a daughter together, Mhairi Fenton. Gladys' mother was born in Canada and her father, Dr. William Huntington, was born in England. It seems that the family divided time between Canada, Scotland and England.
Mhairi Angela McLeod Fenton was born November 30, 1918 in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Her mother brought her to Canada in 1919 and the family lived there until 1923. There were several properties in Montreal where the Fentons and McEuens lived. Gladys (sometimes spelled Gwladys) died Oct. 23, 1923 at Royal Victorian Hospital in Montreal of chronic pulmonary tuberculosis and was buried at Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal.
Janet McEuen, Gladys' sister, visited Canada many times. In September 1923, Janet went back to live in Scotland and took her 5-year-old niece, Mhairi Fenton with her. Considering that Mhairi's mother died a month later, possibly the family wanted to spare the girl watching her mother suffer from tuberculosis. Janet and her husband, Dr. Charles McEuen, didn't have any children of their own and it appears that they raised Mhairi. They certainly traveled with her from Scotland to Canada.
It is not known exactly when Alexander immigrated from Canada to the United States, but he married his second wife, Lucy Ethel "Mimi" Comando in New York on April 9, 1928. Family lore says that Gladys' family told Alexander he could not have contact with his daughter after he remarried but he did see his eldest daughter occasionally over the years.
Alexander worked for International Paper. He also was President of Donhart Sales Dept for Price Brothers, a large paper company. For several years, he commuted between Ontario and New York. He was a broker and a counselor; he went to mills and told them what they need to be more efficient. Sometime after 1929, he started his own business and opened an office in New York. His office was at 51 East 42nd Street (on the corner of Vanderbilt) and it overlooked Grand Central Station. He worked up to the time he was forced into the hospital for stomach cancer. His name might still be on a plaque in the office building where his business was.
He lived in New York from at least 1928 until 1942. He was living in Cornwall, CT in 1945. The family rented a farmhouse in Cornwall, called "the red house." Later, they bought a 105-acre farm in Cornwall before the end of World War II. It had three bathrooms but no running water or electricity because of the war. There was only one gas station on the highway. You had to pass through Cathedral Pines (named for the huge trees that unfortunately were later lost in a storm) to get to town.
His siblings were: Margaret Jane, James Scott, Elizabeth "Minnie" (aka Lizzie), Robina Copland, William W., Robert Wright McDonald Fenton, Harry Stewart-Wynne, Mary Ann and Alice.
Alexander studied arithmetic in Inverurie, Scotland. He also took a class in shorthand at the Elementary Technical Institute in Inverurie.
He immigrated from Scotland to Canada sometime between 1905 and 1911. His parents and some of his siblings arrived in 1911.
Between 1914 and 1916, he was a cash accountant in Canada.
From 1916 to 1920 Alexander served the Canadian Militia and the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Alexander was already a member of the Canadian Army when he agreed to go overseas to fight in World War I.
On June 8, 1916, he was given the temporary rank of Lieutenant in the Canadian Militia.
On January 1, 1918, he was referred to as Alexander Fenton Esquire Captain in the Forestry Corps of the Candian Forces in the documents inducting him into the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (typically abbreviated to M.B.E.).
On May 25, 1918, he was promoted to Lieutenant of the Land Forces of the Canadian Army Service Corps, an appointment that appears to have been retroactive starting June 24, 1915.
On November 30, 1920 he was given the rank of Captain and Quarter Master in the 17th Duke of Yorks Royal Canadian Hussars. He left service as Major.
Besides his M.B.E., he was inducted into the National Geographic Society in 1920.
During the war, he married his first wife, Gladys Huntington on June 6, 1917 in St Andrew's and St. Leonardo, County of Fife, Scotland. He as apparently stationed in England during this time. Gladys and Alexander had a daughter together, Mhairi Fenton. Gladys' mother was born in Canada and her father, Dr. William Huntington, was born in England. It seems that the family divided time between Canada, Scotland and England.
Mhairi Angela McLeod Fenton was born November 30, 1918 in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Her mother brought her to Canada in 1919 and the family lived there until 1923. There were several properties in Montreal where the Fentons and McEuens lived. Gladys (sometimes spelled Gwladys) died Oct. 23, 1923 at Royal Victorian Hospital in Montreal of chronic pulmonary tuberculosis and was buried at Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal.
Janet McEuen, Gladys' sister, visited Canada many times. In September 1923, Janet went back to live in Scotland and took her 5-year-old niece, Mhairi Fenton with her. Considering that Mhairi's mother died a month later, possibly the family wanted to spare the girl watching her mother suffer from tuberculosis. Janet and her husband, Dr. Charles McEuen, didn't have any children of their own and it appears that they raised Mhairi. They certainly traveled with her from Scotland to Canada.
It is not known exactly when Alexander immigrated from Canada to the United States, but he married his second wife, Lucy Ethel "Mimi" Comando in New York on April 9, 1928. Family lore says that Gladys' family told Alexander he could not have contact with his daughter after he remarried but he did see his eldest daughter occasionally over the years.
Alexander worked for International Paper. He also was President of Donhart Sales Dept for Price Brothers, a large paper company. For several years, he commuted between Ontario and New York. He was a broker and a counselor; he went to mills and told them what they need to be more efficient. Sometime after 1929, he started his own business and opened an office in New York. His office was at 51 East 42nd Street (on the corner of Vanderbilt) and it overlooked Grand Central Station. He worked up to the time he was forced into the hospital for stomach cancer. His name might still be on a plaque in the office building where his business was.
He lived in New York from at least 1928 until 1942. He was living in Cornwall, CT in 1945. The family rented a farmhouse in Cornwall, called "the red house." Later, they bought a 105-acre farm in Cornwall before the end of World War II. It had three bathrooms but no running water or electricity because of the war. There was only one gas station on the highway. You had to pass through Cathedral Pines (named for the huge trees that unfortunately were later lost in a storm) to get to town.
Mailing tube addressed to Lieut. A. Fenton [Alexander Fenton, father of Jean and Joan Fenton], c/o Mrs. J.B. Learmont [likely Joseph Bowles Learmont, somehow related to Alex's first wife, Gwladys Huntington - her mother's maiden name was Bowles]The postmark appears to be Nov. 8 sometime in the 1920s.Not sure what was mailed in it. When it was discovered among Jean Fenton Lee's belongings in Feb 2015 there was a rolled up certificate inside it for Alex Fenton from The Grand Lodge of Quebec, dated 1917.
Harry Stewart-Wynne Fenton
Harry Stewart-Wynne Fenton - He was born June 13, 1896 in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
He immigrated from Glasgow, Scotland to Quebec, Canada on June 12, 1911 on the ship Saturnia with his parents and siblings Elizabeth (Lizzie), Robert Jr., Mary and Alice.
He immigrated from Glasgow, Scotland to Quebec, Canada on June 12, 1911 on the ship Saturnia with his parents and siblings Elizabeth (Lizzie), Robert Jr., Mary and Alice.
Alexander Fenton and his siblings
I have been in touch with descendants from four different lines relating to the Fenton family to fill in some gaps in the tree.
A woman named Isabel Labour, whose great-great-grandfather was Donald McDonald (yep, real name) and his sister, Margaret McDonald, married Joseph Fenton. Joseph and Margaret McDonald Fenton were the grandparents of Alexander Fenton. So Donald McDonald and Alexander Fenton were apparently good friends as well as cousins.
Isabel's family has done a ton of research relating to the Fentons as well as their ancestors, including the Wright Family and the McDonald Family. She also has sent what we believe to be the earliest known photograph of Alexander Fenton (it's on the Fenton family page but I'm happy to email it to anyone who wants it). I'm hoping to be able to upload those files in the near future but be forewarned, there are A LOT of pages.
And I am trying to track the origins of an old wedding veil that Jean Fox gave me that has been in the family for years. The note with the veil says: "Mrs. Todd's wedding veil worn in 1823, given her by her daughter." We believe the veil came into the family at some point in Scotland but we're not sure when or to whom the veil was given. All we know is that Alexander Fenton had it with his possessions that he moved from Canada in New York around 1928 when he married Lucy Ethel Comando.
I have a genealogist who is familiar with researching families with the Todd surname and he is helping me to try and track down any descendants of Alexander Fenton's brothers and sisters. If any are living, they might have some additional information on the veil or at least they could have information about those branches of the tree and shed light on where Alexander's family ended up.
As of now, this is what I know about Alexander Fenton's siblings:
1. Margaret Jane Fenton - born in Logie Buchan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland around 1886; nothing further known about her yet
2. James Scott Fenton - born in Bilbo Park, Logie Buchan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland in May 1887; he was originally believed to be the James Fenton who served in WWI and died in Ypres, France but that James was born in Blackpool. I have not been able to find a man who fits our guy serving in WWI so it's possible he didn't serve; however, I haven't been able to find him elsewhere yet
3. Elizabeth Minnie "Lizzie" Fenton - born April 1890 in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; immigrated from Glasgow, Scotland to Quebec Canada with her parents and some siblings in June 1911; married Thomas Campbell Steele in Port McNicoll, Simcoe County, Canada on April 10, 1919; not known if they had any children
4. Robina Copeland Fenton - born about 1891; Robina C. appears in the 1891 census as 4 months old but she is not on the 1901 census. Did she die sometime before 1901?
5. William W. Fenton - born March 26, 1892 in Logie Buchan, Aberdeenshire in Scotland; he was originally thought to have served in WWI and died in Ypres, France and placed on the Scottish Honor Roll but I've since discovered that the man on the honor roll is not our guy - birthplace and parents aren't a match. A grandson of William informed me that he didn't serve and was required to remain in Port Mcnichol, Ontario, where he ran the hardware store and local taxi cab company.
6. Robert Wright McDonald Fenton Jr - born May 22, 1893 in Waulkmill, Logie-Buchan, Scotland; immigrated with his parents and some siblings to Canada in 1911; in 1915 he served in WWI; he served one year in the 2nd V.B.G.A. (or V.B.G.H.?), 2 years in the 5 Batt Territorials; I have not found him listed as dying in the war and just recently learned that his wife may have been Eva May Cuffe; not known if they had children
7.
8. Mary Ann Fenton - born Dec. 1898 in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; she immigrated with the family from Scotland to Canada in 1911; I haven't traced her past the 1911 Canadian Census
9. Alice Fenton - born July 1900 in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; she immigrated with the family from Scotland to Canada in 1911; on Dec. 16, 1918, she married William Henry Biggar in Port McNicoll, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada; she was living in Detroit, Michigan in 1920 and had a son, John. Recently learned she may have had other children and there could be living descendants
A woman named Isabel Labour, whose great-great-grandfather was Donald McDonald (yep, real name) and his sister, Margaret McDonald, married Joseph Fenton. Joseph and Margaret McDonald Fenton were the grandparents of Alexander Fenton. So Donald McDonald and Alexander Fenton were apparently good friends as well as cousins.
Isabel's family has done a ton of research relating to the Fentons as well as their ancestors, including the Wright Family and the McDonald Family. She also has sent what we believe to be the earliest known photograph of Alexander Fenton (it's on the Fenton family page but I'm happy to email it to anyone who wants it). I'm hoping to be able to upload those files in the near future but be forewarned, there are A LOT of pages.
And I am trying to track the origins of an old wedding veil that Jean Fox gave me that has been in the family for years. The note with the veil says: "Mrs. Todd's wedding veil worn in 1823, given her by her daughter." We believe the veil came into the family at some point in Scotland but we're not sure when or to whom the veil was given. All we know is that Alexander Fenton had it with his possessions that he moved from Canada in New York around 1928 when he married Lucy Ethel Comando.
I have a genealogist who is familiar with researching families with the Todd surname and he is helping me to try and track down any descendants of Alexander Fenton's brothers and sisters. If any are living, they might have some additional information on the veil or at least they could have information about those branches of the tree and shed light on where Alexander's family ended up.
As of now, this is what I know about Alexander Fenton's siblings:
1. Margaret Jane Fenton - born in Logie Buchan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland around 1886; nothing further known about her yet
2. James Scott Fenton - born in Bilbo Park, Logie Buchan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland in May 1887; he was originally believed to be the James Fenton who served in WWI and died in Ypres, France but that James was born in Blackpool. I have not been able to find a man who fits our guy serving in WWI so it's possible he didn't serve; however, I haven't been able to find him elsewhere yet
3. Elizabeth Minnie "Lizzie" Fenton - born April 1890 in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; immigrated from Glasgow, Scotland to Quebec Canada with her parents and some siblings in June 1911; married Thomas Campbell Steele in Port McNicoll, Simcoe County, Canada on April 10, 1919; not known if they had any children
4. Robina Copeland Fenton - born about 1891; Robina C. appears in the 1891 census as 4 months old but she is not on the 1901 census. Did she die sometime before 1901?
5. William W. Fenton - born March 26, 1892 in Logie Buchan, Aberdeenshire in Scotland; he was originally thought to have served in WWI and died in Ypres, France and placed on the Scottish Honor Roll but I've since discovered that the man on the honor roll is not our guy - birthplace and parents aren't a match. A grandson of William informed me that he didn't serve and was required to remain in Port Mcnichol, Ontario, where he ran the hardware store and local taxi cab company.
6. Robert Wright McDonald Fenton Jr - born May 22, 1893 in Waulkmill, Logie-Buchan, Scotland; immigrated with his parents and some siblings to Canada in 1911; in 1915 he served in WWI; he served one year in the 2nd V.B.G.A. (or V.B.G.H.?), 2 years in the 5 Batt Territorials; I have not found him listed as dying in the war and just recently learned that his wife may have been Eva May Cuffe; not known if they had children
7.
8. Mary Ann Fenton - born Dec. 1898 in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; she immigrated with the family from Scotland to Canada in 1911; I haven't traced her past the 1911 Canadian Census
9. Alice Fenton - born July 1900 in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; she immigrated with the family from Scotland to Canada in 1911; on Dec. 16, 1918, she married William Henry Biggar in Port McNicoll, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada; she was living in Detroit, Michigan in 1920 and had a son, John. Recently learned she may have had other children and there could be living descendants
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