Person:Arthur Fenner (12)

BIOGRAPHY: The Fenner Family Fourth Edition Descendants of Arthur Fenner (1619 - 1703) Originally compiled and written by Mrs. Eva Fenner (1954 - 1986) Page 20 1554 Captain Arthur Fenner and Rachel (Corpe) Westcott [b ca. 1741; d 23 Aug. 1827] Captain Arthur Fenner m Rachel (Corpe) Westcott [b 28 Apr. 1737; d 16 Feb. 1803]. Rachel, the widow of Samuel Westcott and daughter of John Corpe, died "after about 22 years sickness in full Faith, Fear, and Love of her Redeemer," says her tombstone, which was erected by her son Edward. Samuel Westcott was the grandson of Freelove Fenner [122] and Samuel Westcott. Arthur enlisted at age 19 in Col. Henry Babcock's regiment and went to Canada in 1759 during the French and Indian War. From 1 July 1775 to 26 August 1776, he served as a lieutenant in Col. Hitchcock's regiment, under Capt. Williams' company, after which he was promoted to captain. In 1775, his regiment accompanied General Benedict Arnold in the ill-starred expedition against Quebec, call the Army of Observation. They traveled in snow, and waded in water up to their armpits. For thirty two days they did not meet a human being, and arrived opposite Quebec, on November 9. "Four days afterward, the intrepid Arnold, with only 750 half-naked men, not more than 400 muskets, and no artillery, ascended to the Plains of Abraham and boldly demanded a surrender of the city and garrison." Arthur re-enlisted as a captain in the second regiment of General Hitchcock's brigade, which marched to New York to join Washington's army after the disastrous battle of Long Island on 27 Aug. 1776. Arthur fought in the tremendously successful battles at Trenton, 26 Dec. 1776, and Princeton, 3 Jan. 1777. After Trenton, Washington took Hitchcock by the hand and wished him to communicate his thanks to his officers and men. Around the turn of the century, Arthur suffered severe financial losses. He moved in with son Arthur Jr. and followed them to Fairfield, NY in 1806 or 1807. He applied for a military pension on 10 April 1818 as a resident of Fairfield.