15. COL. NATHANIEL FENTON settled first in Mansfield, where his twoelder children were born. In February 1791, he removed to Otsego thenMontgomery County, N. Y., and was one of the early settlers ofBurlington. He remained there until September 1823, when he removed toEllicott, Chautauque County, New York where he continued to reside untilhis death. In his 17th year he entered the Continental Army, and spentthe first period of his enlistment in the State of New York. During thistime he was engaged in several skirmishes with the enemy. At theexpiration of his service, he returned home. In the following April, heagain enlisted. The troops to which he belonged were stationed on thelines in Connecticut and New York. The year was full of incidents, manyof which were of a thrilling character. The most noted engagements inwhich he bore a part were those at a place known as Frog's Neck. In thefirst of these engagements, the Americans suffered great loss, and wereobliged to retreat. As Mr. Fenton had been carrying the wounded andassisting them from the field, he was delayed, and in the retreat washotly pursued by a mounted British officer. Being in danger of capture,he turned upon his pursuer, shot down his horse, and thus escaped. InJuly following, he was in another battle at the same place, in which theAmericans were successful. He enlisted the third time, and continued inservice until the close of the war. He was with the army at West Pointwhen it was disbanded. All he obtained for his services was what wascalled "settlement notes," which realized only nineteen dollars. In hislatter years, he drew a pension. When he settled in Otsego, the countywas new, and the settlers were greatly troubled to obtain provisions.Fortunately, game was abundant, and we judge that Col. Fenton was anexpert hunter. He very nearly lost his life, however, in one of hisHunting excursions. One cold winter morning he started into the woodswith his dog and gun. Soon after, a severe snowstorm set in, and towardnoon he thought it prudent to start for home. He became bewildered, andwas soon sensible that he was lost. He wandered, faint and weary,through the following night, next day and night. In the forenoon of thethird day he came to a dwelling where he was kindly cared for. In thislong period he neither ate nor slept. He had judgement enough to knowthat, if he lay down, he would probably never rise again. This soovertaxed his energies that he never entirely recovered. It was in thedead of winter, the snow was two or three feet deep, and he was in thewoods fifty hours. The place where he came out was only seven miles fromwhere he entered. In 1802, he made a profession of religion and unitedwith the Congregational church at Burlington. He was an active anduseful member. A correspondent in Burlington says, "he was a leading manin religious affairs, and an exemplary Christian. In town affairs, hewas active, and almost always elected to some office. He was a member ofthe Assembly while he resided in Otsego County, and a member fromChautauque County after he removed there." He was Colonel of themilitia, and held the office of Surrogate for the County of Otsego oneterm. He became a member of the church at Jamestown, and was as devotedand active as he had been at Burlington. His last public act was readingthe Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July 1843 when theanniversary was celebrated on strictly temperance principles.
Col. Fenton, we infer from the above facts, gleaned from an obituarynotice published after his death, and from private correspondence, was aman of intelligence, good judgement, an ardent patriot, and a devotedinfluential Christian. He was one of those worthies who in his day andgeneration faithfully served God and his country. He married RachelFletcher, daughter of Richard, of Mansfield, Sept. 18, 1783. He diedJan. 25, 1846, aged 82. His wife died previously, but no date was given.They had seven children. Two died in infancy, a son and a daughter. Thefollowing are in Mansfield records: Orrilla, born Feb. 29, 1784; Richard,born May 20, 1789; died in infancy; (26) Richard Fletcher, born InBurlington, Aug. 28, 1800. The births and marriages of the other membersof this family we have not received.

Title -
Col.

GOV. FENTON OF NEW YORK.

FENTON GENEALOGY.

20. ROSWELL FENTON settled first in Mansfield, where his two eldestchildren were born. About 1778 he emigrated to Hanover, N. H., fromwhence he removed to Stillwater, New York. In about 1790 he moved toBroad Albin, Fulton Co., New York, where his three younger children wereborn. In the spring of 1806 he left his home at Broad Albin for the Westintending to fix a location for his future residence and raise a crop.His family to follow him to his new residence in the fall. He locatednear the Ohio River, about fourteen miles from Louisville, where he builthis cabin in the wilderness, raised a crop, and died Sept. 16, 1806. Ithas been supposed that he was murdered for his money, as he had gonethither to purchase a farm, where he died suddenly, and his money wasnever recovered. His family emigrated, as previously arranged, by way ofPhiladelphia and Pittsburgh, and down the Ohio River, but on reachingCincinnati first heard of the death of their paternal head. They locatedin Green Township, Ohio, near Cincinnati, where the mother continued toreside until her death.
ROSWELL FENTON married Deborah Freeman daughter of Stephen, April1, 1773. She was born Nov. 1, 1753. He died in Kentucky, Sept. 16,1806, aged 51 years, and was buried at "12 Mile Island" on the OhioRiver. She died at College Hill, near Cincinnati, in 1846, aged about 93years. The children born in Mansfield were; Jacob, born Jan. 21, 1775and graduated at Dartmouth College in the class of 1799, studied law inPhiladelphia, removed to Hamilton County, Ohio in 1806, and died withoutissue on March 21, 1843; (30) Stephen, born Jan. 11, 1777. The childrenborn at Hanover, New Hampshire were; Hannah, born July 7, 1779, marriedL. Van Buren, removed to Chautauque County, N.Y., died there in 1858, hadone son Roswell who became an eminent physician, and two daughters whoreside in Chautauque County, N.Y.; Molly, born in 1781, died April 15,1801, unm.; (31) George Washington, born Dec. 20, 1783; Roswell, bornFeb. 10, 1786, went to Hamilton Co., Ohio, married Anna McFanan, diedNov. 8, 1830 leaving children: Alfred, John, Eliza, George, Roswell, andWealthy; Deborah, born Feb. 17, 1789, married William Paddock, May 11,1806, settled in Wayne Co., N.Y., where she died Feb. 3, 1863. Theylived at Wolcott. Children were: Jacob, Henry, Roxalina, William, Levi,George W., Olive, and Caroline, all of whom have families, except Olive.The children born at Broad Albin were; Rebecca, born Aug. 19, 1791,married in Cincinnati, Jan. 8, 1809 to William Cary, son of Dr. SamuelCary, a native of Windham (Scotland Society). He died in 1862. Sheresided at College Hill, Ohio. Their children were: Freeman G., founderof Farmer's College, Gen. Samuel F., founder and now President of FemaleCollege at College Hill, Ohio. He was widely known as an eloquentadvocate of the Temperance Reform, and William, all married and havefamilies. The other children born at Broad Albin were; Lucy Ann, bornDec. 13, 1793, married Cyrus Howard in Hamilton County, Ohio and hadfourteen children, the eldest of whom was Rev. Solomon Howard, Presidentof Ohio University. Another son was Roswell F., Esq., a member of OhioLegislature, and lawyer at Xenia, Ohio; Wealthy Ann, born Feb. 13, 1796,married Roswell Hazeltine, and resided at Oxford, Butler Co., Ohio, hadfourteen children.