Fenner Family in Sussex

[lesleyandrobert]

Hi, thank you for replying to my query.  To cut a long story short our family line goes back to James Nye (b.1751 Speldhurst) married  1778 Speldhurst to Elizabeth Fenner (bapt. 1758 Pembury).   Two things I am trying to prove. 
1. James Nye and Wm. Fenner were partners in the Tunbridge Ware manufacturing business and I am trying to see if there is any family connection between Eliz.Fenner and Wm. Fenner (1781-1869) – so far we cannot find a connection at all – I was wondering if she was his aunt?
 2.  Trying to prove which John Fenner is Elizabeth’s father. Found this:  Speldhurst, Kent.   1778 Elizb (a minor;  dau of Jn of Tonbridge) & Jas Nye married.
I know that Eliz. had a brother named Andrew.   
Have found a John Fenner from Chiltington SSX  married 1749 in Pembury to a Sarah Ellams from Tonbridge by License.  Taken from the Pembury Parish Register transcripts 1560-1812.
On ancestry.com there is a John Fenner & Sarah Ellams with 4 children.
John Ellams Fenner 1750-1813.
Sarah Fenner 1753
Elizabeth Fenner 1758
Andrew Fenner 1761

I have both Eliz. & Andrew’s Wills.

Could this be her parents.  What I dispute, however, is that this same line on ancestry has the son John Ellams Fenner born 1750 and both his parents died 1750 yet three more children were born to them both after their deaths.

The Andrew Fenner b 1730 mentioned in previous note could perhaps be the brother of John Fenner b. 1720-5.   Again as I mentioned the dates are wrong.

Would dearly love some help with sorting these queries out.

Many thanks,

Coffeegirl

[Gizelle]

Hi Lesley,

I descend from the Fenner family you describe. ie John Fenner and Sarah Ellams, through their son John Ellams Fenner. To date I have not been able to connect them with the Tunbridge Ware Fenners.
Several family members have mentioned that we descend from Capt Thomas Fenner who sailed with Drake at the time of the Spanish armada but 200 years is a long gap to fill. There are many John Fenners who appear in the Kent, Sussex area records but I have not been able to get beyond the one who married Sarah Ellams. He certainly looks promising as Elizabeth's father. I will look through some sources at the genie library where I work to see if I can find any more information.

regards
Gizelle

[lesleyandrobert]

Hi Gizelle,
In a gazette where John Ellams Fenner is sent to gaol I think for bankruptcy it mentions that he is a Tunbridge Ware maker.  Also there are a couple of other John Fenners who are Tunbridge Ware makers and one could be his father, cannot prove that though.  Sorry for the late reply but have been away for a couple of months.  Coffee girl

[Gizelle]

Hi Coffee Girl,
 I did check the info at the Genie library to no avail. I had no idea that John Ellams Fenner had been sent to gaol for bankruptcy and was listed as a Tunbridge Ware maker. Thank you for that information. It should give me a little more to follow up. I also looked through all my Fenner information hoping to find links for you but again it was to no avail, I'm sorry to say.
I shall keep my eyes open though.

Regards
Gizelle

[FennerAustralia]

Gizelle,
I'm from the Thomas Paris Fenner line. John Fenner 1723 - 1793 is my earliest Fenner (married to Sarah Ellams. Have you had your DNA tested through Ancestry.com ? I have and I am connecting to the Rhode Island branch of our Fenner family, and their trees connect to Captain Thomas Fenner of the Spanish Armada fame !! I look forward to hearing about your DNA experiences !!

[lesleyandrobert]

Hi Gizelle, we have corresponded before.  You come down through John Fenner 1750-1813 and I come through his sister Elizabeth who married James Nye.  My husband does as well, strange.
I have had my DNA done through Family Tree but can access ancestry and others if you upload, free of charge to gedcom and then you get a whole lot more people to compare with and also tells you more.  Have you done gedcom?  Coffee Girl

[lesleyandrobert]

Gizelle, sorry I meant 'gedmatch' not 'gedcom'.Coffee Girl

[FennerAustralia]

Hi Coffee Girl, I am not Gizelle but an Australian descendant of John Ellams Fenner. My name is Tim McCabe and I'm from Perth, West Australia. What number are you on Gedmatch ? I am not having much luck connecting with the Fenner line, although my Anestor Matthew Marwood (DNA proven) married Mary Ann Fenner, the daughter of the Rev Thomas Paris Fenner. Where are all my DNA Fenner cousins ? I've managed to connect with many descendants of Arthur Fenner from Rhode Island, New York but no Fenner from Australia ! ? Sometimes I doubt I have Fenner ancestry !! I'll keep on looking ! I've also tested on FT DNA but the trouble is, if people don't attach their ancestral names you get no where ! Have you attached the name 'Nye' or 'Fenner' to your DNA result ? Best wishes, Tim McCabe 'AustralianFenner'

[lesleyandrobert]

Hi Tim,
Sorry taking you for Gizelle.
I am quite happy to correspond by email if you are happy to give me your email address.  I have not come up with any Nye/Fenner yet on Gedmatch, there are so many to go through and also I am new at this. 
On Family Tree DNA, autosomal, I have only put my direct tree on, however, under the names am researching I have mentioned Nye and Fenner.   
I don’t feel  like putting my Gedmatch no. on rootsweb, hence asking for your email address. 
I, too, am having trouble connecting to cousins, have found a couple, in my case it is probably that I have asked many to have the test, and none have said yes.  Also maybe no Nye and Fenner cousins have done the DNA test.  It is a long and arduous task this DNA so I am finding out, 6 weeks later.
Actually, we must not be a match as I cannot find you on Gedmatch nor the automosal unless you are under a different name and when I put Fenner in the surnames only 1 comes up.  Gladys McMillin.
Must go and get some work done as I have to take my computer into be looked at tomorrow and they will have it for a few days.
Coffee Girl.