Nicholas Fennell, Soldier, is said in his Pension file to be son of Nicholas Fennell and Jane Doane. The will of Soldier's father, Nicholas, names his wife as Loxey. Either Jane Doane and Loxy are the same person or Jane Doane died and Loxey was his second wife.

Some say Nicholas, the father of Nicholas the soldier, was born in 1725 and married Loxey and that he in turn was the son of Nicholas born in 1700 whose wife was Loxey. I don’t know for sure the truth of things. It needs more evidence one way or the other.

My version, only a guess, is that Nicholas, father of the soldier, was born in 1725 and married first Jane Doan who either was nicknamed Loxey or who died and then Nicholas married second Loxey.

According to many AWT, Nicholas who died in 1792 was the son Nicholas and Jane Doane. Here are his supposed ancestors for what it’s worth.

Parents
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Nicholas Fennell. Nicholas was born in Brunswick Co, VA, abt 1700 and he married Jane Doan in 1722 who had been born in Scotland about 1700. It is said that they made their way to the Upper Black River section of New Hanover County (when it was larger than today) prior to 1766 where Nicholas Sr. died in 1792.

But I doubt very much that he lived to 1792 and I think the man who showed up in New Hanover County are facts about his supposed son, not him.

In addition to the information available on the New Hanover County website, another source of information I have about the Fennell family comes from a biography of them published in “Sampson County Heritage”, a county history. (County Histories, many published in the early 1900’s, are useful when discussing contemporaneous people but can be notoriously sloppy when attempting to set forth the person’s ancestry.)

This book solves the problem of the apparent confusion about the death of both Nicholas Jr. and Nicholas Sr. in 1792 by merging them into one man. The problem with this version is it just seems unlikely that Nicholas Sr. lives to 92 and also unlikely that he father’s his son at age 62 and this is the first son he chooses to name Nicholas.

May have been born in Wales, according to Fennell Family Tree on NHC Website.

Came from Brunswick County, VA to the upper Black River section of New Hanover (now Sampson) County prior to 1766.

In 1722 Nicholas married Jane Doan in VA.

Jane Doan. Jane was born in Scotland abt 1700.


Grandparents
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John (Jean) Fennell. John (Jean) was born in Lyons, France, abt 1678. John (Jean) died in 1717 in Brunswick Co, VA.

Research: John (Jean) Fennell was born about 1678 in Lyons, France. He married in about 1697 Annie Watkins, who was born about 1678. Jean made his way at some point to Brunswick County, VA (west of Greensville County -- where Emporia is located) and died there in 1717. His father was Jean Victor Jules Fennell.

Jean Victor Jules Fennelle was born in Lyons, France, about 1649, married Elizabeth Hartwell 21 Oct 1669 in England, later came to the US and died in NYC in 1710. Quite the world traveler actually.

A John Fennell came to VA in 1650 and settled in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County -- but it is not clear his relationship to these Fennells. The Sampson County Heritage book says he married Jane Doane and was the father of Nicholas and Morris. The Fennell family as covered on the New Hanover County website has a different John in the family tree who came to Virginia from Fance and whose son Nicholas married Jane Doane. The real story is not yet clear. But the tree I have included here is from the website version.

The Heritage book then jumps one or more generations to Nicholas Fennell Jr. (1762-1828) and from there the Heritage book and the website are largely in agreement.

abt 1697 John (Jean) married Annie "Anny" Watkins.

Annie "Anny" Watkins. Annie "Anny" was born abt 1678.

I have found an Annie Watkins in Anne Arundel County, MD about1690's in the family tree of Thomas Watkins of Wales, son John Watkins ofLower Norfolk Co, VA. This Annie could be the aunt of the Annie here orsome such. There must be some fit. This tree on the First Families of Anne Arundel feature, Baltimore County homepage.


G Grandparents
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Jean Victor Jules Fennelle. Jean Victor Jules was born in Lyons, France, abt 1649. Jean Victor Jules died in 1710 in New York City.

On 21 Oct 1669 Jean Victor Jules married Elizabeth Hartwell in Abington, England.

Elizabeth Hartwell. Elizabeth was born in England. Elizabeth died in New York City.

Census data doesn’t help sort out whether there are three men named Nicholas who were ancestors of Mary Jane Fennell or just two, but is interesting nonetheless.

In 1790, we find two men named Nicholas Fennell living next to each other in New Hanover County. Each household includes a male over 16 and 3 females. One of the households has another male under 16 and also has 6 slaves. I suspect this is the older Nicholas. The other household includes 2 younger males and no slaves.

This data doesn’t add anything to the discussion about whether there were two or three men named Nicholas, unfortunately, or how many of them came from Brunswick to New Hanover County. Had there been three men named Nicholas in the Census, then the three Nicholas theory would have had some substance. One problem with the 1790 Census is that it was so vague as to ages. We have no idea of even the approximate ages of the two heads-of-household named Nicholas. It’s possible, though I doubt it, that the second male over 16 in one of those households was the adult and already married Nicholas living with his father. In the final analysis, I believe the men who are listed are Nicholas born 1725 and Nicholas born 1762 and that Nicholas born 1700 is nowhere in evidence because he probably didn’t exist.

In 1800, we find but one Nicholas Fennel in the area. He is living in Wilmington District, New Hanover County. He is 26-44 (so clearly he this is the Nicholas born in 1762) and there are two young males under 10 living with him. The females include: 1 under 10, 1 10-15, 1 16-25 and 1 45+. Mary Jane has not yet been born. His wife is about 10 years younger than he, though she should be about 28 but is probably counted as 16-25. The older woman could be his or her mother.

I have not found him in 1810 (because for some reason I think the Census for New Hanover County has been lost). I have found Nicholas Fennell in New Hanover County in 1820 but the ages all seem off, so I am uncertain whether this is he or his son Nicholas (who would possibly be IV, but was not known as that).

By 1830, Nicholas has died and Margaret is the head of household. She is 50-60, actually 58. A number of older daughters and one son under 5 lives with her. Her neighbor is Owen Fennel, a son I believe.

1782 Tax List. Nicholas Fennel (Sr. ?) 100 ac in Black River

WILL OF NICHOLAS FENNELL
In the name of God Amen. The 19th of August 1790 I Nicholas Fennell being in good health of body and of perfect mind and memory, calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die, do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament.

First I give and recommend my soul unto the hand of Almighty God that gave it hoping and believing a recission of my sins by the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ and my body to be buried in a decent and Christian manner at the discretion of my executors and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in my life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

Imprimus. I bequeath to my wife Loxy Fennell my whole estate consisting of lands, horses, cattle, hogs, household furniture to for and during her life or widowhood and afterward to be divided in the following manner

2nd. I give and bequeath to my son Maurice Fennell the sum of eight shillings to be paid out of my estate by my Executors.

3rd. I give and bequeath to my son Arthur Fennell one fifth part of my stock of cattle, horses, hogs and sheep also one half of my land if the condition mentioned in the following paragraph is not fulfilled

4th. I give and bequeath to my son Nicholas Fennell two fifths of my stock aforesaid also the other half of my lands: provided nevertheless that if he the said Nicholas shall pay to my son Arthur within one year after my decease a sum of money equal to the value of half my lands, my will and desire that that Nicholas should have all the land. I also bequeath to Nicholas one third of my household furniture.

5th. I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary one fifth of stock (hogs excepted) and one third of my household furniture .

6th. I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy one fifth of my stock, one third of my household furniture and my mulatto girl called Hagay.

And lastly I do constitute and appoint William Robinson and James Robinson Executors of this my last will and testament and do utterly revoke and disavowal all other and former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Nicholas Fennel (his mark)

Signed and sealed in presence of: William Robinson, William Robinson, James Robinson

Old wills can be fun to read. The will of Nicholas Fennell is fairly typical of early wills. He is not as specific in his will as some I have seen in regard to disposition of his property upon his wife’s remarriage but the phrase “during her life or widowhood” implies that if she remarries, she then, upon that event, relinquishes her right to his property and it is then divided by their children. She would need to remarry well.

The association, probably neighbors and more recently in-laws, between the Fennells and Robinsons is apparent from the fact that William and James Robinson are both witness to and Executors of his will.

There was a State Census of North Carolina taken in 1786 and Nicholas Fennel was listed in the Black River District of New Hanover County. In his household were 2 males 21-60, 1 male who was either under 21 or over 60 and two females. Maurice Fennell is listed separately with 1 male 21-60 and 3 females. The Nicholas Fennell household could in theory be this Nicholas born 1725 (counted as under 60), his wife, his son Nicholas and his wife and perhaps Arthur. Or the younger Ncholas could be head of household, his brother Arthur the other male 21-60 and the older Nicholas the male either under 21 or over 60.

I found the photo of the old house on some Fennel website. I don’t know if that is the house back the Fennel Cove road or not. I think maybe it is.

Nicholas Fennell died in New Hanover County in 1792 and his wife was Loxey and his sons were Arthur, Maurice and Nicholas. These are all the names of Fennel men who we can account for in New Hanover County by 1800 and for several years thereafter. It seems clear to me that the Nicholas Fennel who died in 1792 was the progenitor of this family in this area, the question is: where did he come from?

Many Internet family trees say he was born in Brunswick, VA in 1725, son of Nicholas Fennel and Jane Doane. But I have tried hard to find evidence of such a man and have come up empty. Moreover, if there was a Jane Doane, I am not sure what rules her out as possibly a first wife of this Nicholas and Loxey his second.

The man named Nicholas who supposedly lived in Brunswick, VA is said to have been the son of Jean Fennell who was the son of Jules Fennell of Lyon, France who came to New York City -- but the truth is I can find no real evidence of this whole concocted story. And somewhere I found a treatise written by another Fennel researcher who said he thought the whole story was concocted, that there was no evidence for any of them.

Historical footnote. The Fennell story may get a little confusing as to geographic location. New counties in North Carolina were created, more or less as needed, as the growing population warranted or demanded. Initially, New Hanover County – formed from Craven County in 1729 – was quite large. It encompassed all of what today is Onslow, Pender, Duplin, Sampson, Bladen, Columbus and Brunswick Counties – all of Southeastern NC and even more.

With the creation of Onslow County in 1731, Bladen in 1734 and then Duplin in 1750 (which included most of what would in 1784 become Sampson County) – New Hanover County was substantially shrunk but didn’t actually reach its present small(est in NC) size until Pender was created in 1875. And the tail of what is now Sampson County initially remained part of New Hanover long after Sampson’s creation in 1784 then small pieces were added to Sampson in 1795, again in 1870 and then the bulk of the “tail” was added in 1872.

The reason for explaining this historical detail is that a man could settle on a plantation in New Hanover County in, say, 1740, then be taxed in Duplin County in, say, 1760, and then die in Sampson County in 1790 – without ever moving from his plantation. The Fennel family is a case in point. I believe that from the time they came to southeastern NC they lived in what is now Sampson County. When I state otherwise, it is because that is where the records I am citing were found and that was what their locale was called at the time.