Fred and Mary Fenner - from the start

I have to say that one thing for me that has been a hallmark of doing genealogical research is the feeling at times of being in-between both worlds today and back then. Many who do this kind of research will tell you that it is key to being able to find some of the people and places. Having an understanding not only of the history of the places that you search in but of the times and the people living there as opposed to looking at things with modern views is crucial.

Having said that, there are still when looking back some things that tug at your heartstrings and transcend all time and space.

Such is the case where this story begins, with Fred and Mary Fenner. the 1880 census for Halifax, NC lists Fred Fenner as being born about 1839, which means he would have been born into slavery. In his household at that time was his wife Mary who in later census records is known as Mary Precilla and Mary Brown.

Out of all the research I have done so far their story is the most haunting to me. Not because of the details of it which there are very few. More so because of what is known so far. In the household at that time was his mother Nellie Randolph, his wife Mary and his two sons: Major F age 11 and Eddie age 2. Ages are close approximations with regards to census information as these are notoriously inaccurate for myriad reasons.  However with regards to Fred's sons they are pretty accurate in this instance as later documents will attest to.

Since we cannot ask them because they are long gone, we will probably never know about the gap in ages with Fred's two oldest sons. The family shows up again on the 1900 census but Fred is not shown in the household. There are more children as by that time the family size had increased to include: James, Eartie, Eliza, Frank and Mary. Frank being the baby  has a date of birth listed as Sept 1, 1893. it is the last time known that his father would be alive. 

A marriage certificate for his oldest son Major, shows that in 1907 (when it was applied for) that his father Fred, was deceased. How to understand or know what that family went through at that time. We may never fully understand what indeed  their lives were like at that time. One thing is clear however, Mary - Fred's wife - never remarried although she lived out a long life. She never married again and she raised all her children on her own.She is last seen in the household in the 1920 census as  head of household with her son James W. and his wife Maggie (nee' Shields) and their children: Catherine, Horace and little Maggie.

 In case one needs  some perspective being unfamiliar with the history of those times and circumstances, there were no jobs as there are now - there was no such thing as welfare, or head-start,  or any of the things that many nowadays take for granted  while complaining loudly about their "plight".





























I am reminded yet again why the stories of these people, our ancestors need to be told...