FRANCIS FENTON, the second son of Robert the first, was one of the earliest settlers of Willington. He located in the south part of the town, his homestead being about three-fourths of a mile north from Mansfield "Four Corners." His son, Francis, Jr., lived on the same farm. The cellar place, where Francis Fenton, Sen., built his house, may still be seen, though the dwelling has long since disappeared. Francis Fenton, Sr. is known by tradition as the "Money Maker." Very little, however, is known of his history, except from tradition; but that is so direct that it is entitled to rather more credit than traditions generally are. According to the best information obtained from this source, gathered from various individuals, Francis Fenton, Sen., was a very shrewd man, and possessed remarkable mechanical ingenuity. That he made silver money (one account says copper, too), and passed it, is undoubtedly true. Being suspected of counterfeiting coin, an officer was sent to arrest him. Getting notice of it, he gave the officer the slip, and made for the river, which was not far from his residence. He was pursued, and, finding he was likely to be captured, cut a long, hollow trumpet-weed, and when the officer approached, went into the water, and lying flat on his back at the bottom of the river, held the hollow weed firmly in his mouth, through which he breathed; and thus, not being discovered by the officer, escaped arrest. The river, at which this incident took place, is a small mill stream, which rises in the northeast corner of Willington, or the south part of Union, runs southerly through the eastern part of the town, enters Mansfield, and soon after passes into the Mount Hope River, which latter empties into the Natchaug.
From the above circumstance, according to general tradition in that locality, the stream took the name of Fenton River, which it still bears. On this river, in Willington, are the silk mills at Daleville; and, in Mansfield, the silk factories at Gurleyville, and that at Chaffee's. Although Mr. Fenton escaped for the time, he was afterwards arrested, and brought to trial. It was found that he had made very perfect imitations of Spanish milled dollars, which, on being tested, proved to be pure silver. As there was no law against counterfeiting foreign coin, he was acquitted. It is said that he was unable to read; but his faculty for imitating was such, that he reproduced every letter and figure exactly, and the coins that he made were almost perfect copies of the original. With only the imperfect tools that he could then obtain, it is something of a wonder how he was enabled to make coin so perfectly. It has also been a wonder where he obtained his silver, and fabulous stories have been told respecting deposits of the precious ore in the hills near where he lived. But, as the country is not a silver-bearing region, they probably have no foundation in truth.
Our own impression is, that Francis Fenton "made money" more to gratify his mechanical ingenuity and curiosity than for anything else; that he did not go into the business very extensively; and that he probably picked up old silver with which to try his experiments. His descendants in Willington, where this branch of the Fentons lived, have been very respectable people; and no discredit seems ever to have attached to them because their ancestor tried experiments in "making money."
The marriage of Francis Fenton we have not been able to find. It is not on record, either in Mansfield or Willington.
He d. Jan. 25, 1781, in the ninety-first year of his age. Ann, his widow, d. July 1, 1785. The children of Francis and Ann Fenton, recorded in Willington, were: (6) Francis, b. March 16, 1718, being the first white child born in Willington; (7) Nathaniel, b. April 10, 1720; Ann, b. Oct. 2, 1723; Mary, b. Jan. 29, 1725, d. Nov. 18, 1740; Elizabeth, b. Feb. 21, 1726-7; Abigail, b. Aug. 27, 1728; Eleazer, b. Sept. 6, 1732, probably lived in Willington, but we have no account; (8) Elijah, b. Feb. 6, 1735-6.
From the above circumstance, according to general tradition in that locality, the stream took the name of Fenton River, which it still bears. On this river, in Willington, are the silk mills at Daleville; and, in Mansfield, the silk factories at Gurleyville, and that at Chaffee's. Although Mr. Fenton escaped for the time, he was afterwards arrested, and brought to trial. It was found that he had made very perfect imitations of Spanish milled dollars, which, on being tested, proved to be pure silver. As there was no law against counterfeiting foreign coin, he was acquitted. It is said that he was unable to read; but his faculty for imitating was such, that he reproduced every letter and figure exactly, and the coins that he made were almost perfect copies of the original. With only the imperfect tools that he could then obtain, it is something of a wonder how he was enabled to make coin so perfectly. It has also been a wonder where he obtained his silver, and fabulous stories have been told respecting deposits of the precious ore in the hills near where he lived. But, as the country is not a silver-bearing region, they probably have no foundation in truth.
Our own impression is, that Francis Fenton "made money" more to gratify his mechanical ingenuity and curiosity than for anything else; that he did not go into the business very extensively; and that he probably picked up old silver with which to try his experiments. His descendants in Willington, where this branch of the Fentons lived, have been very respectable people; and no discredit seems ever to have attached to them because their ancestor tried experiments in "making money."
The marriage of Francis Fenton we have not been able to find. It is not on record, either in Mansfield or Willington.
He d. Jan. 25, 1781, in the ninety-first year of his age. Ann, his widow, d. July 1, 1785. The children of Francis and Ann Fenton, recorded in Willington, were: (6) Francis, b. March 16, 1718, being the first white child born in Willington; (7) Nathaniel, b. April 10, 1720; Ann, b. Oct. 2, 1723; Mary, b. Jan. 29, 1725, d. Nov. 18, 1740; Elizabeth, b. Feb. 21, 1726-7; Abigail, b. Aug. 27, 1728; Eleazer, b. Sept. 6, 1732, probably lived in Willington, but we have no account; (8) Elijah, b. Feb. 6, 1735-6.
FRANCIS FENTON, the second son of Robert the first, was one of the earliest settlers of Willington. He located in the south part of the town, his homestead being about three-fourths of a mile north from Mansfield "Four Corners." His son, Francis, Jr., lived on the same farm. The cellar place, where Francis Fenton, Sen., built his house, may still be seen, though the dwelling has long since disappeared. Francis Fenton, Sr. is known by tradition as the "Money Maker." Very little, however, is known of his history, except from tradition; but that is so direct that it is entitled to rather more credit than traditions generally are. According to the best information obtained from this source, gathered from various individuals, Francis Fenton, Sen., was a very shrewd man, and possessed remarkable mechanical ingenuity. That he made silver money (one account says copper, too), and passed it, is undoubtedly true. Being suspected of counterfeiting coin, an officer was sent to arrest him. Getting notice of it, he gave the officer the slip, and made for the river, which was not far from his residence. He was pursued, and, finding he was likely to be captured, cut a long, hollow trumpet-weed, and when the officer approached, went into the water, and lying flat on his back at the bottom of the river, held the hollow weed firmly in his mouth, through which he breathed; and thus, not being discovered by the officer, escaped arrest. The river, at which this incident took place, is a small mill stream, which rises in the northeast corner of Willington, or the south part of Union, runs southerly through the eastern part of the town, enters Mansfield, and soon after passes into the Mount Hope River, which latter empties into the Natchaug.
From the above circumstance, according to general tradition in that locality, the stream took the name of Fenton River, which it still bears. On this river, in Willington, are the silk mills at Daleville; and, in Mansfield, the silk factories at Gurleyville, and that at Chaffee's. Although Mr. Fenton escaped for the time, he was afterwards arrested, and brought to trial. It was found that he had made very perfect imitations of Spanish milled dollars, which, on being tested, proved to be pure silver. As there was no law against counterfeiting foreign coin, he was acquitted. It is said that he was unable to read; but his faculty for imitating was such, that he reproduced every letter and figure exactly, and the coins that he made were almost perfect copies of the original. With only the imperfect tools that he could then obtain, it is something of a wonder how he was enabled to make coin so perfectly. It has also been a wonder where he obtained his silver, and fabulous stories have been told respecting deposits of the precious ore in the hills near where he lived. But, as the country is not a silver-bearing region, they probably have no foundation in truth.
Our own impression is, that Francis Fenton "made money" more to gratify his mechanical ingenuity and curiosity than for anything else; that he did not go into the business very extensively; and that he probably picked up old silver with which to try his experiments. His descendants in Willington, where this branch of the Fentons lived, have been very respectable people; and no discredit seems ever to have attached to them because their ancestor tried experiments in "making money."
The marriage of Francis Fenton we have not been able to find. It is not on record, either in Mansfield or Willington.
He d. Jan. 25, 1781, in the ninety-first year of his age. Ann, his widow, d. July 1, 1785. The children of Francis and Ann Fenton, recorded in Willington, were: (6) Francis, b. March 16, 1718, being the first white child born in Willington; (7) Nathaniel, b. April 10, 1720; Ann, b. Oct. 2, 1723; Mary, b. Jan. 29, 1725, d. Nov. 18, 1740; Elizabeth, b. Feb. 21, 1726-7; Abigail, b. Aug. 27, 1728; Eleazer, b. Sept. 6, 1732, probably lived in Willington, but we have no account; (8) Elijah, b. Feb. 6, 1735-6.
From the above circumstance, according to general tradition in that locality, the stream took the name of Fenton River, which it still bears. On this river, in Willington, are the silk mills at Daleville; and, in Mansfield, the silk factories at Gurleyville, and that at Chaffee's. Although Mr. Fenton escaped for the time, he was afterwards arrested, and brought to trial. It was found that he had made very perfect imitations of Spanish milled dollars, which, on being tested, proved to be pure silver. As there was no law against counterfeiting foreign coin, he was acquitted. It is said that he was unable to read; but his faculty for imitating was such, that he reproduced every letter and figure exactly, and the coins that he made were almost perfect copies of the original. With only the imperfect tools that he could then obtain, it is something of a wonder how he was enabled to make coin so perfectly. It has also been a wonder where he obtained his silver, and fabulous stories have been told respecting deposits of the precious ore in the hills near where he lived. But, as the country is not a silver-bearing region, they probably have no foundation in truth.
Our own impression is, that Francis Fenton "made money" more to gratify his mechanical ingenuity and curiosity than for anything else; that he did not go into the business very extensively; and that he probably picked up old silver with which to try his experiments. His descendants in Willington, where this branch of the Fentons lived, have been very respectable people; and no discredit seems ever to have attached to them because their ancestor tried experiments in "making money."
The marriage of Francis Fenton we have not been able to find. It is not on record, either in Mansfield or Willington.
He d. Jan. 25, 1781, in the ninety-first year of his age. Ann, his widow, d. July 1, 1785. The children of Francis and Ann Fenton, recorded in Willington, were: (6) Francis, b. March 16, 1718, being the first white child born in Willington; (7) Nathaniel, b. April 10, 1720; Ann, b. Oct. 2, 1723; Mary, b. Jan. 29, 1725, d. Nov. 18, 1740; Elizabeth, b. Feb. 21, 1726-7; Abigail, b. Aug. 27, 1728; Eleazer, b. Sept. 6, 1732, probably lived in Willington, but we have no account; (8) Elijah, b. Feb. 6, 1735-6.
