Genealogy
Fenton of Dronfield, Gleadless & Little Sheffield
The Will of Richard Fenton of Sheffield, Merchant, proved 23 April, 1550 at York: directed that his lands should be divided into 3 parts, one part to Agnes his wife for her 'joynture and dower', another part to Richard Fenton, his son at 21, and the other third part or residue his supervisors were to pay the profits thereof, to the use of his daughters (Not named).
On the decease of his wife her lands were to descend to his son, but if he died, then to the daughters, which testator had by Cecilia, his first wife, and also daughters which he then had by Agnes then his wife; to such of his daughters as were unmarried £40, beside the aforesaid lands. Residue of 'goodes and cattelles' to Agnes his wife and Richard his son, whom he made executors, and appointed maister Robert Swifte of Beighten esquire, Hugh Smythe of Northlees (Norton Lees?), John Browne and Nicholes Shirclif, testator's 'sones in lawe' supervisors. Names of Persons: Richard Fenton, Agnes Fenton, Richard Fenton (testator's son), Cecilia Fenton (deceased), Maister Robert Swifte, Hugh Smythe, John Browne, Nicholes Shirclif. Witnesses: Robert Gawthorpe vicar of Sheffelde, William Walton.
The 2 daughters married John Browne and Nicholas Shircliffe.
The descent of the Manor of Dronfield can be traced through the families of Barley, Seliock, Blyth, Burton, Rossington, Rotheram and Cecil.
John Rotheram the purchaser of the Manor of Dronfield and Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1750, married in 1748 Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of John Fenton of Little Sheffield, by which marriage he acquired the Fenton property in Little Sheffield and Gleadless.
Several generations of the Fenton family resided at Gleadless, which had previously been in the possession of William Wentworth.
Alexander Fenton of Gleadless was married to Elizabeth. Their children:
- Judith who married James Bright, son of Thomas Bright of Greystones
- John Fenton of Little Sheffield who married Ann Lee; their only daughter and heir was Elizabeth.
James and Judith Bright had one son Thomas Bright of Hawley Croft, Sheffield, gentleman, who was father to Mr. Thomas Fenton-Bright.
Elizabeth Fenton married John Rotheram of Dronfield, Esq., on the 31st December, 1748.
William Fenton, brother of Alexander Fenton of Gleadless, had a daughter Anne, who married William Burton(died 1719) of Royds Mill.
Before the Brights acquired Carbrook, it was owned by a Richard Fenton.
A Francis Fenton was one of the twelve Capital Burgesses of Sheffield.
Will of John Fenton of Little Sheffield
He leaves 20s yearly to be distributed among poor widows in Gleadless quarter (in lieu of 5s left by his grandfather William Fenton) to be paid out of Old house close bottom in Gleadless. To John Burton of Chesterfield and William Battie the younger of Sheffield, his estates in Gleadless and Norton for 500 years, on trust to pay debts, and then to John Rotheram and Elizabeth (son-in-law and daughter) for their lives and then to such uses as Elizabeth's will directs; the farm called the Intacks in Handsworth to the said John and Elizabeth and their issue and in default of issue to Matthew Lambert, testator's nephew, charged with the payment of £250 apiece to nephews John and Isaac Nodder and Thomas Bright. To his wife Ann various household and personal possessions and a moiety of the Little Sheffield estate (heretofore her own) for life, then to John and Elizabeth Rotheram and then to testator's grandson John Rotheram charged with the payment of £500 to his granddaughter Elizabeth Rotheram.
Source: Reference:Sheffield Archives: Cecil Records, Ce R/300.11 Dec 1760
Will of William Fenton of Gleadless
He bequeaths to his daughter, Elizabeth Fenton, all his lands in Hunchelfe. He bequeaths to his brother, John, farms in Hunchelfe occupied by Joshua Lindley, Joseph Saunderson, Thomas Heeley, James Wanley and Edward Pitt. He bequeaths to his brother Joseph, 2 farms in Handsworth occupied by Thomas Breireley and John Waller. Monetary bequests to his sisters Anne Lambert, Deborah Nodder and Elizabeth, Hannah, Judith, Mary and Rebeccah Fenton. His mother, brother-in-law John Nodder, and brother John, to be guardians of his daughter. Residuary estate to his mother and brother, John, who are to be executors
Source: Reference: Sheffield Archives: Cecil Records,Ce R/295.29 Dec 1713