Athanasius Fenwick (b. circa 1780 - d. 1824)
MSA SC 5496-050710
War of 1812 Claimant, St. Mary's County, Maryland, 1828
Biography:
Athanasius Fenwick was born about 1780 in St. Mary's County to James and Catherine Ford Fenwick. He was their only child. Fenwick was educated in Europe, but eventually returned to Maryland. He married Susanna Howell, a native of Philadelphia, PA, on October 30, 1817. The wedding took place in Philadelphia, but the couple lived in St. Mary's County at his home Cherry Fields. The Fenwicks had three children: James, Margaret, and Susanna.
Following the War of 1812, Athanasius Fenwick submitted a claim for the loss of personal property. Unlike many of the claimants who filed their claims between 1821 and 1832, Fenwick filed his claim early in 1815. However, Fenwick's claim was rejected on the basis that he failed to provide any proof whatsoever. It remains unknown how many slaves Fenwick lost during the war. Other claimants whose claims were accepted submitted specific informatin regarding their slaves. Those claims had supporting evidence which included depositions from people on their behalf, which failed to show up in Fenwick's claim.
Fenwick's wife Susanna died August 7, 1824 while
in Philadelphia. A couple of months later, on September 29, 1824, Athanasius
Fenwick died, leaving his children orphaned. The Fenwick children were
sent to live with Susanna Fenwick's family in Philadelphia. Athanasius
Fenwick was initially buried at his home, Cherry Fields, but his body was
later exhumed and reinterred at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in New Jersey.
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