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Michael FENTON (1817-1873) and his wife Jane MCLOUGHRY (??-1887) [spelling varies] lived in County Sligo, Ireland. It is believed that four of their sons (Arthur, George, Thomas and Victor), who qualified as medical doctors, came to Patagonia at one time or another.

Note: Information available online is sketchy, and sometimes inconsistent. Corroborations and corrections are requested.

FENTON--MACMUNN

Thomas [Frederick?] FENTON

b. 1850, Castletown, Sligo; medical doctor; 1875 to Magallanes Territory; 1877 Punta Arenas, assisted victims of artillerymen's revolt; 1881 narrowly escaped death when HMS Doterel exploded at Punta Arenas; subsequently granted land at Fenton Station; sheep rancher near Laguna Casimiro; d. 1886 Punta Arenas; bur. Punta Arenas

m. 1875 Bath, Somerset

Mary MACMUNN [or MCMUNN]

b. 1847 Penkridge, Staffordshire; bap. 1847 Brewood, Staffs.; dtr. of James MCMUNN (surgeon, b. Co. Sligo) & Betsy BOREHAM; sister of Emma Louisa MACMUNN (wife of Thomas's brother Arthur FENTON); m2. Edward Stanton YONGE; d. 1929 London

Children:

1. Thomas Gerald, b. 1876 Ireland?; birth registered Punta Arenas; 1899 Britain, qualified as medical doctor; 1911 living in Edmonton, Middlesex; m. Ida [???] (surname unknown, born Co. Sligo); son Thomas Gerald, b. c1902 Co. Sligo

2. Constance Violet, b. 1878 Punta Arenas

3. Mabel Helen, b. 1880 Punta Arenas

4. Michael Claude Magellan, b. 1881 Punta Arenas

5. Virginia Rose Sylvia, b. 1883 Punta Arenas; m. 1907 Punta Arenas George WOOD

6. Geoffrey Arthur, b. 1884 Punta Arenas; 1910 First settler at Ea. La Jerónima (now Nibepo Aike), Lago Argentino; 1917 Sold land rights to Jerónimo and José Stipicic; settled at Ea. La Trinchera, Lago Cardiel; d. 1947 Punta Arenas; bur. Punta Arenas; no descent


FENTON memorabilia: Letter from Thomas to his mother (1885)


The figure and plaque (at right) are from the memorial located in the Municipal Cemetery, Punta Arenas. The plaque reads:

«Este monumento simboliza la gratitud del pueblo de Magallanes hacia el finado Dr. Thomas Fenton. Levantado a su memoria como un homenaje a sus nobles prendas. Punta Arenas, Octubre 2 de 1886.»

(in translation):

«This monument symbolizes the gratitude of the people of Magallanes to the late Dr. Thomas Fenton. Erected to his memory in homage to his fine qualities. Punta Arenas, October 2nd, 1886.»

bust
Dr. Thomas Fenton
memorial in cemetery,
Punta Arenas
plaque in cemetery
Dr. Thomas Fenton
plaque in cemetery,
Punta Arenas

FENTON--GREENSHIELDS (née McMUNN)

Arthur Wellington [Wesley?] FENTON

b. c1861 Castletown, Sligo; c1885 medical doctor aboard PSNC steamship "Patagonia"; 1885 appointed medical officer to Gobernación of Santa Cruz Territory; 1886 took up appointment in Puerto Santa Cruz; 1888 transferred to Río Gallegos; Justice of the Peace; 1890 member of Consejo Escolar (School Board); 1891 dedicated himself full-time to sheep ranching, being replaced in his position of medical officer by his brother Victor; (after marriage) took over running of Ea. Monte Dinero; returned to UK, living at Salcombe, Devon; d. 1942 Douglas, Isle of Man

m. 1891 Wolverhampton

Emma Louisa GREENSHIELDS (née MCMUNN)

sister to Mary MACMUNN (wife of Arthur's brother Thomas); widow of Thomas GREENSHIELDS

Children:

1. Hubert A.; b. c1893 Argentina; m. 1916 Punta Arenas, Mabel Ellen TILLY, with descent

2. Geraldine Eva; b. c1895 Argentina

3. Victor; b. c1899 Argentina

FENTON--PEARL--MORENO

Victor Edward Albert FENTON

b. c1865 Sligo; 1886 graduated medical doctor at Dublin (first prize-winner); c1890 appointed medical officer to Santa Cruz Territory, replacing his brother Arthur; 1900 settled Ea. Jayak-Aike, with assistance of Vital JARA; 1916 sold estancia to Rodolfo Suárez and Mauricio Braun; 1917 began activities in Tucumán Province (unsuccessful); d. 1938

m1. 1893

Geraldine PEARL

b. 1868 England

One child, no details

m2.

Ascención DE ROSAS Argentinean [or Ascención MORENO ?, from La Rioja Province];

Six children


Sources:
(1)  Birth and Death Registers, Registro Civil, Magallanes
(2) Monumental inscriptions, Municipal Cemetery, Punta Arenas
(3) Anglican Marriage Registers, St. James, Punta Arenas
(4) England & Wales Civil Registration Indexes
(5) LDS database
(6) 1895 Argentine census
(7) Irish births & baptisms
(8) Fenton Family History & Genealogy Message Board
(9) Árbol Genealógico, Michael Fenton & Jane Russell
(10) "Vidas Patagónicas", Correa Falcón, Bs. As. 1950
(11) "Dr. Arturo Fenton: Primer Médico Estable en Santa Cruz", Lenzi, La Opinión Austral, edición 1978-10-0127
Thanks: Marcos da Gama (XI-2010); Electra Bourdet, Milagros Pierini, Carlos Nuevo (II-2018)
Additional information: Florence Stanton-Yonge (V-2006)
Last updated: 20-II-2018