Jennifer (Carey) Bello

I believe we are distant cousins and likely both descendants of Eleanor Dorsey (see Douglas Ross DNA connections to Eleanor). I am continuing to bang away at finding our Eleanor Wells Dorsey's personal history in Scotland. I have seen many genealogical entries in the last 20 years that she was born in Maryland to a Caleb Dorsey and wife, which I have my doubts about. According to an account written by an "in-law", John Brouse, in 1855, she was an orphan from Scotland. Do you - or anyone reading this - happen to have an further information about her personal history?

The following is what I have:

"Also spelled Elinor. Also listed as Eleanor Wells Dorsey. Birth year listed as about 1735 and about 1742. Marriage date also given as 1753. She is believed to have been an orphan from Scotland and came to the US with some Scottish relatives or neighbors.

"Posted by Bea TrItch: I am looking for any information about Eleanor Dorsey, b abt 1742 in Scotland, and any of her family. According to family researchers and tradition (undocumented to my knowledge) her father, mother, brothers and sisters all died before she was ten years old, leaving her in the care of an uncle, her father's brother. At 13 years of age she came to America with a neighbor family and settled in Maryland. In later years it was learned that property in Scotland and another estate had been left to her eldest son, but none of the family had enterprise of means in those days to go after it. She was of Scotch-Presbyterian stock. "Although I do not know about the Duvall book, I have some of the same information, which I recently received, in xerox form. It is called the FENNER RECORD as is described as: "Taken from a record written Dec. 26, 1855, by John A. Brouse, a great uncle of Mrs. Ora Wilkins Lesh (Mrs. Chas. P. Lesh, and copied by her for Mrs. Hallie Fenner Durnell, and recopied by Mrs. F. W. Farrar - 912 Electric Ave., Salem, Oregon." It states that "Stephen Fenner was born in Germany, about 1722. He came to this country at an early date, and joined the American, or Revolutionary army. In 1752 he married Miss Eleanor Dorsey, and they lived many years together and raised a large family. Lived at Broad Top,Pa. He lived to see all his family married. He was industrious, and frugal, and provided well for his large family. His will was probated in January 1801 in Huntingdon Co., Pa so he must have died late in 1800." There then follows a transcription of Stephen Fenner's will. The Mrs. Lesh mentioned above has added items to this record. I quote: "Mrs. Lesh found in Richmond, Va., at the land office, where Stephen Fenner of Maryland had bought 383 acres near Berkley Springs in 1779--Bk. R, page 340." There are mentions of Eleanor Dorsey being born in Scotland in 1735, and that her father, mother, brothers and sisters all died before she was ten years old, leaving her to the care of an uncle, her father's brother. "They abused her so much that at 13 years of age she came to America with a neighbor's family." She died March 9, 1833 at Hillsboro, Highland Co., OH. "

She married Stephen Fenner before 1765 (abt 1763). At the time of the birth of their first child they were living in Prince George Parish, Prince George, MD. The family moved to Huntingdon Co PA (Stephen Fenner's Will proved 8 Jan 1800) and on to Highland County. OH by abt 1810. Eleanor Dorsey Fenner died 9 Mar 1833."

Thanks so much, Linda

Phyllis Shirley Thompson

Ellen Leiby (Leiby-94) Franzen