| Father | Percival Anderson Fenton1 b. c 1861 |
| Mother | Lucy Campbell McDonald1 b. 20 Sep 1864, d. 1948 |
Birth, Death, Marriage | |
| Percival John Fenton was born in 1885 in Swan Hill, Victoria.1 | |
| He died in 1912 in Balranald, New South Wales.2 | |
| Charts | Campbell, John, descendant chart McDonald, Archibald, descendant chart |
Story | |
| Percival was born in Swan Hill in 1885. He was the oldest child and only son of Lucy and Percival. He was known as Percy.1 | |
| Father Walked Out In 1894, the five Fenton children were abandoned by their father when he got into financial difficulties and left town.3 | |
| When Percy initially left, the children were aged from nine (Percy junior) down to two (May). Three years later, it was clear Lucy would not get any support from Percy. Newspaper reports suggest that at this time, Percy junior, now aged 12, began working for Murray River paddle steamer operator, Captain Hunt.4,3,5 | |
| Fatal Riverboat Accident Percy Fenton died in a boating accident on the Murray River.6 | |
| He was second mate on the paddle steamer Invincible, when on 21 November 1912, about 30 km from Euston, he was swept overboard. At about 4:00 am a tree branch struck the cabin he and two others were sleeping in. Percy was said to be a strong swimmer and was last seen almost at the bank, but when the other two men were safe on board, Percy could not be found. Police recovered his body the following day.5,7,4 | |
| In February 1913, due to considerable public interest (including in the Sydney newspapers), a Coroner's inquiry was held at the Euston courthouse. There was concern that no inquest was held at the time of the incident. Six witnesses gave evidence and were questioned. As well as details of the event, the court heard that Percy had been employed by river boat operator Captain Hunt for about 15 years. While Hunt was on board at the time, at the wheel was Albert McLean who Percy had recommended to Hunt. Step-father David Bell told the court that Percy was 27 years old, a heavy sleeper and a strong swimmer. Also that he was born in Swan Hill and unmarried. The Coroner, in summing up, said there was no doubt in his mind that the unfortunate occurrence was accidental, and that the deceased met his death by drowning, and the verdict would be - 'That Percy Fenton was drowned through the steamer Invincible accidentally colliding with the limbs of a red gum tree'.4 | |
| Percival John Fenton officially died in Balranald, New South Wales. He is buried at Swan Hill cemetery.2,7 | |
Citations
- [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Percival John Fenton entry, birth registration no. 6414, 1885.
- [S176] New South Wales Birth, Death and Marriage Indexes, 1856-, registry and index, 'Percival J' Fenton entry, death registration no. 14529, 1912.
- [S171] 'Divorce Court: Fenton V Fenton', The Age, 1854-, newspaper, 19 February 1902, p. 6, viewed 30 May 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197252507
- [S545] 'Euston drowning fatality: Coroner's report', Riverina Recorder, 1877-1965, newspaper, Richard Beaty, 12 February 1913, p. 2, viewed 22 June 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/134745324
- [S543] 'Drowning fatality at Swan Hill', Kerang New Times, 1901-1918, newspaper, George Adams, 29 November 1912, p. 2, viewed 22 June 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222476907
- [S52] Doris 'Nene' Courtie, personal communication, 10 November 2001.
- [S544] 'Mishap to Murray steamer: Second mate drowned', Riverine Herald, 1869-1954, newspaper, Haverfield & Co, 28 November 1912, p. 2, viewed 22 June 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/114938428