FatherPercival Anderson Fenton1 b. c 1861
MotherLucy Campbell McDonald b. 20 Sep 1864, d. 1948
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

Ella Irene Fenton was born in 1886 in Swan Hill, Victoria.1 
She married John James Paterson Watson, son of William Watson and Margaret McKay, on 18 March 1907 in Swan Hill, Victoria.2 
She died in 1942.3 

Family

John James Paterson Watson b. 1880
ChartsCampbell, John, descendant chart
McDonald, Archibald, descendant chart

Story

Father Walked Out
In 1894, the five Fenton children were abandoned by their father when he got into financial difficulties and left town.4
 
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.5,4,6
 

Citations

  1. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, 'Elea Irene' Fenton entry, birth registration no. 30061, 1886.
  2. [S703] John James Paterson Watson and Ella Irene Fenton, marriage registration no. 1347, 18 March 1907.
  3. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Ella Watson entry, death registration no. 24611, 1942.
  4. [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
  5. [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
  6. [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