This History was written by Mary "Mamie" Scott

Scanned by B.R. Jennings from a copy supplied by Margery Peterson

PREFACE

In seeking out our ancestors of the past there are many

roads of adventure.

First it is necessary to approach the nearest living

relatives of those who have gone before, who are most likely

to have important written data concerning their 'lives, such as

births, deaths, marriages, wills, etc,

Then we must find census, court records of lands and

deeds -in the counties and states to which they are removed,

and thru these avenues the way is opened to become acquainted

with descendants of the fathers which creates a correspondence

that naturally opens up between relatives who depend on each

other for their family records.

Thru these transmissions many new discoveries are made

of new people in various locations that are most valuable.

True it is that many of these people addressed scarcely

knows the name of more than their grandparents but incidentally

they will acquaint you with some other person you may seek for

the information and eventually new correspondence opens up.

Among thls latter class of people, or possible advertising possibly advertising

thru , some proper channels, one becomes acquainted with

far and wide who become so valuable each other than the

correspondence continues for years, each party seeking diligently

for every. item of interest involved and quickly transferring it

to the other interested party or persons,

Concerning correspondence in the Jennings case may I

mention Dr. R. M. Gennings of ..Macomb,. Illinois, who after

teaching in the University of Illinois over forty years was

retired at the aee of 65. His health was good, his mind alert

(a brilliant analytical mind) his having been head of Mathematics

in University of Illinois over 35 years and being forced to some

hobby he adopted Genealogy.

From data and piece-meals he matched up family charts

that defied competition of tearing asunder because of their many

relative values.

The fact that he spelled his name with G. (Ginnings) does

not remove him from being a close relative of the Jennings of

Prince Edward County.

We have learned there are more 'than twenty ways of spelling

Jennings; that the people of early times-chose a way of spelling

their own names regardless of established rules, and spelled it

as it sounded best to them and sometimes tried to differentiate

theirselves from other groups of the same family, as they moved

about in clans, and thus their regular mail was better distributed.

Dr. R. M. Ginnings was discovered by Mrs. Addie Lehman,

from Texas, of Jennings descent on the maternal line.

She was from Monte Christo, Texas, wife of Capt. L. H. Lehman

living in Charleston, South Carolina -when first I heard from her

She was a. cousin of Dr. R. M. Ginnings,. had been interested in genealogy for 20 years.

She and Dr. Ginnings knew they were closely related to the

Jennings of Prince Edward County because the families on both

sides flocked together and moved in groups from Virginia to

Tennessee and settled in same county, the main county being

Wilson of Tennessee.

Mrs. Lehman was a Daughter of the American Revolution

on several lines and lost no time while in the East, traveling

about thru the Eastern States, Virginia North and South Caroline,

Kentucky, Tennessee, Louiseanna, and other places, collecting

data on various lines of her family, always following every

possible clue to prove the first Robert of her family to be

of the family of Robert of Prince Edward.

In trying to prove that fact she unearthed many family

connections and gladly shared all information with any co-operating

Jennings who was interested in the research, hoping to prove or

disprove a true relationship.

There is no doubt that these two Jennings families evolved

from Col. Robert Jennings of early New Kent and the most likely

strain of their Robert, born about 1740 was son of John, born

1698, who with his brother William bought land in Albemarle

County which later was a part of Buckingham where the main

part of the family seemed to have settled.

The records of Buckingham were burned but it is known

their Robert and his son John, of Buckingham, removed to

North Carolina and years later to Madison County Kentucky

where he died in 1828, was buried in old Jennings Cemetery

The son John died later in 1835. Other members of this

family returned to Wilson County, Tennessee, and have continued

to reside there.

My Jennings genealogy was greatly enriched through

correspondence with Mrs. Lehman and her cousin Dr. R. M. Jennings

who died suddenly in June of 1948.

While corresponding with them I spent some months in

Virginia with my husband and we visited all of the Counties

where Jennings records could be obtained. We collected much

data that has matched up with other data furnished me by these

interested workers.

Other valuable data was furnished me by Mrs. Adele Williams

of Plainview, Texas, a descendant of Clem Jennings, brother of

Doctor. She is a very intelligent lady, educated in best schools

of Texas, and in Eastern schools, a proficient musician, with

much accumulated data of her family.

Another person with professional genealogical ability

with whom I have communicated largely is Mr. Trist Wood of

New Orleans, La., who has made considerable contributions to

Public Libraries of North Carolina. Also Mrs. W. I. Williams

of Tulsa, Oklahoma who has much of the information accumulated

by Lawyers hired to trace out ancestry in England to prove heir ship

to Jennings Estate,

JENNINGS FAMILY HISTORY

As Reviewed by Mary Jennings Scott

A number of years have been spent by the writer in rather intensive research on the Jennings (Jinnings, Jenens, Jenings, Ginnings) and allied lines of Virginia. With the help of able genealogists, a few interested co-workers and of my husband who has borne with me in collecting data over the years in efforts to unearth all possible clues and records of identifying ancestors, results have been quite satisfactory. It would seem unfair to myself, and my children who may some day become interested in the genealogy of their fathers, to leave no written record of what has been accomplished through discovery of many facts and figures essential to the making of family, history.

I am descended on the paternal line from the Jennings family who immigrated to Virginia from England in the 17th century. No family records of which we know were kept of their existence and handed down to our grandparents, but my father and his mother did ordinance work in the Manti Temple and had preserved in the Archives of the Church data of all they could remember which dated bank about three generations.

My father was MILTON TRAVIS JENNINIGS9 born in San Bernardino California, 23rd March, 1854

My grandfather SCHUYLER PATTERSON JENNINGS born 5th June, 1809, in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee and emigrated to Utah in 1848,

My great-grandfather was named DOCTOR JENNINGS, born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, 1774. Being christened “Doctor” it was generally supposed he was a doctor by profession. When making inquiries of him on state and county records it was difficult to identify him. We were expected to add a Christian name after Doctor or cease the quest. However, our “Doctor” was found in the 1820 census of middle Tennessee, as Doctor Jinnings, with three sons and one daughter. (Born in Virginia, 1774.)

Another obstacle that hindered the finding of his name was the fact that the census spelled his name Jinnings. An aunt of mine, Rhoda Jennings Sherwood, youngest grand-daughter of Doctor, said her mother had related many times that different people had driven many miles to the home of Doctor Jennings for needed medical service, disappointed to learn his Christian name was simply Doctor and he was not professions. She further stated that Doctor was named by a wealthy uncle who visited his parents just previous to his birth, and in honor of the doctor who attended his arrival. Aunt Rhoda said her parents informed the children that they had descended from a
William Jennings- evidently not knowing of Doctor’s father Robert, whose father was William.

How easily parents can slip one generation when counting their ancestors if nothing is recorded on paper, especially if a particular person was a near relative and was named William, who was the likely heir of a $40,000,000 Estate:

“Mrs. Mary J. Scott, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, had a real problem in the possession of an ancestor who was thought to have been born in Virginia, but of whom she possessed on the tradition that he had the given name of “Doctor” and that there was a court house near where he lived. Shortly after Christmas Mrs. Scott wrote: “The message your letter brought about three days before Christmas was the best greeting I received. I was overjoyed to know you had located our “Doctor”. You seem to know how to feel your way. “

Again in his book “Ways and means of Identifying Ancestors”, page 36, “A Virginia family had given the unusual name of “Doctor” to a son on account of the providential visit of a physician, but his county was not known. By finding a county which contained the names of people with whom he was associated this county was located and a will by one of his surname mentioned “Doctor”, as a son.”

This will of 1794 was written in Prince Edward County, Virginia, by Robert Jennings (wife, Rachel) and lists the names of thirteen children, ten sons and three daughters. 1 The last named child was “Doctor”, my great-grandfather, son of Robert Jennings, my great-great-grandfather.

The field was now open for research. An ancestor was located with thirteen children in 1794. They and their descendants probably scattered throughout the United States.

And Who was the father of Robert?

Here began our actual research.

It is well known that the early settlers of America were Clannish, living together in communities as relatives and friends, and quite conclusively proving those people to be branches of an old parent tree.

It is stated that “when our forefathers first came to America, the whole country was densely forested. There were no roadways except the traces left by the Indians who generally utilized the paths made by the buffaloes or other wild animals. Inasmuch as every new settlement curtaile4d the Indian hunting grounds it was natural for them to resent the presence of settlers as interlopers and consequently the settlers had to deep close together and nearly all the settlements were along the seashore or the navigable rivers. Consequently so far as the English were concerned settlement did not increase greatly except by natural growth and when it was necessary to go father into the interior provision was made for a number of settlers who were not permitted to move elsewhere except by permission of the magistrates. The fear of Indians kept the settlers from pushing very far into the interior.”

When we consider how the country was settled, and the conditions under which the people lived, coupled with the great distance of migration from the old country of Europe, it is easy to believe that the people were greatly drawn together by the

bonds of relativity, in leaving the old home as well as populating the new, so that in corresponding with descendants of the Jennings families over the years correspondents frequently write “I believe that all the Virginia Jennings families were related.”

There are no schools more than two hundred years ago. No wonder they never learned to read and write and had to make a mark to a deed or will.

There were a few interested relatives whom I mist here introduce, because they were eager to help and were instrumental in helping to bring together the members of this widely scattered family, which could not be done without much research and some financial aid.

Mrs. Wayne Taylor Nielson, daughter of Johannah Jennings Taylor, an older sister of my father, Milton Travis Jennings, came first as a member of the family greatly interested in its history. She helped with local organization of the family and contributed willingly of her small means for further research. She was first interested with James C. Jensen, husband of Joey Jennings, daughter of Mansfield, brother of my father. He was a competent, well educated man, living in Salt Lake City, who first began a research for this family. His health was poor and he had small means to pursue the work. No one was interested enough to contribute to the cause. He died before he could accomplish what he had set out to do. I had hoped that we

might work together. At his demise all material he had collected was given into my hands through cousin Wayne Nielsen, who, having been made custodian, was anxious to form an organization for the family. This was done at her home in 1942 by electing Theodore Taylor, grandson of Elizabeth Jennings Taylor (a Jennings descendant) as president, Wayne Taylor Nielsen, secretary, and Mary Jennings Scott, chairman of research.

We retained the services of Mr. Evan L. Reed to continue our work in Virginia and discover if possible the father of Robert of Prince Edward County. He engaged the help of Dr. Joseph Eggleston, ex-president of Hampton-Sidney College in Prince Edward who, after his retirement, confined his studies to genealogy: also Ann Waller Reddy, daughter of a renowned genealogist whom Dr. Eggleston recommended as ranking first among genealogists of Virginia. Through these and other channels the records of Virginia were scraped off all recordings in the counties where our ancestors lived. Each genealogist referred me at once to the parent county of New Kent.

“Among the potent causes which have aroused men and women to search out records of their progenitors of the past has been an eager desire to share in a legendary family fortunes. While it is true that seldom or never do they lay hands on the fortune, but after the vision of accumulated millions have been proved but a “will-o-the-wisp”, the interest in the family remains.”

Therefore such forlorn quests should result in the compilation of wonderful genealogical records, worth infinitely more than the "mythical" millions. But it Is also true that many genealogical facts wore abused and discarded which did not seem to fit into the proofs which were being sought.

Wishful thinking may be a great hindrance to the real truth. For instance, one descendant on my own line, and possibly the one who had best living proofs of our descendency has discarded a certain great-grandparent named William and endeavored to adopt another William, as a progenitor because he seemed to be the most likely wanted heir. A simple mathematical problem proves this selected William was born too late to be father of Robert father of Doctor. Others have been known to hide marriage or birth certificates hoping their own people might have a better chance to find a place with the fortune seekers.

Perhaps no greater quest has been made in this country than that of the celebrated Jennings estate, that lingered in the Chancery Court of England for more than one hundred and thirty years. The estate was variously valued at from ten to one hundred and fifty million dollars.

Queen Victoria, of England, early in the 19th century issued an edict stating that the Jennings who was the lawful heir of the Jennings millions in England could not prove his death or burial in that country, but on the contrary it was proved he had emigrated to America. This fact spread to America and

gave rise to numerous claims, It ultimately resulted that the emigrant had died in Virginia and descendants commenced an action with a view to establish their heir ship, many years after the death of the heir. Lack of funds for barrister's fees and for security of costs caused a dismissal of their suit without any final decisions.2

Many of the Jennings in the United States claimed collateral descent from the particular Jennings who accumulated the "millions"

and many attempts have been made by the American descendants to recover the fortune from England, but all have been abortive.

It seems to have been proven that the rightful heir to the

Jennings estate could not prove death or burial in England, but

on the contrary, it was proved that he had emigrated to America,

being William Jennings, immigrant, oldest uncle of the intestate,

at the time of his death and consequently, would succeed to his

estates. This immigrant was supposed to be William Jennings

who married Mary Pulliam and lived and died in Nottoway, Virginia.³

The "legal. weakness of any such claim, of course, lies in

the fact that the very records essential to prove the births,

marriages and deaths of the people concerned were burned in

1758 when the Court House of Hanover was destroyed,

One large book 1733-35 was salvaged with one item of

great importance to cur particular line of Jennings as follows

"Register of St. Peters Parish, New Kent County, Page 17

John, son of Robert Jennings, born September 2nd, and

baptized the 23rd of same, 1698.

"William, son of Robert Jennings baptized.5th July,

1702."

This record of births of John and William, sons of Robert

of New Kent fit very accurately into the lives of our descendants.

Most certainly this William seems to be the father of Robert

who, (in 1754 - the year Prince Edward was cut off Amelia County),

with his wife, Rachel, bought land and in 1755 had one tithe

(child), according to land records.

If William born 1702 should marry at the age of twenty and

have a child (Robert of Prince Edward County) in two years,

he would be twenty-three when he first entered land in 1747 and

would be thirty-one year- old when he bought land in 1755 with

one tithe. These ages would allow considerable change and still

be reasonable, especially for those times when children married

early in life, often seventeen or eighteen years of age for men

and earlier for women.

Our ancestor Robert Jennings Sr., and Robert Junior,

lived in New Kent County in 1698 and 1702 when John and William

were born. That part of New Kent became Hanover County in 1720.

There was a John Jennings on Vaughn Creek in 1743-7 who bought land (400 acres) then in Amelia County. Prince Edward

County was taken from Amelia County 1753-4. This land was sold

in 1752 and William Jennings signed the deed. So there was a

John Jennings on Vaughn Creek in 1743-7 and William Jennings

was there in 1752,

All these two Jennings, John and William, would have to do is to move across Appomattox River over into Albemarle County, Virginia, and be the John and William Jennings who bought land bordering each other there, in Albemarle, which records we have.

John had a wife Mary, who signed that deeds

We conclude. that John in Albermarle County was John that sold to Robert Jennings (not of Prince Edward County but Robert of Hanover) on Vaughn Creek, February 27th, 1747, William in Albemarle, was brother of John, father of Robert of Prince Edward County.8

Regarding Robert, who remained in Hanover, died 1758,9 had son Robert of Charlottesville who became lieutenant in the Revolutionary war. 10 Robert (1758 will) is son of Robert Jr. of New Kent according to analysis of Dr. R. M. Ginnings who has spent much time in working out charts that seem to agree in every detail with relationship of family. 11

A land deal of 400 acres, on Vaughn Crook in 1747, with all improvements belonging to John Jennings was sold to

Robert Jennings of Hanover for five shillings ($1.25). This

deal indicates close relationship.--brother to brother, or

father to son--according to Dr. Ginnings' analysis.

In 1752 Robert of Hanover bought 130 acres adjoining that 400 acres on Vaughn Creek. A William Jennings signed the deed as a witness,

Thus the record shows plainly there were two Roberts, one

on Vaughn Creek, and one on Sawney Creek, Prince Edward County, the latter, my great-great grandfather Robert of will 1794,

John sold out of that part of Albemarle that became Buckingham County in 1761 and thus moved closer in to Buckingham County with other relatives. (Probably his sons.) He died before 1764 because a widow, "Mary Jennings of Buckingham" bought land in Bedford County which county was taken from Albemarle in 1753-4. 12

A fire in 1869 destroyed the courthouse at Buckingham and all records were burned. This fact makes it very difficult to trace our Jennings line in Buckingham. We have to depend on parish records found at Richmond, capital of Virginia and state records, also evidences written in letters to early relatives who later revealed the information they contained In 1885 fire in the King William County court house adds to the problem of preserving our records, King William lies adjacent to Hanover, where court house was burned in 1758, and Now Kent. It was taken from King and Queen county in 1701. King and Queen County was taken from New Kent in 1791

Information found in the Journal of the House of Burgesses and that of the Governor's Council: (Some little used Virginia data) "Regarding Robert Jennings who was the father of John

and William and undoubtedly a progenitor of yours appears in

1700‑‑as one of three soldiers of New Kent County petitioning for the payment of tobacco for their services to the Burgesses there he is shown as a soldier. (In those days tobacco was used often for money in both paying taxes and in the payment of government claims). A William Jennings is shown in 1756 as a foot soldier but his service was in Fairfax County. This could not be the William of Nottoway who died in 1775. He would then have been over 80 years of age. It is more likely the William Sr. born to Robert in 1702, or his son William Jr of Buckingham County,

"In the proceedings of the Council Robert Jennings is given permission to take up 2,000 acres on Taylor's Creek In Now Kent County. This was between 1705‑1721,

"It is noteworthy that Edmund Jennings (Robert also spelled with one 'In") was on the council, and hence may have been related* He was governor for a short time. Resigned on account of his health. He was not a close relative.

"It is said that Governor Edmund Jenings left a will dated June 2, 1727, in York, supposedly, but it cannot be found on record there or at Canterbury, England, or at somerset House, London. Some people say it was destroyed when the suit for the Jennings millions was brought. At any rate, it was the law in 1727 that copies of all wills, etc., made in Virginia or the other colonies would be filed in England and it is queer that a copy cannot be found, However, William and Mary College

Magazine testify that it was written at the above date*

Some people say it may have been removed to King and Queen County at the time of the Revolutionary War and was later burnt there with other records, but where are the copies in England? t

"We can only get proof of Edmond Jenings, Jr., Francis, who married Grimes, and Elizabeth who married Porter, Margaret and Priscilla who married Captain William Hill. This William Hill died in Amelia County in 1747, and was the brother of John Hill who married Mary Jennings, daughter of Robert Jennings of Hanover County."

In 1821 Hanover County was created from New Kent, and it was ordered that the court for the county be held at Robert Jennings residence and that the courthouse be built on his property,

"Dr. Eggleston said that the records of Hanover were

scarce but I located the Parish records of St. Paul's of Hanover County and found about fifty citations of Robert Jennings Gent., and also William and Mathew but without the "Mister" attached. As early as 1711 there was a Robert Sr., and Jr. both "Gentlemen." It is difficult to identify Robert Sr. and Robert Jr. because in many places Robert Jennings has no insignia attached* (Sr. and Jr.)

"Robert Sr. who was a church warden and sometimes referred to as "Colonel" died about 1716, and Robert Jr, was appointed

warden in his place* In 1720 Robert Jennings "Jr." was

appointed Justice of the Peace in Hanover, and in 1722 High

Sheriff of Hanover County.

Later, having exchanged land with Hugh Owen of King William County Robert left Hanover and removed to King William and gave us his schrievalty.

When Robert, left Hanover there was still a Robert Jennings, Gentleman, left there, undoubtedly the Robert Jennings who had a son Robert who lived and died in Charlotte County and became a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War. He was born 1745 and died in 1806.13

Occasionally some other counties mention records dealing with these several counties; New Kent, King and Queen, Hanover, Buckingham, Albemarle, Prince Edward, and Bedford, from which we draw items of interest.

John appeared on Surveyors Platt 17062 in Buckingham.

Records from Albemarle can only help in to 1761.

Some records from Richmond may help out for Buckingham.

Some information has been retrieved from letters written by discovered relatives to further substantiate our beliefs that William, born 1702, was father of Robert of Prince Edward County's The letters were written by Mr. J. B. Abernathy, cousin of Amaree Doak of Grenada, Mississippi, in March 8, 19339 by Mrs. Daniel Jennings, representing the Jennings family of Virginia, 271+3 Judson Street, Shreveport, Louisiana-Texas-Arkansas-District*

This record has been found in letter of correspondence,

produced by Mrs. Amaree Doak, of Grenada, Mississippi,

descendant of Robert Jr. of Prince Edward County.

1- Robert Crawford married Mary Winn Jennings

2- Robert Jennings married Tabitha Lockhart

3,- Robert Jenning married Rachel (had thirteen children)

4- William Jennings, his parents died in Virginia*"

Another record from the same source:

"William Jermings had William Jennings of Buckingham County* He had children as follows.

Samuel

Phoebe born 1773 , died married William Kelly

Agnes born died married March 16,1784

(Amelia County) Barnard Caffery

Fanny

Rhoda

Nancy

So there-was a William Sr. and William Jr., the Sr. of New Kent County; Jr. of Buckingham County.

The above was put together from facts given by a granddaughter of the first William Sr. when she was seventy-three years old, --Phoebe. The letter was written by her husband.

William Kelly, during year 1842-1851+.

Mr. Charles Loeber had the letter*

Mr. Loeber was a genealogist and lived In Now York.

He charted the Jennings family back to 1-6~4 for the Texas family of Mr. Jessie Hugh Gleaves, and Mr. Guy Tonell Gleaves of Dalls, Texas, who are descendants of Clem Jennings who

was brother of Robert Jennings who married Tabitha Lockhart.

Having decided that we may never further prove our descendancy from William because of the destruction of Court House records over a period of years in the counties whore the descendants of our ancestors resided, we are grateful for the evidences that substantiate our beliefs that William, born 1702, was father of Robert of Prince Edward County and that he had a son, William, (with six children) who would be brother of Robert.

Elkanah Jennings lived in neighborhood of Robert Jennings, married Mary Hill, daughter of William Hill, bought land of Robert and Rachel in 1754. 14 Had two daughters, Sally, 1770, married Benjamin Dickerson, Mary, 1772 married a Mr. Pettit. Died i n 1804, and was undoubtedly a brother of Roberts.

William of Nottoway

In the perusal of the history of the Jennings Family

of America, there is no doubt that William Jennings of Hanover,

Amelia and later of Nottoway County, Virginia, is the most

interesting figure depicted because he is supposed to be the

rightful heir to the vast Jennings Estate that lay in chancery

in England for over one hundred and thirty years.

It is claimed that he was born in 1676, son of Humphrey

Jennings and Mary Millward of Whitacre England; that he came

to America in the early part of the eighteenth century, settled

in Hanover and died in Nottoway 1775. This is supposed to be

the William Jennings who died, (at the age of 99) and was

buried in the old Jennings cemetery of Hanover County and

years after his death was pointed out as the rightful heir of

the great Jennings Estate. ¹⁴

Some have Intimated he was a rich old bachelor, others

that he was a widower, no record of former marriage. One

relative has written of him as "Lord" William Jennings, "who

had a large tract of land in Nottoway County Virginia deeded

'him by the crown of England."

Evan Reed writes "I have tried to find the basis for

Captain William Jennings military record but the only thing

I have yet found is of Captain Jennings sitting on a court

martial proceeding held in Nottoway County during the Revolutionary

War. It seems there would be some record of his grant of land

for military service."

It is true that later in life, on petition of Edmund

Jennings, William Jennings with others was given permission

to take up 10,000 acres in Spotsylvania County, and again

4,000 acres in Henrico co. Other grants are recorded, it is

perhaps from these grants that William of Amelia, later of

Nottoway got the reputation of being a heavy land owner.

In his will in 1773 he deeds to his youngest son, Joseph,

a tract of land (only 200 acres) laying between Cabin Branch

and Deep Creek, in Amelia County it being "the tract of land

whereon I now live, which tract of land I do absolutely freely

give unto my said son Joseph Jennings and his heirs forever."

The will states implicitly that Joseph is not to take or have

possession of Vie said land till after the said William Jennings

and his wife, Mary Jennings decease.15 Jennings Families of

America page 462.

It has been the custom in early wills to give the youngest

son the largest share of an estate. Two hundred acres is not

so generous a gift for a wealthy landowner. In that time large

tracts of land comprising thousands of acres were bought for a

few fathings per year.

We are informed the first emigrants left England 1681,

sailed direct to Pennsylvania, among them Edward Bennet took

over 321 acres, John Bennet 50 acres and William Standard 274

acres. All these settlers purchased land of Sir Edmond Andros,

at the quit rent of a bushel of wheat per hundred acres.

Land was still plentiful in Virginia a hundred years later.

Mr. Reed: "I am convinced that the William Jennings of

Nottoway County was not the son of the line given in the Jennings

Families of America, and have run through all published material

to determine his ancestors.

"Does it stand to 'reason that he was born in 1676, that

he came to America at a mature age and waited another quarter

of a century before marrying being family man enough to then

father a large family of ten children? His wife was born 1704;

died 1774, married 1724. He lived to be 99, died 1775- It could

be possible, but most unlikely, especially with a fortune at stake.

Surely this William of 1676 was quite another person.

The main source of information usually refers to Jennings

genealogy - "The American Families'' by William Henry Jennings

of Ohio. The part referring to William Jennings of Virginia

in that volume is taken from papers of a great granddaughter,

one of the fortune seekers.

Again, Mr. Reed writes: "I believe that the most probable

lineage of William of Nottoway is that of Robert of New Kent

and later of Hanover County." One of the most important

conclusions in my research regarding the family of Robert Jennings

of New Kent and his associates thereabouts was the fact that they

were closely related.

Some of the earliest land deals is record of Christopher

Smith to Patterson Pulliam with William -Jennings and Wil1iam

Pulliam and John Snelson as witnesses. These men were all of

Amelia and Hanover County. Inasmuch as William married the

daughter of William Pulliam in 1724 in Hanover County, this

deed of 1730 is indicative of his identity with William of

Amelia.¹⁶. There were intermarriages in same families---

Dickerson, Robertson, Arnolds, Childs, Dabney. etc. (1770 deed--

I have found this quotation in Greer's Early Emmigrants

to America: "Robert Jennings (the only one to New Kent County.)

and he is evidently the ancestor of the Jenning's of South Side

Virginia, William of Nottoway."

To this I must add a paragraph from Watson, historian of

Virginia, who in his notes on South Side Virginia, page 165,

states that "a Jennings (William, I think) sic, was a very

wealthy bachelor, who was the son of a wealthy Jennings in

Hanover who moved over just before his (fathers) death,

and he is supposed to be the heir to the fortune owned by the

Earle of Howe."

This affirmation from Watson emphasizes the point that

William 'A.; son of Robert of New NOLA t , regardless of what claims

his people are making for his inheritance*

Rector Hudson deceased of Butler, Pennsylvania, very

much interested in Jennings family history because of family

connections as neighbor

"From tradition and memoranda of the,Dabney family

John Jennings wife Theodosia, and William Jennings and Sarah

Jennings, who married Cornelius Dabney, were brothers and sister.

It is claimed that this party sailed together from England.

Theodosia Jennings has recorded in Hanover County Clerk's office

her oath that she was the same Theodosia Jennings who came

from England. It is also claimed by the descendants of the

Jennings family in Wilson County Tennessee where the greatest

number of the Jennings emigrated from Virginia, that our ancestor

Robert Jennings of New Kent left part of his family in England

who emigrated to America later.

Hanover County was not created until after his death but

he is sometimes mentioned as of Hanover because that part of

New Kent where he lived became Hanover shortly after his death.

Robert Jennings Jr. was of Hanover after 1722 until he sold his

property and moved to King William County,

Comments on will of Theodosia Jennings:

Will of Theodosia Jennings of St. Paul's Parish,

Hanover County, Virginia, dated June 8,1825. In Will Book 1

at Hanover Courthouse--page 637 mentions legatees-

God-daughter, Rebecca Hudson (most likely daughter

of Elizabeth Jennings and Charles Hudson) Sarah Dabney, (who

was Sarah Jennings,) Elizabeth Brown, Nichols Gentry, William

Jennings Thomas Harris. Elizabeth Brown was granddaughter

of Sarah Dabney and Thomas Harris was husband of another

granddaughter of Sarah, Susan Dabney, who was probably de-

ceased, having been born about 1751--Nichols Gentry was another

descendant of Sarah. There were a number of marriages of this

line into the Gentry family. (See History and Genealogies

by W. H. Miller). 0

Hudson relationship caused me considerable correspondence

with Rector Hudson of Butler, Pennsylvania, (now deceased).

He wrote that Cornelius Dabney, (who married Sarah Jennings,

sister of William) John Hudson and Charles Hudson, his ancestors,

of Hanover County, were neighbors. Further that Charles Hudson

and Cornelius Dabney were each brothers-in-law of Robert Jennings,

of New Kent, that daughter of Robert Jennings Jr. was named

Theodosia, who married William Anderson* She had a daughter

Frances, who married William Armistead (is mentioned in his

will of 1823 on file at Cumberland Court House, Virginia).

Francis had daughter Theodocia Armistead, great-grandmother

of Rector Hudson. He says the name "Theodosia" is still being

carried on by cousins in Virginia.

The Richmond Whig of 18th August, 1852, found in the

Library of Congress, Washington, U. C., sends notice to heirs

and legal representatives of the Jennings estate (plus other

estates addressed to Buckingham County Virginia, and he

affirmed that Charles Hudson of Hanover is brother-in-law of

Robert Jennings also that Robert Jennings is brother-in-law

of Cornelius Dabney. This notice is signed by Anderson

Damandville Abraham, attorney. He is a descendant of Theo-

docia Jennings who married William Anderson. This attorney,

married Jane E. Wimbush, daughter of Samuel Wimbush. Clement

Jennings, son of Robert of Prince Edward, married Anne Wimbush

Cook showing relationship again; with the Wimbush family.

"A lawsuit was filed In London November 5, 1931, based

on the statement that William Jennings who married Mary Pulliam

in Virginia was the son of Humphrey Jennings of England and

therefore uncle to the William who left the estate. This same

claim has been presented to the British Courts many times and

each time the records show they failed for the simple reason

that the claimants do not accept the certificates issued later

by the British government that William Jennings, son of Humphrey,

died in London, 1744, leaving a will in which he does not mention

a wife or children, which means he was a bachelor*

This is attested by the printed report of the Jennings

Association dated in 1863; again by the report of Sis and McClish

in 1878, and the reprinted reports of the family which show that

William Jennings, son of Humphrey died a bachelor, yet the family

has filed a claim as descendents of William Jennings and Mary

Pulliam as their ancestor end that he was the heir." ¹⁷

This paragraph was included in a letter written to James B.

Abernathy, a descendant of Robert Jennings of Prince Edward

County, Virginia, concluding with these words:

"Your family are not descended from William Jennings and

Mary Pulliam and never could be. Your William and Robert are

two very different persons as we tried to explain to a relative

of yours in our office yesterday."

There were at one time, living in the same territory three

men named William Jennings. There was William Jennings born

in England about 1667, died 1733, married Mary Willoughby, lived

in Rappahannok County. There was Captain William Jennings,

born (?), died 1775, married Mary Pulliam, lived in Nottoway

County. There was William Jennings born 1702, married Mary

Allen lived In New Kent and Hanover. Three Williams with wives

all named Mary! No wonder they all claimed to be descended

from a William and they tried to choose the one who might in-

herit the Jennings millions!

The statement concerning William and Mary Allen was

written by Mrs. Daniel F. Jennings of Shreveport Louisiana,

who seems to be well versed in the Jennings lineage. In fact

she represented the Jennings family in Louisiana-Texas-Arkensas-

District in the investigation pending settlement of the great

Jennings Estate,

Robert Jennings of Prince Edward County named their first

child (son) Allen, who likewise named a son Allen, as did

William his brother, named a son and middlename of daughter

Allen, and the name extends through the line. This is all

the evidence we have that William's wife's name was Mary Allen.

However the name Allen appears often as witnesses to wills or

land deeds in same locality with Jennings.

There was also a number of Roberts in the Jennings

line, insomuch that it makes it difficult sometimes, even

on court records to identify them. Some are Sr., some Jr.,

other Gentleman, some Captain, others Col., etc., and these

titles of identification are not always used, so we can only

surmise, sometimes left in doubt.

It is more than probable that some of the Jennings des-

cendants of America (and most probably of Virginia) were legal

heirs to some of the Jennings Estates of England since so many

emigrated to the new world, but Failing to have the proofs,

why build a monument to disprove our real heritage and confuse

the descendants? We became heirs to American freedom which

far surpasses the lands and titles of the Old World, We re-

print article which was sent to me many years ago by Rev. Joseph

Jennings of Parsons, Tennessee-

Two Million for S. F. Woman-Her Fortune 400 years old.

Facts Unsolved

In writing this treatise on the Jennings Family of

Virginia I have tried to keep in mind some of the questions

that arise in the mind of any interested person connected

with the family when they begin to seek for facts and proofs

concerning their prestige.

If proofs were plentiful I would not have attacked

the problem by trying to convince, because of findings in my ex-

tended research.

The fact that our people inhabited the localities where

wars predominated and were not invincible to attacks$ inso-

much that most of the Court Houses where they lived were ravaged

and burned until the few remnants remaining were salvaged by

some patriots who with the help of faithful slaves carried

the remaining records to old cellars and other hiding places,

to be later placed in safety.

The fragments have been well preserved and have been

searched and researched for the truths that they contain,

while an investigator is left at large to discover families

and relatives of the people connected with early day history

to reveal from their Bibles and to the never to be forgotten

"Jennings Research" that they might share in the vast estates

of England known as the "Jennings Millions".

All who have reviewed this case as afore-mentioned and

also including Archibald Bennett, Secretary of the Utah Genea-

logical society, whose opinion is held in high esteem by all

genealogical circles, do agree that the New Kent Jennings

family seems to be descended from John who is shown as a

headright of William Pulliam in 1656 and again in 1658 as a

headright of Chas. Edmonds. Each of those families were later

inter-married with the Jennings, Since more records may never

be produced to ultimately prove our descendency from John may

we regard him as our first American progenitor?

Some "would be" historians including Rector Hudson, claim

these records are included in their family history.

John Jennings brother of Humphrey Jennings, grandfather

of William Jennings, the intestate had son John, who was head-

right in Virginia for William Pulliam and later for (1656)

Edmunds in 17 was father of Robert Sr. who married Jane Trulock

in 1669 and had son Robert Jr. in 1670

It is recorded that Jane died in 1681. Did Robert Jennings

then marry a Miss Cary? He died in 1716.

Some of the Jennings families have contended that Robert Sr.

was son of Charles, the first Jennings found in York, one of the

original shires of Virginia. Charles died in 1714. He emigrated

from England with wife Mary (Cary). He leaves will with names

of children but Robert is not named, neither Sarah, whom many

claim was daughter of Charles, neither William or John, his

brothers, according to Dabney memo. Again it was claimed by

the fortune hunters that these were children of Charles by a

first marriage who emigrated later to America.

John might well have boon a brother of Charles. The

fact that Charles of York lived near Robert of New Kent and

that they both married into the Miles Cary family almost proves

relativity*

In the mad search of the Jennings Estate, records were

produced from every imaginable source and no doubt some sources

were created while others fully certified were destroyed to

better the chances of winning an heirship. And even though

Queen Victoria issued the edict declaring the rightful heir

was surely immigrated to America because no proof of burial

could be found in England, the British Government later issued

certificates that William Jennings of Humphrey, died in

London In 1774, leaving a will in which he does not mention

wife or children, which means he was a bachelor.

There are scattered fragments of some records in many

court houses that were burned during the Revolutionary and

Civil Wars when faithful slaves and patriots carried records

from the pillaged buildings and buried them in old cellars

and other hiding places for their preservation.

We have visited many of these county seats In Virginia

and have found that the records are jealously guarded but freely

loaned to patrons seeking data of their progenitors, Loose

records are stored in boxes and placed on high shelves, labeled

"Miscellaneous" material, and cannot be reached only as the

clerks deliver them.

There is no doubt that our first parents of Virginia

derived from New Kent Co., being the parent County of Hanover

and King and Queen Co. It was natural that their descendants

settled in the surrounding counties of Charlotte, Amherst,

Buckingham, Holloway, Halifax, York and Amelia.

Some of the best help to researchers comes through

correspondence with other researchers, who, perhaps guided by

the Spirit of Elija, have felt the need of delving into the

records of the past, to affiliate themselves with historical

organizations.

The fascination of the game grows upon us, as we seek

out our dead ancestors, and we go far beyond the first person

we sought, and become acquainted with living descendants of

our departed dead, With them we open a correspondence of

great value to each of us and we become, not. concerned with

royalty or prestige, nor estates but eager to' know the patriarch

of our race.

Ref. I- Will of Robert Jennings of

Prince Edward Co.

Will Book 2, page 237

Prince Edward Co., in the State of Virginia, in the name

of God, Amen* I, Robert Jennings, of Prince Edward, Co. be of

a right mind and Disposing will, I will and do ordain this my

last Will and Testament.

I first devise that all my lawful debts to be paid and

my burying be Directed with Decency.

I also lend my loving wife Rachel Jennings the half of

my Personal Estate and the half of my land that I now live on,

containing one hundred and ninety Acres, including the buildings,

during her life.

I order my last springs Bay mare colt to be sold and

equally divided amongst my children whose names is as follows:

Allen Jennings, Betty Boaz, John Jennings, Billy Jennings,

Frankey Arnold, Bob Jennings, Aggie Arnold, Cain Jennings,

Davy Jennings, Clem Jennings.

I order that my loving wife, Rachel Jennings, shall be

maintained during her life with decency. I give to my son

Sam Jennings, the other half of my land that I now live on,

containing one hundred and ninety acres, to his heirs and

assigns forever, the one hundred and ninety acres of land

that I have lent to my loving wife, at her decease I give to

my son Dick Jennings, to his heirs and assigns forever.

The other half that I have not lent my wife of my personal

estate I order it to be sold and equally divided among my

three sons Sam, Dick, and Doctor Jennings. What remains of

my personal estate I have lent to my loving wife, after her

decease I give to my son Doctor Jennings forever and lastly,

I do hereby constitute and appoint Sam Jennings and Robert

Kelso my executors whereunto I have set my hand and seal

this first day of October, 1794.

Robert Jennings

Teste--

James Faris

Andrew Porter

William Hill

This will was presented at Court and ordered to be recorded

on order of minute book page 186.

Raf. 2- Extract of Reply of Alton,L. Jordan to

The American Consul General at London

in THE JENNINGS CASE.

. This is the first suit ever instituted in the Jennings

Estate on behalf of the American heirs. It is based on new

facts and entirely now evidence of now and closer kinship.

The expense of this case has necessarily been great

from the time it began, having come over a period of nearly

six years of almost constant questing of facts upon which to

found the case, to the present stage of litigation, requiring

an outlay of thousands of dollars, including the cost of six

trips to England, the present trip being necessary on account

of your intimidation of our Solicitors; and it is no exagger-

ation to state that your Department and the Post Office Depart-

ment have cost the Jennings heirs $2,000.00--an unfair tax un-

justly imposed upon them.

I am unable to find in your report any object except an

obvious effort to mislead the Jennings heirs, to arrest their

interest, to dissuade their enthusiasm, and to obstruct the

enforcement of their equitable rights in a foreign country

In further denouncing the unfairness of your report I am

bound to observe that it was either written with apparent

juvenile haste, or prepared by one who was so bent upon, in-

accuracies and inconsistencies as to confuse issue and law,

and so blinded by prejudice as to be willing to weaken justice,

and so inclined to misrepresenting as to give appearance to

the preferment of easy falsehood to fair judgement which,

to say the least, is the most unusual Interference and odd

meddlement into the personal affairs of private citizens

that has ever come to my attention.

I am sure that there had never been, written and issued

to citizens of the United States by a public official con-

cerning private litigation a report so unjust, so unwarranted,

so prejudiced and so grossly unfair as your said report of

February, 1932, in so far as it relates to the Jennings Estate.

Ref. 3- English Chancery Court Releases

Estate after Long Fight.

The incredible has happened. The Court of Chancery of

England has released one-quarter of a $40,000,000 estate and

one of the principal beneficiaries of the order is a young

San Francisco society matron, Mrs. Franklin P. Bull.

Mrs. Bull's share of the $10,000,000 ordered by Master

in Chancery Hugo Friend to be paid out to the heirs of the

Jennings estate, is problematical but it may well run up in-

to the millions.

The estate went into Chancery more than 100 years ago and

the various family ramifications and possible heirs have so

spread out that only when the payments are made will the exact

amount be. known.

COURT DEMANDS PROOF

There is a strange anomaly attached to this famous English

Court. It takes over estates and very rarely distributes them.

But, when it once makes up its mint to do so, it insists on

immediate proof of heirship. Those that prove within a certain

time have the estate divided between them. Mrs. Bull's 's husband

being an attorney, has the proofs at hand, and these are being

forwarded to London to a firm of solicitors, who have promised

to collect. Of course, for an adequate percentage.

Mrs Bull, who lives in Ingelside Terraces, 2049 Ocean

Avenue, explained the situation yesterday, so far as she knows it.

"My maiden name," she said, "was Marie Cavalins, and

I am the granddaughter on my mother's side of Mr s Mary Hurley,

who was the niece and sole heir of Colonel Berriman Jennings.

My mother had four sisters, three of whom are living and they,

of course, share in the estate.

PROPERTY IN LONDON

"Now to go back to the beginning so far as we know it:

A firm of attorneys in Virginia made up a family tree in 1861,

which dates the Jennings back to 1531 and the ownership of a farm

on the banks of the Thames near London. By the early

part of last century this property was within London and had

increased greatly in value.

"Then, so far as we can learn, there was some difficulty

over inheritance owing to one of the Jennings' outliving his

son and heir. So the estate was put into Chancery.

"As the years rolled by and railroads same and London

spread, the value of the property kept increasing and the rents

were impounded and increased on compound interest until a huge

amount of money was in the custody of the court,

"Meanwhile the old Jennings, John D., died leaving five

grandchildren, George T., John A., and Charles Jennings and

Mrs. Edna Quist and Florence F. Brady. Three of them came to

the United States and settled in Virginia and Kentucky.

John A Jennings was the father of Colonel Berriman Jennings

who settled in Oregon and whose heir my grandmother was.

"We know nothing of the heirs of the other four Jennings.

There may be a great many and there may be none, But the court

order, as we understand it divides the first payment of $10,000,000

between the heirs of the five so that, should heirs show up for

all the other four, our share will be $2,000,000.

"My husband has located the family tree which gives absolute

proof of our descendancy and we feel sure, judging by what we

hear from England, that there will be no trouble."

Ref.4- Prince Edward Co. Miscellaneous Papers

1755-Tithables from Buffalo to the Co. line

Robert Jennings 1. p. 5

Elkanah Jennings 1 p. (Wm. Mackie List)

Prince Edward Co. Deeds Book 1 1754-1763. Deed Book I p. 19--

Jennings of Prince Edward Coo to Elkanah Jennings of Prince

Edward Co. 200 acres lying on Sawney's Creek in Prince Edward Co.

adjoining Hill. Recorded Sept. 10, 1754.

W. S. Morton, 85 years old genealogist of Farmville

Prince Edward Co., Va. wrote that in some loose papers in the

Amelia Court House Va. he found that a Robert Jennings Apr. 8,

1747 had 400 acres of land surveyed on Sawney Creek and in 1750

had 292 acres more surveyed on Sawney Creek.

In the Prince Edward Co. records at Farmville is the deed

record that July 15, 1754 Robert Jennings and his wife Rachel

sold 200 acres of land to Elkanah Jennings for ten pounds.

Refs.5- Amelia County Records

This is the John born Sept. 2 (son of Robert) 1698

in St. Peter's Parish Now Kent Co. Va. (now Hanover Co. Va.).

When John sold out that 400 acres with Improvements for S$1.25

1747 the stock was sold also and John evidently moved away,

Ref. 6- St. Peter Parish Records

In St Peters Parish Now Kent Co. 1752 is record that

William Jennings signed deed on Vaughn Creek.

Ref. 7-

In 1747 dead on Vaughn Creek the wife of John was named Mary,

Ref.8-

This is William born 1702, son of Robert Jr.,

Ref. 9-

Will of Robert Jennings of Hanover County, Virginia.

made December 6th, 1750, and placed on record in Hanover

County Court on July 6, 1758, which records have been destroyed

by fires: but Robert Jennings of Richmond, Va. had a copy; handed

down from his ancestors

He mentions In his will- "Mary Jennings-his wife-who was

a Garland, and the following

children:

John Garland Jennings

Robert Jennings

Betty Jennings

Sarah Jennings

Barbara Jennings

Extract from will

Copy given State Library,

Richmond, Va. by

Robert Jennings

Richmond, Va.

Ref . 10-

Robert Jennings, son of the above, was First Lieutenant

in the Revolutionary War, Will Feb. 21^st, 1805, had the

following issue:

Charlotte County, Va.

Extract from will. Sons

Robert G. Jennings

Clement A. Jennings - Ancestor of Robert Jennings or, Richmond, Va.

John R. Jennings

Daughters

Mary Latane Jennings Married William Gaine

Judith Jennings Married George Revele

His wife was Mary Ann Clement not mentioned in will,

Ref. 11

Robert Sr. ------Robert Jr.------Robert Will of 1758---------Robert Lt. In Rev. War born 1745 died 1806

Died 1716 born 1670 John 1698

William William born 1702----------------Robert died 1794

Sarah Elizabeth

John Mary

Theodosia

Ref. 12-

In 1764 a widow, Mary Jennings bought land in Bedford Co.

and in 1768 a widow Mary Jennings married (3-21-1768) George

Phillips, bachelor. It looks possible that this Mary in

Bedford Co., was the widow of John from that Vaughn Creek region.

Ref. 13-

See Ref. 10.