Jesse Jennings Sr and Rachel
The information that I have on this family has very little documentation except when they were in KY. The first record I have found on a Jesse Jennings that may be ours is on the "VA. Tax Lists 1782-1787" by Mrs. Fothergill. She shows 1 Poll for Jesse in Campbell County VA. A William Chiddick is also listed in that county. Jesse Sr had a sister who married a Chiddick and had a son named Eli.
An interesting note: I have a copy of a letter and some notes written by Henry W. Dailey that say he found an old ledger among heir-looms in San Marcos TX while attending the Pre-Centennial Exposition there. (I guess that would be about 1934). This ledger was originally owned by Charles Hodges, Seneca Mill, Campbell County. The ledger does not give the state. In any case there was an account in the ledger in the name of Jesse Jennings in 1791 and 1792. The first entries in the ledger were made in 1791. An examination of his account indicated that on at least one or two instances he was credited with barrel staves and charged with sundry articles of merchandise. Hodges and associates appeared to have a general store and flour mill, perhaps a whiskey distillery.
I find a Seneca, Campbell Co, VA on the south edge of the county and on the Roanoke River. About 3 miles to the northwest of Seneca is a town of Hodges. These are both very small communities at this time. Seneca is about 7 miles east of Altavista VA.
My records show Thomas, b 1776 and William, b 1778, and Jesse Jr, b 31 Aug 1780. Since Campbell County was created out of Bedford County in 1782, I think all three of these sons were born in Bedford County. I have been told that Vinetha Jennings Necessary (granddaughter of William) said in the 1880 Census, Claiborne County, TN that her grandfather was born in England. This would be at odds with copies of letters that I have between 2 of Jesse Jr's sons, who said that their great grandfather came from England to Pennsylvania. After living in Pennsylvania for a short time, he moved into Virgina.
I also have information from the Grainger Country TX Tax Lists of 1804 and 1805. There are 2 Jesse Jennings on the 1805 list, I think one of them is Jesse Jr. Jesse Sr sold his land in Grainger County in 1806 to Christopher Conway for $550. Evidently he was on the way to KY with his family.
From the Doughtie Book, page 683:
Jesse Jennings of Garrard Co. KY., a deed from Wm. Innis & w. Catherine of Barren Co. KY sg. 28 Aug 1806, tract of land containing 150 a. situated in Garrard Co., KY on waters of Drake's Creek bound by James Lawson's survey of 48 a. Wit.: Edward (X) Janson, Robert Taylor, James Lawson. (Garrard Co., KY: D-BK. C-156)
Jesse Jennings Sr Garrard Co. KY, a deed to Jesse Jennings Jr, sg 25 Apr 1817, certain tract of land I purchased from Wm. Ennis lying in sd. county on Drake's Camp Creek containing 100 a. beginning at John Falls line, E. Perkins and James Lawson. Wit.: Benj. Letcher, C. C. Jesse Jennings Jr of Garrard Co., KY, 9 Dec 1817, conveyed this land to Levy Baldock of same place: "certain tract of land I purchased of Jesse Jennings Sr on Drake's Camp Cr. containing 100 a. bound by John Bales, and Johnston's heirs line, C Perkins, James Lawson. Wit.: Thos. Heirs, James Steger, Jesse Jennings Jr (Garrard Co. KY: D-Bks: E-388; F-56)
Jesse Jennings and w. Rachel of Garrard Co. KY, a deed to James Steger of same place, sg. 30 Mch. 1829, tract of land in sd. county on Waters of Drake's Cr. estimated at 60 acres, it being the place whereon the said Jesse Jennings formerly lived adjoining the land of James Perkins, Wm. Word, Wm. Regsly, Abijah Wethers, old place of Samuel Jennings and John Lesure. Wit.: A. J. Brown, Wm. Taylor, John W. Johnson. (D-Bk.: K-121)
Jesse Jennings, Garrard Co. KY. "Being old & now on the Bed of Affliction" sg. will 29 Mch. 1829 pr. Apr. court, 1829:
- w. Rachel, "Residue of my property during her natural life, and at her death the whole of sd. estate should be divided equally between my daughters, Mary & Rebecca Jennings, and if it should happen that my wife should live longer than both of my daughters mentioned that all my property be divided among all my children."
- Thomas Jennings,, dec'c. "My oldest son to his ch."
- s. Wm. Jennings, "My 2nd son"
- s. Jesse Jennings
- d. Rachel Taylor
- d. Sarah
- d. Fanny Johnson
- d. Nancy M. Perkins
- d. Mary Jennings
- d. Rebecca Jennings
Exor.: John W. Johnson
Wit.: Hugh W. McKee, Zachariah Vaughn. (W-Bk.: F-336)
From the Doughtie Book, page 684:
Mg. Lic. & Bonds, Garrard Co. KY
Thomas Jennings, m. Agnes ------? before 1817. See below,
Wm. Jennings, 1829 & Polly Smith,
Jesse Jennings, 1829 & Susan/Susanna Richardson, wid. of Wm.,
Rachel Jennings m. Robert Taylor, see below,
Fanny Jennings m. John W. Johnson, See below,
Nancy Jennings, 1810 & James PerkinsThomas Jennings, eldest son of Jesse Jennings Sr.: m. Agnes -----? He died in 1817. His wife, Agnes was Admstrx. on his Estate. Bond sg. by: Jesse Jennings, Sr. and John W. Johnson. Taxes were paid in Pulaski Co. KY, 45 miles away from Garrard Co. KY, to Jonah Evans, Sheriff, in 1817. (Garrard Co. KY: Prob. Court Recs.)
Jesse Jennings Jr m. 1829, Susanna, wid. of Wm. Richardson, Garrard Co. KY.
Wm. Richardson, Garrard Co. KY sg. will 4 Nov 1819 pr. May court 1825, naming w. Susanna, "My second wife--if she marries again all my property to revert to my youngest children by my 2nd wife, Susanna." (Garrard Co. KY W-Bk. F-30)
1832: Whereas James Perkins, Garrard Co. KY stands bound in a bond with Susannah Jennings as gdn. for the heirs of Wm. Richardson, dec'd. Now therefore in order to secure sd. Perkins against any loss on account of being the sd. Susannah Jennings' security in sd. Bond, Jesse Jennings (Jr) do hereby sell and mortgage unto James Perkins two steers, yearling, 27 heads of hogs, 9 sheep, 4 featherbeds, furniture, &c. Wit.: John Ennis, James Stegner, Archibald Ennis. (Garrard Co. KY: D-Bk. L-22)
Nancy M. Jennings m. James Perkins.
State of Kentucky, Garrard Co. 19 June 1838: James Perkins & wife, Nancy, vs Jesse Jennings' heirs: to Hon. Judge of Garrard Co. KY: Your orator, James Perkins and w. Nancy, represent that Jesse Jennings departed this life after making his will whereby he devised to his wife for life, remainder to his two daughters, Mary and Rebecca Jennings, tract of 50 acres lying in Garrard Co. KY on waters of Drake's Creek. That among other things he provided that if said Mary and Rebecca Jennings survived their mother and died without issue that the said tract of land should be divided amongst all the children of the testator.
From the Doughtie Book, page 684:
Your orator charges that the widow of sd. Jesse Jennings departed this life, and recently the said Mary and Rebecca * Jennings have also departed this life without issue. Whereby the land has passed to the surviving children of sd. Jesse Jennings. The charge that you oratrix, Nancy, Robert Taylor & w. Rachel, Wm. Jennings and Jesse Jennings and the heirs of Thomas Jennings, dec'd, whose names are unknown to your orators are the only heirs of sd. Jesse Jennings. That sd. Robert Taylor & w. Rachel, Wm. Jennings and Jesse Jennings and the unknown heirs of Thos. Jennings, dec'd, be made defts. in this Bill &c. (Garrard Co. KY: Box 45, Pkg. 1494). *Rebecca Jennings d. 23 Mch. 1838.
James Perkins & w. Nancy,
Robert Taylor & w. Rachel,
Wm. Jennings,
Jesse Jennings,
Unknown Heirs of Thos. Jennings, dec'd. by Arabia J. Brown, Commsr.,A joint deed to Edward Naylor sg. 29 Nov 1843, whereby James Perkins & w. Nancy of Garrard Co. KY, filed suit in Chancery Court for sale of land of sd. Jesse Jennings, and Edward Naylor became the purchaser at said sale of 50 acres. (Garrard Co. KY: D-Bk. P-101)
Tombstone Inscription Drakes Creek Bapt. Church Cemty., Located About 8 miles Southh of Lancaster, Garrard County, KY on Rural Route 39.
Nancy Jennings/Born/1788/Died/1853/Wife of/James Perkins/